[h=2]George Mason reaches Final Four[/h] [h=3] For as many first- and second-round upsets as there have been over the years, the underdog has rarely had enough firepower to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament. That trend was bucked in 2006 when George Mason stunned college basketball powerhouses Michigan State, North Carolina and top-seeded Connecticut to reach the Final Four as the first mid-major team to do so in 27 years and just the second No. 11 seed ever. The Patriots, who received a controversial at-large bid on Selection Sunday, remain the only Colonial Athletic Association team to advance to the Final Four.
[/h][h=2]Keith Smart’s game-winning shot[/h] [h=3] Sometimes it only takes one game for a player to become a fixture in college basketball history. For Keith Smart, it took just one shot. Smart was never recognized much in high school or at Indiana, but the 1987 national championship game changed his life forever. With the Hoosiers trailing Syracuse by one and the clock winding under 10 seconds, Smart swished a 16-foot jumper along the baseline to lift Indiana to its fifth national title. While Smart’s NBA career was short-lived, “The Shot” would soon become one of March Madness’ most memorable moments.
[/h][h=2]Michael Jordan’s shot and Fred Brown’s pass[/h] [h=3] In his 21st season as North Carolina's coach, Dean Smith had yet to win a national championship. That all changed, however, with the help of a star freshman from Wilmington, N.C. Trailing by one in the 1982 national championship game, Michael Jordan knocked down a jumper from the left wing with 17 seconds left to put his team back up by one. But unlike UNC, Georgetown opted not to call a timeout, pushing the ball up court. And with the pressure rising and the game clock ticking down, Hoyas point guard Fred Brown mistook James Worthy for a teammate, passing the ball right to his opponent and handing the title to Smith and the Tar Heels.
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