The 50 Biggest Fails in March Madness History

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Game: 2008 First Round
Date: 3/21/2008
Teams: Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers vs. North Carolina Tar Heels
Basketball is a game of showmanship and bravado and when you get a chance to throw-down, do your damn thing! But nothing makes you look like a bigger jackass than getting rim-stuffed on a slam. UNC's Marcus Ginyard went to put some ACC-style window dressing on a first-round blowout when things got clumsy. The UNC guard planted awkwardly, got no spring on his jump, and was swatted by an inanimate object. His pathetic fall to the court and butt slide towards the sideline plays like a grand finale to the most embarrassing play in sports.

Game: 1963 First Round
Date: 3/11/1963
Teams: Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles vs. Loyola (IL) Ramblers
Tennessee Tech made the argument for a smaller field when they failed historically against Loyola. Tech went 18-of-82 from the field in a 111-42 blowout loss to Ramblers. The 69-point margin of victory is the largest in the history of the NCAA Tournament.

Game: 2010 Elite 8
Date: 3/27/2010
Teams: Kentucky Wildcats vs. West Virginia
March Madness is all about upsets. But sometimes it isn't so much about the Cinderella team performing better than everyone expected, sometimes it's about basketball powerhouses just sucking. For example, the 2010 Wildcats that consisted of four players who were all taken within the first 20 selections of the 2010 NBA Draft but lost to a team whose star was Devin Ebanks, a.k.a. a guy who started in a total of four NBA games before being sent down to the D-League. C'mon, Calipari!

Game: 2009 Regional Final
Date: 3/29/2009
Teams: North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Oklahoma Sooners
Facing one of the NCAA's most prolific dunkers, Tyler Hansbrough wanted to prove something to Blake Griffin with an insane tomahawk dunk. Psycho T blitzed the paint, put Blake in the cross hairs, and fired a fastball off of the backboard from point-blank range. Although UNC would ultimately win the game 72-60, Hansbrough's throw-down (emphasis on the throw) illustrates the dangers of posing.

Game: 2006 NCAA Tournament
Date: 3/12/2006
Teams: N/A
In 2006, CBS Sports broadcaster Billy Packer ripped the selection committee for taking mid-majors over BCS conference teams like Florida State and Cincinnati. That same year, Bradley and Wichita State made the Sweet 16 while George Mason went to the Final Four. What can we say? Dude says stupid shit.

Game: 2011 Regional Semifinal
Date: 3/25/2011
Teams: Kentucky Wildcats vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
Don't get it twisted, college basketball is as much about showing up your opponent as it is scoring points. The swat-and-scream or the dunk-and-stare are basketball staples that start on the playground, learned in college, and perfected in the NBA. Kentucky's Josh Harrellson gave Ohio State's Jared Sullinger a painful lesson in ballin' like a boss when he saved possession by firing a ball off of the Buckeye superstar's chest. Harrellson huffed by a Sullinger mean-mugging to fist-pound a couple teammates while the OSU big man stood embarrassed and alone.

Game: 2006 National Championship
Date: 4/3/2006
Teams: UCLA Bruins vs. Florida Gators
In what was really the only highlight in one of the most forgettable national championships ever, UCLA's Alfred Aboya took in inbounds alley-oop over Florida's Joakim Noah who, instead of challenging the shot, seemed to willingly serve as Aboya's personal launching pad. Noah's team did win the game (and the chip the following year), so, yeah, he's got that going for him.

Game: 2011 Third Round
Date: 3/20/2011
Teams: Marquette Golden Eagles vs. Syracuse Orange
With less than a minute left in a 59-point tie between Marquette and Syracuse, Scoop Jardine receives an inbounds pass and is called for a backcourt violation despite never actually stepping over half court line. The blown call turns the ball over to Marquette, who hit a three-pointer with 26 seconds left on the next offensive possession to secure the game. NCAA officiating coordinator John Adams would later say the officials made a mistake, former Syracuse assistant coach Bernie Fine called it a judgement call. We call it a fail.

