I know this sounds like a ridiculous way to describe this game, but to me, this was the most romantic college basketball game I've ever watched. You have to really take everything in context in order to truly understand how much this win meant to Indiana. Obviously it's a basketball state, and in this particular case, it's a state that had been in a drought from basketball for a few years due to the violations and penalties from the Sampson era. Tom Crean was hired to fix the program and this was the culmination of the first couple years of that effort. This was the signal that Hoosier Hoops were back. On top of that, this was just an incredibly exciting game pattern that you see pretty often in basketball games, but never so fitting as this contest. The excitement as Indiana rained threes on the Wildcats in the early portion of the second half had me, in Wisconsin, jumping around my living room with excitement. I can't imagine what it felt like for hardcore Indiana fans. Then, the predictable, unavoidable Kentucky comeback almost spoiled the party... And then, well we all know how it ended. Then, maybe it's just me being a writer and sort of a romantic myself, but the calendar timing of the game was special too. This was the last game for Indiana before their students had exams and then left campus for the holidays. There's always something magical about the holidays, even when it comes to sports. To have this happen two weeks before Christmas, with snow on the ground and magic in the air, it was more than appropriate for some of the magic to make its way inside the arena as well. Just a special, special couple hours of sports that, even though it was sort of just a "regular season game" I will never, ever forget.

@KillyJoe

3 жыл бұрын

Geoff Bruce as a hardcore Indiana fan watching it with my Indiana fan buddies and our one friend that somehow likes Kentucky, disgusting I know, but it was freaking awesome that’s one you remember where you were. Just like duke in 02 lol

@snowflakepillow8697

3 жыл бұрын

I'm a Gonzaga fan. I don't generally get into "shipping" but I do think about shipping Tom Crean and Indiana back together. So I really think I get it a bit.

@JoshGiddey_16

3 жыл бұрын

@Clark Luke stfu

@jackandrews7878

2 жыл бұрын

Yup, IU basketball surely came back lmao. This will be the sixth straight year you guys haven’t made the NCAA tournament. Not to mention you have some of the most trashiest, obnoxious fans in the country.

@EpilepticSnail

2 жыл бұрын

Man, it's been nothing but depression since this moment for you IU fans. A game in December was your super bowl 😂

Row 26 section E. I'll never forget that shot.

@STsixx

8 жыл бұрын

+Sami Haddad so, have you been brushing up on your sign language? cuz idk how you could possibly still be able to hear after Wat hit the shot lol...

@Ice-fs2sz

4 жыл бұрын

Remember that tournament game the same year. 100 pieced lol

@saviorself1164

2 жыл бұрын

As a Louisville fan, I put Watford right up there with Laettner as far as non Louisville players that I absolutely love for game winning shots that they hit against Kentucky

@BBNTrashtalker

Жыл бұрын

As a UK fan … I still come back and watch this… 💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩

@Eagleyes0988

2 ай бұрын

Assembly Hall is such a special place. I was 8 rows up on the baseline Landon Turner was right by me. Indiana v. Wisconsin senior day Bob Knight said Joe Hillman was one of the best guards in the country and it Dick Vitale or anyone else said differently they could kiss his ass. The place erupted.

8 years later and I still get goosebumps. Watching this makes me feel like a Pittsburgh Steelers fan living in the past.

@EpilepticSnail

2 жыл бұрын

How? The Steelers actually make the playoffs every year lmao

@bryanbaker5942

2 жыл бұрын

Steelers fans are all retards. All you here em talk about is how awesome their 70s teams were and how many super bowls they have. Well good for them Whoop Dee fucking do!

@bryanbaker5942

2 жыл бұрын

Steelers fans are all retards. All you here em talk about is how awesome their 70s teams were and how many super bowls they have. Well good for them Whoop Dee fucking do!

@bryanbaker5942

2 жыл бұрын

Steelers fans are all retards. All you here em talk about is how awesome their 70s teams were and how many super bowls they have. Well good for them Whoop Dee fucking do!

