I probably ranked this here because the semi-finals were duds. We remember Billy Packer famously saying this one was over very early as Kansas boat raced UNC early. Carolina managed to cut it to 4 after falling behind by 28 to start the game. Kansas responded with a 20-7 run to put away Carolina. Memphis handled UCLA easily in the other.
The title game is forever remembered for Memphis failure at the free throw line, a bugaboo that has haunted them all year. They missed 4 of their last 5 free throws and Mario Chalmers hit a game-tying 3 with 2.1 seconds left. Memphis had decided not to foul to eliminate any chance at a tying 3. Kansas jumped Memphis in overtime and Bill Self did what Roy Williams never could at KU, bring a title back to Lawrence.
14. 2012 (New Orleans): The 2012 Final Four was one with fantastic programs and storylines. Kentucky was the clear favorite as a 1-loss squad. Standing in their way was former coach Rick Pitino and in-state rival Louisville. Kentucky withstood a Louisville team who would win the title a year later.
The other semi-final saw Ohio State and Kansas clash. Both were 2-seeds in their regions. Ohio State lead 34-25 at halftime and Kansas looked lost. The Jayhawks would respond in the 2nd half, outscoring the Buckeyes 39-28. OSU lead the majority of the 2nd half but Kansas closed on a 13-7 run to win a taut game.
The title game saw Kentucky win and show a team could win a title with one-and-done approach. The game wasn't a classic but the result helped change the approach by some coaches, including Coach K who would use the same approach only two years later.
13. 1986 (Dallas): This Final Four marked the first time Coach K would take Duke to the Final Four, making it to the title game before Denny Crum would win his second title with Louisville.
Duke was a one-seed who met fellow one-seed Kansas in one semi-final. It matched Coach K against Larry Brown. Duke advanced with a 4-point win after Kansas missed a tying jumper with a few seconds left. Tommy Amaker would get fouled with :01 left and calmly make both free throws to win the game.
The other semi saw Louisville handle 11-seed LSU.
In the final, Louisville freshman Pervis Ellison would help guide the Cardinals past Duke, 72-69. The game was back and forth with Duke taking its final lead at 65-64 before an Ellison put back and two late free throws iced the game.
12. 1994 (Charlotte): The '94 Final 4 included Duke and Arizona as 2-seeds, a 3-seed in Florida and tournament favorite and 1-seed Arkansas.
The semi-finals saw Duke overcome a 13 point second half deficit to defeat surprise Final 4 participant Florida. Arkansas downed Arizona, 81-72 in the other semi-final. Arizona lead by 6 with 8 minutes left before the Hogs famed "40 Minutes of Hell" wore down the Wildcats.
We remember Scotty Thurman hitting a back-breaking late rainbow 3 to win the game, but the game itself was a true classic. It was a game of runs. Duke had a 13-point run to take a 10-point lead. Arkansas put the clamps down holding Duke to 9 points over an 11 minute stretch. The game was tied at 70 when Thurman hit his bomb and Arkansas was a national champion.
11. 2004 (San Antonio): In a rarity, this Final 4 was a Saturday delight with two fantastic games.
In one semi-final, 1-seed Duke took on 2-seed UConn. Duke blew an 8-point lead with 3 minutes left, not making a bucket from the field until a buzzer beating 3 by Chris Duhon that made the final, a 1-point game.
In the other semi-final, Georgia Tech defeated Oklahoma State on a buzzer-beating layup by Will Bynum. The Cowboys had tied it on a John Lucas III 3 with :27 left.
The final was a fairly easy UConn win over Georgia Tech. While the final was seemingly a formality, that Saturday was one of the best in recent memory.
Next Week: 10-6
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