For whatever reason, I woke up today with a peculiar desire to watch old basketball videos on YouTube. You know what I mean right? Like all of a sudden - and you don't know why - you just have to watch sick hoop clips? Well, in my deranged state of mind full of oddities, here is what stood out.
My Memory:
Stanford was undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the country. Arizona was still Arizona, and these two fought back and forth all game long. One of my best friends was a freshman at U of A, so I kind of adopted the Wildcats as a semi-favorite team capable of winning another title. A few years later, a friend of mine whom I later met, informed me he was at the game as a student of Stanford, sitting three or four rows behind Tiger Woods, who infamously stormed the court along with the rest of Cardinal nation. All of these elements combine to make this one I'll never forget.
USC comeback:
My Memory:
I couldn't have been more than 13 or 14, but I remember seeing these highlights on SportsCenter in my room, absolutely shellshocked. I know this because I specifically recall holding off on my Sega Dreamcast "Madden 2K" exploits for at least 15 minutes, which is something to be said at that stage of my life (later that year I actually held a birthday party in which I hosted a 12-man 2K tournament in my basement, complete with brackets and seeding. How in the hell we determined seeding for such a thing boggles me to this day). Needless to say, I didn't make it past the second round, not because of "stick skills," but rather because of sleep deprivation. Hey, 3 a.m. for a 14-year-old is pretty damn late! By the way, how about the announcer's call? "Oh, ohhh, ohhhhhh, a miracle!" Great stuff. Also, how badly were you hoping the camera would break to show that kid's cutthroat sign to the Ducks student section?
Kentucky dunk:
My Memory:
There is none. I wasn't alive yet, but when I came across this dunk, I had to share it with you. Also, and I hesitate to say this, but how talented was Dick Vitale's call? "Secretariat out of the gate!" Love that.
Okay, all for now, but more coming soon. I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did. If not, then you're simply not as much a junkie loser as I am. Probably not a bad thing.
Hampton had a bunch of gritty kids not afraid of the big stage. The Cyclones were led by All-American and first round-draft pick Jamaal Tinsley. Talk about a bracket-buster! I don’t care how much this game, a 58-57 win for Hampton, screwed your bracket up. Seeing Hampton coach Steve Merfeld go nuts made it all worth it.
Vindicating Personal Moment
2007 NCAA Tournament First Round, San Diego Upsets UConn
This is completely random and irrelevant, which is why I included it. I scored 12 points against USD earlier that year, almost leading us to an upset over the Toreros, all leading to my ridiculous and insane theory that I helped knock off the UConn Huskies ... the team that partially ruined my childhood (I am worse off psychologically than the dude in this commercial) when they beat my favorite team, the Washington Huskies, on a BS Rip Hamilton buzzer-beater in 1998 (see below). Sadly enough - and I'm not ashamed to admit this, which may in fact be more disturbing than the following statement - I cried for the next three hours leading my poor mother to suggest a therapy session for treatment. Unfortunately, I did not oblige and thus never fully developed mentally. Thanks a lot, Rip.
Best Multiple-Upset Sequence
2006 NCAA Tournament, George Mason
The 11th-seeded George Mason Patriots from the Colonial conference stole our hearts – and our brackets – during their unforgettable Final Four run in '06. They knocked off perennial powers Michigan State, North Carolina and Connecticut, and showed how the little guy can play with the big boys. This represents one of the best examples of college basketball parity and gives even more life to the Big Dance ... as if it needs it.
Best NCAA Tournament Performance
Steph Curry, baby!!!
The long-range poacher and virtually un-recruited guard from Davidson captured America’s hearts in 2008 when he bombed Gonzaga for 30 in the second half on 8-10 threes, torched Georgetown for another 30, killed Wisconsin with 33 points, and almost led an enthralling comeback over eventual national champ Kansas in the Elite Eight. This just further justifies my theory that Mike Krzyzewski is one of the worst talent evaluators in America, in that he didn’t even consider the North Carolina product as a potential recruit.
I should include this just happened to be our very first Vegas trip. The five of us running around, in the desert, looking for hookers and cocaine (first of many "Hangover" references from me, which is long overdue, considering it's sadly replacing "Happy Gilmore," which debuted in 1996). Back to the story, though. One of our boys went to Davidson, and his overwhelming confidence in his boy Curry led to an improbable trio of winnings for all of us. I will never forget this. Steph “Dreamy Eyes” Curry (really, look into his eyes and get lost) is responsible for the most memorable March Madness memory, although I barely remember any of it.