Game: 1987 National Semifinal
Date: 3/28/1987
Teams: Syracuse Orangemen vs. Providence Friars
There's only one thing that can make a game that's 49-31 in the second half interesting: A brawl! Sherman Douglas gets a little too feisty with Delray Brooks as the two got tangled up while going for the ball. Then things got crazy, Derrick Coleman comes in throwing a cheap shot haymaker then David Kipfer catches Coleman with a right hand and soon enough just about everyone jumps into the action. The refs calmed things down but the best part? No one got ejected! If this kind of thing goes down in this year's tournament, we're going to be looking at ejections and suspensions for just about everyone on the floor. Yeah, starting a petty fight when your team is up by 18 is a bit douchey but the fact this thing could go down with no real consequences is pretty awesome. #thosewerethedays

Game: N/A
Date: 5/26/1991
Teams: UNLV Runnin' Rebels
This would seem like common sense but if you're a collegiate athlete, don't kick it with mobbed-up, professional gamblers. Long before Facebook and camera phones, UNLV players Moses Scurry, Perry Anderson, and David Butler were photographed in a hot tub with a guy named "Richie the Fixer" a dude known for fixing, amongst other things, basketball games. The alarming photo triggered an investigation into the UNLV program, resulting in Jerry Tarkanian's resignation and a 1992 tournament ban.

Game: 2011 Third Round
Date: 3/20/2011
Teams: Washington Huskies vs. North Carolina Tar Heels
In a bizarre series of events that could have included as many as four fails, North Carolina and Washington closed out their third-round matchup with the discipline and focus of a YMCA men's league game. It all began with Washington's Isiah Thomas missing an easy lead-changing lay up with seventeen seconds to go. On their next possession, with plenty of time to drive, dish or some combination thereof, Washington's Venoy Overton fired up an inexplicable shot at half court. Sailing through the air, UNC's John Henson half-heartedly reached for the ball, tipping it as it sailed out of bounds. The clumsy, needless swipe of the rock gave Washington another chance, so of course the Huskies tried another desperation three-pointer which Henson picked out of the air. The possible goal tend wasn't called, Washington's bench protested, and the buzzer sounded. Mercifully, the game has ended.

Game: 1981 Regional Semifinal
Date: 3/19/1981
Teams: BYU Cougars vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Down by one with less than eight seconds to go, BYU's Danny Ainge runs by every single Notre Dame defender for a game-winning lay up. The backpedaling Irish dropped their hands and opened their hips, all but giving the speedy guard a police escort to the hoop. Next time y'all may want to play the game out.

Game: 2009 First Round
Date: 3/19/2009
Teams: Morgan State Bears vs. Oklahoma Sooners
Ever heard of Ameer Ali? Now you have! He's the Morgan State guard who flipped Oklahoma's Blake Griffin with the Bears down 22 to the Sooners in an '09 Round of 64 game. You've probably heard of Griffin, apparently he can jump high or something. Ali? Well, he's still at Morgan State, but we have a feeling this will be the clip he'll always be best known for. And that's unfortunate—but also a fail.

Game: 1981 Second Round
Date: 3/14/1981
Teams: Saint Joseph's Hawks vs. DePaul Blue Demons
For as much hype as John Calipari and Jim Boeheim get for failing in March Madness, no team choked harder than the DePaul Blue Demons of the early '80s. Perhaps their most painful loss came in 1981 against ninth-seeded St. Joseph's. With only a few seconds left in the game, DePaul's Skip "Money" Dillard missed the first end of a one and one. Instead of calling a timeout (like DePaul expected) St. Joes ran the floor and found John Smith unguarded under the hoop for a game-winning lay up. The improbable upset was DePaul's second straight opening round loss as the No. 1 ranked team in the country.

Game: 2008 First Round
Date: 3/20/2008
Teams: Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils vs. UCLA Bruins
For every Cinderella story, there is a laundry list of failed mid-major campaigns. Mississppi Valley State scored a 62-year NCAA Tournament low 29 points and shot a record low 19 percent from the field en route to a 41-point blowout loss to UCLA. Maybe the Big East deserves 14 bids every year after all.

Game: 1987 First Round
Date: 3/12/1987
Teams: Austin Peay Governors vs. Illinois Fighting Illini
Incensed by the number of mid majors invited to the tournament, Dick Vitale said he'd "stand on his head" if Austin Peay beat Illinois. The ESPN analyst wasn't the only one being a presumptuous dickhead. When Illinois coach Lou Henson learned about their matchup with Austin Peay he asked, "Who do we play next?" Well Lou—nobody. Governors' big man Darryl Bedford rained three-pointers on the Illini like a tropical storm out of Clarksville. The one-point upset win shocked the nation, and had Dicky V balancing on his melon.

