The 1986 Tournament
The 1986 tournament was one of the most memorable in history. Cleveland State and Arkansas-Little Rock, two small schools with little academic standing, defeated Indiana and Notre Dame, two of the most prestigious programs in the country.

Jim Valvano and Sid Hartman
North Carolina State coach Jim Valvano was not a fan of these upsets. He complained to Sid Hartman, a sports columnist for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, about schools like Arkansas-Little Rock and Cleveland State getting to play honorable academic institutions such as Indiana, Notre Dame, and N.C. State.

Valvano's comments sparked a debate about the role of academics in college basketball. He argued that schools should be penalized for allowing athletes to cheat on their studies.

The 1992 Regional
The 1992 regional in Lexington, Kentucky was another memorable tournament. Syracuse, Louisville, Missouri, and Illinois, four of the top teams in the country, were all in the same regional.

Illinois defeated Syracuse in an epic regional final. Kendall Gill was bloodied from a lip wound, but he played heroically to lead the Illini to victory.

The 1997 Sweet Sixteen

The 1997 Sweet Sixteen in San Antonio featured one of the most memorable performances in NCAA tournament history. Bobby Jackson, a senior guard for the Minnesota Gophers, played 49 minutes and weaved and willed his team to a double-overtime victory over Clemson.

Jackson's performance was one of the best in Gophers history. He scored 36 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and had seven assists.

College Basketball Today

College basketball is still a great sport. The women's game is particularly exciting, with stars like Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers leading the way.

However, the men's game has changed in recent years. Players are no longer staying in school for four years, which has made it difficult for teams to develop chemistry and become legendary.

Despite these changes, college basketball remains one of the most popular sports in the country.