By: Olivia Wallace 

     On Sunday April 5, and Monday April 6, the 2026 NCAA college basketball National Champions were crowned when UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) women’s basketball team defeated South Carolina, and the Michigan men’s basketball team defeated UConn (University of Connecticut). While the championship games are very important, what makes the tournament March Madness is what comes in the 66 games leading up to this moment. The Squire will highlight the top five moments from the women’s and men’s tournaments. 

Women: 

1. 3-Duke vs. 2-LSU (Louisiana State University) 

     In this Sweet Sixteen match-up, three-seeded Duke (27-8) faced off against two-seeded LSU (29-6) in which Duke beat LSU 87 to 85. Duke won on a game winning three-point shot from Ashlon Jackson with 1.8 seconds remaining on the clock for a trip to the Elite Eight where they lost to eventual champion UCLA. The Blue Devils were led by Jackson with 19 points along with Toby Fournier and Taina Mair each with 22 points. The Tigers were led by MiLaysia Fuwiley with a game high of 28 points and Mikaylah Williams with 22 points. This moment was the top moment from this year’s tournament because of the buzzer beating three and the importance of this game being for a spot in the Elite Eight. 

2. 6-Notre Dame vs. 2-Vanderbilt 

     Another Sweet Sixteen match-up ended in a 67-64 upset where six-seeded Notre Dame (25-10) beat two-seeded Vanderbilt (29-5). This game held a lot of star power in Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo and Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes who were both AP All Americans on the season. While Blakes led the Commadores with 26 points, she was unable to tie the game on a three-point shot with under 1 second left. Aubrey Galvan also chipped in 24 points in the loss for Vanderbilt. Hidalgo led the Fighting Irish with a triple-double including 31 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 steals. She also had seven assists and scored almost half of her team’s points. 

3. 10-Virginia vs. 2-Iowa 

     In round two of the tournament, ten-seeded Virginia upset two-seeded Iowa in a double overtime game that ended 83-75. While the final score isn’t too close that doesn’t tell the story of this game. The fourth quarter ended with neither team scoring in a tie game for the final two minutes. The first overtime though was quite busy; each team scored eight points with Kymora Johnson making a shot with 15.9 seconds left to tie the game. Virginia carried this momentum into the second overtime period where they outscored Iowa 18-10. Johnson led the Cavaliers with 28 points and Paris Clark also contributed 20 points. In the losing effort, the Hawkeyes were led by Ava Heiden with 26 points and Chazadi Wright with 20 points; Hannah Stuelke also had 19 rebounds. 

4. 9-USC (University of Southern California) vs. 8-Clemson 

     While this game occurred in the first round, it was very close in the end making it one of the top moments. Nine-seeded USC (18-13) beat eight-seeded Clemson (21-12) in overtime 71-67 as a result of outstanding play from freshman, Jazzy Davidson. She led USC with 31 points and had two critical three-pointers to tie the game and give USC the lead in overtime. Clemson put up a strong fight taking the lead in overtime with two minutes left, but Taylor Johnson-Matthews’ 16 points weren’t enough to win. The Trojans’ Kara Dunn also contributed 22 points in the winning effort. 

5. 6-Alabama vs. 3-Lousiville 

     Three-seeded Louisville defeated six-seeded Alabama 69-68 in a high scoring matchup. The last minute of this game was very busy with Alabama making a strong push but coming up short in the end. Alabama scored twice and was able to close the Cardinals’ lead to only two points, but time was already running out. The Crimson Tide were forced to foul and Louisville was able to make it a four-point game. Alabama made one final three with less than five seconds remaining, but their push came too late. Alabama was led by Ace Austin, Diana Collins, and Karly Weathers with 17, 14, and 13 points. Elif Istanbulluoglu and Tajianna Roberts led the Cardinals with 18 points each.  

Men: 

1. 2-UConn vs. 1-Duke 

     This Elite Eight game didn’t look close with one-seeded Duke (35-3) holding a 17-point lead in the second half but two-seeded UConn (33-5) fought back to win 73-72. With just 10 seconds left Duke had a two-point lead and the ball, meaning they could have held onto the ball and ended the game unless the Huskies fouled. The Blue Devils made a major mistake turning the ball over with five seconds left allowing UConn to move the ball just past half court where Braylon Mullins made a three-pointer to give UConn the lead with under two-seconds left, in which Duke was unable to get a shot off. The Huskies were led by Tarris Reed Jr. who scored 26 points. In the loss Duke was led by the Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year, Cameron Boozer, and his twin brother Cayden Boozer with 27 and 15 points.  

2. 10-Santa Clara vs. 7-Kentucky 

     Ten-seeded Santa Clara (26-9) faced off against seven-seeded Kentucky (22-13), and Kentucky came out on top 89-84 in overtime. With just ten seconds left this game was tied at seventy and Santa Clara had possession of the ball. The Broncos’ Allen Graves made a three-pointer with three seconds remaining on the clock, leaving everyone to believe Santa Clara would win the game. Kentucky’s Otega Oweh had other thoughts when he made a half-court shot to beat the buzzer and send the game to overtime. In overtime, Oweh and Mouhamed Dioubate each scored six points, helping the Wildcats to pull off the win. Oweh led Kentucky with 35 points and Dioubate had 17 points. Santa Clara was led by Elijah with 20 and Graves with 17. 

3. 12-High Point vs. 5-Wisconsin 

     Twelve-seeded High Point (31-4) upset five-seeded Wisconsin (24-11) 83-82 in the first round of the tournament. High Point was led by Rob Martin with 23 points and Terry Anderson with 15 points, but three-point specialist, Chase Johnston was the difference maker in this game. With five minutes left, Johnston made his second three of the game from the half-court logo giving High Point momentum. Wisconsin held the lead but High Point drew closer and closer with two more threes from Johnston left. With seconds left, Martin secured a rebound and sent it down the court to Johnston who made the game winning lay-up for High Point with ten seconds left. The crazy thing is that this was Johnston’s only two-point field goal of the season. Wisconsin put up a strong fight being led by Nick Boyd who scored 27 and John Blackwell who scored 22. 

4. 5-St. John’s vs. 4-Kansas 

     In this Sweet Sixteen match-up five-seeded St. Johns defeated four-seeded Kansas on a lay-up with no time remaining to win 67-65. Dylan Darling, of St. John’s, made the lay-up after failing to score any points throughout the rest of the game. Darling’s basket came on a play out of a time-out that was ran for him despite his struggles throughout the game. from In the winning effort, Zuby Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins each scored 18 points for the Red Storm. Kansas kept the game relatively close the entire time due to Darryn Peterson’s 21 points and Melvin Council Jr.’s 15 points.  

5. 9-Iowa vs. 1-Florida 

     The most surprising loss of the tournament came in round two in which one-seeded Florida lost to nine-seeded Iowa 72-73. As a one seed, Florida was seen as when of the best teams in the tournament led by third team All-American Thomas Haugh who scored 19 points in this game. Alex Condon and Xaivian Lee also helped the Gators by scoring 21 and 17 points respectively. Iowa was led by Tavion Banks with 20 points and Alvaro Folgueiras with 14 points. Florida held a two-point lead with eight seconds remaining, but Folgueiras made a three-point shot with a few seconds left to win the game. The Hawkeyes shocked everyone with this win.  

     Overall, this year’s March Madness tournaments had crazy moments just like any other year. Make sure to tune in again next March to see even more crazy moments. Statistics and information was taken from CBS Sports and ESPN.