Game: 1976 Regional Final
Date: 3/20/1976
Teams: Marquette Warriors vs. Indiana Hoosiers
Fun fact: Bob Knight was actualy the calmer coach in this game. Crazy, right? Marquette coach Al McGuire got not one, but two technical fouls in the second half of a Regional Final game, sinking Marquette's shot at a title. The first came when McGuire saw red after a no-call and booted the scorers table. Indiana immediately went a run and took a nine-point lead. After a second no-call put McGuire through the ceiling, the livid coach paced the scorers table screaming until a second "T" instantly turned Indiana's three-point advantage into a six-point game-cllinching deficit. Stay in your lane, coach.

Game: 2009 First Round
Date: 3/19/2009
Teams: Chattanooga Mocs vs. UConn Huskies
Chattanooga set the Southern Conference back 30 years with their 47-103 loss to UConn. And while opening round blowouts are nothing new in the Tournament, this epically noteworthy ass-kicking included a 46-5 run by the Huskies. Stay down, Mocs.

Game: 1974 National Semifinal
Date: 3/23/1974
Teams: North Carolina State Wolfpack vs. UCLA Bruins
Blowing a big second half lead is bad, blowing three gets your ass on a Fails list. The Bruins lost two 11-point leads and a 7-point overtime advantage to fall to the Wolfpack in 1974. Bill Walton was so torn up by the loss that he called it a "stain on his soul." A bit dramatic, but we feel dude's pain. David Thompson's first half block of the UCLA big man played like a metaphor, as the Bruins' quest for eight-consecutive NCAA Championships was stuffed by the high-energy Wolfpack.

Game: 1991 Final Four
Date: 3/30/1991
Teams: UNLV Runnin' Rebels vs. Duke Blue Devils
If you're going to play the bad guy, you've really got to win in the end, or else you're just a dude in a black hat wearing a bunch of bullet holes when the closing credits drop. In 1991, UNLV were the bad guys of the NCAA—bad meaning both bad and good. Entering the Final Four that year, they were riding a 45-game winning streak dating back to the previous season, and had swagger on a million (with some left over to spare). They also had a coach who was the perpetual target of NCAA investigations (the Runnin' Rebels had been placed on probation the previous year, but were allowed to defend their title). They met Duke in the semis—the same clean cut, sanctimonious Blue Devils who UNLV obliterated in the championship game in 1990—and broke the hearts of everybody who likes to root for the villain, letting Christian Laettner, Bobby Hurley, Grant Hill (and his horrendous flattop) and co. score eight of the games final nine points en route to a 79-77 win.

Game: 2001 First Round
Date: 3/15/2001
Teams: Hampton Pirates vs. Iowa State Cyclones
When 15 seeds beat 2 seeds it's automatically a fail. When said 2 seed loses on a missed layup (granted, one with a high degree of difficulty, but still) by its best player, that's definitely a fail. Jamaal Tinsley's gone on to a thoroughly unspectacular eight-year career in the NBA, so if he's managed his money (sidebar: yeah right), he's set for life. Which is a good thing, because no one in Ames is lining up to buy him dinner anytime soon.

Game: 2005 First Round
Date: 3/19/2005
Teams: Bucknell Bison vs. Kansas Jayhawks
Things we know about the Kansas Jayhawks: all-time elite program; three national titles; more than a dozen Final Four appearances; 3 seed in the '05 tourney. Things we know about the Bucknell Bison: five total NCAA tourney appearances; two total wins; if you pronounce the school's name with a British accent and swallow the second syllable, it sounds really funny; 14 seed in the '05 tourney. One more thing we know: that was a tough shot Wayne Simien had to win the Jayhawks-Bison '05 first round matchup, but if you play for Kansas and you're up against frickin' Buck-nell, you gotta hit that.

Game: 2009 First Round
Date: 3/19/2009
Teams: Clemson Tigers vs. Michigan Wolverines
Role players have, well, roles. If you're the bruiser in the paint, go throw bows and pick up offensive rebounds. If you're the three-point marksman, go run off screens and take long shots. Simple enough, right? In Clemson's 2009 first round matchup with Michigan, the bruisers in the paint did their jobs, pulling down 20 offensive boards, and outrebounding the Wolverines overall by 12. The problem was that their three-point marksman, Terrence Oglesby, thought he was a bruiser for a moment, elbowing Big Blue's Stu Douglass and getting ejected for his trouble. Now, guess how many points the Tigers lost by? Three! Stay in your lane fam!

