Northwestern Finally Gets Its Shining Moment as NCAA Tourney's Feel-Good Story

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."

Regardless of what happens next, 2017 will always be the year the Wildcats officially made their mark on college basketball.

NCAA March Madness provided highlights of the closing action:

It was never going to be easy, because why would it be?

Chris Collins' team held a 15-point lead with 13:40 remaining in the second half, but Vanderbilt ripped off a 12-0 run before the clock ticked below the 11-minute mark. Eighth-seeded Northwestern managed to retain its lead until the closing minutes.

Riley LaChance buried a go-ahead three-pointer with 1:36 to play, leaving Northwestern in a state of disbelief. Then Bryant McIntosh responded with a jumper to give the Wildcats a 63-62 edge and an unmatched level of elation.

All aboard the roller coaster.

Vanderbilt snatched the lead, gave it up and took it back during the next 57 seconds, setting up a bizarre finish. Vandy's Matthew Fisher-Davis inexplicably committed an intentional foul that put McIntosh—an 86.1 percent free-throw shooter—at the line for two. He hit both for a one-point lead.

The Ringer's Rodger Sherman put the moment into perspective:

LaChance, despite attacking the rim and scoring on the previous possession, settled for a deep three-point attempt six feet beyond the arc and misfired. A foul, one made free throw and an errant desperation heave later, Northwestern celebrated the victory.

It's often painless to pull for the underdog or a unique story. Northwestern fit both categories heading into Thursday's clash, since Vanderbilt was a two-point favorite, per OddsShark.

Save for the annoyance Northwestern alums provided on social media—every feel-good story needs an antagonist, however harmless—the Wildcats are a great story.

After all, it's not like Northwestern has regularly sniffed success on the basketball court. In the last 48 years, the program has weathered 37 losing campaigns. Plus, the recent trip to the Big Ten semifinals was its longest conference tournament run ever.

No wonder the alums discarded any attempt to remain objective—which is OK; it's just sports. You could sense the emotion from Doug Collins, who poured his heart into his son Chris' finest moment, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, cheering on her son Charlie Hall's team:

Still, that shouldn't overshadow what the Northwestern players accomplished.

According to Sports Reference, 2016-17 marked only the fifth season the Wildcats earned an Associated Press poll ranking. They've also set a school record with 24 wins.

Next up is top-seeded Gonzaga, a 33-1 team with its own unique set of historical woes to overcome. So will the Wildcats feel the unbridled joy of a major upset? Or will Mark Few's squad administer the first dose of NCAA disappointment?

For everyone on the roster, the result matters greatly. Championships are the ultimate goal, and this team is still alive.

However, a loss won't change how supporters remember this season. It won't change how the Wildcats have cemented 2016-17 as the year "[TEAM] won the national title—and Northwestern made some long-awaited progress!"

This is already a feel-good story. Any more success that happens from here is a bonus chapter.

All statistics courtesy of KenPom or Sports Reference, unless otherwise noted. All recruiting information via Scout, unless otherwise noted.

Follow Bleacher Report writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.