Shelden Williams was one of the lone bright spots for Duke. Williams single handedly kept the Blue Devils in the game with 23 points and 13 boards, but he did not have enough help from his "supporting cast."

I watched the game with my good friend Marcus, a Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native and die-hard LSU Tigers fan. Marcus is as big of a sports freak as I am, so this gave me an opportunity to see glimpses of myself during a big, nerve-wracking game. It made me feel like a normal and adequate adult to see my friend get so nervous that he was sick to his stomach, so worked up that his palms were sweaty and clammy, and so fired up that he couldn't sit down for the last 5-minutes of the game.

After the game, Marcus began to receive more congratulatory phone calls than he did after the birth of his 2-month-old son. First, his twin brother, an LSU graduate, called geeked up on a "Great Eight" adrenaline rush. Then, his father called so excited and talking so loudly that I could hear every word he was saying.

I left shortly after to allow Marcus to field more calls and to take the win in. I told him congratulations and to enjoy the ride. An unexpected run through the tournament is one of life's sweeter blessings, and it must be properly savored.

I would feel remorse if I didn't mention this: Dad Sandwasher predicted on December 31, 2005, after the LSU/OSU game, that LSU would make a run to the "Final Four."