Tears and giants tell the story. They mark the path of a wild and winding weekend that saw four Western teams reach new heights, sink to demoralizing lows and regain the swagger of programs past. The madness spanned nearly the width of our nation. The emotions stretched even farther.

His grip tightened around a pen. His foot scuffed across the hardwood court. His head dipped. And his lids slammed shut, clamped as if the scene would change when they reopened. He couldn’t believe it. Game One: 26-30 … Not the start he had hoped for. Game Two: 28-30 … It couldn’t be happening.

NASHVILLE – Virginia White’s hands trembled slightly as she raised a cigarette to her lips Sunday evening. She sat on a bench outside Vanderbilt Medical Center, taking a brief respite from the swirling chaos of the previous 16 hours.

Tears and giants tell the story. They mark the path of a wild and winding weekend that saw four Western teams reach new heights, sink to demoralizing lows and regain the swagger of programs past. The madness spanned nearly the width of our nation. The emotions stretched even farther.