NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME / UCLA 89, ARKANSAS 78 : SPOTLIGHT : THE WORD FROM NOLAN

Arkansas Coach Nolan Richardson did not sound like a coach determined to bring the Razorbacks back to next year’s Final Four after Monday’s loss.

“We had a great season but as I try to point out to myself, to my coaching staff and to the players, we can’t overlook what we’ve accomplished,” Richardson said. “This group has set a precedent that I don’t know if we can live up to. This group won back-to-back 30 games. This group went to the Sweet 16s as youngsters, national championship and second-place finish. That’s an incredible fate for a coach that’s got to follow this group that’s leaving. So, I guess my biggest worry is what’s going to happen tomorrow if I should live to see it. So, I’m just happy enough today that I’m alive and it was a game and we did our best.

“Right now, I am the basketball coach at the University of Arkansas. I intend to be the basketball coach at the University of Arkansas. I was approached about some rumors that I was already on my way to professional basketball. I have not talked to anyone about (the NBA). I’ve said that if that should happen, I would listen because I owe that to my family and to myself.”