Remember the buzzer beating shots, stunning upsets, near misses and great players of NCAA tournaments past? Well, now you can relive the excitement. ESPN Classic will celebrate the NCAA basketball tournament each Friday in February by presenting three classic games from tournaments past. Only games since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985 have been included. Each week Classic 64, presented by Subaru, will spotlight a different round. The Classic 64 regional semifinal selections will air on Friday, February 16.
ESPN Classic wants your help in selecting the games. Here is our list of ten memorable Sweet 16 games. Vote for your favorite game. The three highest vote getters will be shown on Friday, Feb. 16. If you need a reminder about the games, check out the recaps listed below. Please check back on Monday, Feb. 12 to see who you have selected and to vote on the Elite Eight games.
Sweet 16 winners
Our users have selected these three games for the Sweet 16 round of our Classic 64 tournament. Gonzaga's thrilling upset of Florida in 1999 was the overwhelming winner with 30.2% of the vote. Syracuse's last second win over Georgia on John Wallace's three-pointer in 1996 was second with 11.8%. With 10.9 % of the vote, Georgia Tech's overtime win over Michigan St. in 1990 was third. Here is the lineup:
Friday, Feb. 16
7:30 a.m. ET - Georgia Tech 81, Michigan St. 80 (OT)
1 p.m. ET - Syracuse 83, Georgia 81 (OT)
3:30 p.m. ET - Gonzaga 73, Florida 72
#1 Oklahoma 86 #5 Louisiana Tech 84 (OT)
March 21, 1985
Dallas, TX
Center Wayman Tisdale stunned Louisiana Tech with a eight-foot shot in overtime with three seconds left to win the game. Tisdale's shot bounced on the rim four times before falling through and sending the Sooners to the regional final. Louisiana Tech's Willie Bland sent the game into OT with a midair shot off an airball. Karl Malone led Louisiana Tech with 20 points.
Did You Know?
Louisiana Tech had 26 assists, fourth most in regional semifinal history.
In five trips to the tournament, Louisiana Tech has a 4-5 record.
Karl Malone's 13 rebounds are the third most against the Sooners in NCAA tournament play.
In 19 trips to the tournament, OU has a 23-19 record.
#7 Navy 71 #14 Cleveland State 70
March 21, 1986
East Rutherford, NJ
Navy, propelled by David Robinson's 12 points in the final 5 1/2 minutes of the game, sunk Cleveland State 71-70. Robinson's 22 points included the game-winner with five seconds left. Cleveland State led for most of the second half behind the penetration Ken "Mouse" McFadden, their quick freshman guard.
Did You Know?
This was Cleveland State's only trip to the tournament.
Navy's David Robinson set the NCAA Tournament record of most blocks in a single tournament with 23 in four games in 1986.
Robinson set a regional record with nine blocks in the game.
#1 Kansas 96 #5 Michigan State 86 (OT)
March 21, 1986
Kansas City, MO
In one of the most bizarre NCAA Tournament games ever played, Kansas beat Michigan State 96-86 in overtime at Kemper Arena. The Spartans led 76-72 after two free throws by Vernon Carter, but the clock was not started after Kansas inbounded. Officials ran 11 seconds off, but replays revealed it should have been 15. Archie Moore tipped in a shot to lift Kansas into OT, where they would dominate Scott Skiles and the Spartans.
Did You Know?
Kansas is 13-7 in regional semifinals.
The Jayhawks would lose to Duke in the 1986 NCAA semifinals.
Michigan State has a 29-13 record in 14 NCAA appearances.
The Spartans are 2-3 in regional semifinals.
#1 Indiana 88 #5 Duke 82
March 20, 1987
Cincinnati, OH.
Indiana used a 21-4 run in the first half to beat Duke 88-82. Keith Smart and Rick Calloway each scored 21 points to lead the Hoosiers. Duke's Danny Ferry and Tommy Amaker brought the Blue Devils to within 78-76 before Indiana's Steve Alford led the Hoosiers to five straight points to put the game away.
Did You Know?
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski played and coached under Bob Knight.
This was Duke's first loss in eight regional semifinal games.
All five Indiana starters scored in double figures.
Knight is one of six coaches to play and coach in the Final Four.
