NCAA Tournament: Five Worst Shooting Choke-Jobs in Championship Game History

Bad shooting dropped to a new low last night as the UConn Huskies beat Butler in what was easily the most ugly NCAA Championship Game in decades.

Both teams played tough, physical defense, but the fiasco that was the 2011 Championship Game was not a product of lock-down defenders and in-your-face pressure.

This, unfortunately, was simply the perfect storm of good players who seemingly couldn't connect on basic jump shots, lay-ups and put-backs.

Throughout the tournament, UConn and Butler had successfully put the ball in the basket against top opponents from around the country.

But, on this historic Monday night in Houston, the ball was having a hard time going through the hoop.

Here is a picture of how bad things were for the Bulldogs:

• Butler shot only 18.8 percent from the field, the lowest shooting percentage by any team in a National Championship Game (NCG).
• Butler shot 3/31 from two-point range in this game, just 9.7 pct and the fewest two-point FGs made in NCG history. The next fewest two-point FGs made in a NCG was nine by Oklahoma State in 1949.
• Butler shot 9/33 (27.3 percent) from three-point range. The Bulldogs' 33 attempts is second-most in a NCG. Illinois fired 40 three-point attempts in 2005 against North Carolina.

Even National Champion UConn only shot 19/55 from the field (34.5 percent) including 1/11 (9.1 percent). NINE PERCENT !!!

The following is a list of the worst National Championship Game shooting performances (before last night) in college basketball history.

More specifically, this list will detail how horrible some very good teams shot from beyond the arc in a title game.   

5. Arizona (2001)

Donald Miralle/Getty Images

15 Feb 2001: Gilbert Arenas #9 of the Arizona Wildcats congratulates teammates Michael Wright #2, Richard Jefferson #44, Loren Woods #3 during the game against the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins at the Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles,

Duke 82, Arizona 72

Wildcats' Three-Point Shooting: 4/22 (18.2 Percent)

The 2000-01 Arizona Wildcats were a super-talented team, filled with no less than 4 future NBA players on the roster: Richard Jefferson, Loren Woods, Gilbert Arenas and Luke Walton. 

In the 2001 Championship Game against Duke, the Wildcats had trouble finding the bottom of the net.

For the game, Arizona shot four-for-twenty-two (18.2 percent) from three-point range.

Arenas and Jason Gardner missed all twelve of their three-point attempts.

Richard Jefferson (four-for-eight) was the only Wildcat to connect from downtown.

4. UCLA (2006)

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS - APRIL 3: Jordan Farmar #1 of the UCLA Bruins shoots over Lee Humphrey #12 of the Florida Gators in the first half during the National Championship game of the NCAA Men's Final Four on April 3, 2006 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Florida 73, UCLA 57

Bruins Three-Point Shooting: 3/17 (17.6 Percent)

The 2005-06 UCLA Bruins shot 35 percent from beyond the arc for the season. Cedric Bozeman and Arron Afflalo were Ben Howland's best three-point shooters.

In the 2006 Championship Game against Florida, the Bruins struggled shooting from distance. For the game, UCLA shot three-for-seventeen (17.6 percent) from three-point range.

Only three Bruins attempted three-pointers in the game:

Jordan Farmar was one-for-eight.

Arron Afflalo hit two-of-seven.

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute missed both of his attempts.

3. Ohio State (2007)

Brian Bahr/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS - MARCH 12: Jamar Butler #14 of the Ohio State Buckeyes shoots over Jeff Horner #2 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the Big 10 Tournament Championship game on March 12, 2006 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Ge

Florida 84, Ohio State 75

Buckeyes Three-Point Shooting: 4-for-23 (17.4 Percent)

The 2006-07 UCLA Bruins shot 36 percent from beyond the arc for the season. Thad Matta had four players who shot at least 130 three-point shots on the year: Jamar Butler (202), Ron Lewis (186), Ivan Harris (148) and Daequan Cook (130).

They were not timid; they were ready to fire.

In the 2007 Championship Game against Florida, the Buckeyes just couldn't find the mark shooting from distance. For the game, OSU shot four-for-twenty-three (17.4 percent) from three-point range.

Harris and Butler (pictured) shot three-for-fourteen combined.

2. Michigan (1992)

Duke 71, Michigan 51

Wolverines' Three-Point Shooting: 1/11 (9.1 Percent)

For all of the hype and hoopla over the Fab Five, they certainly weren't fabulous on this night. In the 1992 National Championship Game against Duke, the Wolverines only made one three-point shot as the Blue Devils blew them off the court 71-51.

9.1 Percent...Wow!

Jimmy King was the only Michigan player to connect on a three-pointer over the course of the forty-minute game. Jalen Rose, Chris Webber and Juwan Howard went a combined zero-for-six from beyond the arc.

1. Duke (1990)

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

MINNEAPOLIS - APRIL 4: Bobby Hurley #11 of the Duke Hoops goes for a layup during their game against the Indiana Hoosiers at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota on April 4, 1992. Duke defeated Indiana 81-78. (Photo by: Jonathan Da

UNLV 103, Duke 73

Blue Devils Three-Point Shooting: 1-for-11 (9.1 Percent)

The most lop-sided National Championship Game pitted UNLV vs. Duke in 1990 in Denver.

The final score reflected the only time where a team has scored 100 points and represented the largest winning margin (30). UNLV's backcourt of Anderson Hunt and Greg Anthony punished Duke with high-pressured perimeter defense.

The Blue Devil's game-high scorer, Phil Henderson, went one-for-eight from three-point territory.

Frustrated freshman point guard Bobby Hurley missed both of his attempts. Back-up Greg Loubek missed his only attempt.