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3 Stories: UConn Loses, Recruiting Hoopla, NHL's Olympic Decision

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The UConn women's basketball team lost in the Final Four. (Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
The UConn women's basketball team lost in the Final Four. (Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

After winning 111 games straight, the UConn women's basketball team was upset by Mississippi State in the Final Four on April 1. That story and more on this week's edition of "3 Stories You Should Know."

Will Leitch of Sports on Earth and Erik Malinowski of Bleacher Report joined Bill Littlefield.

1. UConn Women's Basketball Loss Is No April Fools' Joke

The last time the UConn women's basketball team lost a game was in 2014 — a two point loss in overtime to Stanford. That is until the Huskies fell to Mississippi State on April 1 — a two point loss in overtime that ended a 111-game winning streak. Erik Malinowski wonders if this was the right time for the streak to end.

This was an incredible achievement that we should soak in, we should appreciate for all of its merits. I love that it ended on a very round number, I'm going to be able to remember 111 forever ... I feel like there was a part of me that [had this] morbid curiosity, is it gonna reach 200 wins? 250? What other round number can they hit? ... I was covering a Warriors game in Oakland and along press row we all had our laptops open streaming to ESPN watching to see how this incredible game was going to end. I feel like either way, it probably ended at the right time.

2. College Hoops Recruiting Hoopla

This week, college basketball recruit Jeremiah Tilmon requested a release from the intent letter he had signed with the University of Illinois. Head coach John Groce was fired back in March. Illini fans aren't happy with the teenager's decision. Will Leitch believes fans should try to look away from recruiting ups and downs.

My father is a great Illinois basketball fan, like I am, but he never pays attention to this. He never has any idea who [they're recruiting.] He just watches the first game of the season and, 'Hey, there's new guys on my team now. Let's check these guys out.' That is how we should all watch sports. We will all be such happier people if we pay no attention to recruiting.

3. 2018 Olympics Without NHL Stars

The NHL announced this week that, for the first time in 20 years, its players will not be participating in the 2018 Winter Olympics. The league made the decision to avoid a break in the 2017-18 regular season schedule. Bill Littlefield believes it was a bad decision on the part of the NHL.

Players who like to compete for their countries are going to be disappointed, fans who would rather see the best players at the Olympics — they'll be disappointed. The NHL, of course, is also missing an opportunity to publicize its sport, which is in great need of publicizing. ... The NHL has been there, how can they say, 'No, we're not going to go there anymore?'

More Stories You Should Know

This segment aired on April 8, 2017.

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