Remember the top 25 March Madness heroes of all-time

Top 25 March Madness heroes of all-time

HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 02: Kemba Walker #15 of the Connecticut Huskies celebrates after defeating the Kentucky Wildcats during the National Semifinal game of the 2011 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship at Reliant Stadium on April 2, 2011 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

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9 Dec 1998: Forward Mike Babul #23 of the UMass Minutemen in action against guard/forward Richard Hamilton #32 of the UConn Huskies during the game at Mullins Center in Amherst, Massachusetts. UConn defeated UMass 59-54. Mandatory Credit: M. David Leeds /Allsport /

Before Richard “Rip” Hamilton was leading the Detroit Pistons to the 2004 NBA title, he was one of the best Connecticut players in school history.

In fact, he led the Huskies to the 1999 national title and was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player. He was also a consensus first-team All-American and back-to-back Big East Player of the Year honoree.

Even before ending his career on a high note with a national title win, Hamilton hit one of the most memorable shots of his basketball career. Facing off against No. 11 seed Washington, somewhat of a Cinderella, in the Sweet 16 of the 1998 NCAA Tournament, the Huskies found themselves down by one, 74-73, with under 10 seconds left.

A lid seemed to be on the basket for Connecticut as shot after shot was going in and out, but the Huskies were getting the offensive boards. The final tip out after a missed shot landed in Hamilton’s hands and he put up a contested fadeaway from just in front of the free throw line at the buzzer, and it fell.

Hamilton may have been the only player to ever make Jim Calhoun jump around like a schoolboy, and for that, he’s one of the best heroes March Madness has ever seen.

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