Gonzaga - UCLA the best college basketball game this century? Name a better one

35 foot banker wrote:

Never Justified wrote:

Because it was the title game, and UNC had just tied it with a miracle shot of their own.

Oh my, you are first one on this thread to add the restriction to "title game". And miracle shot is not one that goes straight into the basket. A miracle shot is a miss that magically ends up in the basket. A 35 foot unintended bank shot is one. So is a shot that bounces off the rim and then off the backboard and then into the basket.

Now, since you cannot read, the question is "best college basketball game THIS century". And based on how close the game was the entire way, and going into overtime, and set to go into second overtime, this games tops any other. Now, post a list of your "better" miracle games -- THIS century (repeated just for you).

The UNC/Villanova title game the poster you are responding to was in 2016. How do you define "this century"? That was a great game too. But since have established definitely that your opinion is the only correct one I guess this thread is finished.

Keep in mind that 6ot game was in the big east conference tourney, not the ncaa tourney. UNC/NOVA was better just because it was a final wheres the zaga/ucla game was a semi. Amazing game. Can't wait for Gonzaga/Baylor.

Great game.

Baylor wins the final

35 foot banker wrote:

only an opinion wrote:

The UNC/Villanova title game the poster you are responding to was in 2016. How do you define "this century"? That was a great game too. But since have established definitely that your opinion is the only correct one I guess this thread is finished.

Well, DUH, I posted that already that the thread title asked about "this century". And I made no claim that your beloved UNC/Villanova games was not in this century. Please learn to read before making a fool of yourself.

But since YOU have established definitely that YOUR opinion is the only correct one USING MULTIPLE POSTING NAMES I guess YOU WILL STOP POSTING ON THIS thread.

Your trolling efforts need a lot more work.

Nope - I have only used this handle. Just chill out - it's just a basketball thread.

only an opinion wrote:

Nope - I have only used this handle. Just chill out - it's just a basketball thread.

Sure thing, jaywrr.

There have been lots of great games in conference tournaments, final four games and championship games other than the above mentioned. A few not too long ago: Virginia vs Auburn in the final four and then Virginia vs Texas Tech OT in the final. Before that Duke vs Butler in the final, Syracuse beating Kansas in 2003, Kansas beating Memphis in OT in 2008.

A buzzer beater when the score is tied is about 100x less exciting as one from behind.

Great game but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Harambe wrote:

A buzzer beater when the score is tied is about 100x less exciting as one from behind.

Great game but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

This guy's insights on non Covid subjects are as ridiculous as "his" ideas on the virus.

Well. He is consistent

Try this on for size:

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/boxscores/1977-03-28-marquette.html

The David vs Goliath of college basketball. Two superior coaches playing a chess match with little Marquette getting a checkmate of UNC.

GentleBen wrote:

Try this on for size:

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/boxscores/1977-03-28-marquette.html

The David vs Goliath of college basketball. Two superior coaches playing a chess match with little Marquette getting a checkmate of UNC.

That game, although great was not played in the last 21 years.

Getting a little far afield here, but for those who don’t remember the previous century:

Norte Dame did end UCLA’s 88 game winning streak in 1974, but few remember that UCLA’s last loss before that streak started was also to Norte Dame, in 1971. The 1971 game (89-82) is still the greatest game I’ve ever seen. Wooden played Austin Carr straight up man to man, Carr fouled out three UCLA starters and scored 46 points, including Norte Dame’s last 15 in the game. With one minute to go, after fouling out, Sidney Wicks angrily yelled at Wooden “I told you not to put me on him!”

Carr is largely forgotten now, but Wooden said he was the best player he ever coached against. He averaged 41.0 ppg in the NCAA tournament (#1 all time) and is #2 in total points scored behind Michigan’s Glenn Rice (who played in 8 games to Carr’s 7). His career scoring average was over 35 ppg, achieved without the three point line and when Notre Dame was playing the toughest schedule in the country.

GentleBen wrote:

Try this on for size:

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/boxscores/1977-03-28-marquette.html

The David vs Goliath of college basketball. Two superior coaches playing a chess match with little Marquette getting a checkmate of UNC.

I don't see a "David vs Goliath" here. UNC was ranked #5 and Marquette #7. The only thing that stands out to me when I looked at that link was that Phil Ford only had 6 points and 3 turnovers. Not a Phil Ford-type night.

If you want David vs. Goliath, look at the 1983 and 1985 tournaments.

1983, the only chance NC State had of even making the tourney was to win the ACC, which they proceeded to do by beating #5 UNC (with Michael Jordan and Sam Perkins) and then #2 Virginia (Ralph Sampson). Then they took down #6 UNLV, and Virginia a second time to make the finals, where they beat #1 "Phi Slama Jama" Houston with Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. And of course, the game famously ended on an alley-oop at the buzzer. They ran off 10 straight wins to take the title, five games against teams ranked in the top-6 nationally. In my opinion the greatest title run in history despite being the Wolfpack (grrrrr).

1985, Villanova was an eight-seed who beat #2 Michigan, #5 Memphis, and #7 UNC on the way to the title game. They pull off possibly the biggest upset in Final Four history by beating Patrick Ewing-led #1 ranked Georgetown, who were also the defending champions.

Agreed that these were true Cinderella stories and two of the best games I ever saw especially since I loved the outcomes.

College basketball was and still is awesome.

Gonzaga/UCLA is second on my all-time list of college basketball games I've ever witnessed. UK/Duke East Regional Final in 1992 is tops but that was last century so Zags/Bruins is my tops this century. Both games were deep in the tourney (so the stakes are very high, the loser's season ends), both had accomplished coaches, both games were played at a very very high level throughout with exceptional plays throughout, both went OT, and both were finally settled on buzzer-beater long shots.

In both, there were no losers, just games where some team had to get the last shot and made it. Zags and Bruins combined shot 58.2%, highest in a final four game since 1985. There were 19 lead changes and 15 ties in regulation. Great cuts, passes, screens, and shots on offense. And there had to be, because the defense was tough on both sides - double down help, arms everywhere, diving for balls. Two very tough teams playing their best, giving their all, and just getting after each other for 45 minutes. Loved every second of it. Awesome epic game. Best this century and , for my money, only a tad below UK/Duke all-time.

Kansas State/Xavier 2OT in the 2010 Sweet 16 was an incredible game.

Highlights of the last few minutes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVEIeD91vIc

It was also fun watching UCLA beat Michigan as no one gave UCLA a chance.

LOL, NC State did not win on an "alley top" at the buzzer of that game, it was a crappy shot by Whittenberg and Charles was in the right place at the right time.

Had UCLA won the game instead of Gonzaga, I think it would be no question. But play for play, UNC-Villanova was the best. Top two teams in the country, two hall of fame (or future in Nova's case) coaches, and if you have EVER seen Michael Jordan look more shocked at a shot in his life, I dare you to find it.

I'm also echoing an earlier post but was the Gonzaga shot better than Nova's? Yes, 100%, no contest. Is it better than both of the shots that ended the game? Debate.

steve_perry wrote:

Had UCLA won the game instead of Gonzaga, I think it would be no question. But play for play, UNC-Villanova was the best. Top two teams in the country, two hall of fame (or future in Nova's case) coaches, and if you have EVER seen Michael Jordan look more shocked at a shot in his life, I dare you to find it.

I'm also echoing an earlier post but was the Gonzaga shot better than Nova's? Yes, 100%, no contest. Is it better than both of the shots that ended the game? Debate.

I wouldn't call it a 100% better shot. The Villanova shot involved more people, more variables, more defense, the pass had to be on target and it was.