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NCAA Tournament 2017: 15 best moments

By Nathaniel Reeves

Apr 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels players hoist the national championship trophy after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels players hoist the national championship trophy after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 1, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Kennedy Meeks (3) grabs the rebound against Oregon Ducks forward Jordan Bell (1) at the end of the game for the win in the semifinals of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Kennedy Meeks (3) grabs the rebound against Oregon Ducks forward Jordan Bell (1) at the end of the game for the win in the semifinals of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

5. North Carolina misses four straight at the line to win

The national semifinal between North Carolina and Oregon wasn’t the greatest basketball of the tournament, but a bizarre finish will live on in the highlight reels forever.

With the Ducks shorthanded in the frontcourt, North Carolina appeared to have a massive advantage on the glass heading in. Oregon was able to hold its own early on, and Dylan Ennis led a spurt near the end of the first to take a 30-22 lead at the 3:23 mark.

The Tar Heels responded with a huge run of their own bridging halftime to go up seven early in the second. While North Carolina controlled long stretches of the game with Oregon shooting poorly, it could never quite put the Ducks away, and Oregon eventually cut the lead down to one with six seconds left.

Kennedy Meeks missed the ensuing free throws, but Theo Pinson grabbed an offensive rebound to give the Tar Heels another chance at the line. Joel Berry missed both from the charity stripe this time, only for Meeks to get the offensive board to run out the clock.

Bell, who played so well for the entire tournament, failed to box out on both free throw attempts and took the loss particularly hard. While missing four free throws in a row to close out a one-point win is unconventional to say the least, North Carolina will gladly take it after winning the championship two nights later.

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