The 2012 NCAA Tournament has provided us with a litany of memories. From Duke and Missouri’s early exits to Baylor’s uniforms and a handful of late-game defensive stops (I know, I’m as frustrated as you that we haven’t seen one buzzer beater all tournament), there has been no shortage of moments to cherish (or loathe) over the past three weeks.
Tonight, it all ends as Kentucky and Kansas battle in a game that’s being described by many as akin to the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry when it was at its finest: on the one side, a handful of highly talented athletes who are probably more interested in making a buck than in loyalty, and on the other, a bunch of blue-collar kids with passion for what they do and who they do it for that would never think of valuing self above the team.
So you can guess who I’ll be rooting for tonight. But first, eight of the most memorable moments from the 2012 NCAA Tournament:
Lehigh upsets Duke; Norfolk State topples Missouri
Never before in the history of the NCAA Tournament had two 2 seeds lost to 15 seeds on the same day. Just something else to cross off the NCAA Tourney’s bucket list.
Baylor’s uniforms are sort of offensive
I’m squarely convinced that Baylor wouldn’t have made it to the Elite 8 wearing tamer uniforms. That is all.
Virginia Commonwealth upsets Wichita State
I can’t recall the last time an NCAA Tournament went by without a 12 beating a 5. That’s the only reason that this one’s here.
President Obama’s Bracket
I hope that the presidential bracket isn’t an annual thing once Obama’s out of the office, because the last thing I ever want to see is Rick Santorum or whoever talking about sports. Ever.
Wisconsin hits 14 threes, Still loses to Syracuse
That just doesn’t happen. It’s never happened before in the tournament. So it was fitting that Ohio State polished off Syracuse two days later.
Kansas closes with a 12-0 run to finish off UNC
Kentucky goes wild in the first half to advance to Final Four
I really thought the ugly uniforms had a chance in this one. I really did.