#4 UNLV 68 #1 Arizona 67
March 23, 1989
Denver, CO
Anderson Hunt, a 6-foot-1 inch freshman, stroked a three-pointer with three seconds left as UNLV pulled off a 68-67 win over Arizona. Hunt led the Rebels with 22 points. Arizona's All-American Sean Elliott also tallied 22 points. After Hunt's three with seconds left, George Ackles intercepted the Wildcats attempted length-of-the-court pass to secure the win.
Did You Know?
Sean Elliott is Arizona's all-time leading scorer with 2555 points.
Anderson Hunt's five 3's in the game ranks 4th on the Rebels list of most three-pointers in a single NCAA Tournament game.
UNLV's Moses Scurry's 41 rebounds were the fourth most in the 1989 NCAA tournament.
#1 Connecticut 71 #5 Clemson 70
March 22, 1990
East Rutherford, NJ
UConn's Tate George spoiled a colossal Clemson comeback and atoned for a miss seconds earlier to send the Huskies past the Tigers, 71-70. George had missed a jumper with three seconds left, but Clemson's Sean Tyson missed a free throw with 1.6 left to give UConn another chance. George took Scott Burrell's length-of-the-court pass and swished a 15-foot jumper for the win.
Did You Know?
UConn's win advanced them to the Elite Eight for the first time in 26 years.
UConn has a 25-21 record in NCAA Tournament play.
In seven trips to the tournament, Clemson has an 8-7 record.
Dale Davis set a Clemson NCAA record with 15 rebounds in the game.
#4 Georgia Tech 81 #1 Michigan State 80 (OT)
March 23, 1990
New Orleans, LA
Georgia Tech's freshman point guard Kenny Anderson scored a controversial jumper at the buzzer to send the game into overtime. The three guards for the Yellow Jackets scored a total of 60 points to complete the upset. Dennis Scott, who led the Yellow Jackets in scoring at 27.3 points a game, banked in the game winner with 8 seconds left in overtime.
Did You Know?
The win earned Georgia Tech its second trip to a regional final (first was 1985).
Steve Smith, who scored 32 in the game, is second on the Spartans all-time scoring list with 2,263 points.
#4 Syracuse 83 #8 Georgia 81 (OT)
March 23, 1996
Denver, CO
John Wallace scored Syracuse's last 10 points in OT, including a three-pointer with 2.8 seconds left on the clock to lift Orangemen to an overtime victory. Pertha Robinson hit a 15-footer with 3.5 seconds left in regulation to apparently give Georgia the win. But Jason Cipolla made a 10-foot jumper at the buzzer to force OT. Shandon Anderson led the Bulldogs with 25 points and 13 rebounds.
Did You Know?
Georgia has a 6-7 record in seven NCAA Tournament appearances.
The Orangemen finished second in 1987 and 1996.
#4 Arizona 85 #1 Kansas 82
March 21, 1997
Birmingham, AL
Top-ranked and No. 1 seeded Kansas team was shocked 85-82 by Arizona. Wildcats guards Mike Bibby and Miles Simon forced 20 Kansas turnovers. Paul Pierce kept the Jayhawks in the game with 27 points. Mike Bibby lead Arizona with 21 points. Kansas All-American Raef LaFrentz missed a game tying three-pointer at the buzzer.
Did You Know?
Kansas has been placed in the Southeast Regional five times.
The Jayhawks 82 points is the second most number of points scored in a Kansas loss in the tournament. (1st - 88 vs. Kentucky in 1999)
Kansas was the first of three No. 1 seeds Arizona beat in the 1997 tournament.
#10 Gonzaga 73 #6 Florida 72
March 18, 1999
Phoenix, AZ
Casey Calvary's tip-in basket with 4.4 seconds remaining sent the Cinderella Gonzaga Bulldogs into the regional final. Florida's Greg Stolt gave the Gators a 72-69 lead on a three with 45.7 seconds left. Jeremy Eaton put in a layup with 19.7 left to set the stage for Calvary's game-winner. Gonzaga hit 12-22 three pointers with five of eight three pointers shot by Richie Frahm.
Did You Know?
Gonaga became the first #10 seed to reach the regional final since Providence in 1997.
The teams combined for 23 steals, tied for fourth most in regional play.
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