All-time memorable NCAA national title game individual performances

The 2014 NCAA Tournament was unique in the sense that No. 7 seed Connecticut faced eighth-seeded Kentucky in the final. Though the matchup didn't result in a barn burner, as neither team shot better than 41.5 percent, Napier's performance in helping the Huskies to a 60-54 win should be celebrated. He finished with a game-high 22 points, went 4-of-9 from 3-point range, and recorded six rebounds, three assists, and three steals. As the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player, the senior guard averaged 21.2 points, while going 20-of-42 from beyond the arc, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists for the tournament.

The 2009 national championship game wasn't the most entertaining final in the history of the NCAA Tournament. North Carolina led an upstart Michigan State squad by 21 at halftime and won 89-72. However, Lawson was the star of the show. He scored a game-high 21 points, went 15-of-18 from the free-throw line, posted six assists, and set an NCAA record with eight steals. The latter broke a mark of seven shared by Duke's Tommy Amaker (1986) and former Oklahoma star Mookie Blaylock (1988).

Oden's lone college season with the Buckeyes in 2006-07 was certainly one of the best in college basketball from a freshman (15.7 points per game, 9.6 rebounds per game, 3.3 blocks per game). The 7-footer capped his brief collegiate career with a memorable effort, posting a game-high 25 points (tied for second all-time by a freshman), 12 rebounds, and blocking four shots, during Ohio State's 84-75 loss to Florida in the 2007 national championship contest. 

There have been plenty of stellar championship-game performances by freshmen over the years, but Bailey's might be forgotten. Perhaps because one of his upperclassman teammates delivered a more celebrated effort (more on that later) in the Bruins' 89-78 win over Arkansas. Bailey, however, left his mark in tournament history with 26 points -- a title-game record for a freshman. For good measure, Bailey also pulled down nine rebounds, while recording three assists and two steals.

As a sophomore, the 6-foot-7 Hunter scored a career-high 27 and grabbed eight rebounds in the 2019 national championship game against Texas Tech. If that wasn't impressive enough, one of the four 3-pointers Hunter knocked down, tied the contest with 12.9 seconds remaining in regulation. The Cavaliers, who one year earlier became the first No. 1 seed to lose an NCAA Tournament game to the 16th seed, went on to win 85-77 in overtime.

Longtime NCAA basketball fans know Olajuwon and his Houston Cougars didn't win the 1983 national championship. And yes, Akeem (as he was known then), had trouble with the Albuquerque altitude and was worried about a goal-tending call on Lorenzo Charles' legendary game-winning dunk. But, when we look at the final box score, at least from a statistical standpoint, Olajuwon was the best player on the floor that night: posting 20 points, 18 rebounds, and seven blocked shots en route to earning the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player.

This won't be the first time we highlight the legendary 1989 national championship, between Michigan and Seton Hall, that needed extra time to determine a winner. Robinson proved to be the immediate hero of the contest when he sank the tying and go-ahead free throws with three seconds remaining in overtime, following a rather questionable foul on Seton Hall's Gerald Greene. They ultimately gave the Wolverines an 80-79 victory and the program's first national title. Robinson finished with 21 points, on 6-of-13 shooting from the field and 9-of-10 from the stripe, and 11 assists -- which are still a championship-game record.

Staying in the 1989 title game, Seton Hall star John Morton averaged 19.0 points during the school's run to the final. He saved his best performance when the lights were truly the brightest. On 11-of-26 shooting from the field and 9-of-10 from the free-throw line, Morton dropped a game-high 35 points on Michigan. Though it wasn't enough to bring the Pirates a national championship, Morton's effort is the fifth-highest point total in NCAA title-game history.

Speaking big-time performances from a freshman "Never Nervous" Pervis was the undisputed star of Louisville's run to its second national championship during the 1985-86 season. The 6-foot-9 rookie recorded 25 points, on 10-of-14 shooting, and 11 rebounds during the Cardinals' 72-69 victory over No. 1 seed Duke in the national final. With that championship-game effort, Ellison became only the second freshman in tournament history to be named Most Outstanding Player. 

It's one thing to have a career night in the national final. It's another to do so off the bench. Then again, DiVincenzo was not your typical college reserve. In his third and final season at Villanova in 2017-18, the 6-5 guard averaged 13.4 points and shot just over 40 percent from 3-point range. During the Wildcats' 79-62 title-game victory over Michigan, DiVincenzo went off for a career-best 31 points, on 10-of-15 shooting from the field and 5-of-7 from beyond the arc, in 37 minutes off the bench. He was honored Final Four Most Outstanding Player while helping Villanova win its second title in three seasons.

Four years before Ty Lawson led the Tar Heels to a national title, it was May's day to shine. Controlling the paint and helping put Illinois big man James Augustine in early foul trouble, May finished with 26 points, on 10-of-11 shooting, pulled down 10 rebounds as Carolina held on for a 75-70 victory to give coach Roy Williams his first national championship. May, who averaged 22.3 points and 10.7 boards for the tournament, was named Final Four Most Outstanding Player. 

Jenkins scored a modest 14 points -- on 6-of-11 shooting -- during the Wildcats' 2016 championship-game appearance against North Carolina. However, his final three points might be the most famous in the history of the NCAA Tournament. And it's really not a stretch to make that claim considering the magnitude of the moment. Jenkins' buzzer-beating 3, just right of the top of the arc, sent Villanova to an unforgettable 77-74 victory and its second national title. 

