Best Games Aughts

[KnightSlappy]

Although one could probably throw in well over 50% of the Calvin-Hope matchups of the decade, I'll look elsewhere for my favorites.

One of the "funnest" games I can remember was the 2005 sectional final between Albion and Calvin at Kresge Gymnasium. The conference foes were meeting for the fourth time, with the previous three games all decided by four points or less. It seems like the entire game was played with the two teams within five points of each other. The game was tied with three and a half minutes left in the game, but Albion would only score three more points the rest of the way. Calvin sealed the deal with two made free throws by sectional MVP Dan Aultman with just under 30 seconds remaining. The Calvin Knights headed to Salem with a 60-52 victory in a very physical, defensive oriented game.

My runner up pick: 2005 NCAA tournament opening round game between Calvin and Wheaton. Calvin's Joel Hoekstra missed a jumper from the top of the key, but teammate Dan Aultman was able to tip in the rebound to give the Calvin Knights a one point lead with just over a second left on the clock.

[John Gleich]

Two games from '03-'04.  In the best game nobody saw, UWSP beat Lawrence in Tacoma Washington 82-81 in OT. And then the national championship game UWSP vs. Williams.

And the opening night game at UPS on March 12, 2004, Lawrence beat Sul Ross State 86-79 in OT.

The undefeated Larry's crawl from 18 down (43-61) with 11:55 left in the game to go ahead by 2 with 68-66 with 4:27 left.  Regulation ends tied at 74.

http://www.lawrence.edu/athletics/mbasketball/stats0304/ncaa3.htm

Quite a weekend for the Larry's!

Actually, LU was undefeated in 05-06, two years later.  They were 24-4 after the Sul Ross St. game out in Tacoma.  I remember watching that (and waiting for it...).  It was amazing that LU came back from 18 down, but it was more amazing that they had enough in the tank to win the game AND enough in the tank to go 45 minutes against Point too.  They actually had a shot at the buzzer to win it, but Hollinbeck, who'd hit 6/7 3's earlier in the game, had it rattle out.  The next year, they were 20-5 before they lost to Point in the second round, and two years later (05-06) was the year they were undefeated and hosted the Sectional.

I have to second Williams-Stevens Point game (even though the Ephs came out on the losing end).   Although the prior year title game was also down to the wire, that game was choppy and a bit ugly, and free throws ended up winning the game.  Williams really didn't play its best.  In 2004, Williams was clicking on all cylinders, and so was WSP ... two absolutely dominant teams playing great ball, with numerous crazy momentum swings.  You knew it would come down to whomever had the ball last, and WSP's star hit an extremely difficult shot to win the game.  Considering those two teams had four All-Americans and combined to win three titles, no shocker that it was a great game. 

BOX SCORE

Seriously... both teams combined for just 8 turnovers.  Neither team beat themselves and it was the type of game that would have been tight if it went on for 2 more 20 minute halves.  No player had more than 3 fouls and both teams shot well.  Point made 3 more baskets, but Williams made 10 more 3's for the game. 

Ironically, like in the Elite 8 game, Williams had a shot (actually 2) to take the lead.  Tucker Cain somehow had a layup rattle out but the rebound went off a Point guy, and then he got a wide open 3 look (he'd made 6 of his previous 12 attempts but missed the 13th).