The 10 most memorable moments from last March Madness

1. Dunk City becomes America’s city

There have been Cinderellas before, but none had ever been this cool. No. 15 seed Florida Gulf Coast, which only started offering classes in 1997, knocked off second-seeded Georgetown in the second round, 78-68, then followed it up with a 10-point win over seventh-seeded San Diego State. Before losing to Florida in the Sweet 16, the Eagles won over the nation, with their high-flying attack filled with no-look passes and alley-oops. Coach Andy Enfield instantly became the most envied man in the country, enjoying his success with his supermodel wife. He then parlayed that weekend into the head job at USC.

2. The break heard 'round the world

WARNING: Video contains compound fracture, not for the faint of heart.

Everyone would like to forget what happened to Kevin Ware, but it’s a moment everyone will remember where they were when it happened. A new generation received its Joe Theismann moment when Ware – a Bronx native — jumped to block a 3-pointer against Duke in the Elite Eight and landed awkwardly, shattering his right leg upon impact. Bone could be seen sticking out of the leg, causing players and coaches around him to become visibly ill. Some cried. Ware received an outpouring of support from around the nation and was somehow ready to play for Louisville once again when the team returned to defend its title in the fall. Everyone became a Kevin Ware fan at that moment and few will ever stop. 

3. King Louisville

Rick Pitino needed no validation, but the Hall of Fame coach – inducted in September — elevated his legacy by becoming the first coach to win national titles at two different schools, winning his first since leading Kentucky in 1996. Louisville earned its first national championship in 27 years, coming back from a 12-point first-half deficit to Michigan to win a well-played, back-and-forth affair, 82-76. Pitino even fulfilled his early-season promise to the team to get a tattoo if the Cardinals won it all. A few weeks after the victory, the coach had a giant red ‘L’ inked on his back, reading: “2013 NCAA Champions 35-5.”

4. The Shockers shock the world

Overshadowed by the sensational show put on by Florida Gulf Coast, ninth-seeded Wichita State became the first team from the Missouri Valley Conference to reach the Final Four since 1979 (Indiana State) and the first No. 9 seed to reach the Final Four since 1979 (Penn). The Shockers defeated top-seeded Gonzaga in the Round of 32 and took out second-seeded Ohio State to reach the school’s first Final Four since 1965. Wichita State held a 12-point lead against the overall No. 1 seed – Louisville – with less than 14 minutes left in the national semifinals, but the magic of coach Greg Marshall’s Shockers finally ran out.

5. So good, he asked Kate Upton out

This was a moment — unpredictable, exhilarating and fleeting. You couldn’t believe it, even as it was happening. With National Player of the Year Trey Burke sidelined in the first half of the national championship game with two fouls, Michigan’s unknown freshman guard Spike Albrecht entered and provided one of the most exciting stretches in championship history. Averaging 1.3 points during the season, Albrecht entered the game and hit his first five shots, including four 3-pointers, to help Michigan take a 12-point lead over Louisville. He finished the first half with 17 points, but was held scoreless in the second half. Despite the loss, Albrecht’s instant fame gave him the confidence to send a tweet to the world’s most famous model – Kate Upton.

6. La Salle goes exploring

Often overlooked in the crowded college basketball landscape of Philadelphia, La Salle announced its return to relevance by reaching the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1955. First, the Explorers knocked off No. 4 Kansas State in Kansas City, and followed it up two days later with a win over Ole Miss, won on Tyrone Garland’s last-second drive.

7. Trey-mendous

Michigan’s magical season was about to end, until National Player of the Year Trey Burke created a moment that will never fade. The Wolverines came back from 14 points down with less than seven minutes left against Kansas, as Burke scored eight points in the final minute, including a 30-foot 3-pointer with four seconds left that forced overtime. Burke scored 23 points — all after halftime — and Michigan advanced past the regional semifinal and to its first Final Four since 1993.

8. Harvard schools New Mexico

After a 66-year NCAA Tournament drought, Harvard was back in the Big Dance for the second straight year, playing as the No. 14 seed against third-seeded New Mexico. In just their third-ever appearance, the Crimson did something they had never done before, winning their first tournament game, 68-62, by shooting better than 52 percent from the field.

9. Marquette survives and advances

The third-seeded Golden Eagles trailed No. 14 Davidson by nine with less than six minutes remaining, but were only down one with the ball in the final seconds, following a Wildcat turnover. Vander Blue drove for a lefty layup with one second remaining, then intercepted the inbounds pass to steal a 59-58 win. Marquette would go on to advance to its first Elite Eight since 2003.

10. Luke warms up

Luke Hancock, a transfer from George Mason, entered his first NCAA Tournament with Louisville averaging 8.1 points per game, and left as a legend. The forward scored 20 points in the national semifinals and then swung the momentum of the title game against Michigan, by scoring 14 straight points late in the first half to cut a 12-point deficit to one by halftime. Hancock became the first reserve to become the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament, after scoring 22 points, on 5-of-5 3-pointers, in the championship game.