For more than a decade, Syracuse fans had to live with the pain of that maddening title-game loss to Indiana. Then came this uber-talented freshman, highly-touted and ready to roll for the 2002-03 season. Still, not even the most die-hard Syracuse backers expected "Melo" and Co. to win the school's first NCAA title as a No. 3 seed. Syracuse knocked off three No. 1 seeds in the process, then behind 20 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists from Anthony, Jim Boeheim's group upset a top-10 Kansas squad, 81-78, for the championship. Anthony averaged 24.3 points and 11.3 rebounds in his final three tournament games to take MOP honors before bolting to the NBA.

Okafor is one of the greatest players in the history of UConn men's basketball, and he closed his stellar three-year collegiate run with a dominant effort and a national title. In leading the Huskies to their second national championship in six seasons, with an 82-73 win over Georgia Tech in 2004, Okafor finished that final with 24 points, 15 rebounds, and also blocked a pair of shots. He averaged 11.3 boards for the tournament en route to being named Most Outstanding Player.

We touched on the special night that Toby Bailey enjoyed during UCLA's 89-78 national title-game win over Arkansas in '95. Teammate Ed O'Bannon, though, was even better with 30 points and 17 rebounds. For good measure, O'Bannon also recorded three assists and three steals while leading the Bruins to the program's record 11th and most recent national championship, and taking home the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player award. 

Rumeal Robinson might have hit the free throws that immediately led Michigan to the 1989 national championship, but Rice was the Wolverine's star of the game -- and tournament, for that matter. The Final Four's Most Outstanding Player, Rice scored a record 184 total points and went 27-of-49 from 3-point range during the '89 NCAA Tournament. His fourth tournament game with more than 30 came in the final against Seton Hall, a 31-point effort where Rice went 12-of-25 from the field and also pulled down 11 rebounds.

When it comes down to it, Smart and Alford were dually responsible for Indiana winning its most recent national title, 74-73 over Syracuse, in one of the most thrilling finals of all time. It's obviously well known that Smart hit the game-winning shot with 4 seconds remaining in regulation, but he finished with 21 points, six assists, five rebounds, and two steals. Alford, meanwhile, was stellar throughout the contest, scoring 23 and making seven  3-pointers -- on 10 attempts -- that are tied for the most in championship game history. Together, Smart and Alford went 17-of-30 from the field.

Better known as "Danny and the Miracles." The 11-loss Jayhawks were a sixth seed when they reached the 1988 national championship game against rival and No. 1 seed Oklahoma. That's when Manning officially solidified his legendary status at Kansas by recording 31 points, 18 rebounds, and five steals during this team's 83-79 upset victory. The Final Four's MOP, Manning averaged 27.2 points and 9.3 boards for the tournament.

Keeping with the Jayhawks theme. The 6-foot-9 Lovellette was the Most Outstanding Player of the 1952 Final Four, and rightfully so. During Kansas' run to its first national championship in 1952, Lovellette dropped 33 points and grabbed 17 rebounds during the 80-63 final win over St. John's. Perhaps because of Danny Manning's stellar 1988 performance and the excitement surrounding Kansas' most recent title in 2008, Lovellette's championship-game effort tends to get overshadowed by the casual college hoops fan.

One of the best players in the history of Kentucky basketball is also responsible for perhaps the greatest individual performance of any Wildcat. That's obviously saying a lot, considering the program's storied history. But during Kentucky's 94-88 win over Duke in the '78 national championship game, Givens poured in 41 points -- third-most in NCAA history for a title contest. His 18 made field goals, on 27 attempts, are second-most all-time for a final. The tournament's MOP, Givens also had eight rebounds with three assists.

While Kansas fell short in its bid to win back-to-back national championships in 1953, losing 69-68 to Indiana, it wasn't because Born didn't come to play. Following down a path led by the aforementioned Clyde Lovellette, this 6-9 Jayhawk totaled 26 points, 15 rebounds and an unofficial 13 blocked shots before recording his fifth foul against the Hoosiers. Despite Kansas' loss, Born was tournament MOP and eventually had his jersey retired by the school.

From 1964 to 1973, UCLA won 10 national championships, including seven in a row. The second of those titles came in 1965 when the Bruins rolled over Michigan 91-80. That also happened to be a shining moment for the great Gail Goodrich. The dependable guard scored 42 points -- which still ranks second all-time for an NCAA final. He shot 12-of-22 from the field in that contest and went 18-of-20 from the free-throw line. For good measure, Goodrich scored a game-high 27 during UCLA's 98-83 title-game victory over Duke one year earlier.

It's a twofer for the great Russell, whose Dons won back-to-back national titles in 1955 and '56. During San Francisco's 77-63 win over La Salle in the '55 championship contest, Russell scored 23 points and was credited with 25 rebounds. The MOP of the '55 event, Russell set a then five-game record with 118 total tournament points. One season later, Russell was even better while posting 26 points, 27 boards -- still an NCAA record -- and it's even been reported that he unofficially recorded 20 blocks during the Dons' 83-71 victory over Iowa in the national final. 

Before he was known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the three-time national college player of the year closed out his career at UCLA with one of the greatest individual performances of his legendary run in Westwood. The Bruins rolled over Purdue, 92-72, in the 1969 national final, with their superstar in charge, scoring 37 points -- while making all but five of his 20 field-goal attempts -- and pulling down 20 rebounds. It's worth noting, one year earlier, Alcindor posted 34 points and 16 boards in the Bruins' 78-55 rout of North Carolina in the '68 title game.

Walton will always be one of the greatest college basketball players to ever play the game, and that legacy was written rather early in his career at UCLA. Notably, during his second season with his historic effort in the Bruins' 87-66 win over Memphis. For the game, Walton scored 44 points on a remarkable 21-of-22 shooting from the field -- both records for an NCAA final. It's perhaps the most impressive big-game performance in the history of the NCAA Tournament. Not to mention, Walton also had 13 rebounds while earning tournament MOP honors for a second consecutive season -- after putting up 24 and 20 boards during the '72 final.