Source: Isaiah Vazquez / Getty
March Madness is one of the most unpredictable times in sports every year. The tournament where every possession, loose ball, and foul call is crucial. The better team in the matchup (on paper) can fall victim to a season-ending buzzer beater, and a sixteenth seed can knock off a number one seed.
With all those possibilities taken into consideration, it is imperative that every team treat each game like it is their last, sticking to the coach’s game plan and never underestimating their opponent. Failure to comply to these three golden rules could leave a team destined to make a deep run in the tournament, crippling in the agony of an early exit.
Why do they call it March Madness?
The term “March Madness” was first used in 1939 when Illinois high school official Henry V. Porter referred to the original eight-team tournament by that moniker.
“A little March madness may complement and contribute to sanity and help keep society on an even keel,” Porter wrote in “Illinois High School Athlete” magazine.
But it was Brent Musburger who is credited with associating the term with the NCAA Tournament when he used it in 1982. According to reviewjournal.com, Musburger claims that he got the term from car dealership commercials he saw while broadcasting the Illinois state high school basketball tournament.
Source: Mitchell Layton / Getty
There has been hundreds of ‘March Madness’ moments since the inception of the tournament 85 years ago in 1939. The tournament consists of 68 teams competing in a single-elimination bracket. Thirty-two teams automatically qualify for the tournament by winning their conference tournament. The other 36 teams get in on a ‘voting scale’ based on their performance of throughout the season.
Those teams that get in the tournament by the skin of their teeth are the most dangerous programs. Teams with a low ranked seed like the Saint Peter’s Peacocks of 2022 — who knocked of No. 2 seeded Kentucky, No. 7 seeded Murray State, and No. 3 seeded Purdue — play with nothing to lose, and adhere to the golden rules of the tournament to take them as far as they can go.
Our team at RNBPhilly got together and sat down for hours to come up with a list of the 50 most exciting March Madness moments in NCAA history. This is in no particular order as it is subjective to many, but we did our best!
Check out the 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History below!
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
1. Texas A&M’s massive comeback in final minute of 2016 NCAA tournament
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
2. Michigan’s miraculous buzzer-beater vs. Houston in 2018 NCAA tournament
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
3. Georgia State vs. Baylor: R.J. Hunter 3-pointer for the win (2015)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
4. 1977 NCAA Final Four semifinal controversial end of game in Marquette vs UNC-Charlotte
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
5. Arizona Vs. Illinois (2005) – arguable the GREATEST comeback in the history of NCAA basketball
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
6. Norfolk State upsets Missouri (2012)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
7. CJ Mccollum Dropped 30 POINTS to Upset Duke (2012)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
8. George Mason Shocks The Hoops World Upsetting UCONN (2006)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
9. Wooden wins #10- UCLA Bruins vs Kentucky Wildcats (1975)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
10. Austin Carr Scores 61 Points vs. Ohio – 1970 NCAA Championship
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
11. Bill Walton drops 44 Points vs Memphis State (1973 NCAA FInal)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
12. Keith Smart “The Shot” (1987)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
13. Tyus Edney Miracle vs. Missouri (1995)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
14. Duke vs U.N.L.V. (1991)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
15. UCLA Vs NC State Nat’l SemiFinals go to DOUBLE OT (1974)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
16. Michael Jordan’s game-winner vs. Georgetown (1982)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
17. Virginia’s ‘Redemption’ Run (2019)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
18. ‘The Perfect Upset’ Villanova vs. Georgetown NCAA Championship Game 1985
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
19. The ‘Game of Change’ Loyola vs Mississippi State, March 15, 1963
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
20.
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
21. 1966 Texas Western vs Kentucky (3)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
22. Morehead State Game Winning Three vs Louisville – 2011 NCAA Tournament
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
23. Stephen Curry drops 40 points vs Gonzaga (2008)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
24. John Chaney’s Incredible Elite Eight run with Temple in 2001
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
25. Hampton upsets Iowa State in the 2001 NCAA West Regionals
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
26. Butler upsets #1 Pittsburgh (2011)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
27. VCU upsets #1 Kansas (2011)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
28. Missouri Revenge against UCLA! (2002)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
29. Santa Clara Upsets #2 Arizona (1993)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
30. Dayton tops Virginia Tech in overtime to advance to 1967 NCAA Final Four
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
31. Danny Manning’s dominant 1988 NCAA title game vs Oklahoma
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
32. Roy Williams Wins First NCAA Championship (2005)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
33. “Roger Harden Wins It At The Buzzer!” Kentucky Wildcats vs LSU Tigers (1986)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
34. Indiana upsets #1 Duke (2002)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
35. Cal stuns Duke in 2nd round of NCAA tournament (1993)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
36. Jimmer Fredette Destroys Gonzaga (2011)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
37. Louisville Defeats WVU to advance to Final Four (2005)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
38. Princeton upsets UCLA in the NCAA tournament (1996)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
39. Davidson Upsets #2 Georgetown (2008)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
40. Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird (1979)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
41. Patrick Ewing vs. Akeem Olajuwon: 1984 NCAA Championship game
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
42. NC State stuns Houston in NCAA Championship (1983)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
43. Mario chalmers 3-point shot to win the 2008 NCAA Championship
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
44. Richard Hamilton’s Sweet 16 buzzer beater for UConn (1998)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
45. Korie Lucious Game Winning Buzzer Beater vs Maryland (2010)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
46. Bryce Drew buzzer beater: Valpo vs. Ole Miss (1998)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
47. Villanova vs. North Carolina: Kris Jenkins Buzzer Beater wins national title (2016)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
48. U.S. Reed Game-winning shot vs Louisville (1981)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
49. Christian Laettner hits THE SHOT vs. Kentucky (1992)
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
50. David Slays Goliath: #16 UMBC upsets #1 Virginia
The 50 Most Exciting March Madness Moments in NCAA History was originally published on praisephilly.com
