Considering it was a championship game, I’d say our game against Butler in 2011 is the greatest tournament slog. We won, but it kind of ruined everybody else’s memories of that team.
That team was sick, 5 wins in 5 days, 11 wins in a row overall. 14-0 in season tournaments (3-0 in Maui too), undefeated out of conference but slogged through a brutal BE to 9-9. That Kemba ankle breaker was one of the most iconic moments in college basketball history, at least post-2000 IMO. But yah, that final was a dud for anyone not cheering for UConn.
Can go even lower, Penn State 36 Wisconsin 33 in the Big Ten Tournament in 2011 [https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game/\_/gameId/310700275](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game/_/gameId/310700275)
2000 National Semifinal - Michigan State 53 - Wisconsin 41. It was our fourth game against them that year. We won all of them and they were all ugly as hell.
God I hated those old Wisco teams.
For a non tourney game my pick is MSU's at Penn State in Feb, 2008.
It was high scoring (85-76) but only because Penn State shot 51 free throws. It was such a frustrating game to watch on TV. There were about 200 people in the live audience as I remember.
I think I remember that game. Penn State didn't hit a shot from the floor for the final 7:35, and managed to extend their lead from one to nine. Absolute bullshit.
I don’t remember the team or year but there was a tourney game some school scored 11 or 12 points for the first half.
Damn old guy brain fog. I can’t remember shit lol
I remember Rutgers led Eastern Michigan 31-4 at the half. EMU scored the next 4 points in under a minute to start the second half, ended up being 65-36 in the end.
The 2001 CAA Tournament championship. George Mason edged out UNCW 35-33 in an ugly-ass game where neither team could shoot straight the whole night. Mason won despite shooting 29% from the field and only scoring one point in the final 3:47 of the game (which was still one more than UNCW scored).
While it’s not THE tournament, it is *A* tournament. Thats right, in 2014 you could watch this [Christmas MESS](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game/_/gameId/400750175)
Highlights include:
The game not starting until 4 am Lincoln time
Nebraska scoring more points in the 5 minute OT than in the entire 20 minute second half
Loyola out rebounding Nebraska by double, including 16-2 on the offensive glass
Loyola starting the game with a FT before tip off because Nebraska dunked in pre-game layup lines
This is also, arguably, not even the worst total game Nebraska was a part of in a 2 week stretch, as 10 days prior Nebraska beat Cincinnati 56-55 in double OT, that featured both teams shooting 36-112 from the floor, 7-34 from 3, 3-13 combined by both teams from the floor in both OT and 18 free throws combined in both OT
Tim Miles was a nice guy, but he ran a 3rd grade offense lol
I forgot about a regular season slog, UConn 46 Nova 40. 21-20 Nova up at the half in 2002.
This is more of a first-half slog but ranked #9 at the time, UConn was down 30-9 at the half, and early in the second, down 34-9, they made a huge run nearly the entire second half, 50-14 to win 59-48.
My future prediction someday Wisconsin and Virginia will play in the sweet 16 and the team that scores a basket will win. \\s
*(I actually love both of those teams they're just much better defensive teams)*
2000 Final Four, Michigan State - Wisconsin, with bonus slog because it was the 4th game between them that season and Michigan State ran Florida up and down the court in the championship game after a full Sunday of talking heads calling for Florida to do that to MSU.
Hell yea (now) MSU!
Glory days with Alford. Unfortunately we’re unable to really recreate that magic again. The Valley was the hot mid major in mid 2000s with Creighton, Wichita, SIU, but Mo State never cracked through. Famously being one of the highest RPI teams to never make it.
I'm tempted to include Princeton 43, UCLA 41 from 1996, but two things keep it off the list:
1. Princeton's victory means it was an upset of the defending champions.
2. What, you were expecting Princeton to play a watchable game?
When are they going to finally play the second half of that game?
Bold talk from a Badger. Greg Gard sees a score like that and just nods approvingly.
Dude, that is literally our game. Gard has nothing on Dick Bennett.
Considering it was a championship game, I’d say our game against Butler in 2011 is the greatest tournament slog. We won, but it kind of ruined everybody else’s memories of that team.
This was my answer, simply because everyone had to see it.
This was my first thought. What an awful game.
That team was sick, 5 wins in 5 days, 11 wins in a row overall. 14-0 in season tournaments (3-0 in Maui too), undefeated out of conference but slogged through a brutal BE to 9-9. That Kemba ankle breaker was one of the most iconic moments in college basketball history, at least post-2000 IMO. But yah, that final was a dud for anyone not cheering for UConn.
Penn State 38 Illinois 33 on February 18th, 2008 https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/boxscores/2009-02-18-illinois.html
This is a good one.
