Oakland's March Madness run ends, but memories endure

Oakland's brief yet unforgettable NCAA Tournament run is what March basketball is all about.

Why it matters: The Golden Grizzlies captured the nation's adoration as they flirted with the Sweet 16, eventually losing to NC State Saturday in overtime .

Between the lines: The underdog Grizzlies had the elements of a March Madness Cinderella story: A veteran coach reaching career heights , a star in Trey Townsend whose parents played at Oakland and an unheralded sharpshooter, Jack Gohlke , whose 10 three-pointers helped bury No. 3 Kentucky in the first round.

Context: It was Oakland's best season ever, the Detroit News declared .

• The Grizzlies won regular-season and tournament championships in the Horizon League before taking down Kentucky for the program's first-ever win in the NCAA tourney's round of 64.

What they're saying: Coach Greg Kampe said this team was special because the players all cared about each other.

• "It was a joy in this day and age to walk into the office every day and know that I'm lucky I get to go in that gym and be with this group of kids. And that's probably what hurts the most right now, is I know that that's over," he said after the game .

Zoom out: All of the in-state schools playing in the men's and women's NCAA Tournaments have been eliminated.

• Michigan State started strong but couldn't match North Carolina's shot making, losing 85-69 in the second round Saturday .
• On the women's side, the Spartans lost to North Carolina , 59-56, and Kansas beat the Wolverines , 81-72 — both in the first round.

The bottom line: Our schools didn't last long, but the excitement and joy from Oakland's tournament run left enduring memories.

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