Greatest Game I've Ever Seen | chisox589's Blog

Recently, SI.com had their writers submit the greatest games they've ever seen played. The criteria was as follows:

"Prominent protagonists, high stakes and a hero... the game must be significant, superbly played and filled with drama, with compelling plots and subplots taking place on and off the field. For some... it is all about context. The greatest games are great, he says, because of their context in your life."

It wasn't mentioned along with the other 23 games submitted by the SI writing staff, but the greatest without a doubt for me was the incredible 2005 Elite Eight matchup featuring Illinois and Arizona.

This instant classic fulfilled the criteria and more. I am a student at the University of Illinois, so there can be no bigger protagonists than the Illini basketball team. We knew we'd have a great season in coming for the '05 season, but this? A #1 ranking and national exposure was more than we anyone could ask for. Because of the heavy expectations laid on the top team, the game would be significant whenever it was played, let alone in the Elite Eight. The winner would move on and forever have the 'Final Four' banner hanging from the rafters.

The game was superbly played by the gritty Arizona team, and became the perfect antagonists for us Illini fans watching at home. Channinig Frye would step back to hit a long range jumper and scream to the crowd. How could it end like this, after a near undefeated season!?

The answer is, it couldn't. A fire was lit under Illinois even as their deficit ballooned to 15 with four minutes left. The game had not one hero, but three! It was the deadly trio of guards that brought the team back from the dead and onto ESPN Classic. The Illini suddenly found their shot again and were able to capitalize on one steal after another. Finally, in the waning moments Deron Williams pulled up and buried a three to send the game to overtime.

Arizona and Illinois battled in overtime as the Illini pulled ahead by one. With only a few seconds remaining, any Wildcat FG meant a loss. Hassan Adams would get it at the top of the key and throw the ball up wildly. I'm not sure if anyone truely thought it was going in, but it didn't stop my heart from skipping a beat...

The shot clanked and the greatest game I've seen, maybe ever will see, had finished.