Not-so-agonizing defeat ... and a victory

Ah yes, it's March Madness time, one of my favorite times of year. I've changed my approach to watching the NCAA Tournament. I view it just to see great efforts by great (and unexpectedly great) teams in great games — instead of emotionally investing myself in one team or another.

OK, that last part I put on hold Friday morning, because the forces of my alma mater-in-law, Cindy Lou's Utah State Aggies (a No. 11 seed), were up against the Marquette Golden Eagles (a No. 6 seed) out of the big, bad, Big East Conference. I don't personally know anyone who's attended Marquette —though there are Miami Heat star Dwyane Wyade and Chris Farley's character in "Tommy Boy." (Farley was a Marquette grad in real life.) 

Cindy Lou and I, along with two of her co-workers who are True Blue Aggies, gathered at Chili's to watch the intense, neck-and-neck second half of a game in which USU once trailed by 14. The Aggies battled back to eventually tie the game — and then, on the strength of a three-point play by lone senior Gary Wilkinson (the WAC conference player of the year, who has quite the story) plus a 3-ball by Jared "Don't call me Dan" Quayle, USU went up by 6 with just about five minutes to play.

USU's Gary Wilkinson / Deseret News photo

Marquette called a timeout and apparently made some good adjustments, because the Golden Eagles forced USU into some shots that the Aggies really shouldn't have taken and regained the lead.

The Aggies weren't finished. Deep into the final minute of the game, USU trailed by 3. Wilkinson — a center, mind you — got the ball on the wing just outside the 3-point line. He started to drive to the basket, then stopped, pulled back and launched the potential game-tying shot.

It was a brilliant play-call by legend-in-the-making Aggie coach Stew Morrill. Wilkinson is a tall center, why would he be shooting the biggest 3-pointer of the game? (Gee, I don't know)

But I digress ... it was a brilliant play because 1. Wilkinson can and has hit his share of 3-pointers, and 2. It made Marquette think he would drive toward the basket and kick it out to one of the Aggies' usual suspects from beyond the arc — such as Tyler Newbold or Stavon Williams.

It was a well-designed play, but the last shot of Wilkinson's career clanged off the front of the rim.

Marquette prevailed 58-57. There's no shame in that, and there's hope for the future, as USU brings back just about all of its players (except Wilkinson) from a 30-5 team.

And whereas some other colleges in our state whose names (U. of Utah) we won't (BYU) mention lost by 13 points each to lower-seeded teams, USU just barely fell to a N0. 6 seed. The Aggies, their fans and alumni (including dear Cindy Lou) can hold their heads up high.

And in other news about successful college basketball teams from schools with which the SLC Trishmans are affiliated ... I'm currently taking a class at Salt Lake Community College, and guess who just won the national championship for junior colleges?

DJ Wright of SLCC / Deseret News photo

That's right, DJ Wright, it's SLCC! Go Bruins! (No, not you, UCLA. You received a beatdown from Villanova, a Pennsylvania school).

Lest we forget, our neighbors a few blocks down the street, the West High Panthers, won the Utah 4A state championship by beating defending champion Provo. I occasionally run around the track at West, and we know several good kids who attend the school. It's significant because the school's enrollment has increased to where it will be in 5A next year, and who knows when West will get a shot at a title again?

We are (affiliated with or live close to) the champions, my friends.

Congratulations to all. And those are our shining moments.