Ranking the Sweetest 16 moments of the NCAA Tournament ... so far
We’re not done.
As bat crazy as the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament was, it’s important to remember: We’ve seen this before.
Or maybe you forgot that Butler and VCU both made the Final Four in 2011.
More fun is on the way, but let’s take a minute to appreciate how we got here.
These are the 16 best moments in the NCAA Tournament … so far.
16. UMBC, of course
By seeds, No. 16 UMBC over No. 1 Virginia was the greatest upset in NCAA Tournament history.
The reality was, it was over 5 minutes into the second half as No. 16 UMBC opened with a 20-6 run. So there wasn’t really “a moment” during the game. It was more like 40 minutes of bizarre world.
The post-game was epic and UMBC’s social media folks made the most of it.
This is the “Dewey Defeats Truman” tweet I’ll remember, posted minutes after the opening tip.
Virginia. Sharpie.
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) March 17, 2018
15. Robert Williams … pick one, any one
Williams had about 16 highlights in Texas A&M’s blowout win over defending national champion North Carolina. The last time I saw a guy wearing No. 44 jump that high against UNC, it was N.C. State’s David Thompson in the early 1970s.
Any one of Williams’ blocks or dunks in the first two rounds were candidates to make this list, but how about combining both in one play in the opening round win over Providence?
BLOCKING THE THREE AND FINISHING ON THE OTHER END WITH THE WINDMILL. PUT SOME ICE ON IT YOUNG FELLA ROBERT WILLIAMS pic.twitter.com/N0D1dpx8rV
— Derek (@DerekAggie06) March 16, 2018
14. Houston, Part I
https://twitter.com/NCAAHoops247/status/974469575420071937
13. Houston, Part II
THERE'S NO WAY THAT JUST HAPPENED.
Michigan beats Houston with a walk-off triple!!!pic.twitter.com/LR3ZmxPNW6
— Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 18, 2018
Highest of highs to lowest of lows. In three days.
That’s March. That’s madness. (And there’s more on the Michigan side in a minute.)
12. Along those same lines …
Nevada, a No. 7 seed, trailed by 14 late in the second half before rallying to beat Texas in overtime in the opener.
That was the appetizer.
Sunday, the Wolf Pack trailed No. 2 seed Cincinnati by 22 with 11 minutes left.
And won it on a putback with 9 seconds left. That led to this:
kljasdj;das;ew8fwer89ywef;hwero32p8efh;uasjkasd;asdhuasdiuasdjkhsd;ewioawethasdi;hasdfiohafioewrho;asdgasdgiohawoihawetb;agio;asdioawty8tiouhasgu;aefiohwe8yeroasdgj;basdghr3289y[ew;has;ads890y[fewaiohewohasuhasduhiodfsajkhasdfuior8yasjhafds;huasdu;hadsfioewhuewhuoafds8afs;hdhakdj
— Nevada Basketball (@NevadaHoops) March 19, 2018
It’s March. We understood every sentiment, if not every word.
11. Cole Cubelic’s bracket
He speaks for most of us.
DAMN pic.twitter.com/B77ln4qmrm
— Cole Cubelic (@colecubelic) March 19, 2018
10. Tony Bennett: class act
Not everybody can handle losing.
Tony Bennett set an example, moments after Virginia’s historic loss.
Tony Bennett postgame pic.twitter.com/PEZ0lW4i6F
— Kevin Marchina (@kg_holler) March 17, 2018
9. Gonzaga, again
Gonzaga is in the Sweet 16 for the fourth consecutive year.
Among teams that can’t say that?
Only the winningest programs in NCAA Tournament history.
UCLA (11), Kentucky (8), North Carolina (6), Indiana (5), Duke (5), UConn (4) and Kansas (3) have, in order, won the most NCAA titles. None of the seven can match Gonzaga’s active streak.
