UCONN CAN! HUSKIES STUN DUKE FOR TITLE : UCONN 77, DUKE 74.

Byline: Jon Wilner Daily News Staff Writer

The pursuit of history ended here Monday night with a brilliant collision, leaving a state in ecstasy and the nation's No. 1 team without the crown required to validate its dominance.

In a frantic, fabulous 40 minutes, Connecticut did what few thought possible and no team had done in four months: It stopped the Duke machine with an airtight game plan, swarming defense and a little help from a guard named Rip.

Behind 27 points from All-American Richard ``Rip'' Hamilton, Connecticut captured its first NCAA title - and authored the greatest chapter in the Nutmeg State's sporting history - with a breathtaking 77-74 victory over Duke before 41,340 at Tropicana Field.

``This was one of the greatest games I've ever been involved with,'' Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun said. ``The kids were saying they wanted Duke instead of Michigan State. I said maybe the wiser head knows better. But the kids knew better.''

The buzzer sounded with Duke senior guard Trajan Langdon (25 points) sprawled on the court - his full-court charge had ended with a turnover - and Calhoun embracing his assistants. Together, they designed a masterful game plan that accentuated Connecticut's strengths (its speed and one-on-one ability) and smothered Duke center Elton Brand.

But this night was as much about the losers as the winners. Calhoun composed himself quickly, then hugged Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski, who departs the decade with two NCAA titles and three title-game defeats.

Scheduled for hip replacement surgery next week, Krzyzewski left the court with a methodical stride and stern expression - one he had seen before. Eight years ago today, his Devils stunned supposedly unbeatable Nevada-Las Vegas in an equally riveting Final Four duel in Indianapolis.

Monday night, a team that couldn't be beaten once again whiffed on history's fastball.

But to put Connecticut's victory in the upset file alongside North Carolina State over Houston and Villanova over Georgetown is to ignore the Huskies' talent and accomplishments. They won 34 games, they won the Big East title, they beat Michigan State, St. John's, Stanford and Ohio State, and they lost just one game (Miami) with Hamilton in the lineup.

``I don't think we're shocked,'' Calhoun said. ``We're happy as heck, we're proud, but I don't think anyone's shocked. We truly felt we could beat them.''

They didn't have much company. The Blue Devils eliminated Connecticut from the tournament in 1990 - Christian Laettner's last-second shot - and 1991. They have the most talent, one of the best coaches ever, and they dominated the regular season like no team since ill-fated UNLV in '91. The tournament gives, and the tournament takes away.

``We knew we were a 10-point underdog, and we felt that was ridiculous and we felt that hurt our pride,'' Connecticut point guard Khalid El-Amin said. ``We wanted to come out and prove everyone wrong.''

Their quest started with strategy. Realizing it was no match for Duke in a half-court game, Connecticut opened with full-court pressure and pushed its fastbreak at every opportunity.

Instead of backing down from the Durham bully, the Huskies attacked. They spread Duke's man-to-man defense and used their speed to slash into the lane and create scoring chances. Senior guard Ricky Moore shed his reputation as a defensive specialist and scored nine of Connecticut's first 15 points, but the main man was Hamilton. He was too quick for Duke, and his jumper was right all night.

Hamilton hit 10 of 22 shots, then gave way to El-Amin, whose short jumper from the left side with 1:05 left gave Connecticut a 75-72 lead and proved to be the winning shot. Duke's best chance collapsed when Langdon, matched against Moore, traveled on his way through the lane with five seconds left.

``Absolutely, positively, I want Trajan to take that shot,'' Krzyzewski said. ``I'll win or lose with Trajan. I'll walk down any road with Trajan.''

The Huskies edged to a 36-32 lead late in the half when Langdon singlehandedly changed the momentum. He buried a 3-pointer from the top of the key, then drained a 3-pointer from the left wing as Moore fouled him. The rare four-point play gave Duke a narrow lead at halftime.

Langdon kept his rhythm through intermission and scored five quick points to open the second half. When William Avery found Brand for a dunk and Chris Carrawell did the same to Shane Battier, the Blue Devils had carved a 48-43 lead and seemed on the verge of a game-breaking surge.

But Connecticut reserve Albert Mouring slowed Duke's momentum with a 12-footer from the lane, and Connecticut scored on its next six possessions. Its margin expanded to 65-59 on Hamilton's jumper from the left wing with nine minutes left.

Duke responded immediately. Brand blocked a Hamilton shot, then raced downcourt to receive Avery's pass for a layup. Two possessions later, Carrawell's mid-range jumper trimmed Connecticut's lead to 65-63, and he tied it with 4:50 remaining.

The final minutes were riveting, beginning with Hamilton's 3-pointer from the left wing that gave Connecticut a 73-68 lead. Two minutes later, Battier grabbed an improbable rebound and fed Langdon for a 3-pointer - right wing, 1:40 left - that brought Duke within one point.

BY THE NUMBERS

A statistical look at the NCAA championship game:

1: NCAA titles and Final Four appearances for Connecticut.

2-6: Duke's all-time record in championship games.

10-0: Connecticut's record this season when trailing at the half.

25.4: Duke's average margin of victory, tops in the nation this season.

32: Consecutive wins by the Blue Devils before Monday's loss to UConn.

41: Duke's shooting percentage in the final, its lowest this season.

145: MVP Richard Hamilton's point total in six tournament games.

LARGEST UPSETS

Biggest underdogs to win the NCAA championship since 1961, with point spread, year and score:

9-1/2: 1985, Villanova 66, Georgetown 64

9-1/2: 1999, Connecticut 77, Duke 74

8-1/2: 1983, North Carolina St. 54, Houston 52

8-1/2: 1988, Kansas 83, Oklahoma 73

8: 1961, Cincinnati 70, Ohio State 65 (OT)

7: 1997, Arizona 84, Kentucky 79 (OT)

6-1/2: 1966, Texas Western 72, Kentucky 65

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos, Box

PHOTO (1--Color) Connecticut's Khalid El-Amin, whose short jumper with 1:05 left proved to be the winning shot, leaps into the arms of teammate Jake Voskuhl.

Eric Draper/Associated Press

(2) Khalid El-Amin, right, and Rashamel Jones savor UConn's victory. ``We wanted to prove everyone wrong,'' El-Amin said.

Ed Reinke/Associated Press

(3--Color) no caption (Connecticut Coach Jim Calhounn)

Ed Reinke/Associated Press

BOX: LARGEST UPSETS (see text)