DAVIDSON, N.C. – Walk into Bob McKillop’s office and among the first things you’ll see are the old issues of Sports Illustrated chronicling Lefty Driesell’s dominant Davidson teams of the 1960s.

When McKillop returned to his office Monday morning, it hit him that he’ll need to make space for the publications telling the story of this season’s remarkable Wildcats.

“Now we’ve got our own (magazine) issues,” McKillop said.

McKillop was bleary-eyed but upbeat Monday, less than 24 hours after 10th-seeded Davidson’s storybook run ended a missed 3-pointer away from the Final Four. The team returned to this town of 9,000 people after Sunday’s heartbreaking 59-57 loss to Kansas at 3:30 a.m. – only to be greeted by about 300 people.

“It’s corny to talk about sports and love,” McKillop said. “But this is a love affair.”

All over town there were signs thanking the team that won 25 consecutive games and captured the hearts of this community with upset wins over Gonzaga, Georgetown and Wisconsin in the NCAA tournament.

“Be Proud” proclaimed a sign in front of the town library. The window of the bank on Main Street had the message, “Thanks Cats.”

“I’m definitely proud of our team,” star guard Stephen Curry said. “We made history for our school.”Long in the shadow of its Atlantic Coast Conference neighbors, Davidson, which hadn’t won an NCAA tournament game in 39 years, suddenly is a household name.

“There will be people here at Davidson that 20 years from now will think about this run,” McKillop said.

Davidson, a liberal arts school of 1,700 students, was so close to spoiling the party of heavyweights at the Final Four.

“For our players to have this experience and for us to reach this level on a national stage, there is no greater joy for a coach,” McKillop said.