Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Northwestern felt the exhilaration of a commanding lead in the NCAA tournament. Coaches, players and fans alike endured the jaw-clenching moments while the opponent fought back. They experienced the mental strain of a back-and-forth final minute.
Fittingly enough, the Wildcats enjoyed some luck, too.
It took 78 years for the program to reach March Madness, but Northwestern finally experienced the thorough emotional drain that only the biggest stage can provide.
And thanks to a 68-66 first-round victory over ninth-seeded Vanderbilt on Thursday, everyone involved with the program—both directly and indirectly, from coaches and an NBA dad to players and a celebrity mom—has a new appreciation for "survive and advance.