The past couple of weeks were filled with basketball excitement. Unless you care nothing about sports, you couldn’t help but be wrapped up in the excitement. Depending on who is your favorite team, you had an exciting run. My (men’s) teams were Virginia, North Carolina State, and Duke, in that order. Virginia fell early, then Duke. That left NCSU, and what a run they had!  Although it was unlikely that NCSU would be the ultimate winner, many rooted for them to be, and they made it to the Final Four. The words of DJ Horne seemed to forecast a win: “Why Not Us?” Why not, indeed?!  

The excitement NCSU generated, especially with the two DJ’s, DJ Burns, Jr. and DJ Horne, was palpable. Each win signaled an unlikely possibility that they could go all of the way. Many who remembered the Cardiac Pack of 1983 yearned for a repeat performance.  But unfortunately, it was not to be. NCSU lost to Purdue in the Final Four.

The Cardiac Pack was defeated, but not its spirit. Until the very last minute, the team fought to win. The “Why Not Us?” words of DJ Horne rang loud and clear until the very end. There was no joy in seeing The University of Connecticut defeat Purdue even though Purdue had defeated NCSU. The NCSU team gave their fans an unlikely run to the Final Four, and that was what mattered. The team spirit that permeated the courts will long be remembered, as will the dream that the team would go all the way. Although several days have passed since NCSU lost to Purdue, the joy the fans experienced along the way is still present. The NCSU players played their hearts out, and their run will long be remembered.

The Women’s teams also played great games and are to be commended for how they played, and not just for their wins. Never before has there been such interest in the Women’s basketball games and tournaments. The NCSU Women’s basketball team made it to the Final Four, losing to South Carolina, who then went on to win the championship.     

What remains of NCSU’s Men’s and Women’s run to the final four is a testament to drive, teamwork, and sheer will. The teams are to be commended for how far they made it, and not grieved for their losses.

We would be well served to ask the question DJ Horne asked, “Why Not Us?”  Whatever we are striving for, “Why Not Us?”