The most chaotic, frenetic, and inspiring month on the sports calendar is finally here: March. The high point of the college basketball season provides more drama and heartbreak than most television shows could ever hope for, and it's all jam-packed into a couple weeks. It's one of our favorite times of the year, and with a couple basketball projects coming down the pipe, we've been looking back on some iconic tournament performances to keep us going.
Iconic, era-defining players in NBA history have gotten their first national attention in March, and that's where we start. Larry and Magic had a long, storied rivalry as pros, but it all began back in the NCAA Championship game. MJ hit some big shots as a Chicago Bull, but that was after he cut down the net as the star of a UNC title team. And of course, who could forget a baby-faced Stephen Curry tearing up higher seeds on upstart Davidson? Before they were Hall of Famers, these players were just bright-eyed kids hitting the national stage for the first time.
Of course, another annual tradition of March Madness are the goosebump-inducing buzzer beaters. Sure, players hit shots at the buzzer year-round. But in a single-game elimination tournament, they mean so much more. And we've seen some incredible ones over the years. Whether it's an unknown like Loyola-Chicago announcing their arrival, or a powerhouse like Duke cementing their place in history, buzzer beaters will always be fun. And just last year, Gonzaga's Jalen Suggs hit a shot that will probably be played every March from now until eternity.
Finally, we couldn't talk about the inspiration of March basketball without talking about the Cinderellas. Jimmy Valvano's story with the "Survive and Advance" NC State Wolfpack was so good, it was turned into a 30 for 30. George Mason's early 2000's run basically became synonymous with the term Cinderella. And back in New England, Kemba Walker will forever be a legend for guiding UCONN on an all-time heater, running through the Big East Tournament and NCAA Tournament without a loss.
And these are just the stories that could fit on a Moodboard! We ran out of space for Steve Nash, Arike Ogunbowale, Geno Auriemma or Mario Chalmers, just to name a few. Every year, someone new gets to be a legend. How could you not love March?