Whether it be buzzer beaters, major upsets or bizarre injuries, there was definitely no shortage of excitement in 2013. Below are our top 10 basketball moments of the year.
I know it isn’t men’s basketball but it is easily the biggest upset in the history of the sport. Baylor, the defending champions, entered the Regional Final on a 32 game win streak and winning 74 of their last 75 contests. Louisville, a four seed, wasn’t supposed to stand a chance against Baylor’s dominant center, Brittney Griner. Despite some horrendous officiating and a 19 point deficit earlier in the game, Baylor managed to have a one point lead with nine seconds remaining until Griner was called for a foul on Louisville’s Monique Reid with 2.1 seconds left. Reid hit both of them to give the Cardinals the Final Four birth.
If the world didn’t already know the 2013 Naismith Player of The Year, they certainly did after the regional semi-final match-up with No. 1 seed Kansas. Kansas was expected to go all the way to the national championship but Michigan had other plans. Despite being down 14 points with seven minutes left, Michigan went on a furious rally. Down three in the final seconds of regulation, Burke pulled up and hit a 30 footer to send the game into overtime. Michigan would go on to win 87-85 in overtime on their way to the national title game. Kansas fans would have another choke job to add to their history.
Michigan seemed to be clicking on all cylinders in the first half with little Spike Albrecht going off for a career high of 17 points while hitting four three-pointers that gave the Wolverines a lead that grew as big as 12. But the Cardinals’ Luke Hancock would hit four 3’s in a row to close the gap before halftime. Despite a big lead at one time and Michigan’s leader, Trey Burke, scoring 24 points and giving us the best block I’ve ever seen by a guard (a block that was called for a foul and an utter joke), the overall top seed, Louisville, took control. Behind Peyton Siva and Hancock’s 22 points, Louisville was able to get the 82-76 win and capture the school’s third national title.
The Black Mamba was on a tear (no pun intended), pouring in 34 points against the Golden State Warriors while the Lakers were fighting for a playoff spot. That is, until late in the 4th quarter, Kobe tore his Achilles while being guarded by Harrison Barnes, ending his season early. Lakers fans freaked out and ESPN still hasn’t stopped talking about the injury. But like the Kennedy assassination, everyone knows where they were the night Kobe got hurt. Please, recognize the sarcasm. You never want to see someone get hurt, but Kobe is about as likable as a punch to the face.
During the Regional Final against Duke, Louisville’s Kevin Ware jumped to contest a three pointer and landed awkwardly. Ware’s leg landed underneath him, causing him to suffer a compound fracture to his right knee. The entire country could see Ware’s bone protruding from his skin. Ware’s own teammates were visibly shaken and even jumping out of their seats, turning their heads, and even bringing tears to some. However, due to the injury, the Louisville reserve became an overnight sensation and even did The Top Ten on The Late Show with David Lettermen. Ware returned to action last month.
