So, Marquette lost by 33 points in the Final Four to Kansas Saturday evening, so what?

Yeah, the Golden Eagle players like Dwyane Wade and coaches like special assistant Trey Schwab were probably all very distraught afterwards, but they'll be smiling again soon, hopefully.

You see, most teams can celebrate a Final Four appearance by thinking, "Wow, next year we'll be back, we'll be better." But then again, most teams aren't like Marquette.

While Wade, Marquette's star guard, was working on his game all season in hopes of leading his team to victory against the major programs in the tournament, Schwab was working out in hopes of gaining his strength back after undergoing constant tests and treatments as he prepared to do battle with a deadly disease.

Just over two years ago, Schwab was told he'd have a 40 percent chance of living to see the end of this year.

But that didn't stop him from heading to New Orleans this past weekend.

Plain and simple, the man has courage, just like his team.

He is an underdog and has been fighting an uphill battle for years, just like his team fought its way through a tough season and into the Final Four.

Yet there is one major difference between the Golden Eagles future and Schwab's: Because the team lost, they will return next year with hopes of returning to the Big Dance. But Schwab's battle is a matter of life or death.

Schwab, was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in December 2001.

The disease halts the body's ability to produce oxygen by attacking the air sacs in the lungs. It is incurable.

Schwab's medication does not include a few aspirin and vitamins, but injecting himself three times a week with a drug that slows down the scarring of his lungs called Actimmune and taking seven prescription drugs daily.

And though he cannot fly (commercially) because he must keep a liquid oxygen tank with him wherever he goes, Schwab insists on attending every game.

That's why Schwab drove down to New Orleans for the Final Four this past weekend, though he is in charge of the team's travel. Schwab won't let this disease stop him, much like the Golden Eagles wouldn't let Pitt or Kentucky stand in their way.

Yet being with his team as they reached the Final Four for the first time since 1977 isn't the only reason for a little light in Schwab's life. He was recently moved to the number one donor spot for his blood type after 16 months.

That meant that at any time, the transplant that he so desperately needs could have become available, and Schwab would have had to leave his team, and board a private jet to get to Wisconsin where he would undergo surgery.

But unfortunately, Schwab didn't get that phone call he is waiting for, and the Golden Eagles didn't cut any more nets down.

Yet Schwab and his team aren't letting the loss stop them from moving on, and that's what makes Schwab's story so remarkable, regardless of what life has thrown at him, he takes it in stride and tries to carry on.

And that's what he and the rest of the Golden Eagles' staff and players brought to the Final Four.

That idea of never giving up, just going about business as usual on their way to their most successful season since Al McGuire was at the helm more than 20 years ago.

Schwab didn't have to go this weekend, and maybe he shouldn't have.

Sure he realizes that he has been putting his life at risk for his job, basketball, which is only a game.

But that's all life is, right?

A game.

So no matter who cuts down the nets tonight in New Orleans, Schwab is the true champion in my book.

For more information on organ and tissue donations log on to www.organdonor.gov

Jonathan Malavolti is a State News intern. Reach him at malavol2@msu.edu.