PHILADELPHIA, March 19 -- Coach Jeff Jones summed it up best when he said the AU men's basketball team left everything on the court. Every player played his heart out and gave it his all, but in the end the team couldn't stack up against the Villanova University Wildcats.
One year ago the AU Eagles were one of the only teams in Division I basketball that had never made the NCAA tournament. Now a year later, they have made a back-to-back appearance.
Not only did the Eagles get the chance to attend, but they were able to contend in both meetings. Last year, AU traveled to Birmingham, Ala., and almost shocked the University of Tennessee Volunteers. This year, it was a shorter trip to Philadelphia to play Villanova. The only difference was AU showed up and took control of the game, at one point holding a 14-point lead.
The Eagles went into halftime with a 10-point lead and looked like they were Michigan State or the University of North Carolina on the court. They not only moved the ball well, but they were also able to get the ball to their leading scorers and knock down clutch shots. Reality quickly came crashing down, however, as Villanova went on a 15-2 run in the second half and the resultant victory.
All is not lost. In two years, AU has done nothing but improve. No matter what any of the pundits say, AU has something to be proud of. Last year, their goal was to make it to the tournament; they accomplished that. This year their goal was to win an NCAA tournament game. While they did not accomplish that goal, they came pretty darn close.
A No. 14 seed upset is almost unheard of in the NCAA tournament, but it has happened in the past.
Every year there seems to be a Cinderella team - last year it was Davidson College, while three years ago it was George Mason University. This year, it seemed like it was going to be AU's turn - but it just wasn't in the cards. The three key players: seniors Brian Gilmore, Garrison Carr, and Derrick Mercer. These three have left their mark on the program.
When asked what they would take with them after the game, all three stars said that they were proud to have taken the program this far. Carr echoed the thoughts of all three when he said that he hoped what they have done and the effort they have put it rubs off on the younger players on the team.
To them, just getting to the NCAA tournament again will never be enough. But after they leave, the program will never be the same. They have taken a school that has struggled to recruit as well as make the post-season and put them over the edge. AU has the potential to make a lot of noise in the NCAA in the next few years.
On the other side of the basketball, Villanova got a wake-up call. Picked by many to go to the elite eight or further, Villanova had a lot of confidence coming into the game. To sum up the game from their side of the court, it was a humbling experience. The Wildcats have a long road ahead of them and AU showed them that it wouldn't be an easy one.
Villanova Coach Jay Wright came out into the post-game press conference and had nothing but positive things to say about AU.
Villanova, in the end, was the bigger school. They have a bigger name, bigger student population, bigger conference and bigger budget. It's hard for anyone in the NCAA to compete with the Big East. After all, when George Mason started their magical run, it was against the Big Ten - a conference that is not considered a perennial winner.
No matter how hard the players play or the style of play Jones uses, they will not stack up against a powerhouse conference like the Big East, ACC or SEC. It's not to say that they never will but rather they have a long way to go. The beauty in sports is that anything can happen.
When AU was standing next to Villanova before the tip-off, you could tell the difference between the two squads. Villanova's players were bigger, taller and more seasoned than the Eagles'. It is an unfortunate side effect of the difference in the two conferences.
AU had the opportunity to step up and show the nation that they're a legitimate program. The Eagles did and exceeded many people's expectations. They gave it their all and were not outplayed, but when it comes down to it, the Big East will always be better than the Patriot League.
You can reach this columnist at atomlinson@theeagleonline.com.
Updated on 3/20 at 4:38 p.m.