Game: 1995 Second Round
Date: 3/19/1995
Teams: Weber State vs. Georgetown Hoyas
It's not like Weber State was supposed to beat Georgetown in the second round of the '95 tourney. The Wildcats were a 14 seed, the Hoyas a 6. But if you've got your best player (Ruben Nembhard) toeing the line for a one-and-one with a chance to take the lead, and even after he bricks the first of the shots you force the other team's best player (some dude named Allen Iverson) to shoot an airball—and you still lose? Well, that's a fail. Fourteen seeds rarely make the Sweet Sixteen; they almost never make the second weekend if they don't box out.

Game: 1996 Semifinal
Date: 3/30/1996
Teams: Massachusetts Minutemen vs. Kentucky Wildcats
Mid majors have done a lot to compete with larger, more established programs. But if you really want to hang with the big boys, you need a highly-publicized player scandal. UMass went HAM on the NCAA rulebook in '96 when it was alleged that Marcus Camby had accepted jewelry, prostitutes, and a $40,000 cash payment from an agent. The Minutemen were forced to vacate their Final Four appearance but proved that, when it comes to shaming a University, mid majors could finally play with anybody in the country.

Game: 2009 Second Round
Date: 3/21/2009
Teams: Michigan Wolverines vs. Oklahoma Sooners
Taking a charge against Blake Griffin is a lot like sneaking into a Spin Doctors concert; even if it works out, it's probably not worth it. Michigan's Zach Novak found out the hard way when he stepped in front of the runaway dunker and was bounced off the floor by Griffin's midsection.

Game: 2011 Third Round
Date: 3/20/2011
Teams: Arizona Wildcats vs. Texas Longhorns
Nothing says "one shining moment" like a game decided by a five second violation, especially when—you know—it's called after four seconds. Up by two with less than 15 seconds to play, all Texas needed to do was make a pass, hit a few free-throws, and it was off to the Sweet 16. During an inbounds play, Texas guard Cory Joseph looked to official Jim Burr and called timeout. Burr blew the whistle 4.19-seconds into the play and, instead of granting the TO, called a five-second violation. The ball was turned over to the Cats where an and-one drive by Derrick Williams sealed the game. Burr's burning of the burnt orange reminds us that, in March Madness, things can change in a second—or in this case, four.

Game: 1995 Second Round
Date: 3/19/1995
Teams: Missouri Tigers vs. UCLA Bruins
Half of the shit basketball coaches try to teach you doesn't really matter. "Shoot like you're in a phone booth?" "Keep your elbow under the ball when you shoot?" Yeah, how well did those work out for Reggie Miller? But "stop the ball" makes sense. Because if you don't, then 5'10" guards can take the ball the length of the floor in the final 4.8 seconds and break your heart. And not getting your heart broken is just basic fundamental basketball.

Game: 1993 First Round
Date: 3/19/1993
Teams: Santa Clara Broncos vs. Arizona Wildcats
How do you go on a 25-0 run and lose? Easy—follow it up with an epic scoring drought. The Cats from Arizona went ice-cold against Santa Clara, in becoming only the second No 2-seed to lose to a No 15 in the history of the tournament. Arizona went 15 minutes without recording a field goal allowing Santa Clara to sneak back into the game. Down the stretch, a mop-top Canadian guard named Nash hit six free-throws to secure the improbable victory.

Game: 2008 National Championship
Date: 4/7/2008
Teams: Memphis Tigers vs. Kansas Jayhawks
Going into the national championship game, Chris Douglas-Roberts was the leading scorer of the tournament with an average of 23.6 PPG. Derrick Rose's play during the season and tourney had almost certainly made him a lock for the No. 1 pick in that year's NBA Draft. So, if their play was so great, what was the big deal? Despite Douglas-Roberts scoring 22 points and Rose having 18 points and 8 assists, both were remembered for the critical free throws they missed in the second half. Leading by nine with 2:12 remaining, Memphis seemed well on their way to a national title when Kansas started hacking the Tigers who were well-known for their poor free throw shooting (59% FT average that season). Douglas-Roberts missed three free throws in the last 1:15 and Rose went 1-2 from the line with 10 seconds remaining when draining both would've given Memphis a 4-point lead, virtually sealing the game and title. Mario Chalmers' three-pointer pushed the game into overtime and the Jayhawks would hold on to become national champs. We're sure winning Rookie of the Year honors and being named MVP has helped Rose get over this fail. Chris Douglas-Roberts though? Eh, we're guessing playing in Italy is cool?

