Here comes January and another year ending in 3. A memorable college basketball national champion. . . Something. Because from infamous timeouts to groundbreaking upsets to historic performances that still shine on the record books, it always seems to happen.
10 years ago in 2013. . .
The Final Four had a strong history of good, bad, and emotion.
Rick Pitino became the first and still the only man to coach champions at two different schools when he put the Louisville trophy next to the 1996 title he won at the University of Kentucky. The bruised history came with the trophy, as Louisville later became the first national champion to have that title officially vacated by his NCAA.
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Then there was the poignant Cardinal story: A collapsing teammate suffering one of the most horrific injuries the NCAA Tournament has ever seen, and spending the weekend of his life in front of his critically ill father. Reserve.
Kevin Ware’s leg burst when he planted it in the Elite Eight due to a compound fracture. The following week in Atlanta, with the championship won, the basket was lowered to allow Weir to balance on crutches and reduce his share of the net. Meanwhile, Luke Hancock came off the bench and scored 20 points and his 22 points to be named the Most Valuable Player of his Four in the Finals. His father, who had cancer, was watching from the stands. William Hancock died 11 weeks later.
20 years ago in 2003. . .
Jim Boeheim and 2003 Syracuse Orange
Jim Boheim has more than 1,100 victories in Syracuse, but only one national championship. This. Orange won the semifinals against the Texas team, the only team in the last 75 years to make his four appearances in the Finals, before defeating Kansas in the final, where he beat Kansas 81-78 and finally blocked his shot to seal the title. Did. “I’m not thinking about validation or anything like that,” Boeheim said afterwards. “I’m the same coach I was just a few minutes ago.”
Also part of the storyline was the Kansas coach’s impending departure. The move will work.
1993, 30 years ago. . .
Chris Webber, Michigan Wolverines
Bluebloods from North Carolina, Kansas, Kentucky and the final bow of the Fab Five from Michigan all converged at the New Orleans Superdome. Such a quartet had to come up with something unforgettable. they did
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With less than 20 seconds remaining in the championship game, Michigan had the ball at 73-71 to North Carolina. Chris Webber tried to rush the ball into the upcourt, but was trapped, with no escape, and signaled a timeout. exclude . . . there was nothing left for Wolverine. not one. technical foul. The last chance was infamously lost and in the final he was 77-71. “It probably cost us the game,” a disheartened Webber later said, as it was in the final seconds of the 1982 title fight, when Georgetown’s Fred Brown threw to the wrong team. It was a big reaction to the pass. Play against North Carolina at the Superdome. Two failures of the era, two Dean Smith titles. “I think Coach Smith might move here,” said Eric Montross of Tar Heels Center that night. I was. “But it still says national championships.”
1983, 40 years ago. . .
Jim Valvano and NC State Win 1983 Titles in Houston
Forty years later, this is still the ultimate Cinderella story to survive and move on.
To qualify for the NCAA tournament field, 10-losing North Carolina had to beat Wake Forest by one point, North Carolina in overtime, and Virginia by three in the ACC Tournament. To stay in March, the Wolfpack had to overtake Pepperdine in two overtime games and overtake UNLV and Virginia by one point. It’s sheer magic, but does it ever expire? So it finally looked so in the national championship game when they trailed No. 1 Houston by seven points in the second half. But then the rally begins, Lorenzo Charles’ winning dunk at the buzzer, and Jim Valvano’s immortal madness dash across the court will last as long as there are replays. Fairy tales never get old.
1973, 50 years ago. . .
Bill Walton, UCLA
This is the heyday of the Bill Walton era. Walton had 22 shots in his 87-66 victory over Memphis at UCLA, but missed one. He made four aggressive goalkeeper calls in violation of the no-dunk rule at the time. Otherwise he was 25-26.
Walton’s 44 points—still a championship game record—propelled the Bruins dynasty to incredible heights. The game capped his 30-win-loss season, giving John Wooden his daunting 7th straight win and his 88th straight win at UCLA to take him 75th.
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1963, 60 years ago. . .
Loyola Chicago Men’s Basketball, 1963
These were just the early days of the civil rights movement in the 1960s, when black players were less common in major college basketball. Loyola Chicago started in his four games and three years later sent his five players to the 1966 title. Not only was his 1963 Rambler a breakthrough player, he was also a very good player in the NCAA Tournament, going 24-2.
They defeated Mississippi State in a Sweet 16 game at Michigan State. The Bulldogs then literally had to move out of town and east to his Lansing. Because of a state injunction against playing on a consolidated team. Illinois fell to Loyola and then to Duke. This leaves him as the only last force to be defeated. In the top ranks he defends his two-time champion Cincinnati. The Bearcats were on a historic mission to become the first ever NCAA Tournament to win his three-peat title.
There were only five Ramblers that night, but they never got tired. Loyola recovered from a 15-point down in the second half to force extra time, winning the title 60–58 on Vic Rouse’s putback with one second remaining. It will be 55 years before the Ramblers return to his Four in the Finals.
1953, 70 years ago. . .
Indiana head coach Branch McCracken
The NCAA Tournament took place only 15 years ago, but already Kansas and Indiana were clearly two divine names. They met in the title game in front of Kansas City’s highly professional Jayhawk crowd and were tied at 68 when Indiana’s Bobby Leonard was fouled with 27 seconds left. His free throw gave the Hoosiers a win and a championship, and inspired one of the most memorable quotes in Final Four history.
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Indiana coach Branch McCracken said he expected Leonard to make the free throw because he “had ice water in his veins,” and Leonard was asked to respond. he said.
1943, 80 years ago. . .
Wyoming Men’s Basketball, 1943
Madison Square Garden was the stage for college basketball. On March 29, St. John’s defeated Toledo 48–27 to win the NIT title. The next night, on the same floor, Wyoming defeated Georgetown for the NCAA Tournament championship, 46–34, led by the Ken Sailors. He just went up when he fired. He came to be called Jumpshot.
Times were different then. The NIT was as prestigious as the newly born NCAA event, and St. John’s claimed it was better than Wyoming. To raise money for the war effort, the two met two days after him—yes, at Madison Square Garden—and Wyoming won his 52-47 after overtime.
The first two months of this season suggest that 2023 will likely be something memorable. Kansas could be his first repeat champion in 16 years. Purdue advanced to the Final Four for the first time in 43 years, giving the Big Ten his first title since 2000. Houston — who has not previously won a title in his 6 Finals his Four — was able to win his coveted first championship. . . Connecticut could go from unranked to top of the sport. . . Tennessee or Alabama could reach the first Final Four. . . Arizona, UCLA or Gonzaga could give the West its first win of the century.
But one thing we do know is that it doesn’t happen. The NIT and NCAA champions never meet at Madison Square Garden.
