The Best March Madness Moments of All Time

As the 85th annual NCAA men’s basketball tournament comes to a close, let’s take a look back on some of my favorite March Madness moments of all time. 

2024 Round of 64: 3. Kentucky vs. 14. Oakland 

This year, Kentucky was one of the most frequently picked champions in ESPN tournament brackets. Going into this game, Oakland had never made it out of the first round. This game would go in a direction barely anyone predicted. Miraculously, with 52 seconds left in regulation, Oakland was up by 1, and then they had the ball. Oakland’s Jack Gohlke had led the way with ten three-pointers, just one short of an all-time record. Rocket Watts brought up the ball and managed to get past the full-court Kentucky press. With 34 seconds left, he drove toward the basket, drawing a double-team. Seeing he was doubled and his teammate DQ Cole was wide open, Watts threw a pass, and Cole sank a three to put Oakland up 4. Oakland would go on to win and advance for the first time in school history.

2023 Round of 64: 1. Purdue vs. 16. Fairleigh Dickinson

In NCAA Men’s March Madness history, only two 16 seeds have upset a number one seed. Going into this game, it was just one. Purdue was led by Zach Edey, the unanimous Wooden Award winner (given to the best overall NCAA player each year) and one of the best players Purdue has ever seen. FDU was 0-5 in tournament play, and their odds were 1-150 for this first-round game. That's why it was so shocking to see FDU up by three with 12.5 seconds left to go. FDU only needed one stop to win the game, and they delivered. With 8.1 seconds left on the clock, FDU grabbed a rebound after a wild three-point attempt, forcing Purdue to foul and sending Demetre Roberts to the line. Roberts would hit both free throws and put Purdue in need of a miracle, a miracle they didn’t receive.

2022 Championship: 1. Kansas vs. 8. North Carolina

Going into the second half, UNC was on top, 40-25, over Kansas. Kansas was ranked a top-four team by coaches and experts from ESPN. UNC, on the other hand, was barely in the top half of the tournament. Kansas would go on an incredible comeback to cut UNC’s lead to 1 point with a minute forty left in the game. Kansas’s David McCormack caught the ball at the top of the key and shot a floater. It bounced off the rim, but McCormack flew in, grabbed the rebound and then laid it back up to put Kansas up by 1 with a minute 20 left. With 54 seconds left on the clock, UNC guard Caleb Love drove in for a layup only to be rejected by Remy Martin. After a UNC turnover on the ensuing play, Kansas would come down the court and McCormack would score another layup with 22.5 seconds to put Kansas up 4. Kansas would go on to win and claim the national title.

2015 Finals: 1. Duke vs. 1. Wisconsin

With 34.9 seconds left on the clock, Duke was up by 3 and was dribbling up the ball. They passed it to Tyus Jones, who was then intentionally fouled. Duke was in the double bonus, so he went to the free-throw line and hit the first shot. Then, he would hit the second to put Duke up by 5. Then Duke would force Wisconsin to chuck up a shot and miss. With fifteen seconds left, Wisconsin would foul again and go on to lose the game, granting Duke the national championship.

This article could have been an entire novel with how exciting the men's March Madness tournament is.