The 2012 NCAA Tournament: Kentucky’s Coronation

Initially, I planned to create one column highlighting the top moments from all of the NCAA tournaments of the decade. I quickly realized that there was simply too many amazing moments and I didn’t want to leave anything out. Instead, I will be doing a shorter column on each NCAA tournament of the decade. In this piece, I take a look back at the 2012 NCAA tournament.

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Tournament Summary

National Champion: Kentucky Wildcats

Most Outstanding Player: Anthony Davis, Kentucky

Final Four: 1-Kentucky, 2-Kansas, 2-Ohio State, 4-Louisville

Notable Upsets: 15-Lehigh over 2-Duke, 15-Norfolk State over 2-Missouri, 13-Ohio over 4-Michigan (Ohio made Sweet 16)

Kentucky Completes Historic Season

Even considering the forthcoming mildly rational conspiracy theory, there is no doubt the 2011-12 college basketball season ran through Lexington, Kentucky. Kentucky finished the season with an incredible record of 38-2, tied for the most wins in any college basketball season with 2014-15 Kentucky and 2007-08 Memphis (all coached by John Calipari). The Wildcats were stacked, featuring four top-20 recruits from the 2011 class (led by #1 recruit Anthony Davis and #3 Michael Kidd-Gilchrist) and an additional two top-26 recruits from the 2010 class. Kentucky dominated statistically, leading the country in blocks and finished second in rebounding and field goal percentage, while placing 15th in points per game.

One of Kentucky’s two losses in the regular season was to Indiana on Christian Watford’s unforgettable buzzer-beater. Kentucky was afforded the opportunity to avenge the loss in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. They defeated the Hoosiers 102-90 in the rematch, on their march to the title

That season, Davis emerged as possibly the best NBA prospect since LeBron in 2003. So far, Davis is the only player this millennium to capture the AP Player of the Year, National Championship and become the number one overall draft pick in the same year. In the NCAA tournament, Davis averaged 13.7 points, 12.3 rebounds and 4.8 blocks per game en route to the title. Davis famously struggled to score in the national championship, contributing only six points. However, Davis fully commanded the game in every other category, racking up sixteen rebounds, six blocks, three steals and five assists. After the game, Calipari said “I like the one that Anthony Davis goes 1-for-10 and you guys [the media] say he’s the biggest factor in the game”.

What if Kendall Marshall doesn’t get hurt?

North Carolina was the top seed in the Midwest region and the third overall seed. In their Round of 32 victory over Creighton, starting point guard Kendall Marshall suffered a broken right wrist. Since Marshall shoots with his left hand, there was speculation he could return in the tournament, but he ultimately was unable to suit up again for the Tar Heels in the 2012 NCAA tournament. In their next game, UNC managed to squeak past 13-seed Ohio 73-65, who made a surprise appearance in the Sweet 16. However, the Tar Heels fell to the 2-seed Kansas Jayhawks in their Elite 8 match-up. Reserve guard Stillman White contributed a total of six points on 1-9 shooting in the games versus Ohio and Kansas in place of Marshall.

Had Marshall not gotten injured, North Carolina likely would have beaten Kansas and consequently made their own run to the national championship. It seems unlikely that anyone would have beaten Kentucky that year, but I remember that 13-year old me was convinced North Carolina would have won the title. Obviously, my opinion was completely objective with absolutely zero bias whatsoever. Sarcasm aside, the Kendall Marshall injury doomed UNC’s national title hopes and at least poses an interesting “what if” question.

Multiple High Seeds Fall Early

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Since 1985, 15-seeds have only successfully beaten upset the 2-seed on eight occasions (8-128 total record). The 2012 NCAA Tournament featured two of those upsets. Lehigh knocked off Duke and Norfolk State defeated Missouri in two of the biggest upsets in NCAA tournament history.

In hindsight, Lehigh’s upset wasn’t as unbelievable as it seemed in the moment. Lehigh had the best player in the game: Portland Trail Blazer guard C.J. McCollum. The team with the best player in any basketball game will always have a chance. McCollum torched Duke to the tune of 30 points, while Duke guard Seth Curry struggled with only 7 points on 1-9 shooting from the field.

Lehigh toppling Duke is one of my favorite childhood memories for two reasons. One: I’m a UNC fan and hate Duke with every fiber of my being (except Zion, he’s cool). Second: Just over a month before the Lehigh game, Duke’s Austin Rivers hit this buzzer beater to beat UNC in Chapel Hill. I have not forgiven Tyler Zeller for his atrocious defense on that play to this day. So yeah, watching that Duke team lose in the first round to a 15-seed was extra special.

Missouri suffered the same fate as Duke at the hands of Norfolk State. The Tigers fell 86-84 in an action-packed game. Similarly, Norfolk State likely had the best player on the court in current Indiana Pacer, Kyle O’Quinn. The Spartans’ bench provided literally zero scoring, but O’Quinn poured in 26 points and starters Pendarvis Williams and Chris McEachin each contributed 20 points. The biggest win in program history created quite the reaction on campus.

Random Tidbits

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• Bradley Beal lifted his 7th-seeded Florida Gators to a surprising Elite 8 appearance. His March run helped him rise to the third overall selection in the 2012 NBA Draft.
• Draymond Green achieved a triple double in the opening round game against LIU-Brooklyn with 24 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Green is the last player to record a triple double in the NCAA tournament. (Literally, as I typed that last sentence, Murray State’s Ja Morant records his tenth rebound and achieves his own triple double.)

Legacy

Despite the historical significance of Kentucky’s season, the 2012 NCAA tournament was unremarkable, especially in comparison to the previous year’s thrilling tournament. When the top overall seed dominates like the Wildcats did, it takes the madness and excitement out of March. It’s testament to the greatness of that Kentucky team. The upsets of Duke and Missouri won’t soon be forgotten either, especially by North Carolina fans.