10. Saint Louis pulls off miraculous comeback:
With Saint Louis stumbling down the stretch and NC State having the feel as one of the suprise teams of the tournament, everything was all NC State until the final 4 minutes of regulation. That is when Saint Louis deployed Hack-a-Pack where they fouled any one on the opposing side and forced them to shoot free throws.
It worked to the advantage of Saint Louis as no one on NC State could make a bucket as they threw away a 16 point lead, and Saint Louis forced overtime where they won. Thanks to the help of guard Jordair Jett and Rob Loe.
This would end up being the last game for Ty Warren as a member of the Wolfpack. Saint Louis would end up losing in the next round to Louisville.
9. Stephen F. Austin’s 4 point play:
Normally you do not see a team that went 31-2 with an undefeated conference record be a number 12 seed in the tournament, but SF Austin got the bad luck of the draw and had to verse VCU.
It seemed like VCU was going to advance until one of the most unfortunate things happened. One of the players on VCU fouled SF Austin player Desmond Haymon on a three point attempt. Haymon ended up making the three pointer with 3.6 seconds left to go and SF Austin forced overtime where they eeked one out, 77-75. SF Austin ended up losing in the next round to UCLA.
8. North Dakota State wins first ever tournament game:
North Dakota State is obviously not the most well known college, but in the first round ND State made their college heard loud and proud winning in a thriller over Oklahoma for their first ever March Madness win.
With 11 seconds left in regulation, ND State guard Lawrence Alexander hit a three pointer to force overtime. Although ND State’s best player Taylor Braun fouled out of the game in overtime, Carlin Dupree, who did not play a minute in the game prior to this moment, scored four points to put the game out of reach for Oklahoma.
ND State would lose in the next round to San Diego State.
7. Dayton stuns Ohio State for first upset of tournament:
Aaron Craft’s glorious career ended premature as the Cinderella Dayton Flyers flew over the Buckeyes. With time winding down in the game Craft looked like he struck agsin with a tremendous layup that gave Ohio State a 1 point lead.
Aaron Craft could not stop Vee Sanford from winning the game on a running jumper that kissed off the glass and went into the hoop for a bucket that let Dayton win 60-59.
Craft attempted a last second shot but it failed to fall for the game winner.
6. Iowa State runs and guns with UNC in epic clash:
A high octane game that featured a lot of scoring it was Iowa State that emerged victorious. Even without Georges Niang who broke his foot in the game prior.
It seemed like a close battle to the finish between the two teams. One team would score then the other team would inbound the ball and score quickly. Iowa State finished with the final punch when Schenley High School former basketball player, DeAndre Kane scored the game winning layup to put the Cyclones up 85-83.
A clock error ultimately ended the game before UNC could attempt another shot. Iowa State would lose in the Swet Sixteen to Connecticut.
5. The Shockers get shocked by the Wildcats:
Wichita State had an impressive resume entering the tournament of being undefeated. They also are the only team to reach 35 wins of being undefeated. The only thing missing, winning the tournament.
The Kentucky Wildcats denied them that right. With time winding down James Young hit a three pointer that put Kentucky up 73-71 and they never looked back. Wichita State’s Cleanthony Early scored 31 points in the final game of his collegiate career.
Kentucky is now in the Final Four set to play Wisconsin Saturday.
4. Michigan State sneaks by Virginia:
Highlighted by Adreian Payne dunks and Branden Dawson’s double-double, Michigan State squeeked one out versus the defensive stingy Virginia Cavaliers.
Although a fourth seed many people thought Michigan State was favored to win it all. It seemed like after knocking off a number one seed and the best defense in the country they were on their way to do that, but they would go on to lose against Connecticut in the Elite Eight.
The game featured a final minute of pressure basketball. A suspect move on Michigan State guard Keith Appling in front of a pleading Virginia bench for a foul gave Michigan State what they needed for a win.
3. Kentucky “Cardiac” ‘Cats:
For the second game in a row a Kentucky game was decided with under a minute left. This time this young group knocked off the defending chamion, Louisville Cardinals.
With time winding down Julius Randle kicked the ball out to an awaiting Aaron Harrison for a three pointer that let Kentucky take the lead 72-69. Julius Randle would later hit two clutch free throws to put the game out of reach to win 74-69.
2. Badgers pester Arizona for Final Four birth:
Wisconsin fans could not ask for more out of junior forward Frank Kaminsky as he scored 28 points and hauled down 11 rebounds to help the Badgers clinch a Final Four birth against Arizona. Arizona was the numer 1 team in BPI on the year and was a huge favorite to win it all.
Wisconsin put a silence to that and the cheeseheads could not be happier.
1. Michigan vs. Kentucky (nuff said):
Talk about back and forth these teams did not know when to quit. This could arguably end up being the best game by tournament end. The game featured solid defensive stands and clutch moments.
Going into the locker room the game was tied 37-37. Michigan guard Nik Stauskas looked like he was going to take the game over after a half that featured him score 18 points, but he would not heat up at the beginning of the second half and Kentucky went on a run to put them up 7.
Michigan would climb back into the game with timely three pointers by Glenn Robinson III, but Aaron Harrison again, had the last laugh. Harrison hit a three with time winding down to put Kentucky up for good making it the third consecutive game where a game for Kentucky was decided with uner a minute left.