Spring breaking it on the porch of an Airbnb in Destin, Florida earlier this week, the sounds of birds chirping nearby, a cup of coffee in his hands and his heart bursting with basketball pride, Brandon McKnight started to speak, then stopped.

For the previous two days, McKnight couldn’t stop smiling and couldn’t stop talking about what it meant to see Purdue, where he spent three seasons (2002-05) as the starting point guard on the men’s basketball team, where he was a team captain, where he earned his degree in sociology, advance to the NCAA Men’s Tournament Final Four for the first time since 1980.

What did it mean to a Boilermaker to see the Boilermakers take that big step in March Madness after so much March sadness?

“We’re like, ‘It’s about damn time,’” the 40-year-old South Bend, Ind. resident said with his trademark laugh. “It’s such a proud moment for all of us. It’s been like … what’s the word I’m looking for? Ahh … man … I can’t put my finger on it.”

Maybe that Florida sun had sent McKnight’s brain into vapor lock. Maybe he was too delirious with joy to say what he wanted to say. Maybe he just couldn’t find the word. In any case, we’ll get back to him.

Back in South Bend, another former Purdue basketball player with deep Michiana hoops roots had no problem explaining what seeing Purdue get to its first Final Four in 44 years meant. Former Clay High School standout Jaraan Cornell helped the Colonials win a state championship, but he never could help the Boilermakers play for a national championship during his four seasons (1996-2000) in West Lafayette.