Tonight, March Madness comes to an end with the 2011 NCAA National Championship Game featuring the No. 8 Butler Bulldogs versus the No. 3 UConn Huskies (9:21 p.m., EST on CBS). While analysts and bettors (we see you, Mayweather) spend time deciding who they're riding with, one thing is for sure: This year's tournament has been anything but predictable. There's been everything from every No.
1 seed being knocked off, to VCU's magical run, to a number of buzzer-beaters, and a slew of epic plays. So, as you prepare for tonight's big game, check out the 10 Most Badass Plays of 2011 March Madness...
10. Anthony Stover Says "FOH with That!"
ROUND OF: 32, Florida vs. UCLA
PLAYER: Anthony Stover, UCLA
COMPLEX SAYS: Florida's Erving Walker thought he had an easy bucket in the lane before Stover delivered this monstrous block. Florida went onto win the game but the Bruins can take pride in this swat and the fact that they have the hottest cheerleaders.
9. Marquette Upsets Syracuse
ROUND OF: 32, Syracuse vs. Marquette
PLAYER: Darius-Johnson Odom, Marquette
COMPLEX SAYS: No. 11 Marquette took out No. 3 Syracuse with this clutch three-pointer by Odom to advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time in eight seasons. Our advice to Odom: Keep draining those daggers and stay the hell away from the Kardashian sisters after you make the league.
8. Erving Walker's Slip-N-Slide Shot
ROUND OF: 32, Florida vs. UCLA
PLAYER: Erving Walker, Florida
COMPLEX SAYS: This off-balance jumper by Walker was definitely his most difficult two of the 21 total points he scored in Florida's 73-65 victory over UCLA. We found this soundtrack appropriate.
7. Derrick Williams' Block Saves Arizona
ROUND OF: 64, Arizona vs. Memphis
PLAYER: Derrick Williams, Arizona
COMPLEX SAYS: Offense wins games, but defense wins championships? Well, maybe not always championships but it can prevent a first-round upset. Such was the case for No. 5 Arizona, who needed this monster block from Williams in order to win 75-77 over No. 12 Memphis. Nothing beats Big D. Pause.
6. Jamelle Horne Gives Kyle Singler a Facial
ROUND OF: Sweet 16, Duke vs. Arizona
PLAYER: Jamelle Horne, Arizona
COMPLEX SAYS: We were all happy to see the defending champs knocked out by the Arizona Wildcats but no play was more satisfying that this posterization. Singler isn't half as bad as these Duke players that we hate, but we can't deny that we loved seeing him be emasculated by Horne who then proceeded to stunt on 'em with the Yayo "You can't see me," dance. Nice touch, Horne.
5. Temple's Buzzer-Beater vs. Penn State
ROUND OF: 64, Penn State vs. Temple
PLAYER: Juan Fernandez, Temple
COMPLEX SAYS: One of the best things about March Madness is even lesser-known players have an opportunity to shine on a national level. Fernandez took advantage of this opportunity by draining this jumper in Temple's 66-64 victory over Penn State. If ya don't know, now ya know...
4. Nolan Smith breaks Tim Hardaway Jr.'s Ankles
ROUND OF: 32, Duke vs. Michigan
PLAYER: Nolan Smith, Duke
COMPLEX SAYS: Earlier in the week, Grant Hill had already sonned Jalen Rose for his Uncle Tom comments in the Fab Five documentary. Only days later, Smith continued the tradition of Duke shitting on Michigan by breaking Tim Hardaway Jr.'s ankles with this mean crossover in a 73-71 victory. Ouch.
3. Morehead State's Game-Winner
ROUND OF: 64, Louisville vs. Morehead St.
PLAYER: Demonte Harper, Morehead State
COMPLEX SAYS: This year, brackets started being busted within the first few hours of the tournament. Such was the case when No. 13 Morehead State upset No. 4 Louisville with this game-winning three-pointer served up by Harper in the opening round. Rick Pitino restaurant special? Yes, extra spicy meat balls, please.
2. 2.2 Seconds of Pure Madness
ROUND OF: 32, Pitt vs. Butler
PLAYER: Various on both teams
COMPLEX SAYS: With 2.2 seconds remaining and the No. 8 Butler Bulldogs leading by 1, Shelvin Mack inexplicably fouled Pitt's Gilbert Brown sending him to the free throw line with a chance to win. Brown only made one of two before Pitt's Nasir Robinson tops Mack's brain fart by fouling Matt Howard on the rebound with less than a second remaining. Howard went to the free throw line and won the game by making the first and purposely missing the second in the 71-70 Butler victory over No. 1 Pitt. Truly a series of epic fails that would make C-Webb blush.
1. VCU's Magical Run
ROUND OF: Elite Eight, Kansas vs. VCU
PLAYER: VCU roster
COMPLEX SAYS: A team that sent nearly every analyst into conniption fits on Selection Sunday (we see you, Dickie V) ended up not only proving they were worthy of a spot in the tourney but stunted on a number of higher-ranked teams (Georgetown, Purdue, Florida State) on their way to the Final Four. The pinnacle of VCU's run came against No. 1 Kansas when they drained twelve three-pointers in their 71-61 victory over the Jayhawks. Plus, the head coach's name is Shaka Smart. You can't make that shit up, fam.