SWEET 16 ...

Click on the headline above and you'll be brought back to a few posts from the terrylyons.com blog, the earliest one from October, 2007 when Jay Bilas used his Insider ESPN column to explain the simple philosophy of Davidson basketball under Bob McKillop.

I remember thinking that Davidson had opened the window to NCAA tournament berths a year ago, as the Wildcats ran the table at the Southern Conference before losing to Maryland in the NCAA opening round.

This year, with a year of experience under Stephen Curry's belt, it just might be different.

Indeed it is.

Davidson upended Gonzaga in the first round on Friday, then stared Georgetown down on this Easter Sunday afternoon. I hoped for a good, fast start as I sat down to watch the game with my in-laws in Boston, wife and two daughters each at my side. The kids were quiet and attentive all game long as they knew their Dad was rooting for his longtime friend, confidant and former Holy Trinty HS teacher (and coach) Bob McKillop, the head coach of the Southern Conference champion Davidson Wildcats.

There were some mixed emotions in the family, as my brother-in-law attended Georgetown in the Dikembe Mutombo era. In fact, he was attending the game in Raleigh, NC, and his immediate family found it strange to have a non-Hoya fan in the house.

My friends at CBS Sports did us NO FAVORS, as the Davidson-vs-Georgetown game went into a double-figure Hoya lead during a half-time break that seemed to last an hour. CBS promptly switched over to the Tennessee vs. Butler game that the Vols would eventually win in overtime.

Knowing CBS' mentality of staying with the 'closer' game, and losing some faith and enthusiasm, I made my way up the staircase to the very computer I am typing on right now. A few clicks, a log-in to CBS Sportsline.com and the Hoya lead was down to two. Davidson had just gone on a 9-0 run and the game intensified. CBS switched back to the game and I ran down the stairs to join the rest of the family. It was great, as I coached the team from the couch, suggested pressuring the ball on in-bounds plays, watched as the clock counted its way down and rejoiced as Steph Curry buried a big-time 'three' and a series of free throws. My wife watched at my side, understanding just how close I felt to the Davidson bench.

At one point, early last summer, I told her that I dreamed of taking a full year off from work and thought about a volunteer, assistant coach position just to learn more about the game from the Davidson bench. That was never meant to be, I know, but today, I wondered what it would have been like to be at Coach McKillop's side as his Davidson team upset Georgetown and earned a berth in the NCAA Sweet 16.

Within seconds of the game ending, I left a message on Coach McKillop's mobile phone and glanced down to see a quick half-dozen emails and txt messages loading into my blackberry. A number of friends and co-workers, one as far off as London, England, sent notes of congratulations to me, as they knew of my love and devotion to my former high school mentor and great friend.

For those of you who might wonder, I met Bob McKillop in September, 1974 at Holy Trinity High School on Long Island. He was the JV coach my freshman year and would quickly move up to take the varsity coaching job when I was a sophomore. I was not talented enough to play for Coach McKillop but would somehow, through the years, become very close to him.

We kept in touch, always by phone, rarely email -- mainly because email hadn't been invented in 1977 -- but more out of friendship as the years went by. I loved to hear his voice, and I know, he felt the same way. He knew he had a loyal, trusted friend on the line. We often talked about European basketball and he always had a tidbit of news from his many sources in Europe, such as former players like Marco Baldi, Detlef Musch or Augusto Binelli who had ventured back to the old country to play or coach. Baldi has an administrative position with the Milano team in Italy.

Coach McKillop always kept in touch with his former players and stayed very aware of their lives.

I fit into that category, and I treasure that fact.

While I made dozens of friends at Holy Trinity, Coach McKillop was my true connection. He taught me a lot while I was at school, but taught me more as the years went by. The subjects? Life, loyalty, friendship, returning phone calls promptly, listening, understanding, sharing, doing things for the benefit of others, teaching, coaching, timing, recruiting, respect, faith, understanding the rules and following the rules. I could go on.

A few days after my brother's recent and sudden death, Coach McKillop was on the phone. He knew exactly what to say and how to say it. No tap-dancing. He went straight to the point and put me at ease. He chose the perfect words, spoken just the right way at just the right time.

One of my fondest memories of my years with the NBA and USA Basketball was having Coach McKillop join the USA Basketball contingent at the 2002 World Championship in Indianapolis. He came for three early round games and was a welcome guest, as he had volunteered his time as court coach and assistant coach for some of USA's junior teams. The USA Basketball people loved him, and rightfully so.

I would often champion his cause, but without need, as everyone knew he was one of the top two-or-three basketball coaches in the country, any level, no doubt.

Coach took me aside at the Westin in Indianapolis before he headed off, and we caught up on things, laughing and chatting. It was a special night, and he said some things to me about my role with the United States team, my co-workers and many of the top NCAA administrators that I had worked with over the years. His message was a simple, "keep it up, you are well-liked and appreciated." His words of encouragement meant the world to me.

I have followed the Southern Conference closely these many years, more so as St. John's began to falter in the BIG EAST. I have talked about attending a game at Davidson for years, and that appointment is long over due.

Maybe I should plan a trip to Detroit?

Or, get real greedy, and plan for ...

Stay tuned.