We just lost our intensity. There was no sense of urgency out there the last seven or eight minutes. It dropped, and you could tell.

The last two minutes of regulation and then overtime we played with a sense of urgency.

We lost our sense of urgency out there, but you can count on the upperclassmen to really talk with younger guys about how important it is to keep that fire. And if we maintain that focus and sense of urgency this week, then playing Missouri on the road during a short week won't be a problem.

Wow, hi,’ Eight says, and when he speaks it’s with his own voice.

It’s him. It’s really him.

Marina nearly doubles over with a delighted sob. She collects herself quickly, though, and grabs Eight first by the shoulders, then on the sides of his face. She pulls him in close.

‘You’re warm,’ she says in wonder. ‘You’re so warm.’

Eight laughs easily. He puts his hand over Marina’s and gently kisses the side of it.

‘You’re warm, too,’ he says.

‘I’m so sorry, Eight. I’m sorry I couldn’t heal you.’

Eight shakes his head. ‘Stop, Marina. It’s okay. You brought me here. It’s – I can’t even describe it. It’s amazing in there.’

Already, I see the energy spreading outward from Eight’s heart. It races through his body, fissures opening on his arms and legs. He doesn’t seem to be in any pain. He just smiles at Marina and looks at her like he’s trying to memorize her face.

‘Can I kiss you?’ Marina asks him.

‘I really wish you would.

We just lost our intensity in the fourth quarter. It was our fault, no excuses. We can't let the little things bother us, and that's what happened tonight. We did a good job of keeping them in front of us the first half, but we just didn't play good enough defense in the fourth quarter.

I think the sense of urgency was never really there to get it done and I believe something like this forces it to get done. I believe it can be done.