NCAA Basketball: Most memorable NCAA Tournament runs of last decade

NCAA Basketball: 10 most memorable NCAA Tournament runs of last decade

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 16: A view of the official game basketball during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament between the Arizona Wildcats and the North Dakota Fighting Sioux at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 16, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

10 of 11

PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 22: Christophe Varidel #5 (R) and Chase Fieler #20 of the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles celebrate their 78-68 win as Otto Porter Jr. #22 of the Georgetown Hoyas walks off of the court dejected during the second round of the 2013 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Center on March 22, 2013 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

2. 2013 Florida Gulf Coast (Atlantic Sun, 26-11, 15 Seed) Sweet 16

That’s right, the same NCAA Tournament that brought us the Wichita State Shockers also gave us the best 15 seed in NCAA History. Hailing from Fort Myers, Florida, the Eagles of Florida Gulf Coast became the first 15 seed to ever advance to the Sweet 16.

When looking back at the NCAA Tournament Cinderellas of the last decade, it is safe to say that this 2013 Eagles squad was perhaps the most electric. Their offense was perhaps, one of the most high-octane that has ever been seen in college basketball.

A combination of creative passes, high-flying jams to put a dagger into the hearts of opponents, and a confident attitude, worked to not only win games, but to win the favor of the crowd as well. The leader on the court for the Eagles was Sherwood Brown. The times he was not seen shaking hands and high-fiving the figures sitting at the scorers table, he could be found shredding defense and making clutch buckets to provide his team with the edge.

In the First Round, FGCU took down Georgetown 78-68. While winning the game, they also brought the house down by forcing the crowd to erupt after witnessing some jaw dropping plays. With a little over a minute left, Guard Brett Comer threw up a high arcing pass to Chase Fieler. Fieler preceded to throw it down with authority, and that was the end of Georgetown and the beginning of FGCU becoming a basketball school.

To think it would have ended in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament would be an ignorant thought. The dominance continued and Florida Gulf Coast took down San Diego State 81-71 to set up a Sweet 16 date with Florida.

In the Sweet 16, the Eagles almost became predictable. Florida rose to the occasion on defense, preventing many high-flying play opportunities from occurring. FGCU fell 72-60.

This team is the second most memorable of the past decade because of not only the way they won games, but the attitude they possessed while winning those games. They were playing to win, but it was pretty clear they were trying to have fun as well. Their fun in the NCAA Tournament certainly gave March Madness fans everywhere a spectacle.

Home/March Madness