Winthrop player’s parents make trip from Australia.

They came from Ames, Iowa, and Reno, Nev., from Minnesota and Indiana, South Carolina and Tennessee.

But by far, the longest journey to Thursday’s NCAA men’s basketball tournament in Milwaukee was taken by Josie and Eric Cooks of Wollongong, Australia.

They hopscotched 34 hours from Sydney to Los Angeles to Seattle to Milwaukee to see their son Xavier play for Winthrop University, located in Rock Hill, S.C.

And after all of that, Winthrop was one and done, losing to Butler University, 7664.

But for the Cooks family, the journey was perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see their son perform at the highest college level. Xavier Cooks, a 6-foot-8-inch junior, led Winthrop with 23 points.

“When you live on the other side of the world, it’s hard for Australian kids to get scholarships much less make the NCAA Tournament,” Josie Cooks said.

For Eric Cooks, traveling to Milwaukee was about as close he could get to coming full circle in his life. Born and raised in Gary, Ind., he played at St. Mary’s College in California, then had a long pro career in Australia, where he met his wife, started a family and put down roots. He is currently an assistant coach for the Wollongong Hawks.

An older son, Dominique, played basketball at Chaminade University in Hawaii and settled in North Carolina. He attended the game with his parents and told them, “Just make the most of it.”

Despite the loss, Eric Cooks savored every moment of the game.

“It’s worth it, regardless,” he said when asked if a defeat would spoil the trip.

In a way, that’s the beauty of March Madness. For a lot of teams, just landing a spot in the tournament can make or break the season.

“It’s great for the institution, great to elevate the atmosphere” said Doug Presley, who oversees the Winthrop pep band. “There are may of our kids who hadn’t even been on a plane before this trip.”

The band and cheer squad made a lot of noise, but it wasn’t enough to lift the Eagles.

Winthrop’s March Madness was a short one. Done before dinner.

MIKE DE SISTI / MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL Josie Cooks (center) of Wollongong, Australia, cheers at the BMO Harris Bradley Center for her son Xavier Cooks, who scored 23 points for Winthrop in its loss to Butler Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. See more photos at...

Xavier Cooks