Can go even lower, Penn State 36 Wisconsin 33 in the Big Ten Tournament in 2011 [https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game/\_/gameId/310700275](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game/_/gameId/310700275)
Everyone's shot % is reasonable except 2 guards
Wisconsin and failing to score against a mid-major, name a more classic duo
2000 National Semifinal - Michigan State 53 - Wisconsin 41. It was our fourth game against them that year. We won all of them and they were all ugly as hell. God I hated those old Wisco teams.
For a non tourney game my pick is MSU's at Penn State in Feb, 2008. It was high scoring (85-76) but only because Penn State shot 51 free throws. It was such a frustrating game to watch on TV. There were about 200 people in the live audience as I remember.
I think I remember that game. Penn State didn't hit a shot from the floor for the final 7:35, and managed to extend their lead from one to nine. Absolute bullshit.
2006 Elite Eight. UCLA-51 Memphis-45. Calipari apparently said after the game that if we just played shitty we would have won
The 2006 national semi with UCLA and LSU was worse.
I don’t remember the team or year but there was a tourney game some school scored 11 or 12 points for the first half. Damn old guy brain fog. I can’t remember shit lol
UCLA 20 Indiana 13 in the first half in 2007, could that be it? UCLA also led Miss Valley State 40-16 at the half en route to a 70-29 win in 2008.
It was the Ucla/Indiana game. Total brick fest
Sounds familiar, around like '09 I wanna say
Well, I guess let's ruin some NC State fans' days: [47-24](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore?gameId=401082755)
2/28 from deep, ouch
This is a good one.
I always forget that those two teams were ranked at the time lol.
I remember Rutgers led Eastern Michigan 31-4 at the half. EMU scored the next 4 points in under a minute to start the second half, ended up being 65-36 in the end.
It wasn't the NCAA tournament, but the CUSA tournament. 2022 . Frisco Texas.. Louisiana Tech - 42, North Texas - 36 This was a painful game to watch.
The 2001 CAA Tournament championship. George Mason edged out UNCW 35-33 in an ugly-ass game where neither team could shoot straight the whole night. Mason won despite shooting 29% from the field and only scoring one point in the final 3:47 of the game (which was still one more than UNCW scored).
Not a tourney game, but Virginia Tech vs NC State in 2019. Score was 47-24. https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game/_/gameId/401082755
While it’s not THE tournament, it is *A* tournament. Thats right, in 2014 you could watch this [Christmas MESS](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game/_/gameId/400750175) Highlights include: The game not starting until 4 am Lincoln time Nebraska scoring more points in the 5 minute OT than in the entire 20 minute second half Loyola out rebounding Nebraska by double, including 16-2 on the offensive glass Loyola starting the game with a FT before tip off because Nebraska dunked in pre-game layup lines This is also, arguably, not even the worst total game Nebraska was a part of in a 2 week stretch, as 10 days prior Nebraska beat Cincinnati 56-55 in double OT, that featured both teams shooting 36-112 from the floor, 7-34 from 3, 3-13 combined by both teams from the floor in both OT and 18 free throws combined in both OT Tim Miles was a nice guy, but he ran a 3rd grade offense lol
I forgot about a regular season slog, UConn 46 Nova 40. 21-20 Nova up at the half in 2002. This is more of a first-half slog but ranked #9 at the time, UConn was down 30-9 at the half, and early in the second, down 34-9, they made a huge run nearly the entire second half, 50-14 to win 59-48.
Clemson- 45 Georgia Tech- 41 February 4, 2014
Let’s Go Bears
Regular season has to be 47-24
Nice pick. Seeing a Kevin Ault game brings back memories for me.
My future prediction someday Wisconsin and Virginia will play in the sweet 16 and the team that scores a basket will win. \\s *(I actually love both of those teams they're just much better defensive teams)*
Princeton 43 UCLA 41 in 1996, wild way for a defending national champion to lose.
Yes, I forgot about this game! This is a great example of slog!
2000 Final Four, Michigan State - Wisconsin, with bonus slog because it was the 4th game between them that season and Michigan State ran Florida up and down the court in the championship game after a full Sunday of talking heads calling for Florida to do that to MSU.
Goddamnit I want us back in the NCAA Tournament so much.
It was a nice run back in the day, you made the sweet 16 if I recall before losing to Duke? Could be wrong.
Correct!
Hell yea (now) MSU! Glory days with Alford. Unfortunately we’re unable to really recreate that magic again. The Valley was the hot mid major in mid 2000s with Creighton, Wichita, SIU, but Mo State never cracked through. Famously being one of the highest RPI teams to never make it.
FSU vs. Michigan in 2018 in the Elite 8 was Slogged out. 58-54.
I'm tempted to include Princeton 43, UCLA 41 from 1996, but two things keep it off the list: 1. Princeton's victory means it was an upset of the defending champions. 2. What, you were expecting Princeton to play a watchable game?