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1961

Cincinnati pulls off one of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament National Final history in Kansas City, winning 70-65 in overtime against an Ohio State team that featured John Havlicek and Jerry Lucas (who is named Most Outstanding Player despite the losing effort). On the same day, the National Third Place Game makes history as the only NCAA Tournament game to ever go four overtimes, with St. Joseph’s defeating Utah 127-120.

1963

The Chicago Zephyrs re-locate to Baltimore and rename themselves the Bullets. The NBA would return to Chicago just three years later with the expansion Bulls, while the Bullets eventually re-located to Washington and now play as the Wizards.

1965

Avery Johnson is born in New Orleans, Louisiana.

1969

Dale Davis is born in Toccoa, Georgia.

1971

Sheryl Swoopes is born in Brownfield, Texas.

1972

UCLA wins its sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament title under John Wooden, defeating Florida State 81-76 in the National Final in Los Angeles. Sophomore Bill Walton finishes with 24 points and 20 rebounds and is named Most Outstanding Player.

1973

Bob Sura is born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

With a 115-96 loss to the Pistons, the Philadelphia 76ers end the ’72-’73 season with a 9-73 record, the worst in NBA history.

1974

NC State defeats Marquette 76-64 in the NCAA Tournament National Final in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Wolfpack had previously upset seven-time defending champion UCLA in the National Semifinals.

1986

Marco Belinelli is born in San Giovanni, Italy.

Kyle Lowry is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Broadcasting legend Dave Zinkoff is honored posthumously by the 76ers with a microphone retirement ceremony. Zinkoff, who had passed away a year earlier at age 75, was the team’s public address announcer for decades, including for Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 point game.

1990

Loyola Marymount is defeated in the NCAA Tournament Regional Finals by UNLV, ending an inspiring and surprising Elite Eight run as a #11 seed following the in-season death of star player Hank Gathers from a rare heart condition.

1992

T.J. McConnell is born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Nickelodeon airs “A Conversation with Magic Johnson,” an un-scripted news special in which the former NBA superstar discusses the HIV/AIDS epidemic with a group of children. The highlight of the program is a testimonial from seven-year-old Hydeia Broadbent, who was born HIV-positive due to her mother’s drug use. Broadbent subsequently became an HIV/AIDS activist and lifelong friend of Johnson, until she passed away in 2024 at age 39.

1994

#9 seed Boston College pulls off a third consecutive NCAA Tournament upset, this time over #5 seed Indiana in the East Regional Semifinals in Miami. It marks just the third time in program history that the Eagles advance to the Regional Final, where they lose to #3 seed Florida.

2000

#8 seed Wisconsin continues their Cinderella run through the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Final Four by upsetting #6 seed Purdue in the Regional Final in Albuquerque. Wisconsin had previously upset #1 seed Arizona and #4 seed LSU.

2005

With 18 games remaining in the regular season and the team on track for over 50 wins, Don Nelson resigns as head coach of the Mavericks, turning over the job to his top assistant, Avery Johnson. One year later, Johnson would lead Dallas to its first ever NBA Finals appearance.

2022

Saint Peter’s becomes the first #15 seed to ever reach the NCAA Tournament Regional Finals, by upsetting #3 seed Purdue 67-64 in an East Regional Semifinal in Philadelphia. The Peacocks had previously stunned #2 seed Kentucky and #7 seed Murray State.

2023

#9 seed Florida Atlantic continues its Cinderella NCAA Tournament run by upsetting #3 seed Kansas State in the Regional Final, clinching the first Final Four appearance in program history.

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