Move over Christian Laettner and Keith Smart. There's a new kid on the "greatest tourney shots of all time" block and his name is Mario Chalmers. The Kansas guard's high-arching three-pointer brought Monday's national championship into overtime and took the life out of Memphis, which never recovered and lost in OT, 75-68. Now that you've a full night's rest and some ability to put the shot in perspective, we want to know where you think it ranks among the greats. Here is our top five:
5. Michael Jordan (1982) - Before he was a legend, MJ was a freshman guard at North Carolina who hit a clutch shot with 16 seconds left in the national championship to give the Tar Heels a victory over Georgetown.
4. Keith Smart (1987) - With six seconds left of the national championship against Syracuse, Keith Smart hit "The Shot" from the corner to lift the Hoosiers to victory.
3. Christian Laettner (1992) - In the 1992 East regional finals, Laettner's jumpshot from the top of the key knocked out Kentucky and cemented Laettner's legacy as one of college basketball's all-time best.
2. Mario Chalmers (2008) - Trailing by nine with 2:12 left, Kansas fought back and tied the game on Chalmer's miraculous three-pointer.
1. Lorenzo Charles (1983) - Nobody gave Jim Valvano's NC State squad a chance against heavily-favored Houston, but the Wolfpack pulled off the upset after Dereck Whittenburg threw up the famous high-arching airball that Lorenzo Charles grabbed for the game-winning dunk.
Those are our top five choices. What are yours?
Revisiting the '98 NBA Lockout
Comments (9)
Check Last years Divsion II national Championship on YouTube between Barton and Winona. I know it's not the most prestigious game. But Barton's (down 7 with 45 seconds to go) point guard Anthony Atkinson scored 10 points in 39 seconds including the lay in at the buzzer after the steal to win by one. This ended Winona's 57game winning streak. I watch this video weekly, and I consider this the greatest finish to a game I have ever seen. Please watch the video and see for yourself. I wish the sportscasters would give tis game some credit, It was simply ridiculous.
asniker | 04/08/08, 01:07 PM
Report Offensive CommentHow do you rate a shot in a regional final ahead of anything in the championship game. Give me a break.
neilt | 04/08/08, 01:33 PM
Report Offensive Comment"How do you rate a shot in a regional final ahead of anything in the championship game" it's like this, Christian Laettner's winning shot - Duke over Kentucky, still is the greatest shot in tournamentt history. It was for the win, not a tie, full length of the court in 2.1 seconds between two of the biggest heavyweights in college basketball.
jwaldrop | 04/08/08, 02:19 PM
Report Offensive CommentNo doubt its Laettner
NYGiantsSBXLIICHAMPS | 04/08/08, 02:53 PM
Report Offensive CommentHow about the almost greatest shot didn't happen...2003 Champioship game and Hakim Warrick of Syarcuse blocks a sure 3 point game winner by KU. That was an awesome shot...almost.
fan1001 | 04/08/08, 03:27 PM
Report Offensive CommentI %100 agree with your #1. I think in the last, o just about 24 hours now, when people started talking about the greatest shot, mostly everyone forgot and overlooked that shot. I do think it was the greatest of all time. The only thing I would change is the 2 and 3 spot. I may change my mind down the road, but for right now Laettner is #2.
LYNCHisOTGY* THElook | 04/08/08, 10:36 PM
Report Offensive CommentI like the look of the list. You hit it spot on.
cklarock | 04/10/08, 03:53 PM
Report Offensive CommentYeah I like your list also it looks good to me
N.O. | 04/11/08, 05:36 PM
Report Offensive CommentI would put Tyus Edny or Danny ainge ahead of Michael Jordan. Jordan's shot was with sixteen seconds left and wasn't even the deciding factor. It was the errant backcourt pass that decided that game. Have to agree that Lorenzo Charles is still number one, however, even though I'm a Jayhawk.
wusong | 04/12/08, 12:36 PM
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