Team Tampa Bay's Take with Joey Johnston: Magical Moments in Tampa Bay Hoops

By Joey Johnston

For the first time in 11 seasons, the Tampa Bay area will host a men’s basketball event when the SEC Tournament comes to Amalie Arena on March 9-13.

But despite that gap — and let’s not forget that Amalie Arena was set to host the 2020 NCAA Tournament early-round games before COVID-19 cancelled all of March Madness — the area has built a rich, colorful and historic reputation for hosting men’s basketball events.

It began in 1983 with early-round NCAA Tournament games at the 10,411-seat Sun Dome. Yes, NCAA games actually were held on the USF campus (it wouldn’t happen today because the NCAA requires larger arenas).

It hit a prominent peak with the 1999 Final Four at Tropicana Field, when the UConn Huskies won the program’s first national title by defeating the supposedly unbeatable and No. 1-ranked Duke Blue Devils.

It featured conference flavor when the ACC Tournament visited Florida for the only time in 2007, then the SEC Tournament came aboard in 2009.

And in 2011, when the NCAA brought early-round games to Tampa Bay for the fifth time, the area was rewarded with a star-studded field, including Florida, Kentucky, Michigan State, UCLA and West Virginia.

“We’re really excited about hosting the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament and being part of March Madness again,’’ said Rob Higgins, executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, which is hosting the event. “When people buy tickets, it’s essentially an investment in being part of something special. You’d love to have an overtime, a buzzer-beater, a big upset, the type of game people will remember.

“Stretching back for nearly four decades, basketball fans in our area have witnessed those kind of moments. We can’t wait to see what kind of memories the SEC Tournament will create.’’

But before the 14 SEC programs hit the town to crown the league’s new champion and help solidify what could be seven NCAA Tournament bids for the conference, here’s a look back at the most memorable moments and historically significant achievements from Tampa Bay’s NCAA Tournament and conference tournament games.

Best Field (2011 NCAA Tournament, Amalie Arena) — When the NCAA Tournament names its 68-team on Selection Sunday, it’s a surprise for everyone, including coaches, players, administrators, fans and even local tournament organizers. When the 2011 field was revealed, Tampa Bay hit the jackpot with its grouping. Led by two of the NCAA Tournament’s most prominent brand names (Kentucky and UCLA) — and including two more programs (Florida and Michigan State) with championship pedigrees — it was the most impressive eight-team arsenal in the event’s early-round history. It set records for most national titles (22), most Final Four appearances (46) and most NCAA Tournament wins (330).

Best Game (1998 South Region final, Tropicana Field) — Kentucky 86, Duke 84. Six years after Christian Laettner’s overtime buzzer-beater ended a game for the ages, Duke met Kentucky in another region final. This time, the Wildcats reversed the script. Kentucky rallied from a 17-point deficit with 9:38 remaining, taking the lead for good on Scott Padgett’s 3-pointer with 39.4 seconds remaining. But the fans remained breathless until the buzzer when William Avery’s 30-footer — a 3-point attempt that could have won it for the Blue Devils — clanged off the backboard. Coach Tubby Smith’s Wildcats went on to win the national title.

Most Bizarre Game (2007 ACC Tournament first-rounder, Amalie Arena) — No. 11-seeded Wake Forest over No. 6 Georgia Tech 114-112 in double overtime. First, some perspective. On the noon-to-midnight first day of Tampa’s ACC Tournament, there were three consecutive upsets, including the dispatching of No. 5 Maryland and No. 7 Duke. When the final game began — a bit late, after NC State required overtime to defeat Duke — most of the crowd had thinned out. When it finally ended at 12:53 a.m., there were about 1,000 bleary eyed fans in the stands. “I felt like it was never going to end,’’ Wake Forest’s Jamie Skeen said. “I was like, ‘This is crazy. I’m a college student. I go to bed at midnight.’ I looked over at our bench and saw people yawning.’’ Wake Forest’s Harvey Hale, who had one point in regulation, finished with 22 points in 18 minutes, including the 3-pointer that ultimately won it. Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser quipped that he hoped the game would end “before Sermonette.’’ The Demon Deacons and Yellow Jackets combined for an ACC Tournament-record 226 total points and 59.2-percent shooting.

