Sixteen most memorable moments that have defined 2018 NCAA tournament
Now that the Sweet 16 is on the horizon, USA TODAY Sports ranks the 16 top moments that have made this year's Big Dance one of the most memorable in years. The One Shining Moment montage doesn't play until after the Final Four, so we've got you covered until then.
1. UMBC's historic upset
The Retrievers were the underdog of all underdogs as a No. 16 seed going up against the NCAA tournament's top overall seed in Virginia. The Cavaliers had the nation's best defense, only lost twice and were hardly challenged en route to ACC regular-season and tournament titles. UMBC -- a team that lost to Albany by 44 points in the America East -- played inspired basketball and after a tie score at halftime, dictated the tempo in the second half against the most tempo-controlling team around. Not only did the Retrievers throw knockout punches, they deflected any UVA counter-punch with a dagger three-pointer or Jairus Lyles layup.
TOP 10 LIST:UMBC's upset is the new No. 1 of all-time
2. Tony Bennett's news conference after Virginia crumbled
The other side of history is as painful as it looks, but national coach of the year Tony Bennett handled the moment with grace, praising UMBC's effort and highlighting the anything-can-happen unpredictability of the tournament. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski praised Bennett, saying: "What a great example for all coaches to not just handle victory well, but to handle defeat, because you're going to experience both."
3. A Michigan miracle
In a tournament filled with crazy shots (see: Matt McQuaid's block-turned-banked-three against Syracuse) the Wolverines' game-winner against Houston might be the best so far. Trailing 63-61 with 3.6 seconds left, Michigan flung the ball to halfcourt and relayed it to freshman Jordan Poole, who launched the decisive shot from near the scorer's table, his legs kicking out to either side as it fell. Houston's heartbreak kept the Wolverines alive; they'll face Texas A&M in the Sweet 16 on Thursday night.
4. Sportsmanship after heartbreak
Poole's game-winning shot resulted in one of the tournament's most emotional images, and one of its funniest celebrity tweets. But perhaps the most compelling moment was Michigan forward Mo Wagner stopping during his team's celebration to console Houston's Corey Davis Jr. as he stood on the sideline.
5. Comeback king Nevada and its shirtless coach
The Wolfpack overcame a 14-point halftime deficit to beat Texas in overtime, then fought back from 22 points down against Cincinnati to advance again, this time to the Sweet 16. The win led to quite a moment in Nevada's locker room afterward, with coach Eric Musselman ripping off his shirt before joining the postgame celebration. (As it turns out, Musselman has made something of a habit of celebratory shirt removal.)
6. Loyola-Chicago catches fire
The Ramblers became the first Cinderella from Thursday's first-round action after a Donte Ingram top-of-the-key buzzer-beater to sink No. 6 Miami (Fla.) Then the No. 11 seed continued its magical season with another last-second game-winner, this one courtesy of Clayton Custer, to oust No. 3 seed Tennessee.
7. Sister Jean
As far as super fans, it's tough to beat a 98-year-old Catholic nun (Sister Jean Dolores-Schmidt) who prays for the team before every game, gives coach Porter Moser a scouting report and emails players motivational takeaways. The longtime team chaplain (and "comfort blanket, as Moser calls her) could barely contain her glee in the two thrilling Loyola upsets.
8. Buffalo blasts Arizona
Maybe the most shocking upset of the tournament (non-UMBC division) was Buffalo's complete dismantling of No. 4 Arizona in the first round. It wasn't just that the Bulls won, but how they won, frustrating Wildcats star Deandre Ayton and pulverizing Arizona, 89-68. "I felt like we had a shot," Buffalo coach Nate Oats said afterwards. "I didn't think we were going to win it like that."
9. Boeheim's zone strikes again
Few people gave Syracuse much of a chance in this year's tournament, and few people expected them to beat popular Final Four pick Michigan State. But once again, coach Jim Boeheim's 2-3 zone defense proved to be the difference, helping carry the Orange to an ugly 55-53 win over the Spartans. Michigan State shot just 25.8 percent in the game and made only nine of its 38 shots in the second half.
10. Talkin' bout a 'revolution'
For the second time in Leonard Hamilton's 16 seasons as head coach, Florida State is back in the Sweet 16, this time after knocking off No. 1 Xavier, 75-70. And after a four-day stretch in which two No. 1 seeds, two No. 2 seeds and two No. 3 seeds all bowed out, Hamilton spoke of something "almost like a revolution" in college basketball. "What happens is, you start categorizing people by the reputation that their players get going into college," Hamilton told reporters. "But in reality, kids are playing basketball all over the country and teams are getting better."
11. Hurley brothers' emotional moment
Before the tournament even began, the best moment of Selection Sunday came when bubble team Arizona State (coached by Bob Hurley) squeaked into the field of 68, and brother Dan Hurley (Rhode Island's head coach) broke down with happiness and relief for his best friend. Both teams played in the Midwest Region, with ASU falling to Syracuse in the First Four and RI bowing out to Duke in the second round. While Dan was going up against the Blue Devils, Bobby, the former Duke All-American told USA TODAY Sports that his own bloodline is thicker than blue blood.
12. Marshall shocks the Shockers
The No. 13 seeded Thundering Herd pulled off one of the tournament's biggest first-round upsets in knocking out No. 4 seed and sleeper Final Four pick Wichita State. Jon Elmore's three-pointers from different area codes and crafty playmaking gave March Madness one of its first big stars. And no one beats coach Dan D'Antoni's outfit swag.
13. Roy gets emotional from Aggie agony
The defending champion North Carolina Tar Heels were not spared from the spate of upsets, falling to Texas A&M, 86-65. While the Aggies celebrated their second trip to the Sweet 16 in three years, Williams nearly wept in his postgame press conference while speaking about his players, and how they helped him stay afloat in recent years as the program, among other things, became embroiled in an academic scandal. "Those kids on the court were my salvation," an emotional Williams said.
14. Ohio State's Chris Holtmann KOs the upset-loving media
The Buckeyes, a No. 5 seed trending downward heading into the NCAAs, were one of the teams expected to be on upset alert. After OSU defeated South Dakota State, coach Chris Holtmann made sure to thank his team's motivators.
"I just want to thank all the fine, smart, clever journalists who didn't pick us," Holtmann said in a postgame television interview on TNT. "And trust me, our guys were aware of that. So...appreciate that."
15. Dan Hurley doesn't give a crap about other jobs
Rhode Island's fantastic season came to a close after falling to Duke in the second round.
After the loss, fifth-year senior E.C. Matthews praised Hurley. “This is my guy,” Matthews, who was raised in a single-parent household, said to reporters postgame. “I know we’re not the same color, but he’s definitely my father. Just trying to walk off the court the right way.”
Hurley, who is being courted by UConn and Pittsburgh for coaching vacancies, provided a memorable line, saying "I could give a crap" about job openings.
16. Mike Krzyzewski makes history
With Duke's crushing victory over Rhode Island, Coach K logged his record 1,099th career victory to surpass legendary Tennessee coach Pat Summitt for the most Division I basketball wins, men's or women's.
"It's an honor," Krzyzewski said on CBS after the win. "It means I had a lot of good players. And I'm at a good school."
Honorable mention - Expert NCAA analysis