Game: 2006 Semifinal
Date: 3/23/2006
Teams: LSU Tigers vs. Duke Blue Devils
Glen Davis scored a team high 14-points for LSU, but the game's real "big baby" was a sobbing JJ Redick, who shot an atrocious 3-of-18 from the field in Duke's 62-54 Sweet 16 loss. Redick is no stranger to failing in the tournament. The shooter managed a mere 5-points in their '03 early exit and went 4-of-14 the following year in Duke's tournament loss to Michigan State. In his latest bracket-busting choke job, the dejected Blue Demon walked off the floor raining tears instead of three's.

Game: 2006 First Round
Date: 3/17/2006
Teams: Northwestern State Demons vs. Iowa Hawkeyes
There's nothing cheap about free-throws. The third-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes blew a 17-point second half lead to bring Northwestern State within three points. The game could have been secured at the free-throw line, but missed shots by Iowa gave the Demons an opportunity to win with a tray at the buzzer. You could probably guess how this one turns out.

Game: 1998 National Semifinal
Date: 3/29/1998
Teams: Utah Utes vs. North Carolina Tarheels
UNC didn't take Utah seriously when they met in the '98 Final Four. Even after dismantling Arizona, there were scoffs in the UNC locker room about the Utes' quickness and one Tar Heel even called Rick Majerus' defense a "junk" zone. Well, Andre Miller owned the game with 16-points and 14-boards, while Utah's bigs beat Antawn Jamison Carolina black and blue en route to a 65-59 win.

Game: 1954 NCAA Tournament
Date: 1954
Teams: N/A
Things have really changed for Kentucky basketball program. Their current roster is full of guys who'll barely finish a semester before leaving school, and it used to be made up of guys sticking around for a season or two after graduation. The 25-0 Wildcats were considered, by far, the best team in college basketball, but half their squad had already received a diploma and were therefore ineligible to play. Rather than face more severe action from the NCAA, Wildcat coach Adolph Rupp pulled his squad from the 1954 NCAA Tournament.

Game: 1979 National Championship
Date: 3/26/1979
Teams: Indiana State Sycamores vs. Michigan State Spartans
While the legend of this game is all about Larry vs. Magic, Bob Heaton tried to steal some of that shine with a curiously-timed falling domino impression late in the game. The Indiana State guard hung in the lane like an awkward scarecrow as Magic Johnson jumped through his face and sent him sliding on his powder blue short-shorts into the stands. Next time go for the swat, homie.

Game: 2006 Regional Semifinal
Date: 3/23/2006
Teams: Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. UCLA Bruins
Don't let them see you sweat, and make damn sure they never see you cry. Gonzaga may have made this list by blowing a 13-point second half lead, but they're definitely on it because their dirty 'stache, shaggy-haired best player started crying uncontrollably when a turnover and score with ten-seconds left in the game gave UCLA a one-point lead. The game ended with UCLA players storming the court in celebration. Morrison lays on the court weeping pathetically at half court with his head in his jersey. Instead of mirroring the drama of the game's closing minutes, the moment only proved that, yes, Adam Morrison is as awkward as he looks.

Game: 1995 Regional Final
Date: 3/25/1995
Teams: North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky's Andre Riddick took exception to a Rasheed Wallace elbow (we know, so out of character for 'Sheed) and responded by turning their '95 Regional Final into a street fight. Riddick grabbed the Tarheel big man's throat, triggering a melee of jersey pulls and chestiness that served as a testament to NCAA Tournament, sportsmanship, and the student-athlete. One shining moment indeed!

Game: 2011 National Championship
Date: 4/4/2011
Teams: Butler Bulldogs vs. Connecticut Huskies
You know that party where you're the star of the show for a couple hours, saying funny shit and kicking game to all the girls, until you get a little too gassed (and who knows, drunk perhaps) and attempt to pull off that party trick you saw on Jackass involving matches and WD-40 and end up in the burn unit at the local hospital? Yeah, that was Butler last year. The year before, the Bulldogs were the Cinderella darlings of the tournament, advancing all the way to the final game, and, well whaddaya know, they did it again in 2011. Except this time, instead of taking a traditional power to the final seconds, Butler embarrassed themselves, shooting 18.8% for the game on their way to a brutally ugly 53-41 loss (amazingly they lead 22-19 at the half). If they'd gone out in the semis Butler would've been a great story; they still did better than all but one other team in the country, it's just they chose a really bad time to have their worst game of the season.

