Favorite NCAAT Game (rd 1-6)

[uconngb]

Great question. I think the obvious ones are Duke championship 99, Duke F4 04, and St. Joe's 14.

The S16-E8-F4 games in '11 were all awesome, and that does conflict with Duke F4 above.

Illinois E8 this year is also pretty obvious, although Arizona E8 11 was a nail biter, Gonzaga 99 was iconic for ending their run, Gonzaga 23 was a fun beatdown, and Florida 14 was a statement upset in MSG. Just tough to top the jubilation of 30-0 in Boston, but a competitive category.

SDSU 11 for sweet 16 was great, Kembas flop is iconic, although some of that is hindsight with Kawhi. Was still a fun comeback win. I think poster ahead of me is right though that The Shot has to be it (I was only thinking title years at first) and also how do you top the 06 Anderson/Hamilton buzzer beaters in a comeback? Sweet 16 is definitely the hardest.

I liked Northwestern from 24 for round of 32 because it was such a beatdown. Nova in 14 was a pretty big upset though, so maybe that does have to edge it.

So I think my list is

St Joe's 14
Nova 14
Clemson 90
Illinois 24
Duke 04
Duke 99

Florida 2014 in MSG?? Do you mean Mich St?? That was a great game and my pick for EE, probably because I was there and the Garden was insane that day.

 

[auror]

Florida 2014 in MSG?? Do you mean Mich St?? That was a great game and my pick for EE, probably because I was there and the Garden was insane that day.

Yes.

 

[The Yakk]

Everyone sleeping on 2023 Gonzaga in the elite eight. That's my favorite non-championship game.

The Zags came into that game highly-rated, arrogant, and full of hype and we just put them to sleep. Timme was brutally exposed, and we probably cost him a spot in the draft. That was incredibly satisfying.

 

[JohnFSilver]

This should get us through August. List your favorite UConn game from each round of the tournament.

First Round: 2023 vs. Iona
Second Round: 2014 vs. Nova
Sweet 16: 2006 vs. Washington
Elite 8: 2024 vs. Illinois
Final 4: 2011 vs. Kentucky
Championship. 2014 vs. Kentucky

Young man. Ya gotta go back all the way.

First round - 2014 vs. St Joseph’s
Second round: 2014 vs Nova
Sweet 16: 1990 vs Clemson
Elite 8: 2024 Illinois
Final Four: 2004 vs Duke
Championship: 1999 vs Duke

 

[JohnFSilver]

Everyone sleeping on 2023 Gonzaga in the elite eight. That's my favorite non-championship game.

The Zags came into that game highly-rated, arrogant, and full of hype and we just put them to sleep. Timme was brutally exposed, and we probably cost him a spot in the draft. That was incredibly satisfying.

UConn didn’t put them to sleep. We violently hit them over the head with a baseball bat and went Negan on them.

 

[superjohn]

Honestly, every tournament game from this past season. There's been so many amazing tournament games over the years and so many stress inducing finishes but every game in this past tournament was an "I told you so" for the UConn fanbase.

'99 was incredible because UConn finally broke through, 2004 was satisfying because we all knew we were the best team in the country before the ball was even tipped that season. 2011 because it came out of nowhere and was a run for the ages, 2014 because it felt like a replica of 2011 just with a lower seed. 2023 because it all came together at the end of the season and we blew everyone out...

2024, I'll take every tournament game because it was a coronation. Not only is it the best team I've ever seen but every fan around the country realized UConn is the best program in the country. it's nice being able to kick your feet up, watching beautiful team basketball and not having to stress. Not only did we go back to back in the most dominant fashion, we struck fear in everyone else around the country knowing a three-peat is very much within our grasp.

 

[willie99]

1st round; 1991 over Shaq and LSU. We beat Shaq, bad, as the 11 seed

2nd round; 1990 vs Cal at the HCC. I was there, and the Cal guards were disrespecting our D. They played the Glove dontchaknow. Took them 5 minutes before they got the ball over half court

S 16; Arkansas 2023, that's when I knew we were real

E 8; MSU @ MSG in NYC in 2014. I was there, we owned the building

F 4; Dook 2004, down 8 with < 3 minutes and the Dookies thought it was over. Hence they couldn't breath down the stretch, a classic choke job (and I was there)

Championship; they're all special, but you always remember the first time. 1999 vs Dook


Please forgive me if I remembered something a little differently than you do, I forgive you

 

[Scoe]

1st rd- 1991 beating Shaq, because it's well Shaq the Diesel

2nd rd- 2014 vs Nova, knocking off a big east team after banning us from their tourney.

