75th Anniversary Part I: NCAA names 35 Greatest March Madness Moments

As part of its celebration of 75 years of March Madness, the NCAA released a list detailing the Top 35 moments, the Top 25 teams, and Top 75 players. The NCAA did not order the moments, rather deciding to put them in chronological order, so we here at CBT decided we might take on a challenge during Finals Week and rank them.

We begin with the list itself, as laid out by the NCAA:

1939– Oregon wins first NCAA tournament
1963– Loyola (Ill.) vs. Mississippi State
1966– A win for Civil Rights–Texas Western’s 72-65 victory against Kentucky
1973– Walton leads Bruins to title
1974– N.C. State ends UCLA’s run
1975– Wooden goes out with 10th title
1976– Indiana wins the title — perfectly
1977– Marquette’s McGuire goes out on top
1979– Magic vs. Bird
1981– Ainge’s full-court drive leads BYU last-second win
1981– U.S. Reed, Rolando Blackman and John Smith
1982– Jordan hits game-winner to lead North Carolina
1983– NC State’s last second win against Houston
1985– Andre Turner: Twice a hero
1985– Villanova upsets Georgetown
1987– Indiana’s Smart shocks Syracuse
1989– Rumeal Robinson seals Michigan victory
1990– Loyola Marymount’s Bo Kimble shoots lefty
1990– UConn’s Tate George beats Clemson in final seconds
1990– Laettner…before the Kentucky game
1991– Duke upsets UNLV
1991– No. 15 Richmond makes history
1992– Laettner hits last-second shot against Kentucky
1995– Tyus Edney saves UCLA
1996– Mile High Madness: Syracuse beats Georgia in OT
1998– The Bryce Drew shot — Valpo upsets Ole Miss
1998– Rip rips the hearts out of the Washington Huskies
1999– The nation meets Gonzaga
2001– Hampton coach Steve Merfeld gets a lift
2005– Regional Finals for the ages
2006– George Mason reaches Final Four
2008– Kansas comes back in closing minutes to win title
2010– Butler comes oh so close
2011– VCU goes from First Four to the Final Four
2012– Twice in one day? Afraid so, Missouri and Duke

Click here to read the descriptions of each.

So what about a Top 10? Here is CBT’s list:

10) 15th seed Richmond makes history

9) Villanova upsets Georgetown

8 ) George Mason reaches Final Four

7) Loyola (Ill.) vs. Mississippi State

6) Jordan hits game-winner to lead UNC

5) Bryce Drew’s shot lifts Valpo

4) Magic vs. Bird

3) LMU’s Bo Kimble shoots lefty

2) Christian Laetnner’s last shot against Kentucky

1) NC State’s last-second win over Houston

Disagree? Make your own list in the comments section and share your thoughts.

Daniel Martin is a writer and editor at JohnnyJungle.com, covering St. John’s. You can find him on Twitter:@DanielJMartin_