10 unforgettable games

8. Duke 76, St. Joseph's 74, March 11, 1966, Raleigh, N.C. - The Hawks, with Matt Guokas and Cliff Anderson, spent some time at No. 1 that season. Duke was led by Bob Verga, Jack Marin and Steve Vacendak. The day after this East Regional semifinal, The Inquirer noted that the game, played a few miles from Duke's campus, was marred by "several phantom fouls." Guokas and Anderson both sat out considerable stretches. The Hawks, with their 3-1-1 zone press, rallied late, but a jumper by Marin won it for Duke. The Blue Devils would beat Syracuse and reach the Final Four, in which Texas Western scored its historic victory.

9. Duke 58, St. Joseph's 56, March 11, 1960, Charlotte, N.C. - Eerily, home cooking had cost the Hawks in an earlier two-point East Regional semifinal loss in North Carolina. This one was played in Charlotte, and Duke led big throughout. But Jack Ramsay's zone press took its toll, and when Paul Westhead hit a basket with 20 seconds left, the Duke lead was down to two, 56-54. Duke missed a free throw and with six seconds left. St. Joe's missed a jumper. The ball bounced out of bounds but, for some reason, the officials never stopped the clock. The buzzer sounded as Ramsay was berating the officials.

10. Villanova, 76, Northeastern 72 (3 OT), March 14, 1982, Uniondale, N.Y. - A Villanova team dominated by freshmen who would win a national title three years later barely made it out of the second round. Northeastern, coached by Jim Calhoun, got no respect. The school's name was misspelled on its locker room door and the PA announcer introduced them as "Northwest." The Huskies trailed by eight late in regulation and by four near the end of the second overtime but fought back on each occasion. Northeastern had a chance to win after the first overtime, but Dave Leitao's jumper just missed. Afterward, Calhoun wondered about the officiating. Massimino's Wildcats had shot 25 free throws after halftime, Northeastern just three.

Contact staff writer Frank Fitzpatrick at 215-854-5068