How sweet it is!
Sixteen teams remain after a wild weekend of tournament action. The Blue Bloods are there, of course — Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, Michigan State, Louisville — teams that are always in the hunt for a Final Four. Top seeds Kansas, Virgina and Villanova were sent packing after a round of 32 upsets, and UCLA is the only double digit seed left.
Here are the best of the best from a highly entertaining weekend of basketball:
The Block Of The Irish
For a second there, Butler had an opening. A chance to send the Irish home in the round of 32. With the the game tied at 55 and only seconds remaining, Kellen Dunham rose up for a three. That’s when Pat Connaughton dropped in like Spider-Man, erasing any chance the Bulldogs had. Notre Dame went on to win in overtime 67-64.
Fan video of the block is must-see.
The Crying Piccolo Player
Following Villanova’s “stunning” loss to NC State, cameras cutaway to this crying piccolo player in the Wildcats band. She quickly became an internet star.
Thankfully, Roxanne was a good sport about the whole thing.
https://twitter.com/roxiechalifoxie/status/579464523641393152
Adorable Girl Can’t Bear To Look
The back-and-forth game between Oklahoma and Dayton was simply too much for this little Sooners fan.
Ron Hunter’s Emotional Press Conference
On Saturday, we bid adieu to Ron Hunter and his Georgia State squad, arguably the story of the first round. It was Hunter and his son R.J. who combined for the must-see moment of the tourney on Thursday with a buzzer beater to defeat Baylor.
After the loss to Xavier, Hunter called the tourney “the best week of his life.” Then he broke down in tears.
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The No Look Pass From D’Angelo Russell
Ohio State fell short against Arizona, but this Magic Johnson-esque pass from potential first round pick D’Angelo Russel was just exquisite.
Willie Cauley-Stein’s Dunk Facial
Kentucky-Cincinnati wasn’t a basketball game, it was a war. A border battle between two schools that got very physical at times. It peaked when Kentucky phenom Willie Caulie-Stein delivered one of the best dunk facials you’ll ever see.
It was beautifully captured by USA Today photographer Jamie Rhodes.
That Time You Thought You Could Fly
Michigan State reserve guard Alvin Ellis thought he could dunk over the entire Virginia defense. He thought wrong. Darion Atkins taught him a lesson he won’t soon forget.
Doink!
What The F*ck Is Wrong With Barack Obama
Like most people, President Obama chose Villanova in his chalk-heavy bracket. After all, the Wildcats were the winners of the Big East Conference, having lost only two games all season. But the mighty Wolfpack of NC State and their physical brand of basketball proved too much for Nova.
Following the game, Cat Barber was caught on camera calling the president out.
Unsurprisingly, he later took down it down a notch.
Got nothing but respect for @barackobama. Love our president! Caught up in a moment, Sweet 16!!!
— CAT (@catbarber1994) March 22, 2015
Love Is In The Air
You’re likely familiar with Allie LaForce, CBS’s go-to sideline reporter for the NCAA tournament. You’ll be shocked to learn that many people, including UCLA’s Tony Parker, think she’s good looking. In a post game chat following the Bruins victory over UAB, Parker gave a little wink and a nod in LaForce’s direction, complimenting her bracelet.
She’s married, fellas. Back off.
Getting requests to tweet out a pic of the bracelet thanks to @UCLAMBB player Tony Parker haha thanks @vivijewelryinc pic.twitter.com/Zm60d2EFwH
— Allie LaForce (@ALaForce) March 21, 2015