Comments on: Where 2009-10 Happens: Reason #1 Why We Love College Basketball

By: Jameson Fleming

Jameson Fleming — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:24:12 +0000

Syracuse fans, if this doesn't have you pumped for basketball season, I don't know what will. http://bit.ly/2AcJ5a

By: jtruman37

jtruman37 — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:22:47 +0000

Ahh, see, I didn’t know this was strictly an ’08 thing. It makes sense though. The Duke Kentucky game deserves its pedestal. I remember exactly where I was while watching it. & to Screw Gottlieb’s point, I think most Husky fans will hate Pitt more than the Cuse, given all the big, tough, physical games between the two.

By: Screw Gottlieb

Screw Gottlieb — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:35:40 +0000

Dougo, hate all you want. But SU fans will still hate Georgetown more than you for all time. We still hate you though, just not as much.

By: rtmsf

rtmsf — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:23:28 +0000

In reply to nvr1983.

Best game I ever saw in person in terms of both drama and significance was probably the 97 title game where Arizona beat Kentucky in OT. The overtime wasn’t all that thrilling, but the last 90 seconds of regulation certainly were. Has anyone seen or heard from Ron Mercer since that game?

I’d also like to point out that I may have witnessed the worst modern game of significance as well – the Michigan State-Wisconsin debacle in the 2000 F4. Good grief, that game set back basketball at least five yrs.

By: rtmsf

rtmsf — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:17:31 +0000

In reply to Dougo. Lol. You say "to this very day" as if it were 30 yrs ago. Still, good hatred is hard to find, so enjoy it.

By: nvr1983

nvr1983 — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:18:54 +0000

jtruman37–
I think Zach was just focusing on last season for his countdown of the top 30 things about college basketball. While the Syracuse-UConn game was a great game it isn’t even in the same discussion as Duke-Kentucky for a variety of reasons including historic significance of Duke trying to be the first team to repeat since UCLA in 1973, Laettner being perfect, and the reemergence of Kentucky under Rick Pitino. Having said that and noting that we all fall prey to the recency effect, I think the Syracuse-UConn game will hold up as one of the better non-NCAA tournament games of all-time.

For those of you too young to remember the Duke-Kentucky game, check out Alexander Wolff’s SI article on the game. It’s one of the best pieces of college basketball writing you will find anywhere. I still remember the first time I read the article almost 17 years ago.
Link = http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1004691/index.htm

As for the best game I have seen in person I would have to go with Villanova’s win over Pittsburgh in last season’s Elite 8. I was on Dan Levy’s podcast a day or two after the game (http://rushthecourt.net/2009/03/30/rtc-on-the-dan-levy-podcast/) and he asked me about where I would rate it all-time. I rated it around #15-20 all-time for NCAA tournament games at the time. I’m not sure how UNC beating up on Villanova in the next round will alter basketball historians’ perspective on the Elite 8 game, but I think it’s a pretty accurate ranking of where that game should fall.

By: jtruman37

jtruman37 — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:21:42 +0000

Yeah, I’m pumped to see this be #1. It was unexpected. I’ve not ben on the site for a while & as the video was loading, under the caption, Greatest Game Ever I expected the Duke/Kentucky game to appear. That must’ve been some game, Jameson. I remember not believing that the Huskies couldn’t finish Syracuse. Then getting frustrated & just wanting it over. Then when UConn lost I was salty. Tough to be too mad though.

The best game I ever saw in person was the ’02 UConn/Pitt BE Final that went to 2OT & Taleik Brown hit a 3 from like half court that was just deadly & Brandon Knight was a total warrior. & another was a ’00 game, @ Gampel, against Arizona, that was decided by a sketchy goaltending call on Loren Woods. Wild comeback. & another still, was the ’04 BE Final, again against Pitt, where the Huskies made a furious comeback against yet another tough as nails Pitt team. I won’t decide which was the best, but probably one of the BE title games.

Any other best game’s seen in person out there?

By: Jameson

Jameson — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:52:09 +0000

Being at that game is one of my best memories ever that I cannot wait to tell my kids about. That atmosphere that night was unreal. Everyone in MSG was rooting for Syracuse the rest of the tournament.

By: Screw Gottlieb

Screw Gottlieb — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:14:02 +0000

damn

By: Dougo

Dougo — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:40:22 +0000

I’m a UConn student. I remember that game more vividly than ten thousand nightmares. I went to bed after the game, at that point I was too tired to do anything else, and thought “Well played. All around, well played.” That and “Horror! Horror!”

I woke up that morning with a violent hatred for Syracuse. That hatred sustains me to this very day.