Buzzer Beaters and Great Games Galore

This is why we love March.

On the night prior to the unveiling of this year’s 68 Tournament participants (the NCAA expanded the field—again), teams battled for births and seeds. And while college ball is always good ball, it becomes great when Tournament births (automatic and at-large) are on the line.

Saturday provided further proof of that. Here’s just a little sample.

On the East Coast, in a one-game playoff for the Ivy League’s automatic NCAA spot, Princeton defeated Harvard on a marvelous buzzer beater.

In the Carolinas, Harrison Barnes dropped 40 points on Clemson, helping UNC win in overtime. The W earned the Tar Heels a chance to play Duke in the ACC Tournament final.

In Cleveland, the Akron Zips defeated the Kent State Golden Flashes on the strength of two late free throws. (A solid ending was tarnished, though, by this little skirmish that took place right after the final buzzer sounds)

 

And on the West Coast, as the video below shows, Washington’s Isaiah Thomas calmly sank a difficult buzzer beater, sending Washington to the NCAA Tournament with the Pac-10’s automatic bid.