In professional sports, there are no moral victories; you either win or you don't, and if you don't, well, why aren't you winning, loser? Fortunately, though the participants would likely deny it to the death, there are moral victories in the NCAA Tournament. Western Kentucky just captured one of them.

(Disclaimer: Rest of post hokey and/or sentimental. Be forewarned.)

In no way, shape, or form, should Western Kentucky have given CBS a reason to switch from Louisville-Tennessee to the Hilltoppers' sure blowout with UCLA, but they did, even after being down at halftime, and even after being roundly squashed for nearly every minute of the first half. Instead of shrinking away and admitting their situation, the Hilltoppers fought back, closing the lead to four with just minutes left and fighting until the final ten-point deficit. 

Western Kentucky was never going to beat UCLA. That they challenged the Bruins for so long, so valiantly pursued a hopeless goal for so long, well, here's to you, Western Kentucky. Namaste.

Oh, and about Louisville-Tennessee: Yikes. The Cardinals couldn't hold on to the ball if Rick Pitino's tailor's life depended on it, and still Tennessee couldn't close the deficit. Starting 3-16 will do that to you. We'll miss you, Brucers.

Related: The Big Dance