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Top 10 greatest NCAA championship games
1957: N. Carolina 54, KU 53, 3 OTs
When it appeared Kansas had seized the momentum in the second half, the Jayhawks froze the ball. That took star center Wilt Chamberlain out of the game and allowed North Carolina to catch its breath.
1982: N. Carolina 63, Georgetown 62
The game turned on Michael Jordan’s game-winning 16-foot jumper with 15 seconds remaining and Fred Brown’s errant pass that landed in James Worthy’s hands on the Hoyas’ last gasp.
In his 21st season at North Carolina, Dean Smith (above) had his first national championship.
1983: N.C. State 54, Houston 52
North Carolina State coach Jim Valvano (below) slowed the game, reducing possessions for Phi Slama Jama of Akeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. Dereck Whittenburg’s 35-footer came up woefully short, but under the basket all alone stood Lorenzo Charles, who slama-jama-ed it home at the buzzer.
1985: Villanova 66, Georgetown 64
Less than a minute remained, and it was still anybody’s game. Not to Villanova’s Gary McLain. He and the Wildcats pulled off the biggest shocker in championship game history. Villanova, a No. 8 seed, hit an incredible 22 of 28 shots from the field.
1987: Indiana 74, Syracuse 73
With 28 seconds remaining and Syracuse ahead by one, Derrick Coleman missed the front end of a one-and-one. Indiana got the ball, and it swung around to Keith Smart. He swished a 16-footer with 5 seconds remaining.
1988: Kansas 83, Oklahoma 79
The Jayhawks and Sooners played to a 50-50 halftime tie. Kansas coach Larry Brown wanted a slower pace, but Danny Manning led an attacking style. The pace slowed in the second half, and the Jayhawks never let Oklahoma get started.
1989: Michigan 80, Seton Hall 79, OT
After 44 minutes and 57 seconds it came down to one player at the free-throw line. Michigan’s Rumeal Robinson, a 65-percent shooter, had hit seven of eight for the night and calmly sank the first. Then the second.
1993: N. Carolina 77, Michigan 71
North Carolina got a game-of-a-lifetime performance from guard Donald Williams, who scored 25, and a blunder for the ages from Chris Webber. With 11 seconds remaining and the Wolverines trailing by two, Webber (right) called a timeout Michigan didn’t have. The Wolverines were assessed a technical foul and never had a chance to tie or go ahead.
1999: Connecticut 77, Duke 74
The game came down to one possession, with the Blue Devils’ Trajan Langdon working against UConn defensive whiz Ricky Moore. Duke ordered a clear-out, and Langdon made his move. But he was called for traveling on the spin with 5.4 seconds remaining.
2008: KU 75, Memphis 68, OT
Trailing 60-51 with 2:12 remaining, Kansas outscored the Tigers 12-3 the rest of the way — the final points coming on Mario Chalmers’ three-pointer with 2.1 seconds remaining — to force overtime. Kansas dominated the extra session.