8. Kenny and Charles
The NCAA Tournament is supposed to be fun. Few have more fun at their job than these two long-time friends, former rivals and now colleagues.
https://twitter.com/MattatTheState/status/975526630105014273
Not that it ever ends between these two, but Barkley started it Sunday. With UNC obviously in trouble against Texas A&M, Barkley looked at Kenny Smith, the former UNC point guard, and pulled the “upset alert” siren during the show. This clip was Smith’s response to Auburn’s embarrassing first half against Clemson.
Mock their brackets all you want, but who wouldn’t want to spend a day on their set watching basketball with the most entertaining duo in any studio?
7. Skip Bayless’ NCAA champ loses on first day
I'm picking Arizona to win it all as a 4 seed because of Deandre Ayton, who at 7-1 has NBA superstar potential. Plays so hard and smart for his age. Maybe I'm expecting too much too soon, but he's easily the best player in this tournament.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) March 15, 2018
Listen to this guy at your own risk. I stopped a decade ago.
6. Purdue engineering … and the student-athlete
I tweeted this Monday, not even as a joke, but because nothing rallies a town quite like a sports team. And no sports teams matter more in Indiana than basketball teams. (Sorry, Colts. Peyton changed that, but Peyton’s long gone.)
Certainly Purdue's highly acclaimed engineering school can build a suitable elbow brace in time to get Isaac Haas on the court for the Sweet 16, right? Like, if that isn't the class project today, you're doing education wrong in Indiana.
— Chris Wright (@FilmRoomEditor) March 19, 2018
Later Monday, Purdue coach Matt Painter said, yes, Purdue’s engineering department was indeed working on building a softer, NCAA-approved brace for injured star center Isaas Haas.
It made perfect sense. Purdue put Neil Armstrong on the moon. Of course it can solve this.
In 49 states, it’s just basketball. But Purdue is in Indiana, after all.
5. Living the dream
Even in last week’s AP Poll, Loyola wasn’t ranked and Florida State, Syracuse, Texas A&M didn’t even receive a vote.
All four are in the Sweet 16 with a chance to make the Final Four.
It’s simple, football fans. More teams, more drama, more magic. It’s foolish to think there are only four good football teams deserving of a chance to win a national title.
4. Hello, Kentucky
We’ve been waiting all season for the 5-star pieces to become a team. It’s happening. John Calipari hinted at it early in the SEC Tournament, when he said his team is finally beginning to play like he wants his teams to play in March.
3. Jordan Peele (the actor) thanking fans after beating Houston
Jordan Poole’s game-winning 3-pointer to beat Houston and send Michigan to the Sweet 16 was good. His reaction was better. But you saw that already.
What you might have missed is fans hopping on Academy Award-winning actor/screenwriter Jordan Peele’s timeline and congratulating him.
https://twitter.com/JordanPeele/status/975491332595580928
https://twitter.com/JordanPoole_2/status/975515267773206528
2. Sister Jean and Loyola
If Sister Jean wants to talk that talk, then let’s get it. Deacon Barnes and the Protestant Gang are comin’. pic.twitter.com/jt0kwqiat3
— Barstool Rocky Top (@BarstoolTenn) March 16, 2018
You can imagine how thrilled she was after Loyola continued its winning ways two days later, knocking out the Vols and advancing to the Sweet 16 on yet another game-winning jumper.
She warned you.
SISTER JEAN IS GOING TO TAKE LOYOLA TO THE TITLE.pic.twitter.com/DkLX0Dtt6k
— Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 18, 2018
Nevada, you’re next.
1. U Must Be Cinderella
ADVANCE THE BRACKET pic.twitter.com/v7GhTZMDWy
— UMBC Athletics (@UMBCAthletics) March 17, 2018
U Must Be Champions. Ultimate Men’s Basketball Champs. U Must Be Cidding.
UMBC turned everybody into a headline writer.
Every year, a champion is crowned. But no matter what else happens, this tournament or any tournament, we’ll always remember UMBC becoming the first No. 16 seed to upset a No. 1.