Brunker is a member of The San Diego Union-Tribune’s community advisory board. He is the principal at michaelbrunker.net, a former YMCA executive director and a former basketball coach at San Diego State University. He lives in the knolls of Del Cerro.

“And you need blind faith

No false hope

Do you have blind faith?

No false hope

Where is your blind faith?

No false hope

Open your eyes

Step into the light

Open your eyes, step into the light”

— from “Congregation” by Foo Fighters

I had it.

I believed we could win. Time and time again, our Aztecs proved a setback was nothing but a setup for a comeback. In the Final Four, Florida Atlantic missed a jumper with 10 seconds to go and a one-point lead. Nathan Mensah grabs the rebound and makes a clean outlet pass to Lamont Butler.

Over the next nine seconds, we all witnessed what happens when you have blind faith and no false hope.

The coach later said he did not call a timeout because he did not have any more plays. Butler showed he did not hope he could make the game-winning shot that showed up as No. 1 on the “SportsCenter” Top 10. He believed.

And when down 60-55 with 5:19 remaining in the championship game against UConn, I’m sure the thought crossed many minds that we could win one more time.

Coach Brian Dutcher and the entire Aztec basketball family captivated the greater San Diego region and beyond during their joyful journey to the NCAA Basketball Championship.

This includes every player who has ever worn an Aztec uniform and the fans who watched them play in Peterson Gym, Bob Breitbard’s Sports Arena and Viejas Arena.

Creon Dorsey lives in Houston and was at the Final Four. So was Aztec legend Michael Cage. Dorsey was the point guard on the 1985 team coached by Smokey Gaines. I was an assistant coach on that team that was the last to appear in an NCAA tournament until a Steve Fisher-led squad returned in 2002. It happened twice before in 1975 and 1976 under coach Tim Vezie. Overall, San Diego State now has 15 Division 1 NCAA appearances since 1975.

San Diego State is building a reputation, not resting on one. In 2023, the Aztecs reached rare air. There are currently 363 Division 1 college basketball teams. Every team that starts an NCAA season wants to get into the Final Four.

Since 1939, there have been 23 teams who have won only one national championship. Arizona (1997), Arkansas, Baylor, Cal (1959), City College of New York, Georgetown, Holy Cross, LaSalle, Loyola, Marquette (1977), Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina State, Ohio State, Oregon, Stanford, Syracuse, UNLV (1990), Utah (1944), UTEP (Texas Western 1966), Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming (1943). This includes lots of familiar SDSU opponents from Western Athletic Conference seasons past and Pac-12 foes — the ones with the year of their sole national title after their names.

Then there is Marquette.

In 1977, Smokey and I were assistants to Dick Vitale at the University of Detroit. Back then only 32 teams were selected to the NCAA Tournament. We made it to the Sweet 16 and lost to then No. 1-ranked University of Michigan by five points. Michigan was eliminated in the next round by UNC-Charlotte, which lost to Marquette in the semis, and in Al McGuire’s final game as coach, the Warriors beat North Carolina in the championship game.

We beat Marquette earlier that season in Milwaukee. The Warriors have not been back to the championship game since 1977.

Fourteen schools have won more than one with UCLA leading the way with 11. The Bruins’ last appearance was in 1995.

So, who celebrates second place?

San Diego State joins Dayton, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Indiana State, Iowa, Jacksonville, Kansas State, NYU, Purdue, Seattle, Seton Hall, St. John’s, Texas Tech, Washington State, and West Virginia, which all finished as runner-up in their only appearance in the national championship game.

I believe we will be back.

The formula for success between the lines is simple. The team that runs the court, guards somebody and makes their layups better than the opponent usually ends up on top on the scoreboard.

After winning nine games in a row, losing the last one is never fun.

It happens.

When you listen to the comments from the coach and the players after losing the championship game, San Diego State has proven itself to be winners in the biggest game of all — the game of life. All took responsibility for the outcome and praised the play of their victorious opponent.

Because they did, many more are now Aztecs For Life.