Game: 1997 First Round
Date: 3/14/1997
Teams: Coppin State Eagles vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
Things were looking good for the Gamecocks when they drew Coppin State team in the first round of the '97 Tournament. Coppin State was minus its best player and had lost their last three games against major conference teams by an average of 25-points. Things looked so good in fact, that South Carolina was favored by over 30-points. Then, the game started. The Eagles took a 55-54 lead with less than seven-minutes to go and put USC on ice when a shot-clock beating tray gave Coppin a 9-point advantage with less than two minutes to go. South Carolina, who some pegged to win it all, became only the third 2 seed in history to lose to a 15.

Game: 1992 Regional Final
Date: 3/28/1992
Teams: Duke Blue Devils vs. Kentucky Wildcats
In what might be the most irritatingly replayed clip in the history of sports, Grant Hill launches a cutoff throw to Christian Laettner for a miraculous Final Four buzzer beater. While the scene is played with agonizing frequency, it's rarely mentioned that Hill's step-and-throw wasn't even challenged by the Kentucky defense. Like a quarterback without a pass rush, the Duke forward delivered an uncontested strike to the other side of the court. Kentucky's defense watched the ball sail through the air, drop through the hoop, and bounce off the court as Duke rushed the floor in celebration. So when you see a jubilant Christian Laettner sprinting across your TV this March, thank Rick Pitino's prevent D.

Game: 2005 Regional Final
Date: 3/26/2005
Teams: Arizona Wildcats vs. Illinois Fighting Illini
Up fifteen points with less than four-minutes to go, Arizona had basically punched its ticket to the Final Four. After a handful of Illinois tray-bombs from Luther Head and Derron Williams cut the lead to five with just under a minute remaining, Arizona went into choke-mode. A Dee Brown steal and layup cut the lead to 80-77 and a subsequent turnover on the inbounds pass left an uncovered D-Will open for three to tie the game. Illinois ultimately won in OT. While many people remember this game as an epic Illinois comeback we remember it is a free-throw rattling, turnover-ridden slop fest for the Cardiac Cats who flatlined in the final four minutes.

Game: 2003 National Championship
Date: 4/7/2003
Teams: Kansas Jayhawks vs. Syracuse Orangemen
We're not saying we could have shot better than the Jayhawks in the '03 Championship, but we're not not saying it either. In a game where you'd find more accurate free-throws in a junior-high gym class, Kansas went an especially horrendous 12-for-30 from the charity stripe in a 3-point loss to Syracuse. Hakim Warrick's swat of a potential game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer put an exclamation point on what was a miserable shooting night for the Jayhawks.

Game: 1987 National Championship
Date: 3/30/1987
Teams: Syracuse Orangemen vs. Indiana Hoosiers
At the beginning of the '86-'87 season, Syracuse wasn't expected to be playing for the national title in the spring. But behind the play of three guys who would have solid NBA careers (Derrick Coleman, Rony Seikaly, and Sherman Douglas—sidebar: How was this team not expected to do well?), the Orangemen won the Big East regular season championship, and met Indiana (a team that, for what it's worth, featured exactly zero players who would have solid or even pedestrian NBA careers) in the title game. And then Derrick Coleman had one of the biggest double fails in March Madness history. With a chance to put 'Cuse up by three, he was well short lucky to graze the rim on the first of a one-and-one. Then, after Keith Smart hit his famed baseline jumper to put the Hoosiers ahead by one, he (and the rest of the Orangemen players and coaching staff) inexplicably let three valuable seconds tick off the clock before calling a timeout. C'mon people! If you've got timeouts to spare, we know a guy from Ann Arbor who appears later on this list who will gladly take them off your hands.

