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What players and teams do you picture when the final buzzer of March Madness sounds? From Michael Jordan to the UConn squads, there have been numerous heart-stopping shots. However, a handful of games have set themselves apart. Here are the 10 best moments from the men’s and women’s tournaments.
10. Magic and Bird Duel in the National Championship (1979)
The modern basketball landscape wouldn’t exist without Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Full Stop. While known for their NBA Finals matchups, the two started their rivalry in Salt Lake City.
The 1979 National Championship Game featured Magic’s Michigan State and Larry’s Indiana State. Magic and Bird would both start their NBA careers that fall, ultimately catapulting the league into relevancy.
While the matchup has significance, the game itself was a movie. While Bird struggled, Magic lit up the stat sheet and secured the victory. Johnson would ultimately redefine the point guard position, whereas Bird helped to popularize 3-point shooting.
9. Mario Chalmers Sends the Game to Overtime (2008)
Derrick Rose could’ve made two free throws and clinched the national championship. However, he missed one and gave the Kansas Jayhawks another chance.
Sherron Collins furiously brought the ball up the court with no timeouts and nearly turned it over. He dished it to Mario Chalmers, who made an incredibly clutch three-pointer. The future Miami Heat player put the madness in March Madness.
Kansas tied the game and forced overtime against Memphis, which the Jayhawks ultimately won. While Rose became an NBA star, Chalmers cemented his basketball legacy.
8. George Mason Makes the Final Four (2006)
There have been amazing Cinderella stories in the NCAA Tournament. However, hardly any of them contend with George Mason. Some call them the original sleeper team, as their 2006 team was incredible.
George Mason had a stellar regular season, winning 23 games. They lost the conference title game but still made the Big Dance.
The Patriots ultimately took down giants on their way to the Final Four. In 2006’s March Madness, Jim Larranaga’s team overtook Michigan State, North Carolina, Wichita State and Connecticut.
7. Michael Jordan Makes a Title-Winning Basket (1982)
Michael Jordan would ultimately become an NBA goat, but his stardom started early. In the early 1980s, he was a household name at the University of North Carolina.
In his sophomore season, the Tar Heels plowed through the East Region and took down Houston in the Final Four. Then, they met Patrick Ewing and Sleepy Floyd in the title game.
Only Michael Jordan would have the ball at this moment. For some reason, the Hoyas left him open on the left side, and Mike made the shot with just 15 seconds left on the clock.
6. Mississippi State Ends UConn’s Legendary Streak (2017)
Once upon a time, the UConn women’s basketball team simply didn’t lose. Even in the 2020s, Geno Auriemma is keeping that winning culture alive.
In the mid-2010s, the Huskies won a record 111 games in a row before meeting Mississippi State in the Final Four. Morgan William ensured UConn’s record stayed at 111.
The Bulldogs and Huskies went to overtime, tied at 64. After a bad UConn possession, Mississippi State took over. William swished the shot and secured the March Madness upset.
5. Sheryl Swoopes Sets a Title Game Record (1993)
Sheryl Swoopes has been compared to great guards like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. On April 4, 1993, she made her best impression of the all-time greats.
The Texas Tech Red Raiders cruised through the NCAA Tournament, taking down powerhouses like USC. Ohio State proved to be a much more formidable foe, though Swoopes was ready for the moment.
The star guard scored 47 points in the title game, marking one of the best March Madness performances ever. To this day, it’s the most points ever scored in the Final Four.
4. Lorenzo Charles Cements NC State’s Upset (1983)
The 1983 Houston Cougars were stacked with future NBA stars, including Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. Meanwhile, the NC State Wolfpack had the power of friendship.
In April 1983, the two teams met for the national championship. The top-seeded Cougars, unsurprisingly, were the favorite over the ACC Tournament champions.
The game was close, with the offenses struggling in the second half. However, a thunderous basket from Lorenzo Charles sealed the deal. Dereck Whittenburg missed a long three, but Charles cleaned up with a buzzer-beating dunk.
3. Christian Laettner’s Perfect Game (1992)
Christian Laettner was the top guy in college basketball back in 1992. The New York native won National College Player of the Year and was a first-team All-American.
In the 1992 Elite Eight, it was one of those nights for the Blue Devil’s star. Against Kentucky, he couldn’t have asked for a better night, shooting 10-10 from the field and 10-10 from the free-throw line.
That said, he cemented his collegiate legacy with a single shot.
With under three seconds, Grant Hill inbounded the ball from the opposite side of the court. Laettner caught the in-bounds pass, took one dribble and drained the buzzer-beating fadeaway.
2. Arike Ogunbowale Hits Back-to-Back Buzzer-Beaters (2018)
Hitting a game-winner once cements your March Madness legacy. Two buzzer-beaters mean you’re in rare air.
Arike Ogunbowale sent UConn packing after a thrilling overtime finish in the Final Four. Her buzzer-beating shot ruined the Huskies’ undefeated season and spoiled a rematch with Mississippi State.
You might think the emotional hangover would be too much two days later. However, she came up big again. With the game tied at 58, Ogunbowale caught the in-bounds pass with three seconds left and sank the game-winner. She made it look much easier than it would ever seem.
1. Kris Jenkins Wins It All (2016)
If you reminisce on 2016, you have to include the men’s national championship game.
The Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels played a back-and-forth and exciting final minutes. North Carolina fans exhaled loudly when Marcus Paige drained an off-balance 3-pointer to tie the game.
Instead of going to overtime, Villanova settled the match in regulation. Ryan Arcidiacono brought the ball up the court before facing a double team. He wisely tossed the rock to Kris Jenkins, who ended the season with the biggest bang of all time.
Ranking March Madness Moments
The NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments are built on unforgettable moments. Buzzer-beaters, upsets and championship-defining plays draw huge TV numbers every year. Every year you watch, you can expect all-time classic matches across the brackets. As a player, you only need one shot to change your legacy.
