Add Thursday's Win To Long List Of UConn's NCAA Nailbiters
By PAUL DOYLE
The 89-81 overtime win over St. Joseph's was an instant classic for UConn basketball fans. The Huskies trailed for much of the game and were behind with under a minute left in regulation, but they forced overtime and persevered for one of the great NCAA Tournament wins in school history.
Where does it rank? You decide.
UConn 77, Duke 74
March 29, 1999, St. Petersburg, Fla.: This one stands out because it was UConn's first national title. Khalid El-Amin sank two free throws with 5.2 seconds left to give UConn a three-point lead and Trajan Langdon, one of the nation's best three-point shooters, failed to get a shot off at the buzzer for Duke. Richard Hamilton had 27 points, Ricky Moore scored 13 in the first half, and UConn was the NCAA champion for the first time. "We shocked the world," El-Amin screamed. And it came against Duke, the program that ended UConn's Dream Season tournament run nine years earlier.
UConn 71, Clemson 70
March 22, 1990, East Rutherford, N.J.: This was the game that put UConn on the national map and signaled the program's rise to the next level. It was the regional semifinal and the Huskies had squandered a 19-point lead. With one second left they trailed by one point and Scott Burrell was inbounding the ball. Burrell, the former Hamden High pitching star, unleashed a court-length pass to guard Tate George, who caught the ball and spun. George somehow got the shot off and the basket gave the Huskies a victory. It was one of the most famous shots in NCAA Tournament history. Two days later, Duke's Christian Laettner hit a buzzer-beater to give the Blue Devils an overtime win and deny UConn a trip to the Final Four.
UConn 82, Georgia Tech 73
April 5, 2004, San Antonio: Not only did this win clinch the program's second NCAA title, but it also culminated a spectacular season. The Huskies were the preseason No. 1 in the country and managed to end the season No. 1. They finished 33-6 and won 14 of their last 15. And they won the title with a resounding win, leading by 15 at halftime and opening a 25-point lead in the second half. Emeka Okafor had 24 points and 15 rebounds while Ben Gordon added 21 points."This team is deserving of the championship," coach Jim Calhoun said. "This is the best team in the country."
April 3, 2004, San Antonio: The 2003-04 dream season almost ended one step too soon when the Huskies were trailing by 8 points with under 4 minutes left against an old rival. But UConn scored 12 consecutive points to advance to the national title game. Emeka Okafor was on the bench with foul trouble in the first half but he scored all 18 of his points in the second half, and his layup with 26.2 seconds left gave UConn the lead. The comeback was stunning, given that UConn trailed by 10 points in the first half and Okafor was sitting with two fouls.
UConn 53, Butler 41
April 4, 2011, Houston: UConn won its third title and capped a stunning postseason run with an easy win over Butler. This was the team that lost four of its last five and seven of its last 11 in the regular season, but the Huskies won five games in five days at the Big East tournament before running through six wins in the NCAA Tournament. It wasn't a pretty title game, but UConn rode a 23-2 second half run and its defense stifled Butler. Kemba Walker led with 16 points and nine rebounds as Jim Calhoun became the fifth coach in history to win three or more titles.
UConn 75, Washington 74
March 19, 1998, Greensboro, N.C.: Down by one with 29 seconds left, UConn needed a miracle. Jake Voskuhl missed a shot with about eight seconds left before Richard Hamilton's put-back failed to fall. Kevin Freeman, though, directed the rebound to the backcourt and — somehow — Hamilton gathered the ball and put up a shot as time expired. The basket was good and UConn advanced to the regional final. They would lose to North Carolina in the next game, falling just short of a Final Four bid.
UConn 52, Princeton 50
March 14, 1964, Raleigh, N.C.: Facing Bill Bradley and the great Princeton Tigers, UConn scored an upset when Dom Perno stole the ball from the future Knick — and future U.S. senator — with about 20 seconds left, sending the Huskies to the Elite Eight. Bradley, who had 22 points, hit a jumper to tie it with just over one minute left. Perno made two free throws to give UConn the lead, but Bradley had the ball and was looking to win it. Perno, the future UConn coach, saved the game. UConn wound up losing to Duke in the Elite Eight.