James Drake/Sports Illustrated

Story by Scott Gummer

4 
1983 National Championship North Carolina State 54, Houston 52 That final shot, replayed to this day to illustrate the epitome of dramatic victories, seemed predestined. A string of improbable victories landed the Wolfpack in the finals in the first place. Facing the high-flying Houston Cougars, nicknamed Phi Slamma Jama and featuring future NBA superstars Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, methodical N.C. State managed to slow the tempo and draw the Cougars into foul trouble. Still, in need of a prayer at the end, Dereck Whittenburg launched a 30-foot Hail Mary that fell short—but landed in the hands of Lorenzo Charles, who slammed home the game winner.

3
 1979 National Championship Michigan State 75, Indiana State 64 Magic versus Bird. Before their rivalry rejuvenated the NBA, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird played the leading roles in the most anticipated, most watched college basketball game ever. Emerging from the long shadow of the storied state rival Hoosiers, Bird led State into the finals on a 33-game win streak, while Johnson was the sophomore spark that ignited the Spartans. The Sycamores battled to within six points in the second half but could not bottle Magic. The clash of the titans was as advertised, with Bird and Johnson delivering riveting performances.

2
 1985 National Championship Villanova 66, Georgetown 64 Pulling an April Fools’ Day prank for the ages, the unheralded Villanova Wildcats became the lowest seed (No. 8) to ever win the national championship when they toppled No. 1 Georgetown and thwarted the Hoyas’ bid to win back-to-back titles. Coming off an unimpressive 19-10 season, during which they twice lost to their conference rivals Georgetown, Villanova was perceived to be a mere sacrificial lamb for the steamrolling Hoyas. But the “little team that could” shot an NCAA record 79% from the floor and played stifling defense, holding all-American Patrick Ewing to just 14 points and five rebounds.

Damian Strohmeyer/Sports Illustrated

1 
 1992 East Regional Final Duke 104, Kentucky 103 (Overtime) Arguably the most epic contest in college basketball history. Duke senior Christian Laettner was perfect: 10-for-10 from the free throw line and 10-for-10 from the field, including the game winner. After Kentucky’s Sean Woods put the Wildcats ahead by one with two seconds left, Duke’s Grant Hill heaved an inbound pass nearly the length of the court to Laettner, who dribbled once, faked to his right, turned back to his left, and sank a 17-footer at the horn to send the Blue Devils to their fifth consecutive Final Four.