The echoes of Duke's recent heartbreaker against UConn are still reverberating through the sports world. Just days after their Elite Eight exit, the Blue Devils find themselves on a notorious list, marking one of the biggest collapses in sports history.
Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter has pegged Duke's stunning loss as the 15th biggest "choke job" of the century. While the ranking might seem a bit hasty, there's no denying the drama of squandering a 19-point lead in the final five minutes. Braylon Mullins' near-logo three-pointer was the dagger, etching itself into the annals of unforgettable moments at Duke's expense.
Duke entered the matchup with an impressive 32-2 record, boasting the nation's longest win streak and the top overall seed. Coach Jon Scheyer had meticulously prepared his squad, running them through scenarios akin to what they faced against UConn. Yet, when the dust settled, preparation couldn't alter the outcome on the court.
Is this the most significant collapse in college basketball history? Not quite.
But it’s certainly fresh in our collective memory and hard to shake off. When we talk about monumental blunders in men’s hoops over the past 26 years, the 2017-18 Virginia Cavaliers still loom large, sitting at No. 5 on the list.
Who could forget the historic moment when UMBC, a No. 16 seed, toppled the top-seeded Cavaliers? The Retrievers, arriving in Charlotte as massive underdogs, delivered a shocking upset that made NCAA history. Before that game, No. 1 seeds had maintained a perfect 135-0 record against No. 16 seeds-a streak that UMBC spectacularly ended.