But, as I argued earlier in the week, WKU was no David, and this was not some “lesser” team.  Down 21 points to arguably the premier defensive team in the entire country, the gritty Toppers hung a 58-spot on UCLA in the second half.  FIFTY-EIGHT!  In one half!   Guess how many points UCLA allowed PER GAME this season?  You guessed it: 58.  The Toppers stormed back from 21-points down, and had an A.J. Slaughter three in the air that would have cut the lead to one if it had gone down.  It didn’t.  And, UCLA followed that up with a desperation three at the end of the shot clock that somehow found its way into the net and pushed the lead back to seven.  That was the dagger.

But, you can read game recaps anywhere.  That’s not the focus here.  The focus is this: over the summer, during times of yard-mowing, car-washing, BBQ-ing, Frisbee-tossing, golfing, beach-laying, and other far-from-winter-sports activities, the wonder of this season will settle in on Hilltopper nation.  The toughness and resilience displayed by this team is the good stuff of sport—the stuff that inspires us to work harder, to come together, to rely on others, and to appreciate the wins and losses of not only sports, but life.  This was a true basketball team.  It was composed of talented players, but it was a “team” in every sense of the word from the coach to the walk-ons.  That is what Hilltopper basketball is all about.