2011 One Shining Moment and our pictures from the Final Four

Its crazy the difference that one year can make.

One year ago at the Final Four, I was a paying customer. I was sitting up the nose bleed section along with the guys from Rush the Court. After the game, we sat on the patio of the Residence Inn as we tried to figure out just what we were going to do to fill the void left in our lives without college hoops. The legendary John Stevens, aka #jstevrtc, had managed to smuggle a 12 pack of Miller Lite cans out of some bar in Indianapolis. It was 5:00 am, and while we were finishing up that now-warm, slightly skunked 12 pack of triple frost-brewed refreshment, we made a decision.

Well, it was more of a drunken toast, but that didn't change the sentiment.

"Next year, we'll be sitting court side."

Fifteen minutes before tip-off of the championship game, I stood with Randy McClure, the fearless leader of RTC, and just marveled. We had made it. It came true. We were sitting court side at the Final Four, covering the biggest game of the year in the sport we both love.

It was humbling.

One of the greatest experiences of my life was watching this year's One Shining Moment from the court at Reliant Stadium amongst the confetti on the court and the former UConn stars and reporters milling about the floor of the arena.

It was surreal. And everything that I hoped it would be.



Hit the jump to see some of our photos from the Final Four: