With the NCAA tournament coming back this year, after being canceled due to COVID 19 last year, college basketball fans are filled with joy and a sigh of relief that they can watch their favorite teams compete this fall. March Madness always brings excitement every year. Year after year memorable moments are always created whether they are from buzzer-beaters or underdogs. Every time the NCAA has the March Madness tournament, there will always be memorable moments, but five moments, in particular, will surely be remembered forever.

5. Loyola Chicago’s Run

Not too often an 11 seed makes it to the final four. The Loyola Chicago Ramblers were just the fourth No. 11  seed ever to make it to the final four. The Ramblers won their first three games in nail-biters, including a buzzer beater shot in the first round against No. 6 Miami. When the Ramblers were one game away from the final four, fans and broadcasters were expecting a close game against No. 9 Kansas State, but the Ramblers went on to win 78-62 to advance to the final four. Unfortunately, the magic of sister Jean and a run for the national title ended when the Ramblers went on to fall short against No. 3 Michigan. However, the few weeks of fame the Ramblers had, will always be remembered as an insane run. 

4. Lehigh and Norfolk State Bust Every bracket

Almost every year there tends to be an upset whether it’s a No. 10 over a N0. 7 or a No. 11 over a No. 6. However, seeing a No. 15 beat a No. 2 seed is rare itself, as 2 seeds have only lost to 15 seeds eight times, ever. The 2012 March Madness tournament, however, featured two No. 15 seeds beating a pair of No. 2 seeds in the first round within a three-hour span. Lehigh beat Duke 75-70 and Norfolk State defeated Missouri 86-84. These two games made every bracket in America bust and left every college basketball fan shook. While there may never be a time where two fifteen seeds advance to the second round, it comes to show that when it is March madness, anything is possible.

3. Virginia’s Redemption

The Virginia Cavaliers in the 2018 tournament were the No. 1 team in the nation and the undisputed No. 1 seed with a 31-2 record. However, their first-round game took a turn for the worst when they became the first No. 1 ever to lose to a No. 16 seed. Not only did they lose to a sixteen, but they got blown out by 20 by UMBC. While this will be one of the most embarrassing moments in sports history, Virginia came out in the 2018-2019 season hungrier than ever. The Cavaliers would reach the NCAA tournament as a No. 1 seed, and this made fans skeptical if they would repeat last year’s mess of losing in the first round. Virginia prevailed throughout the tournament and made it to the championship game where they would defeat Texas Tech 85-77 in overtime. It’s crazy to believe that a year ago Virginia went from embarrassed to champions in a year span. Despite owning one of the worst losses in sports history, it is safe to say Virginia without a doubt has one of the best redemption stories ever.

2. Jenkins’s Buzzer Beater

Everyone likes a good game that comes down to the buzzer. It brings excitement and an energetic environment. Villanova and North Carolina were matched up in the championship in 2018 and the game did not disappoint. Both teams came out to compete and were hitting clutch shot after clutch shot. With seconds left in the game, Villanova’s Ryan Arcidiacono dribbled up the court and flipped the ball behind to open teammate Kris Jenkins. Jenkins rose to shoot a three-pointer with a second left and he splashed it at the buzzer to give the Villanova Wildcats the national championship. There have been a few NCAA championships won at the buzzer but winning it on a three-pointer is the definition of clutch.

1.UMBC upsets Virginia

Going into the 2018 tournament, no No. 16 seed had ever beaten a No. 1. The UMBC Golden Retrievers had other plans. They were not going up against any No. 1 seed, they were going up against the No. 1 team in the whole tournament in Virginia. While both teams had their struggles and weaknesses, still nobody had the thought of a 16-seed advancing into the round of 32. At the end of the game, UMBC came out on top 74-54 over Virginia and left the whole world in shock. The Golden Retrievers just became the first No. 16 seed ever to beat a No. 1 seed and have busted almost every bracket. UMBC becoming the first sixteen seed to beat a one seed was without a doubt the top moment in march madness in the last 10 years.