The Final Four is such a huge weekend in American sports culture, many fans use the term when referring to the entire NCAA basketball tournament. The Final Four is actually the final four teams that play in the tournament during the weekend before the NCAA championship game. Much like the NCAA championship game, numerous memorable moments have occurred during Final Four weekend. Here are my top five Final Four games of all time.
Top 5 Final Four Games of All Time #5: Indiana vs. UNLV 1987
The 1987 NCAA Final Four is most known for Keith Smart’s game winning shot in the championship game. Before that could occur, however, his Indiana Hoosiers would need to defeat UNLV in what would become of the higher scoring NCAA basketball games you will ever see. Now head coach Steve Alford led the Hoosiers to one of the biggest upsets in Final Four history. Indiana was a fine basketball team but they were facing a UNLV squad that had won 37 consecutive contests. Ironically, this is not the last time you will see a UNLV team that failed to win a national championship in this list.
Top 5 Final Four Games of All Time #4: Michigan vs. Illinois 1989
A young unknown interim coach named Steve Fisher took the Michigan Wolverines to the Final Four in 1989, only to face off against Big Ten rival Illinois. The Michigan-Illinois Final Four game would be the quintessential “back and forth” contest that featured 33 total lead changes. Michigan’s size advantage beat up number one Illinois inside for 40 minutes and the game was tied until Sean Higgins scored the game winner for the Wolverines with seconds remaining. Michigan would go on to win the national championship.
Top 5 Final Four Games of All Time #3: UNLV vs. Duke 1991
The official end of the UNLV era. The Rebels entered the 1991 Final Four undefeated (34-0) and most of those games weren’t very close. Duke battled UNLV throughout the contest, trailing UNLV by five with under three minutes to play. The Blue Devils would close the gap and eventually take the lead thanks to (who else but) Christian Laettner. A prayer three pointer by UNLV clanged off the rim and Duke became a NCAA basketball powerhouse.
Top 5 Final Four Games of All Time #2: Kentucky vs. Stanford 1998
The 1998 NCAA tournament was the year of the “Comeback Cats” as Kentucky trailed by ten or more in each of the team’s final three games of the tournament. Stanford pulled off a comeback of its own as the Cardinal was trailing by four with under two minutes to play. Stanford would fight back and Arthur Lee would hit a three with under 30 seconds to play to tie the game at 73. Kentucky could not hit the game winner and the game went into overtime. The extra session would remain tight throughout and Kentucky came close to blowing the lead once again. Stanford would miss the Hail Mary shot at the end of regulation, however, and Kentucky won 86-85.
Top 5 Final Four Games of All Time #1: Oklahoma State vs. Georgia Tech
This game gets to the top of my Final Four list due to the heroics of Will Bynum. With the game tied at 65, Georgia Tech calmly milked the clock down to eight seconds before Bynum drove to the bucket. Bynum got past three Oklahoma State defenders and hit a layup with two seconds left, giving Georgia Tech the lead. An Oklahoma State prayer would go answered as Georgia Tech headed to the national championship game, a game Tech lost to Connecticut.
