Get to the Final Four.
That’s the goal of every team in America. It’s the goal of every fan base in America. But people focus on the second half of the sentence more than the first, and that’s a mistake.
Get.
In college basketball, that get starts on June 1, when players report for summer drills. Players toil in the offseason behind closed doors, ramping up workouts in late August or September before beginning practice. Then it’s a tip-off, non-conference games, an MTE, and here comes Thanksgiving and Christmas, and a new year brings a slate of conference games. The league race ends in March, and then you start over for a five-day sprint to a conference tournament title.
And then the spotlight shines on March Madness. More eyeballs, more fans, more media. It’s the payoff for the players, coaches, and fans.
Making the Sweet 16 is a big deal. Winning in the Elite Eight and cutting the nets adds more memories. Advancing to the national title game is the achievement of a lifetime, but a title brings immortality.
Joy is found in the journey to get there. It’s the granular details, the day-to-day, the ho-hum, the wins, the crushing losses, the worrying, the debating, the what-ifs, the slog, the race, the celebrations, and the disappointments.
Running it back.
Offseason surgery for J’Wan Roberts and Emanuel Sharp.
Replacing a legend.
Milos breaks his nose and wears a mask for weeks.
Five-star shooting guard Isiah Harwell commits.
Ja’Vier suffers a groin injury, which affects him for weeks.
The A&M exhibition gives a glance at what’s to come.
Jacob McFarland lost for the year.
LJ’s asthma.
The Auburn plane fight and a stunning loss.
Five-star PG Kingston Flemings commits.
Five-star Chris Cenac commits, vaulting UH to #2 nationally in recruiting.
The Vegas disaster. Losses to Alabama and SDSU, both in OT.
4-3.
The streak begins.
Ramon Walker has surgery and, eventually, is ruled out for the season.
Something clicks for Milos.
LJ, J’Wan, and Milos outscore Oklahoma State by themselves.
31-point win over BYU.
Mylik’s emergence.
Ja’Vier becomes a menace off the bench.
J’Wan executes ‘triple’ with :01 left in Orlando.
Milos gets aggressive.
5-second call. J’Wan’s free throws. Milos steal and Mylik’s three – a double-overtime classic at Allen Fieldhouse.
Houston breaks Kansas.
Hitting 13-straight wins in Morgantown.
Overtime heartbreak at Fertitta.
Emanuel’s injury forces him to miss two games.
Coming back and winning at McKale Center.
Milos goes off in Tucson.
J’Wan becomes the winningest player in program history.
Looking forward to Ja’Vier shooting free throws.
On Big Monday, Milos steps up at Tech.
Cryer goes off against Cincinnati.
The Cougars clinch a second-straight Big 12 title.
Cutting down the nets.
Senior night and an emotional embrace between Kelvin and J’Wan.
A beatdown of Kansas.
Cory Rodriguez’s artwork.
JoJo learns to play within himself while not losing his aggression.
Beating Baylor to end the Big 12 season 19-1.
1000 points and 1000 rebounds for #13.
10-0 on the road.
LJ and J’Wan make First-Team All-Big 12.
JoJo wins Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, UH’s second straight.
Quannas is named head coach at Louisiana.
Emanuel comes alive in Kansas City.
J’Wan goes down in a win over Colorado.
Another beatdown of BYU.
Milos erupts in another comeback win over Arizona.
A Big 12 Tournament title, UH’s 3rd Big 12 championship in four chances.
Emanuel wins the championship belt as MOP of the Big 12 tourney.
13-straight wins entering the Dance.
Securing a #1 seed for the third straight year.
Boatracing SIUE.
LJ Cryer explodes vs. Gonzaga in the round of 32.
15-straight wins away from home.
UH’s sixth straight Sweet 16 appearance.
Whether your journey has been season-long or started on March 15, we all got here. And everyone wants to get there.
But that’s the fun. Enjoy the journey.