Top 25 March Madness heroes of all-time

Not many people realize just how good Gordon Hayward was for the Butler Bulldogs. Right now, he’s looked at as one of the better NBA stars. Before he made his way to the league, he was leading a mid-major in Butler to the NCAA title game.

Butler was able to make it back to the national title in 2011, but Hayward left after the 2009-10 season, his second with the program. He and Brad Stevens really put the Bulldogs on the map and he will always be remembered for nearly hitting a half-court shot to beat the Duke Blue Devils in the national title game.

Duke missed a free throw with under three seconds left and up by two and Hayward pulled down the rebound, sprinted to half-court and heaved up a prayer. That prayer was almost answered as it clanked off the backboard and the rim, ending the game with heartbreak.

While “almost” hitting a game-winning half-court shot at the buzzer doesn’t really make someone a hero, Hayward was the reason the Bulldogs made it that far. If he had made that shot, Hayward might be No. 1 on this list. Not many mid-majors can make the national title game, let alone win it.