SEATTLE - We arrived in Seattle and were greeted like champions. We saw a lot of new faces and signed a lot of autographs. This was another level of basketball that many people don't get to see. As we walked through the airport people pointed and whispered as if we had just won the whole thing.
We got our bags and went to the charter bus that waited for us. We went to the hotel that greeted us with the red carpet treatment. Everyone rushed off the bus, got their bags and went to their rooms.
In just a few hours we would be faced with conferences, practices, and game films. The only thing that was different was that we were all eager to do all of them.
We practiced at the Seattle Supersonics' practice gymnasium for one hour. After practice we went back to the hotel and ate and then we were off on our own for the day.
While we were all walking, we saw other players like Ed Cota and Brandon Haywood of the University of North Carolina.
These were players that many of us just saw on television - now they were in front of our eyes and now it was time to prove to people just how good we were too.
The morning before the game we had breakfast then a light shoot around. We proceeded back to the hotel and rested for our game. When it was time to have our pregame meal people and laughter filled the air as everyone seemed relaxed and ready for the deed of the day.
Getting dressed for the game, tension was in the air as every individual was thinking on stategies and getting focused in on his game. We entered the bus where some players had already been sitting for two or three minutes. As each individual sat down they proceeded to laugh and get that comfort level that got them ready for the game.
Getting dressed for the game everyone laughed and joked as if this was just another game on the schedule. As time rolled down to warm up, we got pumped up and ready to prove our point. Emotions ran high and everyone seemed to be ready. We warmed up and proceeded to the bench for the call of the starters. As everyone huddled up we said our traditional saying. Looking in each other's eyes, we knew then that no one was afraid.
As the game got underway we fell short in the beginning but after a halftime speech we seemed to feel the power again, and a 13-point deficit wasn't hard to erase. We fought hard and tied it up, the bench and the crowd began to roar as it looked as if an upset was coming, but the last two minutes we lacked in scoring and our emotions fell as the tempo of the game fell back into Stanford's hands.
Everyone saw the happiness leave right before their eyes as Stanford would get out of it by the skin of their teeth. As we entered the locker room faces began to drop, but would drop for a short period of time, as everyone was happy about the effort they put out. That showed the world that we were just as good as any.
"This being my last year of collegiate basketball, all of my hopes and dreams have been fulfilled. This is something I will remember for the rest of my life," said Orko Guyton, a senior center from Columbus.
The bus ride back to the hotel was short. Everyone started to feel better and more relaxed. This would be the end of a dream season, but this would set a mark that people would remember for a long time; and for the ten players coming back, this was just a starting block for us. We have gotten a lot of experience from this and hope to be even better next season.