Ranking the 10 Greatest Games in NCAA Tournament History

Over the years there have been hundreds of great games in the NCAA tournament. Only a handful have the memorability to stand the test of time. Very few of all the great games you watch will be remembered a decade or two later. These 10 games, because of their star power, historical meaning and compelling game play, are the greatest to ever be played.

10. Michigan State over Indiana State (1979)

While no one knew what "Bird and Magic" would become in the next 15 years, everyone knew these guys were special. It was one of the most hyped games ever, this was the highest rated game in NCAA tournament history.

Bird's undefeated Indiana State team was overmatched by Magic and the Spartans. Johnson scored 24 points and led the game throughout. While the game wasn't spectacular, the 1979 game set the stage for one of the greatest rivalries in the history of sports and pulled college basketball near the top of the US sports spectrum.

 

9. Kansas over Oklahoma (1988)

In 1988, Danny Manning became a household name during his amazing tournament run. Playing a dominant Oklahoma team loaded with NBA talent, Manning led his sixth-seeded team into a game where they were big underdogs. In the game, he scored 31 points and had 18 rebounds in one of the most exciting finals in history.

8. Indiana over Syracuse (1987)

Two of the greatest coaches: Bob Knight and Jim Boeheim. Two of the greatest programs: Indiana and Syracuse. It all came down to Keith Smart's beautiful jumper with five seconds left. The victory gave Bob Knight his third title in 12 seasons.

7. Duke over UNLV (1991)

In the 1990 final game UNLV beat Duke by 30 points. The following year UNLV returned all its stars was undefeated going into the national semifinal. On average, the Rebels were winning by a margin of 29.4 points a game and scored 97.7 a game.

Duke was able to slow the Rebels' powerful offense. It held Larry Johnson to 13 points and Stacey Augmon to 6. With great games from Christian Laettner (28 points), Bobby Hurley (12 and seven assists) and Brian Davis (15 points off the bench).

The game had 25 lead changes and 17 ties and the farther it went along, the more it looked as though the giant might be slayed. With some late drama, Duke pulled off one of the most shocking upsets in tournament history, avenged the loss from the year before and went on to win the national championship.

6. North Carolina over Georgetown (1982)

While the 1980s Finals had a lot of star power, this game might have been the brightest. Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing and James Worthy played. Dean Smith and John Thompson coached. North Carolina was one of the game's historical powers. Georgetown was becoming a dynasty.

The game was incredible as well. It was tight the entire way, Worthy scored 28 of UNC's 62 points, Freddie Brown passed the ball to the wrong team and Jordan made a shot with 16 seconds to put North Carolina ahead.

5. NC State over UCLA (1974)

John Wooden's team had won seven consecutive titles and nine of the previous 10, something that will never be done again. His 1974 team was led by Bill Walton and faced David Thompson and Tom Burleson in the Final Four. It was a game of heavy weights.

The action was just as fantastic. It was tied at half. It was tied after 40 minutes. It was also tied at the end of the first overtime. In this double overtime thriller, Burleson scored 38 and Thompson had 29 to take down the mighty Bruins.

4. Texas Western over Kentucky (1966)

This game is one of the greatest, not because the action was so compelling, but because of what it meant. Kentucky's coach Adolph Rupp, one of the greatest in the history of the game, was an overt racist and he had all white starters. Texas Western on the other hand, started five African-American players.

In what many consider a great upset, Texas Western led throughout and took home the first national title for a team with that racial makeup. This game is known more for its race-relations meaning than the play on the floor, and for that reason, is one of the greatest in NCAA history.

3. Villanova over Georgetown (1984)

The early-to-mid Georgetown Hoyas were a dynasty. They were the defending national champs and were now in their third championship game in four years. Behind future NBA players Patrick Ewing, Reggie Williams and David Wingate, they dominated their way to the 1984 championship.

Villanova, however, stumbled its way into the tournament. In their last 21 games, the Wildcats were 11-10. They had a 9-7 record in the Big East and got only a No. 8 seed in the NCAA tournament. This was David versus Goliath.

With the greatest shooting performance in the history of the Finals, Villanova slowed the game, got good shots and made an incredible 79 percent of its field goals. For the second year in a row, the national championship game went down as an absolute classic.

2. NC State over Houston (1983)

Phi Slama Jama, or the Houston Cougars, were one of the great teams of college basketball history. Featuring NBA Hall of Famers Clyde Drexler and Akeem Olajuwon and a loaded team behind them, they won 26 straight games going into the final. They played a medicore team in NC State, 17-10 on the season. North Carolina State was the ultimate underdog but was playing hot at the right time.

The game was close throughout, but NC State fell behind late. This spelled trouble without a shot clock. Jim Valvano, using a novel technique, started fouling and Houston. The Cougars missed several foul shots, the Wolfpack scored a few buckets and the deficit was erased. 

With the game tied at 52, North Carolina State in a desperate attempt after a sloppy possession, threw a shot at the basket. Lorenzo Charles caught the ball and dunked. NC State passed Phi Slama Jama for the title. It was a moment and a game which will never be forgeotten.

1. Duke over Kentucky (1992)

The 1992 East Regional Final had everything you would want in a game. It had the best coaches, Rick Pitino and Mike Krzyzewski. It had star players in Christian Laettner and Jamal Mashburn. And it had incredible teams, defending national champion Duke and the 29-6 Kentucky Wildcats.

This contest also went to overtime, was constant suspense from beginning to end and finished on the greatest single play in NCAA history. This game simply cannot be surpassed and is the best in the history of the tournament.