In a game that looked more like a track meet than a basketball game, a length of a toe decided the photo finish.

Lazar Hayward tried to hold up. When he couldn't, and the final buzzer sounded on Marquette's 83-79 heartbreaking loss to Missouri, the realization set in. Sadly, almost unbelievably, the careers of Dominic James, Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews had crossed the finish line as well.

Despite the lack of NCAA Tournament success, there's no denying how much the trio has given Marquette and its fans. Four 20-win seasons, four consecutive 10-win conference seasons in the school's first four years in the Big East, national television exposure, rejuvenation of the program, I could go on and on.

But with all they have given in their four years, there was something that Dominic, Jerel and Wesley truly deserved that was never given to them — a true low-post presence.

Basketball is a simple sport when it all comes down to it. Although guards have become the stars of the game today, the big man is, and will always be, the most vital player on the floor. That's why it's so disappointing that in four years, Tom Crean could not find the missing piece to mesh with what turned out to be the best backcourt in the country.

Seniors will remember Chris Grimm, a.k.a. "The Reaper," who gave it his all every night, but never had the athleticism to be a star. Mike Kinsella was enormous, but his career was defined by a six-point game in the regular season. Lawrence Blackledge? Ha. Dwight Burke's muscles are scary, but so is when he gets the ball with his back to the basket.

To his credit, Burke performed well in his role this year, especially since he was the only reliable player 6-foot-8 or up.

But when watching Connecticut's Hasheem Thabeet, Pitt's DeJuan Blair, heck, even Utah State's Gary Wilkinson, I couldn't help but always think, as I'm sure most of you have, "Man, can you imagine that guy on Marquette?'"

Looking back on four years, it's quite remarkable the success the Golden Eagles have had without a single post player (outside of Lazar Hayward, who isn't one but plays the role) to put up a guaranteed eight points every night. Think about it – how much more comfortable would Marquette fans be with a power forward with legitimate offensive skills roaming the paint in the two second-round losses against Stanford's Brook Lopez or Mizzou's Leo Lyons?

I know the three guards certainly would have appreciated it, especially in the two years (2007 and this year) when McNeal and James were injured.

With all the publicity, adoration and records, the trio never got the one break to push them past the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. When Steve Novak's wide-open jumper clanged against Alabama in 2006, there was still three more years of hope. Lopez's game-winning shot last year stung like crazy, but one more chance loomed. After Sunday's game, however, a gallon of Ben & Jerry's wouldn't have been enough to ease the pain of a die-hard Marquette fan.

This year's senior class has been one of the luckiest ever to fill up sections 105-106, 220-225 and 429-440 of the Bradley Center. Getting the opportunity to watch the trio for four years is something that will stand out for every senior when thinking back on his or her time at Marquette years from now. Sadly, that missing piece will too.

In a game that looked more like a track meet, James, McNeal and Matthews came up short on the final lap. It's just too bad they didn't have a big man to carry them further.