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Cinderella run for the ages ends, but UMBC future just begins

The UMBC Retrievers will not win the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
Credit: Jared C. Tilton
CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 16: K.J. Maura #11 and teammate Jourdan Grant #5 of the UMBC Retrievers celebrate their 74-54 victory over the Virginia Cavaliers during 1st round of 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

The UMBC Retrievers will not win the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.

But you know what?

They gave us more in a single NCAA tournament weekend than most programs will in a lifetime.

First off, I want to congratulate my fellow Archbishop High School Cav alum, senior guard Jourdan Grant, for taking down the highly overrated Virginia Cavs, well done!

Let us take a moment to truly let that sink in... the UMBC (University of Maryland Back-Up College as bitter Terp fans like to call them) Retrievers did the unthinkable.

The first men's No. 16 seed to beat a No. 1 in an NCAA tournament.

Though all our brackets may have been busted, it was well worth the history.

The UMBC Athletics Twitter account had some fun with all those who doubted the Retrievers:

Heads may have hung low for the team after the tough loss to 9-seeded Kansas during the trip back home, yet the program showed that they can hang with the big boys.

The Retrievers arrived home early Monday morning and the campus-feeling could not have been more bitter sweet.

Students came out in the wee hours of the night, in the frigid-cold, to show their support for the team as they returned from Charlotte, North Carolina.

“We just witnessed history,” said UMBC student Rachel Daniel. “Just Friday night, I mean, there’s reason to celebrate, even though we didn’t win the game. We made history and I think that’s absolutely amazing.”

“I’m proud of my guys, man,” senior guard Jourdan Grant. “We made history. Can’t be mad at that. I wouldn’t want to go out with another set of guys, man. I love these guys to the moon and back. This season, we’ll remember it for the rest of our lives.”

Without question, this will be remembered for ALL of our lives. UMBC will be the talk anytime a tournament statistic is brought up.

They are the "1" in the 1-135 record against #1 seeds.

UMBC showed it has established a winning culture.

If it can keep Head Coach Ryan Odom for a while, I guarantee this is not the last time we will see the Retrievers appear in the Big Dance.

But for now, UMBC will go on with the celebration!

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