@bryanbaker5942

2 жыл бұрын

Steelers fans are all retards. All you here em talk about is how awesome their 70s teams were and how many super bowls they have. Well good for them Whoop Dee fucking do!

I was lucky enough to get a student ticket behind the basket for this game. I still get chills every time I watch the Wat Shot.

@tgryt8031

8 жыл бұрын

Jealous.

@JoshGiddey_16

3 жыл бұрын

@@tgryt8031 how the hell is he jealous

@Spaethon

2 жыл бұрын

Did you add a few red pixels to the court that night?

@joeydobson7376

2 жыл бұрын

@@Spaethon I'm sure I did. You can't see me but I was the one holding the Flo from Progressive Insurance big head when Doron Lamb was shooting free throws right before the Watshot.

@scottysatpanalysis

2 жыл бұрын

@@joeydobson7376 that’s fuckibg amazing look at my channel I was at the Purdue game this year. That Kentucky game must’ve been incredible but these times are so rare

I remember me and my dad in the living room when we were watching. Before the free throw from Kentucky, i started to cry in the kitchen. When IU made the shot, my dad freaked out soo hard that he pushed me accidentally into the ground xD

@tgryt8031

8 жыл бұрын

XD

@waynesmith2462

4 жыл бұрын

IUsedtobe is irrelevant. How'd that rematch go in March

@stevenabitante8750

2 жыл бұрын

Which UK WILDCATS TEAM WAS BETTER ALL AROUND.....1995-96 OR 2011-12?

@isaiahevans4930

10 ай бұрын

@@wessanders2603 years later and still living in irrelevance man… Indiana is not a state that basketball loves and thrives!

@michaelpenny1950

4 ай бұрын

Just reading this brought tears to my eyes.

That was as emotional of a win as winning a national championship! I just remember sitting in my room having a heart attack wondering how they blew there lead and just hoping that we could tie the game up and go to overtime. When Lamb missed that first free throw I thought it was going to go into OT beacause I figured they would only go for 2 and when Verdell ran up the court I thought he was gonna try to force it up in double coverage and I was about to swear at my TV and then he stopped on a dime and threw the ball back to Watford and the rest is history! What made that win so emotional was because what every IU fan had gone through the past few seasons! Sampson came to IU after they fired Mike Davis and he got sanctions put on IU for cheating! Thats when Tom Crean came from Marquette and had to deal with sanctions that really hurt the program bad. That first year we did not win very many games but you routed for them because those guys played hard and did not give up! They played a 100% all the time and you wanted to see them win so bad! The in the second year we were able to get Watford and Halls and they helped us win some games that year but still not that many! Then the 3rd year we got Victor and Will. That 3rd year we really started looking like a team that could hang with some of the better teams that were ranked. That year we won some big games but we still lost a lot of games we should have won but you saw the potential! Then this year started up and we got Zeller, Victor turned into superstar, and you had Watford who could play like a gaurd and drive, shoot lights out from three, and post up like a big man! They just started to click and seeing this team start to have success at this level was just amazing considering how much they struggled the seasons before. You fell in love with these guys and you wanted to see them succeed because they deserved it! This year and the next year were 2 of my favorite seasons to watch the hoosiers play in my lifetime as a hoosier fan! Both years ended up heart breaking but they were still a lot of fun! This year when they rematched Kentucky in the sweet 16 they had no chance to win that game with the refs out there pretty much playing as extra players for Kentucky in that game! That was one of the worst games I had witnessed where the refs decided they were not gonna let Indiana win that game! I don't care what anyone has to say! The refs in college basketball are horrible just like everyother sport. Unfortunetly with basketball the refs can really make a giant impact in a game where in other sports that can't cause as much of a impact in a game! Go back to the Calbert Cheney days when in 92 they were completely screwed by the refs and lost to duke in the elite eight! They were up by 17 at half and in the second half the refs made sure the fouled out almost every important player on IU's roster! It was the most one sided officiated games in the history of basketball and there should have been an investigation after that game! The disgusting thing about it is Duke seems to get more calls then anyother team when the tournament starts! The Duke Butler championship was won by the officials and this last year Duke didn't beat Wisconsin the officials beat Wisconsin! They were running out of bounds to get around defenders and coming back inbounds to score and the refs swallowed their wistles! That game was so bad that Bo Ryan quite this year and I don't care what anyone says that is exactly why he quite! He quite because he couldn't go through something like that again. He had to watch those refs completely steal that game from his boys that he coached for the past four years and could not do a thing about it!

