To be honest, all I can say is wow. I’m speechless, and I have no words, for all you need to do, is to watch the iconic, Jalen Suggs heave from half-court, and you will be in awe of just what makes March madness special. The 40-footer bank off the glass kept the undefeated season for Gonzaga alive, with a 93-90 exhilarating OT win over UCLA, to reach Monday’s National championship game against Baylor. The Suggs bank elevated heat was already an instant classic, into “Tournament lore”. UCLA(11) entered as huge underdogs, being a play-in team, and just barley surviving one seeded Michigan in the elite eight, and now faced a Gonzaga team that had just blown the doors use, and every other team in their way for the past 30 games, and it didn’t seem like they would have a problem, despite the best efforts of the UCLA Bruins.
But nobody told the Bruins, who played aggressive, and played fearless from start to finish, giving Gonzaga absolutely everything they had. They needed some guys to play out of their minds, even more than they had this entire Cinderella run, and that came in Jhonny Juzang, and Jerman Jhaszquez Jr, hitting incredible contested shots, and going toe-toe with the smooth, and poetic Gonzaga offense at the other end. The Bruins tried to slow the Bulldogs down, and it worked early on, as they found themselves up 36-30 late in the first half. But, Gonzaga would use their speed, and chemistry before running off an 8-3 run to end the half, and despite seemingly giving the Zags the best they had to offer, UCLA still tailed 45-44. At that moment, the national audience was ready for a Bulldogs beatdown, for they had never trailed in the second half all season long. But then again, these guys hadn’t had to face a team as ruthless ,determined, resilient, and prompt as UCLA, who quickly wrestled the lead back, and started to stretch it a couple of possessions, before all-pro duo of Jalen Suggs, and Jerome Timme took over the contest, with their other-worldly play on both sides of the ball, allowing the formidable depth, and athleticism of the undefeated Bulldogs began to wear on the young, and upstart Bruins. However, just when it seemed when the Zags would run away with it, leading 66-59 with 11:20 left to play, UCLA used their trademark resolve, and somehow, someway took control of the game for about nine minutes, with Juzang, and Jasquez heating up once again, propelling the Bruins on a 14-4 run, for a 73-7- advantage with 5:14 left to play; and suddenly, the biggest upset in College basketball history, seemed very real.
All season long, Gonzaga had never felt as much pressure as they had at that point, and it showed when coach Mark flew called a timeout to collect himself, and his boys emotions. After the quick breather, the Zags once again looked like the world-beaters they had been all season long, with a score, a stop, and a trey giving them a 75-74 lead, with 3:00 to go, thus beginning the madness.
Jhonny Juzang went into “Beast Mode” once again, knocking down a corner three to once again give UCLA the lead, but a Jalen Suggs turnaround jumper evened things up again, as the regulation clock hit 2:30 minutes remaining. What happened next will also go down as one of the greatest plays in tournament history, as Suggs would rise to reject a Bruins ink, before sprinting up the floor, and flicking a perfect bounce-pass, beating three defenders to Jerome Time, who’s slam had the high-flying Bulldogs in the lead again, with 1:54 to go.
After Juzang tied it twice, UCLA forced a Bulldogs misfire on a three-point attempt, and suddenly, history was literally in their hands, as the clock wound down to under 10 seconds remaining, and the ball was in the hands of none other than the guy who had shot his team to this stage, in Jhonny Juzang.
Juzang drove into the paint, where Jrue Timmie was waiting to take the charge, and draw the offensive foul, with 1.1 left, thus sending the game to overtime.
The extra session was back, and forth, with the zags finding themselves up 90-85 in the final minute. However, a Juzang trey, and a Bulldogs miss, once again gave the Bruins the last word in the wanning seconds, now with a chance to tie it or win it. Juzang drove in, and missed, however caught the carom off the rim, and played it back in with 3.3 seconds left to level the game at 90. With no timeouts, Gonzaga had to hurry, and this set the stage, for Jalen Suggsfrantically dribbling up the floor, before launching a desperation 40-footer from half court, that kissed off the glass, and in, sending the country into “March Madness jubilation” In April. The dramatic finish makes it one of the most clutchest shots in sports history, and one of if not the greatest game to date in NCAA history.
Now, whether that title stands we will see on Monday night, the the Bulldogs will look to complete the first undefeated seasons since Indiana did it 45 years ago against Baylor, but one thing is for sure, UCLA just put on the greatest Cinderella story ever. Itt took a shot for the ages, to knock off this initial first four team, against -win or lose Monday-, one of the greatest teams of all time in tournament history. As for Jalen Suggs, this almost certainly makes him a top pick come this NBA draft, but no matter what happens from here on out, that shot will be played over, and over again by fans everywhere, whether from UCLA(Signifying just how tough they were, especially if Gonzaga defeats Baylor, and doesn’t a miracle shot to do so), the Zags, and basketball fans around the world, pros, and amateurs. It’s another way of showing you, “Anything is possible”, no matter the odds.
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