This is one of the worst losses I have seen as a sports fan. It will haunt me as a fan for the rest of my life as a sports fan as do the other losses. But I have moved on (almost) for the following reasons.
1. The kids and coaches are the ones who lost. We just root for them. These guys must feel like crap right now. I feel for them. They are young men who lost a game they should have won. But this is their life moment they need to learn from and carry with them for the rest of their lives. We are just watching entertainment, and the show ended in a way we didn't want to see last night. I ripped up my bracket and I'm going back to my book tonight.
2. Pike brought this program to the point that in year 5, we are bummed and upset that the team didn't make the Sweet 16. That's a great accomplishment, looking at what has been done in 5 years. It hurts more for the kids and us fans because these games now mean more. I'll take that over watching a program that was a doormat or always falling short and settling for the NIT.
3. I'm excited for the next year and next 5 years. Pike is going to keep putting together teams we can be proud of. In some seasons, it might come together. Next year might be that year. But in the next 5 years, I'm betting that Pike gets a team in the NCAA tournament at least 2 times. And maybe they make the Sweet 16 once in the next 5 years. And maybe they don't. But compared to how it has been for 30 years, I'll take what we have to look forward to the next 5 years.
4. The what-if game will just drive me nuts. What if they won? What if they beat Syracuse? What if this was not just a Sweet 16 team but an Elite 8 team? How different would it be to see an Elite-8 Banner for 2021 instead of a 2nd Round Banner for 2021? How different would the future of the program be if they won just this ONE GAME! Well what if they got a bad draw and lost the first round? What if these guys never overcame that rough spot in the middle of the season and didn't make it this year. It played out how it played out, without any contribution from me. When I walk into the RAC one day in the future for a home game and see the 2021 banner, I won't look at it as a symbol of a failed season. I won't look at this team and this season as a failed one like some of you posted.
This was a fun season, and it has been a fun 2 seasons of watching this crew and writing about it with you guys. I have been a fan only since 1998, so for some of you, this NCAA appearance means even more and I'm happy for you. I look forward to more fun times in the future with you. And thanks to the coaches, staff and players who brought us all of this fun in the last 2 years. You will be legends at the RAC for the rest of your lives. If you ever come back for the game, you will get a standing ovation. If I ever cross paths with any of you, I'll be clapping and saying "thank you."
1. The kids and coaches are the ones who lost. We just root for them. These guys must feel like crap right now. I feel for them. They are young men who lost a game they should have won. But this is their life moment they need to learn from and carry with them for the rest of their lives. We are just watching entertainment, and the show ended in a way we didn't want to see last night. I ripped up my bracket and I'm going back to my book tonight.
2. Pike brought this program to the point that in year 5, we are bummed and upset that the team didn't make the Sweet 16. That's a great accomplishment, looking at what has been done in 5 years. It hurts more for the kids and us fans because these games now mean more. I'll take that over watching a program that was a doormat or always falling short and settling for the NIT.
3. I'm excited for the next year and next 5 years. Pike is going to keep putting together teams we can be proud of. In some seasons, it might come together. Next year might be that year. But in the next 5 years, I'm betting that Pike gets a team in the NCAA tournament at least 2 times. And maybe they make the Sweet 16 once in the next 5 years. And maybe they don't. But compared to how it has been for 30 years, I'll take what we have to look forward to the next 5 years.
4. The what-if game will just drive me nuts. What if they won? What if they beat Syracuse? What if this was not just a Sweet 16 team but an Elite 8 team? How different would it be to see an Elite-8 Banner for 2021 instead of a 2nd Round Banner for 2021? How different would the future of the program be if they won just this ONE GAME! Well what if they got a bad draw and lost the first round? What if these guys never overcame that rough spot in the middle of the season and didn't make it this year. It played out how it played out, without any contribution from me. When I walk into the RAC one day in the future for a home game and see the 2021 banner, I won't look at it as a symbol of a failed season. I won't look at this team and this season as a failed one like some of you posted.
This was a fun season, and it has been a fun 2 seasons of watching this crew and writing about it with you guys. I have been a fan only since 1998, so for some of you, this NCAA appearance means even more and I'm happy for you. I look forward to more fun times in the future with you. And thanks to the coaches, staff and players who brought us all of this fun in the last 2 years. You will be legends at the RAC for the rest of your lives. If you ever come back for the game, you will get a standing ovation. If I ever cross paths with any of you, I'll be clapping and saying "thank you."