@chrisbrooks5571

7 жыл бұрын

jimson they say a comment not a freaking story . What did u do write everything you had 4 basketball

@cotymcginnis2696

5 жыл бұрын

And that's as close as you'll get to a national championship...Iu still irrelevant to this day! Yawn...

@Spaethon

2 жыл бұрын

Dude I clicked "show more" and damn that's passion

Still get the chills watching this?... And i also seen it live to (CRAZY)

Honestly one of the single greatest regular season college basketball games ever. Hell, one of the great college basketball games period. Had everything - great playing on both sides, the underdogs building a lead with the crowd going apeshit the whole time, the late comeback by Kentucky, and a goddamn all-timer of a buzzer beater. Seen this maybe 10 times and still get chills at the end

This game here, you can say that this was the moment in the resurrection of the Indiana basketball program.

@lhsbandfreak11

9 жыл бұрын

***** Yeah, indeed haha. I guess it was fool's gold more than anything. Well, that's the beauty of college basketball, you never know what's going to happen.

@cjags1232

9 жыл бұрын

+Nathanael Thompson You're a DCI fan dude?

@lhsbandfreak11

8 жыл бұрын

Absolutely! Actually marched with the Colts 2011 and 2014!

@cjags1232

8 жыл бұрын

+Nathanael Thompson That's tight man!

@BMills_

8 жыл бұрын

+Nathanael Thompson true

I'm not even a Indiana fan and the ending of this game ALWAYS makes me smile real big!

I would be lying if I told everyone that I didn't have this game bookmarked in my favorites folder. Every IU fan remembers where they were when they were watching this game. There were like 7 future NBA players in this game.

The look on Terrance Jones face for the entirety of this game is forever engraved into my memory. Love it

I have literally watched this like 100 times

@STsixx

8 жыл бұрын

+M and P It never gets old, pal :)

11 years later and i still get goosebumps. i was 10 years old sitting at dads friends bar in his barn. never forget it

Great game. As a huge UK fan, I have to admit Indiana poured all their hearts and souls into this. This was the only game of the season that Calipari said, "I wanted them to coach their self, I let them make the decisions and look what happened." I think that's exactly why this game was an L for us.

Surprised the Loosiers didn't hang a banner for this win 😂😂

This game needs to happen again. Sick and tired of bullshit Coach Cal not wanting to play Home/Home. Lexington is an extremely special place to play, as is Assembly Hall. There's NO reason these two historic programs shouldn't be playing still. Fucking garbage.

@snipz127

8 жыл бұрын

+STsixx ITS HAPPENING!!!!!

@GreenDay1981

7 жыл бұрын

It would still be a thing if IU fans knew how to behave. They were total assholes last time we were there.

@STsixx

7 жыл бұрын

And yet Michigan still has the balls to travel to Columbus every other year for the biggest regular season football game. UK scared, period.

@GreenDay1981

7 жыл бұрын

snipz127 Real mature. That's why we refuse to play in your shit-ass arena. It's just the biggest nursery in the nation.

@GreenDay1981

7 жыл бұрын

STsixx They do that cause they're required to, idiot. They're conference opponents. UK and Indiana aren't.

This game was incredible. I watch the replay of it once a year it feels like.

@Spaethon

2 жыл бұрын

Your annual reminder :)

Funny story. At this time, we had family that lived in Kentucky. They were rich and had a super nice house, so basically the rest of the family went down there for that weekend. I remember that we had to stop playing video games so they could watch the game. It was basically Indiana fans vs Kentucky fans in the house. Too bad I wasn’t watching it, I missed a great moment.