Sweet 16- 2024 vs Arkansas, seeing total domination and Musselman knowing his team was cooked right off the bat.

Elite 8- 2024 vs Illinois, I was there when I saw tickets priced in the 200s I decided to bite the bullet, was definitely money well spent, no worry of travel expenses and seeing the best team off all time going back to the final four. I'm sure the vast amount of Illini fans knew they were losing this game but they did have a bit of that big ten arrogance thinking they were tougher being from the big ten was enjoyable seeing the 30-0 run then seeing a bunch of Illini fans leave all quite.

Hearing the U C O N N chant echoing off buildings was euphoric, I did hear an Illini fan walking saying "I bet you most of these fans don't even know where UConn is" I just laughed very loudly and said is that really supposed to be an insult. Did Illini fans really think they were gonna outdraw UConn fans in New England.

Final Four- 2004 vs Duke, making the Dukies cry they thought this was their 1999 moment then Rashad and Emeka said not so fast my friend.

National Championship- 1999 vs Duke, how could anything top the 1st title, no amount of video or explanation can describe that feeling in 99. 2014 and 2024 I flip flop from 2nd and 3rd.

 

[UofCT]

Young man. Ya gotta go back all the way.

First round - 2014 vs. St Joseph’s
Second round: 2014 vs Nova
Sweet 16: 1990 vs Clemson
Elite 8: 2024 Illinois
Final Four: 2004 vs Duke
Championship: 1999 vs Duke

lol it doesn’t hit the same. It’s a great problem to have where we all have different top memories.

 

[Hagahulk23]

1st-Boston University 1990-First tournament game of the modern era
2nd-Indiana 1998-Calhoun vs Knight
Sweet Sixteen-Maryland 1995-smacked around that Joe Smith led Maryland team(plus, watched it in a bar in Montreal on spring break)
Elite Eight-Michigan State 2014-The Garden was special that year.
Final Four-Duke 2004-Down 8 with under 3 minutes left, punched and dented a door. 10 minutes later I was happily icing down a swollen hand.
National Championship-Purdue 2024- Reaching heights never felt possible when I was excited about the new coaching hire on May 14, 1986. And on and on we rise.

 

[Luna]

All the 2024 tournament games..I’ve watched each game a couple times already..the team was so dominant,
We just blew out everyone.. our rivals wanted us to lose so bad.. I loved going on their message boards.. last year’s team could very well be the greatest college men’s basketball team ever

 

[husky1bags]

Not after giving away a 17 pt lead

Cmon now I left dorm room in Alsop to get a pizza from quad at halftime. I had my tiny Walkman radio on and was horrified UCONN became passive & Clemson began to chip away at lead in the 2nd half. I thought we were comfortably ahead forgot it was an NCAA tournament game no lead is safe.

 

[formerlurker]

Was on campus for the Dream Season so Scott to Tate will always be #1 in my heart. I was 19 and stupid and had no idea I was watching the second corner stone to a Dynasty being set. (NIT Championship has to be considered the first)

Still stupid 53 yo me has this in 2nd place as we look to build up from the 6th Floor.

 

[mauconnfan]

89-90 vs California after Campenlli said they wouldn’t be afraid of the UConn pressure they’ve seen better during league play. The buzz in the Civic Center was special

04 vs Duke semis and the comeback was special as well.

 

[Kitaman]

This whole thing will come down to age. If anyone puts any sweet 16 game over the Clemson win with “the shot” there is no way they were watching back then. Probably do not even own the “Huskymania” VHS tape.

I remember at the end of the game, I would have to go out and do some yard work (leftover leaves from last fall) and was sulking at the Tourney exit.

Then 'The Shot' happened and I was whistling through my lawn chores on a UConn high.

Just saying I remember that moment to this day.

Not to embellish that moment but I think that was when Calhoun's career took off. The sour taste left after that next game was removed in 99, making Calhoun's revenge so sweet.

 

[QDOG5]

UConn beating Duke in the championship in '99 is the most important game in the history of UConn Mens basketball. We had many important wins getting to that point and 5 title since but that game in '99 is when we reached the mountaintop. Any UConn fan who watched that game knows the feeling they had inside with about 5 minutes to go when we realized "hey, we're going to beat these guys". Winning that game is the most joyous sports moment of my entire life.

