March Madness is going to have to do a lot to top the best game of Selection Sunday.
The last Division I college basketball game before the 2015 NCAA Tournament field is announced was a doozy and a half — and it was Wisconsin standing at the end of it, after vanquishing a valiant Michigan State team, 80-69, in the final of the 2015 Big Ten Tournament.
The Spartans took a one-point lead to halftime after a Frank Kaminsky three concluded the first period, and extended that lead to 11 points in the second half, but the Badgers fought back, taking a three-point lead late after a 5-0 run from Kaminsky, the Big Ten Player of the Year.
But then Michigan State answered with a 5-0 run of its own — a cold-blooded Denzel Valentine three and a Travis Trice layup. And then the game lost its damn mind:
That save by Josh Gasser — whose foot was clearly on the line on replay, and thus out of bounds — helped extend Wisconsin's last possession in regulation. Bronson Koenig made good on it, driving and getting fouled by Valentine on a layup, then making both free throws to tie the game at 69-69.
With just three team fouls to that point in the second half, Wisconsin managed to whittle the Spartans' time remaining to win in regulation to under three seconds by fouling before a shot twice, and Branden Dawson missed a jumper from the high post at the buzzer.
Sadly, the exhilarating back-and-forth play ended when regulation did. In overtime, Wisconsin dominated, striking first on a Nigel Hayes three, running its lead to six on an icy off-the-dribble corner three from Koenig, and keeping Michigan State from scoring for the entire extra period. Hayes finished with 25 points, Koenig with 18 points and nine assists, and Kaminsky with 19 points, five rebounds, and four assists.
There were 13 ties and 14 lead changes in this thriller at the end of regulation, and the Badgers, perhaps ticketed for the No. 1 seed line as a result of their victory, made sure there wouldn't be one in overtime.
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