@CyclonesFan24

3 жыл бұрын

I wonder how that was. Wild n raucous I'd imagine.

Best NCAA Basketball game ending ever!

good im glad your happy, most people hate this but this goes to prove how valuable beating Kentucky was, i won't act like we didn't loose in the tourney, but you have to say that was the closest to a challenge that UK's team got on the way to the championship.

I am an IU fan through and through, but give credit where it is due, Davis is one hell of a player, still today.

The Indiana vs Kentucky rivalry should be a top 5 rivalry college basketball history. You think how close the rivalry was during the 70's and 80's, and how Kentucky denied Indiana an undefeated season in 1975 (even though Scott May's arm injury ended there chances). This rivalry is intense and shows the passion of both legendary programs. I hope someday that the rivalry will resume.

@isaiahevans4930

10 ай бұрын

3 years later and whatya know it’s revived…

@meharinationsportspodcast2582

9 ай бұрын

​@@isaiahevans4930Long overdue

@isaiahevans4930

9 ай бұрын

@@meharinationsportspodcast2582 true

This youtube video is like a relic to our state religion of basketball. I came to light a candle for good luck tonight in the Big Ten Tournament against Maryland. 🤲🏻🕯️

Best game I ever attended in Assembly Hall. Memories like this are why students should get to enjoy these rivalry games on campus.

@MrDodger3222

8 жыл бұрын

Do you go to Indiana? If so, that's awesome you go there! It must be fun going to a school that has such diehard fans. No one cares about college basketball where I live(San Jose, CA). I'm in community college now and I want to transfer to UCLA or Kentucky as these are my favorite teams.

@damnyousalazar

8 жыл бұрын

MrDodger3222 No, I graduated about 15 months ago from law school there. I had lived in Bloomington as a student from fall 2008 through May 2015. I was a season ticket holder all 7 years. Indiana isn't much of a football school, but soccer and basketball games were a ton of fun. I couldn't imagine going to a school that didn't have a large sports following, but academics are what really count. Sports are just a huge part of student life outside of the classroom - it's a great distraction if you're in a challenging/stressful program.

@janetidun4491

5 жыл бұрын

Am I the only one who thinks that Kentucky and IU need to play every year? Like a home and home where we play at Rupp one year and then assembly another year?

My close relative went to that game, and she’s a die-hard Hoosier fan. She goes to almost every game, and still does. Her and her then husband were at that game and decided to leave early to avoid traffic. Her biggest regret ever was leaving early at that game. She did go to Nick’s and saw the ending on television live there, and even though I know it was crazy there (I’ve seen videos of it) I can guarantee it was not the same as actually being there, hearing the cheering of the extremely loud crown rumbling the whole place, and watching the fans storm the floor. Absolute biggest regret of theirs, and they will regret it to their grave.

@CyclonesFan24

3 жыл бұрын

The Minnesota Golden Gophers had a buzzer beater n EVERYONE meaning,adults n grownups were storming the court.

@mellowords

2 жыл бұрын

man, there was no point in this game where I would have thought 'meh, I see where this going. gonna avoid traffic'

one of the best and most beautiful buzzer beating threes ive ever seen, especially since they were at home and beat a #1 team.

51:09 ... "They better get a TO, baby. The Cats better get a TO. They better get a TO!!!"

This IU team far exceeded my expectations! We got to the Sweet 16 when most press agencies didnt even think they make it that far. We tied Ky. on the year, and beat some great teams this year. Next year is gonna be even better!

Just thought I'd comeback, and see how many IU fans are still living in the past. This is great :)

Best game I have ever seen. I was so bummed sitting in the crowd when UK started playing like UK. Then Watford who always plays tough against UK made magic.

The best sporting event I've ever been lucky enough to see in person.

One of the greatest games of all time

The feeling is still awesome today as it was back 5 years ago. One of the best shots of all-time due to the upset and where IU was as a program.

Great environment, great fans, great win. Calipari is still running away from the Hoosiers.