 

[Waquoit]

89-90 vs California after Campenlli said they wouldn’t be afraid of the UConn pressure they’ve seen better during league play. The buzz in the Civic Center was special

And he cried like a baby when it was over. And he was drummed out of coaching for being such a cheater even though Dickie V. carried his water nightly.

 

[lavuuk153]

Not after giving away a 17 pt lead

I wasn’t sure the amount, but blowing a lead that big as the 1 seed wouldn’t make that a fun game for me. Of course The Shot is iconic and I won’t question anyone who has that as their favorite moment, but it doesn’t seem like a game I would’ve enjoyed live or want to watch again.

 

[mauconnfan]

I wasn’t sure the amount, but blowing a lead that big as the 1 seed wouldn’t make that a fun game for me. Of course The Shot is iconic and I won’t question anyone who has that as their favorite moment, but it doesn’t seem like a game I would’ve enjoyed live or want to watch again.

I enjoyed it live no doubt it was full of UConn fans and the way it went from euphoria to utter OMG what happened, was crazy. Then of course obviously the place was buzzing while Duke and UCLA came out to warm up. They were all watching it from the tunnels waiting to get to the floor it was a special day for fans.

 

[gsmooth]

UConn beating Duke in the championship in '99 is the most important game in the history of UConn Mens basketball. We had many important wins getting to that point and 5 title since but that game in '99 is when we reached the mountaintop. Any UConn fan who watched that game knows the feeling they had inside with about 5 minutes to go when we realized "hey, we're going to beat these guys". Winning that game is the most joyous sports moment of my entire life.

You don't have to tell me twice. I was at that game live in Tropicana Field. UConn had the Ohio State fans, Michigan State fans, and the neutral fans pulling for them. UConn was the sentimental favorite in the country as everyone knew they finally reached the Final 4 after starving so long to reach it while Duke was considered the powerhouse that won all the time as that was Coach Ks 8th Final Four which included 7 in 9 years between 1986-1994.

UConn is no longer the sentimental favorite. They are the best basketball program in the country. UConn is Thanos and the other programs are the Avengers trying to take them down.

 

[Waquoit]

I wasn’t sure the amount, but blowing a lead that big as the 1 seed wouldn’t make that a fun game for me. Of course The Shot is iconic and I won’t question anyone who has that as their favorite moment, but it doesn’t seem like a game I would’ve enjoyed live or want to watch again.

That's too bad. You diminish the incredible joy that came with The Shot going in. Of course, it made the gut punch that came 2 days later even worse. I remember leaving the bar feeling like Steve McQueen at the end of The Cincinnati Kid.

 

[superjohn]

I wasn’t sure the amount, but blowing a lead that big as the 1 seed wouldn’t make that a fun game for me. Of course The Shot is iconic and I won’t question anyone who has that as their favorite moment, but it doesn’t seem like a game I would’ve enjoyed live or want to watch again.

I was just a little kid but I remember it being torture. We blew the game and I was crying and then a minute later I was running around screaming with joy. It was 1 second of amazing but we stunk that game.

Tate's legend would've grown a lot bigger if he just could've held onto the ball against Duke. He'll always have The Shot though.

 

[Taco]

At least for the older people here, the Tate George shot in 1990 has to be the pick for Sweet 16.

If I remember correctly, the good guys had a big lead at half and Clemson took their only lead with a second remaining. I was out of my mind upset that the team had fallen apart and the dream season was over - then the SHOT! Great - I mean GREAT ending but not a fun watch for much of the 2nd half.

As an aside does anyone remember the used to have the shot on a screen at the library ( or maybe the SU) that showed the CBS feed of the shot- must have watched it a thousand times!

 

[WhereistheDove?]

Elite 8 - dismantling the Illini last year when, again, a lot of podcasters inserted their feet into their mouths and were slobbering all over themselves talking about Terrence Shannon

Definitely going to be an all-time great for me. The talk that we couldn’t hang with their offense, hadn’t seen a team as physical (LOL), Hawkins was going to pull Clingan out of the paint and neutralize his impact (double-LOL), to end in an absolutely historic, never been done before drubbing was so sweet. I’ve watched that game a few too many times on replay already.