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"Even though we didn't come up on the winning side of things," senior forward Eric Coley said, "I think we gained some respect from them (North Carolina) and the country."

Tulsa, with an enrollment of 4,300, isn't a typical college hoops hotbed. But this tiny Oklahoma school proved it could play with the bigger programs. The Golden Hurricane defeated Cincinnati during its NCAA Tournament run and nearly knocked off tradition-rich North Carolina.

"Like I've said all along, these kids believe they can play with anybody in the country," said Golden Hurricane coach Bill Self, who led his team to the best record in school history at 32-5. "I think we proved that today but we just came up short."

Said Tar Heels forward Jason Capel: "They had our respect before we played them. They still have it. They play hard and they come after you on both ends."

The 1999-2000 season marked continued improvement for Tulsa. It reached the Elite Eight for the first time in school history after being bounced in the second game last year by 41 points against Duke. Carolina is only the third team to beat Tulsa. The Golden Hurricanes lost to Fresno State three times and Oral Roberts once during the regular season.

Family affair

Capel is headed to the Final Four. But he won't be the first in his household to play in the NCAA's biggest basketball weekend. Older brother Jeff, who played at rival Duke from 1993-97, went to the Final Four his freshman season.

"All my life I've grown up with the Final Four," said Capel, whose father Jeff is the head coach at Old Dominion. "I've watched my brother play in it and now I get a chance, too. It'll be special."

So long Eric

Tulsa's loss to UNC ends its finest season ever as well as the career of the top steals man in WAC history. Coley had 297 career thefts and owns the conference record for most steals in a season with 96.

Three-peat

Carolina senior point guard Ed Cota is going to his third Final Four. Cota made back-to-back appearances in 1997 and '98.

"I'm thrilled to be going back," Cota said. "I'm happy for the younger guys who get to experience this for the first time. All we have to do now is go out there and try to win the national championship."