March Madness: 25 greatest buzzer-beaters in NCAA Tournament history
By Nick Villano
1. Lorenzo Charles: No. 1 Houston vs. No. 6 NC State – 1983 National Championship Game
This moment lives on forever because of head coach Jim Valvano and the incredible legacy he leaves behind. We see this shot twice a year (during the ESPYs and March Madness) unlike the rest of the shots on this list. However, even in a vacuum, this one is the best on the list.
This is definitely a right place at the right time moment. Dereck Whittenburg sent one of the worst shots in NCAA Championship history towards the basket with way too much time left. He threw the ball from 30 feet away from the basket right after the Houston player tried to steal the ball. It was so bad, Whittenburg later said it was actually a pass. Thanks to Lorenzo Charles, Whittenburg now has the greatest assist in championship history.
Charles puts his hands on the rebound and slams it home as the clock ticks down to zero. Fans rush the court. Head coach Jim Valvano rushed the court. It was pandemonium.
The story behind this game makes the shot even better. NC State is one of the lowest seeds to ever win the National Championship. Houston was the powerhouse with Hakeem Olajuwon running things down low. It was a team of talent versus a team of hope. Hope prevailed this time around.
The reason hope prevailed was the ability of Charles to get underneath Olajuwon while he watched the Wolfpack win the game right in front of him. This is the greatest buzzer-beater in March Madness history and one that will still be watched 100 years from now.
Next. 12 biggest Cinderellas in March Madness history. dark
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