Playing practically in their backyard and featuring arguably the greatest big man in basketball history, Kansas was a three-point favorite despite their opponent, North Carolina, being undefeated and ranked 1. Kansas took a 53-52 lead in the third overtime, but Joe Quigg sank two charity tosses and Kansas’ last-gasp lob attempt failed, giving Carolina a 54-53 victory.
In the first championship game matchup (1966) between an all-white team (Kentucky) versus an all-African-American team (Texas Western), the Miners, coached by Don Haskins, upset the Wildcats of Adolph Rupp, 72-65.
Jim Valvano’s N.C. State Wolfpack had to win their conference tournament just to get into the NCAA tournament, but after an improbable set of miracle comebacks and lucky bounces, Lorenzo Charles’ slam dunk of Dereck Whittenberg’s last-second airball upset mighty Houston 54-52 in 1983.
Having lost twice previously to Georgetown, few gave Villanova a chance when the two met in the 1985 championship game. But shooting an unbelievable 78.6 from the floor handed the ‘Cats a 66-64 win.
Loaded with future NBA players, as well as tying the NCAA record for victories in a single season, Duke was the consensus favorite to capture the 1999 NCAA championship over Connecticut. But led by Richard Hamilton, the Huskies prevailed 77-74 to give UConn their first-ever championship.
