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) /

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ARLINGTON, TX – APRIL 05: Shabazz Napier #13 of the Connecticut Huskies gestures during the NCAA Men’s Final Four Semifinal against the Florida Gators at AT&T Stadium on April 5, 2014 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

7. 2014 UCONN (AAC, 32-8, 7 Seed) National Champions

The UCONN Huskies of 2014 are the perfect story of how a few highly talented players can manipulate entire games, and even an entire NCAA Tournament. Throughout their run to the title, Shabazz Napier, who won a title with the Huskies as a freshman in 2011, commanded the court and proved to be too much for every team the Huskies faced.

Finishing the regular season 26-8 and falling to Louisville in the AAC Championship, the Huskies were given a 7 seed and a first round match against Saint Joseph’s. In the First Round, they needed a 24 point performance from Napier in order to advance.

In the Second Round, Napier put the team on his back once again, scoring 23 points and giving them the convincing 77-65 victory over Villanova. Against Iowa State in the Sweet 16, Senior Deandre Daniels stepped up with 27 points and provided the Huskies with enough to squeak by 81-76.

The story remained the same in the Elite 8 and Final Four, where the UCONN star power emerged and overwhelmed the likes of Michigan State and Florida.

In the National Title Game, the Huskies met the young #8 seed Kentucky Wildcats. Much of the talent that made up that young Kentucky squad played key roles in helping to achieve the Wildcats’ undefeated regular season the following year. This time, UCONN’s experience would be too much.

UCONN led the Wildcats from start to finish. Shabazz Napier shined again with 22 points, and Junior Guard Ryan Boatwright contributed 14 as the Huskies prevailed 60-54 to take home the National Championship.

For UCONN to win the National Title as a 7 seed is remarkable in itself, but to do it in a way that allowed a select few to leave their imprint on the entire tournament field is quite special. Not many players have performed in the NCAA Tournament quite like Shabazz Napier did in 2014.

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