GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Moments after Pitt's 84-73 loss to Xavier in the NCAA Tournament second round Sunday at Greensboro Coliseum were filled with sorrow.
But, at the same time, love was at the forefront of reflection.
That love which has been there from the coaches to the players, from the players to the coaches, from the team to the fans, and the mutual love its fans gave back.
It all ended, as Jeff Capel said afterward, in an "abrupt" fashion, but isn't that how all of these go?
His program, once treading at the bottom of the ACC, blasted through every roadblock which was cemented in front of it, re-captured the hearts of the city which had let it go for years, and rode the wave for much longer than anybody ever could have expected.
As one chapter closes, another optimistic one opens.
"It's funny, because every time we get beat by a team that played better than us, I kind of just accept it, but you're never going to play with this group again, and this group has literally changed my life," Blake Hinson said in the postgame open locker room. "It hurts, but that's basketball, and that's the sport we love."
I had to follow up with Hinson: "How have they changed your life?"
Hinson took a deep breath.
"They brought me out of my childhood apartment and brought me to the NCAA Tournament," Hinson said. "That's how they changed my life. They accepted me, and they let me be a big part of the team."
That's what this is about.
This run was life-changing for everyone.
That extends to the players, the coaches, and even athletic director Heather Lyke, who was the one who stuck by Capel, even after four losing seasons which seemingly got worse by the year.
Through all of the program's struggles, there was always a plan in place. There was always belief. There was always trust.
It all started with Lyke.
"This is one of the most selfless teams I've ever been around," Lyke said after Sunday's loss. "Genuinely a joy to be around these kids. They care about one another, they care about Pitt, they're unselfish in their play, they're unselfish at the end of the games, at the beginning of the games, and warmups. It's just a great group of kids to be around. I'm really proud of them. I hope that they recognize what an incredible jolt of energy and life and pride that they did instill in our fanbase. The fanbase has never gone away -- they still watch. We're really grateful."
They recognize it.
It was through the bonds created in a rapid fashion from a late start in October and woven throughout many highs and lows from the onset of the season, from the off-the-court dealings of Dior Johnson to Will Jeffress' foot surgery to John Hugley IV's knee sprain, departure from the team, and transferring away from the program on the afternoon the Panthers were set to tip off their road in March Madness Tuesday.
Take the words from Jamarius Burton, the All-ACC guard and captain of this team who at all times had the team's emotions in check as its unquestioned leader.
"I'm very proud of this group," Burton said. "You know, when you look at the beginning of the season, picked 14th in our league, being disrespected all year, being able to be a collective unit and fight 'til the end, it means a lot. ... It's bittersweet. Obviously we wish to continue fighting together, but there is a sense of happiness that we have a brotherhood that we can carry on beyond today."
And from Nelly Cummings, the Midland, Pa., native who came home to make right by the very program he grew up watching in his final season playing college basketball.
"The bond we created is something special," Cummings said. "We didn't know each other a year ago, so for us to accomplish the things we've accomplished, you know, be as connected as we are, deal with all the adversity we dealt with, and still be able to come out here and make it almost to the Sweet 16, it's definitely something that none of us should take lightly. You know, it sucks right now. It stings we just lost, but when you have a little bit of time to reflect, we accomplished a lot of things, so I think the bond that we have is definitely a reason for that.
"... Super proud. We accomplished a lot this year. It still stings that we just lost, but the fact that we accomplished he things that we accomplished, it's definitely nothing we're ever going to forget, and I think it's something the city of Pittsburgh will always remember, too."
And from Nike Sibande, the former Miami of Ohio transfer who fought through a torn ACL last season, accepted a new role, and became the ACC Sixth Man of the Year this season.
"It's been ups and downs this year, but it's been an amazing experience, and it's something we can hang on to and learn from for the rest of our lives and our future," Sibande said. "So it's going to be amazing when we can bring our kids back to Pittsburgh. We've got a banner now saying we made March Madness, so that's something we can bring them back to and show them. I wish we could have made it farther, but it's been an amazing experience to be here, for sure."
And from Greg Elliott, the sharpshooter who arrived from Marquette with a piece of his own unfinished business.
"The future is definitely bright for Pitt basketball because we have coach Capel at the helm," Elliott said. "He wasn't ACC Coach of the Year for nothing. He knows what he is doing. You know, like (Burton, Cummings, and Sibande) just said, we're back on a national stage now. Everybody knows who Pitt is again. So if you want to come make noise, why wouldn't you come to Pitt?"
And from Aidan Fisch, the manager-turned-walk-on-turned-scholarship player and Murrysville, Pa., native who gave us one of the season's most memorable moments with his bucket at the end of the home finale against Syracuse.
