MARQUETTE GOLDEN EAGLES

Stellar cast: Notable characters from Bradley Center NCAA Tournament games

Jeff Maillet
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

In 1992 when the men's NCAA Tournament returned to Milwaukee for the first time since 1984, a familiar face was on the sidelines at the Bradley Center.

Al McGuire, the Marquette coaching legend who led the Warriors to the 1977 NCAA championship, was calling the games for CBS. Unfortunately for the excitable McGuire, the first-round games took a toll on his voice.

"We went to dinner Friday night and I couldn't talk," McGuire said later. "Dick (Stockton) pulled some old pills out of his bag. Then the director, Larry whatzisname (Cavolina), the mad scientist, came up with some potion of honey and castor oil. It tasted terrible, but it worked."

McGuire had his voice back in time to call one of the greatest finishes in NCAA Tournament history.

In a second-round game between No. 7 seed Georgia Tech and No. 2 seed USC, Yellow Jackets freshman James Forrest buried a turnaround three-pointer with 0.8 seconds left after receiving an inbounds pass from Matt Geiger to stun the Trojans, sending McGuire and the Bradley Center crowd into a frenzy.

FOLLOW THE MADNESS: NCAA tournament brackets, scores, schedules, teams and more.

"It was a miracle. A miracle in Milwaukee," Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins said after the game.

Seconds before, USC's Rodney Chatman drove the baseline and nailed a jumper with 2.2 seconds left. He then knocked the ball out of bounds on Tech's next possession, setting up the dramatic ending with 0.8 seconds left.

"Coach told us to run something. ... I don't know," Tech guard Jon Barry said after the 79-78 victory.

Forrest, who attempted only 3 three-pointers during the season and missed them all, was the last option on the final play.

"Complete chaos. At that point I was hoping Geiger would get the ball in," Cremins said. "As soon as James caught it, I was turning to shake George's hand," said Cremins, conceding to USC coach George Raveling.

Beginning with Thursday's games, the BMO Harris Bradley Center will host NCAA Tournament games for the last time. Here's a look at notable players and coaches who have participated in tournament games at the arena.

1992

Players

Todd Day, Arkansas

Lee Mayberry, Arkansas

Oliver Miller, Arkansas

Jon Barry, Georgia Tech

Travis Best, Georgia Tech

Matt Geiger, Georgia Tech

Anfernee Hardaway, Memphis State

David Vaughn, Memphis State

Harold Miner, USC

Coaches

Bobby Cremins, Georgia Tech

George Raveling, USC

Nolan Richardson, Arkansas

1996

Players

Tim Duncan, Wake Forest

Kerry Kittles, Villanova

Samaki Walker, Louisville

DeJuan Wheat, Louisville

Michael Ruffin, Tulsa

Maurice Taylor, Michigan

Coaches

Denny Crum, Louisville

Dave Odom, Wake Forest

Tubby Smith, Tulsa

RELATED: Bradley Center games offer exciting potential

RELATED: Wednesday practice times at Bradley Center

RELATED: What to know about the teams in Milwaukee

BRACKETSUSA Today Bracket Challenge | Printable bracket (with times/TV)

MORE COVERAGENCAA Tournament section

1999

Players

Richard Jefferson, Arizona

Jason Terry, Arizona

Charlie Bell, Michigan State

Mateen Cleaves, Michigan State

Morris Peterson, Michigan State

Eduardo Najera, Oklahoma

Lamar Odom, Rhode Island

Coaches

Lute Olson, Arizona

Tom Crean, Michigan State

Tom Izzo, Michigan State

Jim Phelan, Mount St. Mary's

Kelvin Sampson, Oklahoma

2004

Players

Jared Dudley, Boston College

Craig Smith, Boston College

Jarrett Jack, Georgia Tech

Carl Krauser, Pittsburgh

Andrew Bogut, Utah

Freddie Owens, Wisconsin

Devin Harris, Wisconsin

Boo Wade, Wisconsin

Coaches

Jamie Dixon, Pittsburgh

Paul Hewitt, Georgia Tech

Bo Ryan, Wisconsin

Al Skinner, Boston College

2010

Players

James Anderson, Oklahoma State

Jordan Crawford, Xavier

Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech

Evan Turner, Ohio State

Coaches

Jamie Dixon, Pittsburgh

Travis Ford, Oklahoma State

Paul Hewitt, Georgia Tech

Greg Kampe, Oakland

Chris Mack, Xavier

Thad Matta, Ohio State

Tubby Smith, Minnesota

2014

Players

Ben Brust, Wisconsin

Sam Dekker, Wisconsin

Josh Gasser, Wisconsin

Nigel Hayes, Wisconsin

Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin

Bronson Koenig, Wisconsin

Matt Carlino, BYU

Kyle Collinsworth, BYU

Tyler Haws, BYU

Elgin Cook, Oregon

Nik Stauskas, Michigan

Caris LeVert, Michigan

Glenn Robinson III, Michigan

Coaches

Dana Altman, Oregon

Rick Barnes, Texas

John Beilein, Michigan

LaVall Jordan, Michigan

Mark Pope, BYU

Dave Rose, BYU

Bo Ryan, Wisconsin

Herb Sendek, Arizona State