NCAA March Madness 2002: A Year of Upsets and Historic Victories

The year 2002 in NCAA basketball, both for men's and women's tournaments, was marked by memorable moments, unexpected runs, and the crowning of first-time champions. From dominant performances to nail-biting finishes, the tournaments delivered excitement and showcased the talent and determination of college athletes across the nation.

2002 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament

The 2002 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament culminated on March 31, 2002, with the Connecticut Huskies claiming the national title. The Final Four was hosted at the Alamodome in San Antonio from March 29-31, 2002.

Road to the Final Four

Connecticut's journey to the Final Four was highlighted by a dominant performance in the Mideast regional finals against Old Dominion. The Huskies displayed "near-perfect" basketball in the opening 16 minutes, hitting over 90% of their shots (19 of 21) and establishing a commanding 49-28 lead. Sue Bird led the charge with a career-high 26 points and 11 assists. Ultimately, Connecticut won and advanced to the Final Four. Joining them were fellow number one seeds Oklahoma and Duke, and number two seed Tennessee.

Semifinal Showdowns

In one semifinal game, Oklahoma faced Duke. Twelve years prior, Oklahoma faced the possibility of their women's basketball program being eliminated. In this game, Duke initiated a 13-7 run, but the Sooners responded with 12 consecutive points. While Oklahoma built a 17-point lead in the second half, Duke narrowed the margin to just two points with under eight minutes remaining.

The other semifinal featured a clash between UConn and Tennessee. Although Tennessee scored first, it would be the last time they would lead. The Huskies quickly took control, establishing an early lead and extending it to 13 points by halftime. Connecticut continued their dominance in the second half, going on a 24-11 run and holding the Lady Vols to 31% shooting. No Tennessee player scored in double digits. Kara Lawson led the team with nine points.

Championship Game: UConn vs. Oklahoma

The championship game saw the Connecticut Huskies face the Oklahoma Sooners. Despite being out rebounded and outshot, the Sooners fought hard and did not give up. Oklahoma prevented UConn from scoring a single three-point shot, marking the first time that had occurred in an NCAA title game. It would be over a decade before that happened to the Connecticut team in any game again.

With a minute and a half remaining, the Huskies held a narrow six-point lead. Instead of relying on their four seniors, who would later be top picks in the 2002 WNBA Draft, UConn entrusted the ball to sophomore Diana Taurasi. Taurasi backed down Oklahoma's Stacy Dales, executed a turnaround jumper, and drew a foul on Dales, resulting in her disqualification from the game.

The championship game's attendance of 29,619 set a record for an official game in women's basketball history, which still stands.

Records and Oddities

Louisiana Tech set a record for fewest turnovers in an NCAA tournament game, committing only three in the East regional first-round game against UC Santa Barbara.

Tournament Structure

Sixty-four teams were selected to participate in the 2002 NCAA Tournament. Thirty-one conferences earned an automatic bid, with twenty-one of those conferences represented by only one team. The teams were seeded and assigned to four geographic regions, with seeds 1-16 in each region. In Round 1, seeds 1 and 16 faced each other, as well as seeds 2 and 15, seeds 3 and 14, seeds 4 and 13, seeds 5 and 12, seeds 6 and 11, seeds 7 and 10, and seeds 8 and 9. The top four seeds were given the opportunity to host the first-round games. The sixty-four teams came from thirty states. Texas had the most teams with five bids.

Read also: Crafting Your NCAA Profile

2002 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament

The 2002 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament involved 65 schools competing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion. The 64th annual edition of the tournament began on March 12, 2002, and concluded with the championship game on April 1 in Atlanta at the Georgia Dome.

Tournament Format and Key Highlights

This tournament marked the introduction of the "pod" system, where the eight first- and second-round sites were strategically distributed around the four regionals to minimize travel for teams. Maryland defeated Indiana 64-52 in the championship game to secure their first-ever national championship. Juan Dixon of Maryland was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

Upsets and Surprises

For the second consecutive tournament, the Elite Eight featured at least one double-digit seed. Tenth-seed Kent State (South Region) and twelfth-seed Missouri (West Region) both advanced to their respective regional finals, with Kent State losing to Indiana and Missouri losing to Oklahoma.

End of a Streak

This tournament was the first since 1974 in which the North Carolina Tar Heels did not participate, ending their 27-year streak of consecutive appearances. At the time, this was the longest streak in NCAA history.

Key Moments and Games

Maryland's Road to the Championship: The Maryland Terrapins, after falling short the previous year, returned to the Final Four with determination. Overcoming a 13-2 deficit against Kansas in the semifinal, Maryland stormed back to win 97-88, securing their spot in the championship game.
Indiana's Cinderella Run: The Indiana Hoosiers, coached by Mike Davis, defied expectations by defeating higher-ranked teams throughout the tournament. In the semifinal, they overcame an Oklahoma Sooners team that led most of the first half, ultimately winning 73-64.
Championship Game: Maryland completed their journey by defeating Indiana 64-52 in the championship game. After a brief moment where Indiana took a 44-42 lead, Maryland regained control and finished the game with a 22-8 run, securing the school's first men's basketball National Championship and the only one for coach Gary Williams.

Memorable Performances

Juan Dixon of Maryland had an outstanding tournament, scoring at least 27 points in four of the first five games, including 33 in the semifinal win over Kansas. In the championship game, he led his team with 11 points in the opening 10 minutes. Jeff Newton led the Hoosiers with 19 points in their semifinal victory over Oklahoma.

Other Notable Games

No. 1 Maryland 85, No. 8 Wisconsin 80
No. 12 Tulsa 71, No. 4 Kentucky 66
No. 11 Southern Illinois 76, No. 3 Georgia 69
No. 2 UConn 78, No. 7 N.C. State 64
No. 1 Kansas 70, No. 8 Stanford 66
No. 12 Creighton 83, No. 4 Illinois 79
No. 6 Texas 70, No. 3 Mississippi State 61
No. 7 Wake Forest 83, No. 2 Oregon 76
No. 1 Duke 84, No. 8 Notre Dame 82
No. 5 Indiana 75, No. 13 UNC Wilmington 64
No. 6 California 82, No. 3 Pittsburgh 71
No. 10 Kent State 69, No. 2 Alabama 66
No. 1 Cincinnati 90, No. 8 UCLA 80
No. 12 Missouri 93, No. 4 Ohio State 81
No. 11 Wyoming 73, No. 3 Arizona 66
No. 2 Oklahoma 71, No. 7 Xavier 58

Statistical Highlights

Indiana's accuracy from behind the arc in the regional final against Kent State and Oklahoma was notable, making 23 of 32 attempts. However, in the championship game against Maryland, they struggled, making just two of their 11 shots from behind the arc.

Broadcast Information

ESPN broadcast the opening-round game, with CBS Sports covering the remaining 63 games.

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