Basketball

The 5 Best College Basketball Games of the 21st Century

The structure of college basketball and professional basketball games is similar. They are usually crowded with loyal fans, have stiff competition, and are fun to watch. Although professional basketball receives a majority of the spotlight, there are instances when record-breaking 2000s games and unexpected victories turn college basketball into the center of attention. These incredible performances surpass a single event and evolve into the subject of legends. The 5 games listed below are among the best games of the 2000s in college basketball.

Syracuse 127 – UConn 117

This was a Big East Tournament semi-final that required 6 additional overtime periods to decide a winner in March 2009. Finally, the Orange held on to defeat the Huskies. It is still the longest collegiate basketball game ever played at Madison Square Garden, lasting four hours overall. Even more astonishing, Syracuse won the Big East championship the next night!

Villanova 77 – North Carolina 74

In April 2016 the game included topmost teams led by two renowned coaches, Villanova’s Jay Wright and North Carolina’s great head coach Roy Williams. The two teams combined to score 19-of-31 from beyond the line. Marcus Paige of the Tar Heels would set up the epic with an unbalanced three-pointer with 4.7 seconds left in the game. Then Kris Jenkins hit what was possibly the largest three-pointer in program history. As time expired, the ball flew through the basket, bringing Villanova their first championship since 1985. The scene of coach Wright not even looking away or winking as the ball fell through the net and coming to shake coach Williams’ hand was maybe the most memorable.

Kansas 75 – Memphis 68

In 2008 Memphis’ biggest weakness, terrible free throw hitting, had been a source of concern all campaign. When it came down to it, John Calipari said his team would come through. Memphis missed 4 of 5 free throws down the line, blowing a nine-point lead in the final 2 minutes. With 2.1 seconds left in regulation, KU’s Mario Chalmers scored a three-point penalty goal to send the match to overtime. The Jayhawks scored the opening six points of overtime to win their first National Championship.

Arizona 96 – Gonzaga 85

“If you didn’t worry who won, it was a tremendous college basketball match,” Arizona coach Lute Olson commented on the game. Gonzaga had several opportunities to win the championship, but Arizona stayed strong. To trigger second overtime, the Wildcats required a Luke Walton leaner with 4.1 seconds left in regulation. With 2:05 left, Salim Stoudamire’s short jumper handed Arizona the advantage and supplied the final score.

Michigan 94 – Kentucky 88

The 2005 championship’s regional finals delivered one of the most exciting and best basketball games in recent memory. The Spartans and Wildcats made a contribution. Michigan State trailed at the break but recovered for an opportunity to win in regulation. However, at the clock, Kentucky’s Patrick Sparks scored a rather questionable three-pointer to put the match into overtime.  The Spartans ended up winning thanks to Shannon Brown’s 24 points.

College Basketball Betting

College basketball is a major thing for legal bookmakers and online casinos all around the United States. The regular season is full of possibilities and draws a lot of attention, but tournaments stimulate people’s curiosity even more. March Madness is one of the most popular betting activities of the year.

There are numerous ways to bet on college basketball. The moneyline, goal spread, and totals are the most common types of college wagering. In college basketball, the moneyline is a basic wagering marketplace that enables gamblers to predict which team will prevail in the game completely. Moneyline chances are set for games based on each team’s estimated likelihood of winning.

Betting on totals in a college basketball game literally implies you are betting on the total number of points achieved, not on the number of points one team will get or who will win. It is a fact that nowadays lots of online casinos with instant play feature offer to enjoy basketball-themed slots for fun. Those who still want to take risks may try out playing online slots for real money.

Final Say

As you can see, basketball has long since become more than just a sport. And for basketball fans, there is also a huge range of entertainment in addition to watching the game itself, for instance, thematic free slots to play for fun only in the US and Canada, which you may not play just during the basketball seasonal championships but the whole year long.