Best of Decade: March Madness

The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, also known as March Madness, provides madness every season with a new mid-major coming to rise after upsets or games that still keep fans sharing memories of how great they were. Along with the upsets and great games, individuals also rise to the occasion and make their draft stock rise and solidify their great college careers.
TOP 10 MARCH MADNESS GAMES OF THE DECADE
10. Vanderbilt 78, Washington St. 74(2OT) 2nd round, 2007
A six versus three matchup that was supposed to be a toss-up became an instant classic with a barrage of threes from the Commodores being the difference.
9. Michigan State 94, Kentucky 88 (2OT) Elite 8,2005
Two traditional powerhouses met up in this matchup with the winner advancing to the Final Four. In the end, Tom Izzo's Spartans took the win but fell short in the Final Four with UNC winning it all.
8. Siena 74, Ohio State 72(2OT), 1st round, 2009
In a game in which many experts predicted an upset, the Saints and Buckeyes put on a show in a game a lot of people did not see because of its afternoon start.
7. Oklahoma State 64, St. Joseph's 62, Elite 8, 2004
The Hawks were flying high in the 03-04 season going undefeated led by Jameer Nelson. But, in the Elite 8, the Hawks hit a road bump in the Cowboys and suffered their only loss of the season.
6. Syracuse 81, Kansas 78, Championship, 2003
This game was highlighted by Kansas' inability to score at the beginning of the second half and was the coming out party for Carmelo Anthony, who is one of the few one-and-done players to make a mark in their school's history before fleeing to the NBA.
5. Louisville 93, West Virginia 85 (OT), Elite 8, 2005
The Cardinals ended the magical run of Kevin Pittsnogle and the three-point shooting Mountaineers. After playing 2 overtimes just two days before, West Virginia ran out of gas in overtime and sent the Cardinals to the Final Four.
4. West Virginia 111, Wake Forest 105 (2OT), Sweet 16, 2005
The above mentioned Mountaineers came out on fire and so did the Demon Deacons. In a game that was a shootout from the start, the Mountaineers pulled off the upset in a thrilling sceond overtime.
3. Villanova 78, Pittsburgh 76, Elite 8, 2009
Scottie Reynolds. A name that will haunt Pitt fans for years and a name that will live in Villanova history. At the end of a hard fought game between the Big East rivals, Reynolds drove across the floor after taking the in-bound pass and made a layup with time expiring.
2. Arizona 96, Gonzaga 95 (2OT), 2nd round, 2003
One of the most exciting games in tournament history went back and forth for the last ten minutes of regulation, the first overtime, and the second overtime. By the end of the game everyone watching the game and those in Salt Lake City knew they had just witnessed an instant classic.
1. Kansas 75, Memphis 68, Championship, 2008
Memphis' inability to make free throws kept the Jayhawks in the game during the second half and led to Mario Chalmers' three-pointer to end regulation. Once overtime began, Kansas took the momentum from Chalmers' shot and ran with it to win the 2008 title.

TOP 10 UPSETS OF THE DECADE
10. (12) Manhattan over (5) Florida, 1st round, 2004
9. (13) Bradley over (4) Kansas, 1st round, 2006
8. (13) Vermont over (4) Syracuse, 1st round, 2005
7. (14) Bucknell over (3) Kansas, 1st round, 2005
6. (10) Kent State over (3) Pittsburgh, Sweet 16, 2002
5. (10) Davidson over (3) Wisconsin, Sweet 16, 2008
4. (11) George Mason over (3) UNC, 2nd round, 2006
3. (14) Northwestern St. over (3) Iowa, 1st round, 2005
2. (15) Hampton over (2) Iowa State, 1st round, 2001
1. (11) George Mason over (1) UCONN, Elite 8, 2006

TOP 10 PLAYERS OF THE DECADE
10. Scottie Reynolds, Villanova
9. T.J. Ford, Texas
8. J.J. Redick, Duke
7. Stephon Curry, Davidson
6. Kevin Durant, Texas
5. Shane Battier, Duke
4. Emeka Okafor, UCONN
3. Blake Griffin, Oklahoma
2. Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse
1. Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina