best tournament ever?

Best tournament ever.

In recent memory, the tournament has been mildly disappointing. Last year only one seed outside the top 5 made it to the Sweet 16. Two years ago the final four was all #1 seeds. (And the two Saturday games still stunk.) Three years ago more chalk. The last really good tourament was 2006, where we had LSU over Duke, the fantastic Gus Johnson-called UCLA over Adam Morrison's Gonzaga, and George Mason's run to the Final Four, capped off by an overtime win over #1 UConn.

But this. Blows it out of the water.

Here's a time capsule so we don't forget all the great games we've had.

1st Round Thursday

The first game out of the gate, #7 BYU over Florida in double overtime with big shots by a guy named Jimmer.

Next up #11 Old Dominion upsets Notre Dame 51-50 after trailing the whole way.

At the same time, #2 Villanova has to send it to overtime to hang on against Bobby Morris.

And then #13 Murray State knocks off Vandy with a true buzzer-beater jump shot.

Northern Iowa was tied with UNLV until Ali Farokhmanesh hit a 3-ball with 4.9 seconds left.

#11 Washington beats Marquette on a clutch drive to the hole by Pondexter at the buzzer.

#14 Ohio crushes Georgetown by 16.

Tennessee and New Mexico won close games over SDSU and Montana.

And Wake Forest beat Texas by 1 in overtime, on a 17-footer with 1.3 seconds left.

1st Round Friday

#12 Cornell upsets Temple easily, proving the sexy upset pick can pull it off.

Wisconsin holds off Wofford by 4.

After being up 35-19 in the first half, Michigan State holds on to beat New Mexico State by 3.

2nd Round Saturday

#2 seed falls to a better team, #10 St. Mary's.

Butler edges Murray St. by 2.

NORTHERN IOWA knocks out consensus-favorite overall #1 Kansas in a thrilling win by 2, because Ali Farokhmanesh has monster balls.

#11 Washington shrugs off the conference criticism and gets the Sweet 16 by knocking off #3 New Mexico.

2nd Round Sunday

#5 Michigan State and #4 Maryland had one of the most exciting finishes I've ever seen. In the final 40 seconds there were 4 lead changes and only one timeout. Just up and down running and 4 consecutive made shots.

#3 Pitt falls to #6 Xavier by 3.

And Purdue wins in overtime by 2 without Hummel, on a body-crashing lay-up with 4 seconds left.

Sweet 16 Thursday

Butler! The #5 seed knocks off #1 Syracuse! Willie Veasley hits a 3-pointer that went in, came out, and then fell in again. And then moments later got a tip-in basket to seal the deal. Gus Johnson announcing!

Another instant classic called by Gus! K-State vs Xavier with a trip to the Elite 8 against Butler on the line. Best game I've seen in a long, long time. Had more unbelievable moments that I can count. K-State hits a 4-point play. Xavier hit a 3 FROM THE RIBBON with 4 seconds left. All with Gus Johnson. Just watch the highlights...