NCAA Tournament 2015: Most Dazzling Images of March Madness
Well, 40-0 was a near miss. But that doesn't mean the tournament can't still be a hit.
Another heart-pounding March Madness tournament is in the books. As is almost always the case, there were upsets galore in the beginning, frenetic action and emotion throughout as well as a clash of titans at the end. And though this postseason's central narrative—Kentucky's bid to end a perfect season with a national title—did not carry through to the tournament's final chapter, there are still plenty of stories to tell.
As we now know, Duke was ultimately the last team standing, as they bested Wisconsin, 68-63, to capture the national title Monday night.
With the final buzzer having just sounded, it's time now to tell all the stories, to look back on the moments that made this March so very mad. Time to strike up the cheesy songs, throw our arms around one another and remember back to when we all were innocent, or something.
Words and video are great, but there's something special about a well-executed still image. These are the photos that best capture the 2015 NCAA men's basketball championship tournament, from the round of 64 to the final snip of the net.
UAB Scores Tourney's First Big Upset
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William Lee was in an emphatic sort of mood after hitting the jumper that sank the No. 3 seed Iowa State Cyclones and gave UAB a tie for the tourney's biggest upset.
At 19-15, the Blazers weren't well-regarded heading into this game; a Conference USA tournament win was what landed them in the dance. And Lee wasn't a major star for the team.
Compounding their underdog status was the fact that plenty of people liked Iowa State to make a deep March Madness run. This is what fairy dust is made of, though.
RJ Hunter Has One Shining Moment...
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Georgia State guard RJ Hunter elevated and drained a three with just two seconds remaining to down the No. 3 seed Baylor Bears.
It capped a magical couple of weeks for the Panthers, who snuck into the dance after winning the Sun Belt conference. Hunter himself noted afterward his hope that the shot would land him in the famous "One Shining Moment" post-tournament highlight reel. I think that was a pretty safe bet.
...But His Dad Steals the Whole Show
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Ron Hunter left the month of March with a few million more fans than he had going in.
After his son RJ hit the game-winning free throws in the Sun Belt tourney final, Hunter tore his Achilles tendon in the immediate post-game celebration.
Then, when his son hit the game-winning three in the tourney's first round, he fell off his stool/chair thing and chipped his cast.
Effervescent in each of what was surely a nearly endless chain of interviews, Hunter was gracious in victory, injury and after his team's defeat to Xavier in the round of 32.
In his own way, he's the MVP of this season's tournament.
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Villanova in Happier Times
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It wouldn't end well for the top-seeded Wildcats (more on that momentarily), but it was all smooth sailing for Dylan Ennis and Villanova in their round-of-64 drubbing of Lafayette, 93-52.
Here, Ennis appears to hang in midair for a silky floater in the lane.
Controversy Strikes as UCLA Squeaks Through
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In this photo, SMU Mustangs center Yanick Moreira (No. 2) reacts after being called for goaltending with just seconds remaining in SMU's upset loss to No. 11 UCLA in the round of 64.
Though it looked like the call was technically correct, guard Bryce Alford's shot was probably not going in. Oh, well. There's always next season. Unless you're Yanick Moreira. He was a senior.
Tears of Rage
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When VCU's star guard Briante Weber went down during the regular season with a knee injury, he took some of the Rams' postseason hopes with him.
The intensely competitive senior could only look on in frustration as VCU fell to Ohio State in the first round, 75-72, and wonder if his presence could have made up the difference in the game (hint: probably so).
In the end, the team's hobbled floor leader could only shed helpless tears as teammate Jarred Guest and head coach Shaka Smart did what they could to console him.
NC State Upends Villanova
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March drama circulates through NC State's DNA.
And they did it again in 2015, knocking off top-seeded Villanova in the round of 32 by the score of 71-68.
Trevor Lacey and Cat Barber led the Wolfpack during the game, but Desmond Lee gets the nod for the image of the game, this leaping celebration in the wake of the final buzzer.
Troy Caupain Carries the 'Cats
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I'd say he has reason to celebrate.
Sophomore guard Troy Caupain hit a buzzer beater that sent his Cincinnati Bearcats into overtime, where they went on to defeat Purdue, 66-65.