Side Note: The friend who went to Davidson told me a great story about Curry. Apparently, after the Sweet 16, when the team came back to campus for practice, he saw Curry in the library by himself at 3 in the morning. He knew Steph a little bit, so he went over to say hi. What he saw on the computer screen has become legendary in our small and pathetic circle of friends. Curry was actually watching highlights of himself on YouTube! The best part though? He asked my friend if he seemed at all arrogant in his post-game interviews. How much do you love that?
(This was on Curry’s computer screen)
Honorable Mention: Eric Maynor’s game-winner against Duke. Any time the Dookies go down in the first round to VCU, I cannot let it go unnoticed. Sorry, Coach K, but really, your team is made up of a bunch of McDonald's All-Americans, and VCU's team eats at McDonald's.
Best Game
2009 Big East Tournament, Syracuse vs. UConn
You know it’s a no-brainer when all you have to say is “The 6 OT game.” The all-night affair between Syracuse and UConn may be one of the greatest games in all of college basketball history. I was up late in LA, so out east it must have been nuts.
Seriously, during this game, I accomplished more than I did my entire four years of college: went to class, worked out, showered, wrote a paper, caught up with three friends, ate dinner and cleaned my apartment.
By the time this thing ended, the Cuse literally had about an hour and a half before heading back to the Garden. I’m just glad Public Enemy No. 1 Eric Devendorf wasn’t the hero.
Best Comeback (countdown style)
3. 2006 NCAA Regional Semifinal, Gonzaga vs. UCLA
Adam Morrison crying is enough to tune in, but a 17-point comeback in the Sweet 16 will do the trick to make this list.
Side Note: A friend of mine has a younger brother who went to Gonzaga basketball camp one summer. I guess a lot of the Zags players work the camp, both referring and coaching the kids. Anyways, he claimed Morrison appeared to be drunk or hungover every morning of the camp, refusing to run up and down the floor and properly ref the game. When his coach complained about Morrison’s deficiencies and laziness, Morrison teed him up, swore at him, and kicked him out of the game, only to single-handedly cost their team the game!
So yes, I will revel in the fact that he cried on national TV and hasn’t played significant minutes for an NBA team in like, forever. He did, however, get a ring, thanks in part to one of the culprits of UCLA's comeback, Jordan Farmar.
2. 2008 NCAA Championship, Kansas vs. Memphis
All season long, John Calipari inexplicably repeated that the FT problems of his Memphis Tigers didn’t matter. How he could ever think this is very concerning to me. Honestly it is just mind-bottling (thanks, Will Ferrell). Anyways, fast-forward to about 28 missed FTs and the clutch play of the Jayahwks – Mario Chalmers in particular – and Rock Chalk overcomes a nine-point deficit with 2:12 left to beat “The Village Idiot's” Tigers in OT. Wouldn’t have mattered anyways with the whole Derrick Rose cheating scandal, but proved to be one of the great clutch comebacks of the decade.
1. 2005 NCAA Regional Final, Illinois vs. Arizona
In other words, this was the day I fell in love with Deron Williams and fully realized the demise of Lute Olson. With four minutes left, Olson’s crew was up 75-60, seeming destined to reach their fifth Final Four. But the Illini rallied and rallied and rallied, scoring 20 points (8 from Williams) in just four minutes, going on to win in OT. To this day, I remain flabbergasted with this game. One of the rare in-game moments you know you won’t forget. Watch this clip and you’ll see why…
Best NCAA Championship
2003, Syracuse vs. Kansas
Carmelo Anthony caps off the greatest freshman season ever in leading the Orange to a 81-78 win over the Jayhawks with Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich. More importantly, Roy Williams shows some serious vulnerability during his post-game conversation with Bonnie Bernstein. Unless you're a Heels fan, you'll love this.
Best Game, (Non-Hoops)
2007 Fiesta Bowl, Boise State vs. Oklahoma
The demise of “Big Game” Bob Stoops to “Big Game Fraud” was in full effect. Highlights of this game feature a “Statue of Liberty” play (never understood the name), dreadfully scary looks on the faces of Sooner fans, and Ian Johnson’s proposal to the Boise cheerleader. All of this shall forever live on.
Who needs reality television when we have this type of quality programming?! This is the best reality TV around.
