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March 15, 2007
With the Cavaliers set to meet Albany in the first round of the NCAA Championship, the Cavalier players were all asked to reflect back on their favorite moment from previous tournaments that have produced so many great games, individual performances and epic storylines. Here’s what the team had to say:
Head coach Dave Leitao
As a participant, it was winning the national championship at UConn in 1999. As a spectator, it would probably be the Duke and UNLV semifinal game in 1991 when UNLV was undefeated and such a heavy favorite. Duke went out and took control of the game from the start and went on to win the national championship.
Sean Singletary
When Coach Gillen was at Providence and the had God Shamgod. They made a great run that season (1997). He was a great guard with really nice penetrating abilities.
Jerome Meyinsse
It was last year when LSU beat Duke. I was actually at Duke on a visit and I was cheering for LSU since that’s where I’m from (Baton Rouge). We were in a lounge after a banquet. I was the only person there pulling for LSU
Damin Altizer
It was probably North Carolina winning it all two years ago. I was a big Carolina fan growing up, so I was pretty happy when they won it all with Felton and all those guys.
Jason Cain
Easily Chris Webber’s timeout. That was a classic.
Ryan Pettinella
It was my first NCAA appearance (for Pennsylvania in 2005) and scoring my first basketball against Craig Smith of Boston College. It was probably 15 or 16 minutes left in the first half. I had just gotten in the game and got a fast break layup. (He finished with six points).
Adrian Joseph
I just like watching all of the games and all of the competition, but it was fun to watch George Mason last year. They were a big underdog and made it to the Final Four.
David Noel
I used to be a big Texas fan and one year they were close to losing to Pennsylvania and then ended up pulling it out. It would have been a pretty disastrous loss. It is not a game they play on ESPN all the time, but it was a big win for Texas’ program.
Mamadi Diane
The first game that comes to mind was North Carolina’s win over Georgetown and Michael Jordan hitting the winning shot.
Tunji Soroye
I have not seen a lot of tournaments, but the one that comes to mind was last year’s George Mason team. No one thought they could get as far as they did.
Bob McCormick
It was the Bryce Drew shot at the buzzer when Valparaiso beat Mississippi. That was one of the first memories that stuck out to me. It really captures the whole atmosphere of March Madness. The emotion they showed after the shot, that just shows how special the whole thing is.
Jamil Tucker
I would have to say the Florida vs. UCLA championship game last year. I’m originally from Los Angeles and I thought UCLA was going to win it all. To me, that was a pretty big upset by Florida.
Solomon Tat
It was the 1999 championship game when Connecticut beat Duke. That was a great game and there were so many good players. Connecticut had (Rip) Hamilton and Khalid El-Amin and Duke had Trajan Langdon and (Corey) Maggette. There were so many good players in that game.
Will Harris
When George Mason made their Cinderella run. The first game they played against UConn. I was sitting at my lounge at school just screaming at my TV because I wanted George Mason to win.
J.R. Reynolds
It was when Drew Nicholas hit that one-legged runner at the buzzer to win the game for Maryland (2003 vs. UNC Wilmington).
Andy Burns
I liked the three by Bryce Drew at the buzzer for Valparaiso. I loved the way the guy dove on the court after he hit that shot. That’s one of those all-time tourney moments. Unfortunately I think that was a four vs. 13 upset. But that’s irreverent.