NCAA Basketball: 10 great tournament games we missed out on in history

Wake Forest vs UCLA (1995)

Dave Odam coached Wake Forest and a sophomore center named Tim Duncan to a 26-6 overall record and won the ACC with a 12-4 record. Jim Harrick had 6 future NBA players and went 31-3 while winning the Pac-10 with a 16-2 record. The UCLA Bruins ran the wild, wild, west with the fourth-most points in the nation which were accompanied by the third-most assists.

Whereas UCLA began the pre-season ranked No.6, the Demon Deacons began the pre-season at No.24. Both would climb, until the final poll of the season when just Kentucky separated the two programs. Including their conference tournament games, Wake Forest would go 8-4 versus AP ranked teams, six of those victories during a 10 game win streak going into the ‘Big Dance’.

UCLA would go 8-0 versus nationally-ranked opponents and beat another five in the National Tournament. UCLA versus Wake Forest was so intriguing for it represented different philosophies of college basketball at the time.  UCLA was a favorite who had their spot handed to them, Wake Forest led by soft-spoken Tim Duncan battled their way to the top all season. UCLA had the tenth most points scored in the nation, while Wake Forest had surrendered the ninth least.

Since UCLA had already beaten Kentucky when they were ranked No.2, the next sought after opponent for those wanting UCLA to fall short was Wake Forest. UCLA fans also wanted No.3 Wake Forest to prove just how talented they were.

Both received #1 seeds come tournament time, Wake Forest in the East and UCLA in the West. They were set to meet in the Final Four. Flash and talent versus hard work and team play, unfortunately, Wake Forest would not hold up their end. As UCLA rode their wave to a national title, Wake Forest lost to Oklahoma State in the Sweet Sixteen. UCLA would beat Oklahoma State in the Final Four by the score of 74-61, which makes the ‘what if’ even greater in the minds of fans.