Game: Prior to 1989 NCAA Tournament
Date: 3/16/1989
Teams: Bill Frieder vs. Bo Schembechler
Here's a hint: If you're going to take a new job before your old job is finished keep that news to yourself. In 1989, Michigan head coach Bill Frieder decided to take the same gig at Arizona State, and announced that he'd be leaving Ann Arbor for Tempe at the conclusion of the season. Michigan athletic director/football coaching legend Bo Schembechler (would you cross this dude?) told Frieder that while Big Blue's season wasn't over, Frieder's was, and that he could go ahead and pack his shorts for Arizona because he was fired. (Schembechler was far more pithy than us in explaining this, saying "A Michigan man will coach Michigan, not an Arizona State man.") Frieder's replacement, Steve Fisher, guided the Wolverines to the national championship that year, and recruited the Fab Five three years later. Frieder coached eight seasons at ASU, compiling a 132-108 record with just two NCAA tournament appearances.

Game: 2011 Sweet Sixteen
Date: 3/19/2011
Teams: Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Butler Bulldogs
Butler tried to fail their way to a Pittsburgh win, but in the end, it was the Panthers who secured the upset with one of the dumbest plays in the history of college basketball. Let's start from the beginning. Down by one with 2-seconds to go, Butler hits go ahead lay-up. Game over, right? Nuh-uh. On the inbounds pass, Butler's Shelvin Mack inexplicably pressures the ball and drops a shoulder on the Pitt player, the foul gives the Panthers a chance to win with free-throws. Bulldog nation stands at attention; hands on their heads, eyes wide open, mouths on the floor. The dumbest play ever... for about .6 seconds. Pittsburgh's Gilbert Robinson hits his first shot and chokes on his next. With less than a second remaining, Pittsbugh's Nasir Robinson grabs Butler's Matt Howard on the rebound. The inexplicable, needless foul sends Howard to the line. Howard hits his first free-throw, misses the second on purpose, Butler wins, and the most ridiculous two seconds in March Madness history come to an end.

Game: Conference USA Championship
Date: 3/12/2005
Teams: Louisville Cardinals vs. Memphis Tigers
Down by two with no time left on the clock, Memphis guard Darius Washington goes to the free-throw line to shoot three. The highly touted freshmen hits his first shot. He's one more bucket away from sending the Conference USA Championship to overtime and two shots away from carrying Memphis to the NCAA Tournament. In perhaps the most gut-wrenching, asshole twisting college basketball clip on YouTube, Washington stands alone on the court and rattles a pair of free throws off of the rim before hopelessly dropping to the floor in despair.

Game: 1990 National Championship
Date: 4/2/1990
Teams: UNLV Runnin' Rebels vs. Duke Blue Devils
Everybody gets diarhhea. And part of the exquisite joy of diarhhea is that it usually visits unannounced. So it's not Bobby Hurley's fault that he got a nasty case of the ol' quicksteps in the 1990 national championship game (and it's not his fault that he had a face that looked like he had the shits all the time). But when you get the runs on national TV, while your team is getting run over by the Runnin' Rebels, well, we've just got to call fail on you, pal. Sorry. Now, make sure you stay hydrated and please, please, please, wash your hands thoroughly.

Game: 1966 National Championship
Date: 3/19/1966
Teams: Texas Western Miners vs. Kentucky Wildcats
You know something in your state is messed up when you're taking lessons in enlightenment from Texas, but that's exactly what happened to Kentucky in the 1966 National Championship. Texas Western started five black players for the first time in Championship history against a Wildcat team that had not yet integrated its basketball program. Kentucky's cold shoulder to progress would cost them. The Miners executed in the half-court, played hard defense, and out hustled the Wildcats to a 72-65 victory. Kentucky eventually integrated its program in 1970 (six years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act).

Game: 1982 National Championship
Date: 3/11/1982
Teams: Georgetown Hoyas vs. North Carolina Tar Heels
Before there was Chris Webber, there was Fred Brown. His inexplicable pass to James Worthy cost the Hoyas a national title. Luckily for Brown, he'd get his chance at redemption as he helped Georgetown win a national title in 1984. Sadly, the same can't be said for other people on this list...

Game: 1993 National Championship
Date: 4/5/1993
Teams: Michigan Wolverines vs. North Carolina Tar Heels
Turn away now, Michigan fans. This sole moment is the reason why the Fab 5 can't go down as the most badass college basketball team of all time. In fact it's the moment that Chris Webber, who had a respectable 15-year pro career, will always be remembered for. As much as we love the Fab 5 this is no doubt the biggest fail in March Madness history.