Overall, the 2007-08 season Navy had would have to be considered a brilliant success, but the way it ended will leave a bitter taste in everyone's mouth until next season.

The Midshipmen were one of the surprise teams this season, going 9-5 in conference and securing the second seed in the league tournament. But instead of a deep playoff run, they got an early ouster in the worst possible way.

After battling through three overtime periods at home against Bucknell, the Middies lost, 87-86, when guard John Griffin banked in a halfcourt shot at the buzzer.

Navy blew a 17-point second-half lead in the game, and also wasted a career effort from guard Greg Sprink, who ended his senior season by scoring a career-high 37 points.

That won't be easy for next year's team to forget, but the Mids will have to put it behind them and continue to focus on what made them successful. The team's four-guard set caused match-up problems for the league, and though they'll be without Sprink next year, the lineup should still be effective.

After years of losing seasons, getting things turned around was only the first step. Now the hard part for Navy and coach Billy Lange will be sustaining that success and building the program into a consistent winner.

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