So we are nearing the tip off of the 1st round NCAA basketball tournament on Thursday and I'm so excited. I just can't hide it. I'm so about to lose control that I can't even rant about the AIG bonuses
Anyways - I've been watching the NCAA tournament since I went to games in 1982 as a six year old. We had season tickets to the UAB Blazers and started out going to those games.
Fast forward to 2009 - 27 years later and I'm just as excited then with many fond memories in between. I've been to countless 1st and 2nd round games, regional semis and finals and even a Final Four in 2006. What a memorable experience.
I'm sure many of you have some of your favorite moments to share. Below the thread I will list some of my favorite first round upsets.
Since I was a kid I've always been a fan of the underdog in any sporting competition. Perhaps that is why I'm still a fighting Dem to this day. So I found a way to work in politics. For many this is an excuse to miss work or fill out a bracket. For me this is my sacred time of the year.
Some of my 5 first round favorite upsets in NCAA tournament play ( I had to jog my memory and this story at collegehoopsnet.com certainly helped)
- Austin Peay over Illinois in 1987 - I was at this game in Birmingham. Besides the fact that my Grandparents and mother all went to Illinois this was great fun. Dick Vitale said he would stand on his head if Austin Peay won. And he did. I had to include one game that I actually attended.
- Santa Clara over Arizona 1993 - The world was introduced to this skinny Canadian kid named Steve Nash. I remember staying up late to watch this one as a high school sophomore.
- Valpo over Ole Miss in 1998 - Who could forget one of the most memorable shots of all time from Bryce Drew, the coach's son. So Ole Miss is not necessarily one of the traditional powerhouses, I just remember the drama and being in a college bar watching this with some of my buddies.
- South Alabama over Alabama in 1989 - Alabama would never play South Alabama or UAB in basketball because of the fear of the backlash if "little brother" beat them. Alabama has still never scheduled a game against UAB although they did play once in the NIT tourney. South Alabama had a memorable duo nicknamed "Peanut Butter and Jelly" also known as Jeff Hodge and Junie Lewis. I've watched this game about a dozen times throughout the years.
- Princeton over UCLA in 1996 - Pete Carril one of the greatest basketball minds of all time orchestrated a victory over the defending champs. This was in his farewell season.
Perhaps the greatest upset I ever remember was one that never happened. Princeton came within a back door cut of beating Georgetown as a number 16 seed in 1989. Who could forget that memorable game.
I'm sure you have some thoughts.