Best Shot (2008 West Region first-rounder, Amalie Arena) — When No. 12-seeded Western Kentucky stunned No. 5 Drake 101-99 at the overtime buzzer, it was on a 3-pointer from the right wing by WKU senior Ty Rogers that still ranks among the most memorable shots in NCAA Tournament history. The CBS call of the final seconds: Brazelton’s got it … End to end he’ll come … Leaves it for Rogers for three … For the win … Western Kentucky does in Drake! Call it Tampa Bay’s version of “One Shining Moment.’’ Rogers, a native of Eddyville, Ky. (population 2,350) said he received more than 200 text messages immediately after the game. A few hours later, when he finally returned to the hotel, Rogers said he was greeted by his family … and everyone spent about 20 minutes crying.

Longest Lasting Best Shot (1983 Mideast Region first-rounder, USF Sun Dome) — Freshman Robert Tatum’s off-balance, falling-down shot at the buzzer — after he grabbed a deflected full-court pass — lifted No. 11-seeded Ohio University past No. 6 Illinois State 51-49. Ohio’s green-on-green uniforms seemed like a lucky charm on St. Patrick’s Day. For nearly two decades, the highlight of Tatum’s shot was featured the CBS-TV promotional spots for NCAA Tournament coverage.

Best Team Nickname — We can’t decide between the Southwestern Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (1994), the Sam Houston State Bearkats (2003), the San Diego Toreros (2008) and the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos (2011). Let’s call it a tie.

Best Player (1999 Final Four, Tropicana Field) — UConn’s Richard Hamilton, who delivered his best games when it mattered the most. Hamilton had 24 points in a 64-58 win against Ohio State in the national semifinals, then 27 points in a 79-77 championship-game victory against Duke to earn the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player honors. Still, Hamilton was an extremely tough call because Tampa Bay’s basketball events have included four guys who became National Player of the Year (Duke’s Shane Battier and Elton Brand, North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough and Saint Joseph’s Jameer Nelson), along with 19 players who were part of the Associated Press All-American teams.

Best Inside Presence (2009 SEC Tournament, Amalie Arena) — After breaking Shaquille O’Neal’s SEC record for blocked shots in a season, Mississippi State’s Jarvis Varnado swatted away 22 shot attempts in four tournament games, earning himself Most Outstanding Player honors as the Bulldogs won the conference title.

Best Mascot (2003 East Region first-rounder, Amalie Arena) — The Hawk from Saint Joseph’s University. In its time-honored tradition, the Hawk flapped its wings throughout the entire contest. Of course, the game went to overtime. Despite the best efforts of star Jameer Nelson (27 of his 32 points scored after halftime) — and the Hawk, of course — the Hawks were upset by the No. 10-ranked Auburn Tigers 65-63.

Best Jacket (2007 ACC Tournament, Amalie Arena) — The bright red sports coat of NC State coach Sidney Lowe, who said he had it dry-cleaned three consecutive nights during the Wolfpack’s Tampa stay. No. 10-seeded NC State pulled three straight upsets and nearly stole an NCAA bid, falling 88-80 against top-seeded North Carolina in the ACC final.

Coolest Coaching Matchups — Through all the NCAA/conference tournament games, the Tampa Bay sites featured 13 Hall of Fame coaches. We got to see Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski against Michigan State’s Jud Heathcote (1994), Kentucky’s Tubby Smith (1998), Michigan State’s Tom Izzo (1999) and UConn’s Jim Calhoun (1999).

We also liked the intensity of Arkansas’ Eddie Sutton against Purdue’s Gene Keady (1983), then Kentucky’s John Calipari against West Virginia’s Bob Huggins (2011).

Random Memorable Moments — Michigan State nearly making it all the way back from a 23-point second-half deficit, then falling 78-76 against UCLA in 2011. … Top celebrity fan: Michigan State’s Magic Johnson or Kentucky’s Ashley Judd? … Former USF coach Seth Greenberg returning as coach of the Virginia Tech Hokies during the 2007 ACC Tournament. … Villanova coach Jay Wright referring to the 2008 upset-riddled Amalie Arena site as the “Tampa Turmoil.’’ The lower-seeded teams won all four early round games. Similarly, the 2007 ACC Tournament featured an opening day of all upsets. … The ACC craziness included a win by No. 12-seeded Miami against No. 5 Maryland. The Hurricanes featured a sophomore bruiser named Jimmy Graham, who scored 21 points in two games. He ultimately switched to football. Graham, now a tight end, has played in five NFL Pro Bowls with 713 career receptions for 8,506 yards and 85 touchdowns. He just finished his 11th NFL season. … Kentucky freshman Brandon Knight scoring his only basket with two seconds remaining in a 59-57 win against upset-minded Princeton, then dropping 30 points on West Virginia in the next round during the 2011 event at Amalie Arena.