Here, No. 10 Caupain gets loose with teammate Jermaine Sanders.
Things Get Rough for Melo
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Melo Trimble and the Maryland Terps were knocked around pretty good in their game with West Virginia.
A hard foul or two, a rough screen and an accidental blow from a teammate left Trimble with a concussion. Without their point guard and best ballhandler, the Terps fell apart under the Mountaineers' pressure.
Trimble wanted to return but was prevented from doing so by Maryland's trainers and coaches. Kudos to them for making that move, even when the team needed him.
Hard Justise
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Justise Winslow emerged as one of the keys to Duke's postseason run.
Here, he turns back a layup bid from San Diego State's J.J. O'Brien. Duke won the game, 68-49, to make the Sweet 16.
With Authority
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In the Final Four, Duke let Michigan State know who the real favorite was between them, at least here in 2015.
The Blue Devils trounced the Spartans 81-61, and this early dunk from Jahlil Okafor helped set the tone. Okafor ended the game with 18 points and six rebounds.
A Tale of Two Teams
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Kentucky star big man Willie Cauley-Stein walks off the court as Wisconsin celebrates its trip to the national championship.
The 71-64 win for the Badgers was a significant upset, but maybe it shouldn't have been such a shock. Wisconsin was absolutely loaded this season, with Frank Kaminsky at the center and supporting cast members Sam Dekker and Nigel Hayes playing helping roles for the team.
Crestfallen Calipari
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Ten years from now, this image may prove the most enduring from the 2015 tournament.
A lot of the hype centered on Kentucky's bid to have a 40-0 season and a national championship. The architect of this Wildcats juggernaut, John Calipari, earned plenty of accolades along the way.
But as the game slowly unraveled against Wisconsin in the Final Four, Calipari was by turns incredulous, stubborn and, finally, despairing. This is the image that made the rounds after Kentucky's loss.
Calipari takes a lot of criticism, but he seems to care about his guys and about winning. A memorable season became a merely excellent one at the last moment. But credit Calipari and his slew of college all-stars for a terrific 38-1 run.
The Fan Sits Alone
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Not to rub it in, but this one kind of summed it up from the fan side.
Fairly or not, the Kentucky faithful do not exactly engender great amounts of sympathy among fellow college basketball fans. This image of a Wildcats devotee crying alone in the arena encapsulates that feeling.
Cheer up, man. Something tells me you guys will be back.
Tyus Jones Is the Lead Devil
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If the freshman Tyus Jones hadn't stepped up, the Badgers would have hoisted the final trophy Monday night.
Because the higher-wattage freshman, Okafor, was out with foul trouble for long stretches, others were left to carry Duke. More than one guy stepped up. Unheralded freshman Grayson Allen was among them, offering a splendid performance with 16 points off the end of the bench.
But Jones was the man for Duke, leading all scorers with 23 and hitting some absolutely cold-blooded shots down the stretch. According to stats that ESPN offered on Twitter, Jones scored "the most points ever by a Duke freshman in a national title game."
That's something to be proud of. Almost as proud as that hardware he picked up a little later.
So Close, Yet so Far
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There's something particularly painful about watching someone absorb defeat in the midst of someone else's celebration.
Here, Kaminsky commiserates with guard Josh Gasser as the streamers fall for Duke. Kaminsky led Wisconsin with 21 points.
Get Happy Down in Durham
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Duke deserved to celebrate after winning that hum-dinger of a game, a 68-63 marathon win over the Badgers.
In the end, Wisconsin gassed a little and Duke hit the gas pedal, with Jones and company leading the way.
Ergo, we have dog-piling. Another excellent season for another excellent Duke team. It's not exactly a surprise, and it's not exactly new, but this team should still get its props.
After the game, head coach Mike Krzyzewski said on the broadcast that "we beat a great team." Takes one to know one, I suppose. Hats off to the Devils.
Hail to the Champs
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Once again, your 2014-2015 NCAA men's basketball champion Duke Blue Devils.
Congrats, farewell and see you next season. Cue the credits and Luther Vandross, or whoever's singing "One Shining Moment" this year.
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