"Obviously with any team you're going to have some type of bond, but I think we've built something stronger than just with your regular team," Fisch said. "The ups and downs that we had, the adversity, and the odds stacked against us, to make it as far as we did was unbelievable. ... We brought Pitt basketball back. That's all I can think of."
And from Federiko Federiko, a junior college transfer who surged as one of the best defenders in the ACC and was the anchor for Pitt's frontcourt as a sophomore.
"Super proud," Federiko said. "Great leaders, learned a lot. We were together a lot. My brothers for life."
And from Guillermo and Jorge Diaz Graham, the Spanish freshman twins which became lovable faces for the program throughout the run into March.
"I'm just sad, really sad, but not for me, but for these guys," Guillermo said. "This is the last college game for them, and it really hurts because we formed such a good family here, and realizing that they've got to leave is just really, really hard. ... I'll remember (the seniors) as like brothers. When you're in a locker room like this for a whole year, you just remember that it's part of the family. All of these guys supporting us, from Day 1 that I was playing, all of them being like, 'you're a freshman. We trust you.' Just so, so grateful for them."
Added Jorge: "I'm having a flash of the whole season. It's been awesome for us, and I'm so grateful for this team and how we fought. It hurts, and I think we could've got to the Elite Eight maybe, but Xavier played a hell of a game. We fought, but we couldn't get the win. I'm just sad because it's the last game with these guys. I've really enjoyed this season, and I've learned a lot from them. I'm just super grateful for this team and coach for giving us this opportunity."
And from K.J. Marshall, the walk-on who provided the energy and passion for this team behind the scenes in which ever way he could.
"I have a lifelong bond with each, single one of them outside of basketball," Marshall said. "Nelly's like my big brother. Greg, Nike, especially Fisch. I've known Fisch for years now. For it to get to this point where we're not going to get to share the same uniform, be in the same locker room and see each other every day, life goes on. It's heartbreaking. Each and every single one of them, extremely proud. They will forever have their mark in Pitt basketball history, and I feel like they created one of the best legacies that you could have as a Panther."
And from Nate Santos, who had key stretches in which he played a supplementary role to the major contributors.
"It's definitely gut-wrenching, especially when you think about the seniors" Santos said. "You really feel for them because I think we could've gone a lot further that we did. It's sad, but I really feel for those guys that played their last game ... Everybody doubted us, we proved them wrong."
And from Jeffress, who I shared about 5 minutes with at his locker stall as he fought off tears.
"I'm feeling a lot," Jeffress said. "I'll start off describing that this was definitely a tough year for me. Sitting out and just wishing that I could be out on the court, playing with the guys on the court, especially early in the year, feeling out the chemistry in the locker room and throughout the season understanding how special this team could be. I just really wanted to be out there, and just watching this program blossom, I've been here for three years, my first two years were really rough, not only for me, but for the entire program. Just to pretty much be a part of the rebuilding process of getting to this feeling, to this type of dance is something that's definitely been a big part of my life.
"Definitely to be sidelined for one of these type seasons was really hard, and I've had a lot of emotion throughout the entire year from the injury to trying to show up and here with my teammates each and every day throughout the year, and I wanted to give them all I had, no matter how much it was, and I did that.
"Very proud (of the seniors). I think this entire team is extremely proud of them, I think the coaches are, I think the fans are, and everything that they brought to this team and this program. All hats off to them for competing until the very end and giving it their all. I've been teammates with Nike for three years, I've been teammates with JB for two, this is my first year with Nelly, but I have a lot of love for those guys, and especially with the couple of those guys sticking out the storm with me, so that really means a lot to me -- that means everything to me."
That makes 12 of Pitt's active players and the university's athletic director which were inside Greensboro Coliseum saying -- in essence -- the same thing. This team was as connected as one team could be. It is the fabric of this very bond which provides optimism into next season and for the foreseeable future of this program.
Capel was the one who made it all happen. It was his urgency in the transfer portal fueled by the backing of Lyke which made all of this possible.
"Everyone in our program, and especially our players, have just done such an amazing job this year," Capel said. "For me as their head coach and for all of our coaching staff, I am so grateful for the journey that they have taken us on, they've allowed us to be a part of. These guys showed up every day with a great attitude, with trying to get better. They were unbelievably together, faced different types of adversity, but never wavered in their commitment to each other and their belief in each other."
Next season's team is going to look different, but it will bring back some of the leadership which served as foundational components for this run into the NCAA Tournament. Hinson, Federiko, the Diaz Graham twins, Marshall, Santos, and Jeffress are all due back. So is Johnson, who was one of the top recruits in the country who redshirted. Vason Stevenson, a walk-on, will be there to support. Jaland Lowe, Carlton Carrington, and Marlon Barnes are all talented signees who are due to join the fray next season.
For now, though, it is a farewell to the 2022-'23 Panthers and the memories which came with them, and it is a looking forward to what is to come in Year 6 under Capel.
