ESPN: Ranking the best men's Final Four games of all time

[OrangeXtreme]

Jimmy V, Larry Bird, Jordan, Houston-Duke and the best Final Four games ever

The 2025 Cougars and Blue Devils played a classic. How does it stack up against the best men's Final Fours in history?

www.espn.com

7. Syracuse 81, Kansas 78 (2003 finals)
After title game losses in 1987 and 1996, Jim Boeheim and Syracuse finally finished the job. All it took was a 20-and-10 performance from Carmelo Anthony, six 3-pointers from Gerry McNamara and the biggest block of Hakim Warrick's life. After watching an 18-point lead disappear, Warrick missed a free throw that could have put the Orange up by four late. But he made up for it by blocking what seemed like a wide-open corner-3 from Michael Lee. It was one of four missed 3-pointers for KU in the final minute.

6. Indiana 74, Syracuse 73 (1987 finals)
College basketball's popularity exploded in the 1980s, in part because of the hype of the Magic vs. Bird final in 1979, in part because of the NCAA tournament's expansion to a perfect 64-team bracket and in part because the tournament just couldn't stop producing amazing title-game drama. Five of the top 10 games on this list are title games from between 1982 and 1989. Keith Smart did his part in 1987:

 

[Nicknack]

Talk about opposite ends of the spectrum. Both games made me cry, but for much different reasons.

 

[CuseFan]

Talk about opposite ends of the spectrum. Both games made me cry, but for much different reasons.

me too. Was at the bad one #6. Always wished I was at the good one #7

 

[AgentOrange]

Always wished I was at the good one #7

This is one of my biggest regrets in life

 

[rrlbees]

Su-Texas was one of the best.

 

[721Comstock]

Su-Texas was one of the best.

Royal Ivey begs to differ.

The look on everybody's faces - Josh Pace in particular - never doesn't crack me up!!

 

[orangefog]

Royal Ivey begs to differ.

The look on everybody's faces - Josh Pace in particular - never doesn't crack me up!!

You know his nuts had to be really sweaty at that point of the game, too.

 

[Brian Orange]

That’s surprisingly high for 2003. The Texas game was a much better contest.

 

[CusefanATL]

Wait I’m sorrry… is Michigan UNC not in the top 50 of final 4 games?

That’s in the top 50 of NCAA tourney games. Am I missing it? Because that is an insane miss.

 

[Hoo's That]

Wait I’m sorrry… is Michigan UNC not in the top 50 of final 4 games?

That’s in the top 50 of NCAA tourney games. Am I missing it? Because that is an insane miss.

I always felt Chris Webber got a bum rap in that game. Why didn't Derrick Rose, the point guard, do more to try to get the ball from him?

 

[Sbucketball]

I always felt Chris Webber got a bum rap in that game. Why didn't Derrick Rose, the point guard, do more to try to get the ball from him?

Well he was a toddler at the time so I don't blame him too much.

 

[Doc5120]

Wait I’m sorrry… is Michigan UNC not in the top 50 of final 4 games?

That’s in the top 50 of NCAA tourney games. Am I missing it? Because that is an insane miss.

Wow, you're right! That is beyond ridiculous they don't have that there. That's a top 10 game for sure. I'm shocked our game against KU is that high, also.