NCAA Tournament: UCONN wins it all

It was a luxurious experience to shoot the 2014 NCAA Men's Championship. With "no dog in the fight" so-to-speak (the team I cover, Wisconsin, was eliminated on Saturday), I had no deadline and was under no pressure to actually produce anything usable.

I also had no shooting spot on the floor. But thanks to the generous support of our friends at Canon Professional Services (thank you!), they loaned me a new 600mm lens to shoot from one of the elevated shooting positions in the stands. Here's a few mild successes... 

 Kentucky Wildcats guard James Young dunks the ball for two points, drawing a shooting foul from Connecticut Huskies center Amida Brimah (35) in the second half of the NCAA Men's Championship game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Monday, April 7, 2014.  M.P. KING -- State Journal

 Connecticut Huskies players rush the floor to celebrate their win over the Kentucky Wildcats.

Kentucky Wildcats fans react to their team's loss.

 A Kentucky Wildcats fan sits alone after her team's loss.

Connecticut Huskies players celebrate their victory with the championship trophy.

NCAA Final Four: Badgers fall to Kentucky in 74-73 heart-breaker

 

Kentucky Wildcats forward Alex Poythress (22) dunks the ball for two points over Wisconsin Badgers forward Duje Dukan (13) and guard Ben Brust (1) in the first half of a NCAA Final Four game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, April 5, 2014.  M.P. KING -- State Journal

 

 Wisconsin Badgers guard Ben Brust (1) passes to teammate Josh Gasser, out of frame, through the legs of Kentucky Wildcats guard James Young in the first half.  M.P. KING -- State Journal

Wisconsin Badgers head coach Bo Ryan talks to his players during a timeout in the second half.  M.P. KING -- State Journal

Wisconsin Badgers guard Josh Gasser (21) defends Kentucky Wildcats guard Aaron Harrison (2) on an inbounding play in the second half. M.P. KING -- State Journal

Wisconsin Badgers guard Traevon Jackson (12) tries to drive to the basket around Kentucky Wildcats center Dakari Johnson in the second half.  M.P. KING -- State Journal

 Wisconsin Badgers guard Traevon Jackson (12) is fouled on a three-point shot attempt by Kentucky Wildcats guard Andrew Harrison (5) late in the second half. Jackson made two of three foul shots to give the Badgers a two-point lead in the final minute of the game.  M.P. KING -- State Journal

Kentucky Wildcats guard Aaron Harrison (2) hits a game-winning three-point shot in the final seconds of the game.  M.P. KING -- State Journal

 Kentucky Wildcats guard Aaron Harrison (2) reacts to his game-winning three-point shot in the final seconds of the game.  M.P. KING -- State Journal

Wisconsin Badgers head coach Bo Ryan consoles guard Traevon Jackson after he missed a shot at the buzzer in the team's loss to Kentucky.  M.P. KING -- State Journal

 Wisconsin Badgers forward Sam Dekker reacts to his team's loss to Kentucky.  M.P. KING -- State Journal

 

 Wisconsin Badgers guard Traevon Jackson reacts to his missed shot at the buzzer, and his team's loss to Kentucky.  M.P. KING -- State Journal

 

 Wisconsin Badgers guard Josh Gasser (21) and forward Duje Dukan walk off the floor after their team's loss to Kentucky.  M.P. KING -- State Journal

 Kentucky Wildcats guard Andrew Harrison (5) is congratulated by Kentucky assistant coach John Robic after the team defeated the Wisconsin Badgers.  M.P. KING -- State Journal

 A Wisconsin Badgers fan reacts to the team's loss to Kentucky.  M.P. KING -- State Journal

 

Wisconsin Badgers forwards Frank Kaminsky, left, and Zach Bohannon walk out of the stadium after the team's loss to the Kentucky Wildcats. Kaminsky ripped down the team sign from outside of the locker room.  M.P. KING -- State Journal