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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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Mar 19, 2017; Greenville, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Justin McKie (20) scores in the second half in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2017; Greenville, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Justin McKie (20) scores in the second half in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

4. South Carolina stuns Duke

The Gamecocks unforgettable run to the first Final Four in program history was highlighted by a shocking upset of second-seeded Duke in front of a frenzied crowd in Greenville for a berth in the Sweet 16.

Duke won the ACC Tournament to earn a No. 2 seed and was one of the most popular picks to win the national title behind the most talented roster in the nation. After struggling near the end of the regular season, the Gamecocks felt a little overseeded as a No. 7, but still managed to take down Marquette in an opening round victory.

The Blue Devils controlled the action for much of the first half to take a 30-23 lead into the break despite being plagued by turnovers. South Carolina suddenly couldn’t miss in the second, and quickly gained the lead in the first five minutes thanks to Chris Silva and Sindarius Thornwell.

Silva scored 13 points after the break to pace the red-hot Gamecocks offense, which built a lead as large as 10 points with 3:52 to go on a pair of Duane Notice layups. Duke got no closer than seven, as Justin McKie’s breakaway dunk with 48 seconds left was the exclamation mark.

The game stood out as perhaps the most unexpected upset of the tournament, and will forever be a special moment in Gamecocks history while playing in front of basically a home crowd.

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