@bradleydecker4861

5 жыл бұрын

@@fadez3872 They hate us because they ain't us

@carterseaborn2536

5 жыл бұрын

mrbillablehours yeah he’s running away and then they meet in the march madness and kentucky dominates

@MrMashman93

5 жыл бұрын

mrbillablehours Sure thing man. Kentucky won the title that year and oh yeah 1987. 😂

@jjn2013

4 жыл бұрын

Silly

I remember going to this game when I was 6 bro this game was crazy I didn't really understand what was happening but I know for a fact it was the craziest game I had ever been to

Verdell Jones deserves recognition just as Waterford does. For this play.. I was there in 2002 when we beat Duke.

Best college basketball game I ever saw live

So many pros in this game. Zeller, MKG teammates at MJ, team.

2019 and this game is still one of the best. BRING BACK THE SERIES CAL!

@KillyJoe

4 жыл бұрын

William Lawless hah yea right this game is why it ended he wasn’t coming back to assembly hall. Neutral sites was what he wanted. 🙄

im a Kentucky Fan but this was one hell of a game for the Hoosiers. Great Job

Kentucky fan here. Was at this game, broke my heart. :( But BBN got revenge when it mattered most and got that long awaited title! Can't take away the fact that this game was one of college basketballs greatest. Looking back I'm glad I was there for it. BBN enjoyed their title this year, but I believe IU has the tools to win it all next year.

@indianacreekwalker4474

2 жыл бұрын

Yea you won it when it mattered for sure. For Hoosier nation we had been starving for this kind of win. I really think Jones gave this game to IU....he wasn't ready for that atmosphere and i really think this game allowed Kentucky to grow up a bit which in the Tourney really showed

@isaiahevans4930

10 ай бұрын

@@indianacreekwalker4474and whatya know the rivalry is revived!

One of the greatest moments in Indiana University Basketball!

Never get tired of watching this

What a game. What a moment. “Unbelievable!!”

I was in the band and I ran out on court in the end. I will never forget smh #HOOSIERS #IU

Archie Miller should make the whole team watch this game this year. Watch the hustle and the determination.... we need some inspiration!!!!

Nobody’s doesn’t pull off a buzzer-beating 3-pointer much, much dramatic and so timely than Christian Watford. His “Shot Heard Around the Universe” walk-off 3 as time expire leads the Indiana Hoosiers over the Kentucky Wildcats 74-73 in the final meeting ever between the two schools.

@givepaddytheemmy4535

Жыл бұрын

There was like 4 inaccuracies in your comment lmao

Best IU basketball game I have ever seen

The best game ever in college basketball!

@cotymcginnis2696

5 жыл бұрын

You mean in your pathetic school history... You beat a bunch of kids early in the season... Look what they did! CHAMPS BABY!

Damn I should of gone to that game. Anthony Davis is the bet shot blocker I've ever seen.

This is a game I will truly never forget!

It never gets old!!!

I'm a Kentucky fan, and I know Kentucky didn't let Vandy win. Vandy is a actually a really good team.

My mother almost broke the television when vitale went crazy

Notice how they gave Kentucky the 3 points

@YeetsByJey

4 жыл бұрын

Whoever was in control of that probably panicked when Watford hit the three and hit the wrong button😂

@CyclonesFan24

3 жыл бұрын

@@YeetsByJey I'd say. I was watching a high school basketball game on KZread n as soon as overtime began, the scoreboard read,0-0. The pa announcer said it was a scoreboard malfunction. The high school basketball game was in Nebraska.

I remember watching this. Loved this.

That scoreboard really wanted Kentucky to win

@tgryt8031

8 жыл бұрын

Yup

Hate to say it, but this was the best game of the 2011-2012 season.

Never gets old. Bloomington is Blooming!!!!!

LETS GO HOOSIERS 2016

this is why i love this sport

It was great knocking IU out in the tourney and then winning the chip. What a great year for Kentucky basketball

I am from the same town as cody and this game was , wait for it!..........................LEGENDARY! EPIC! loved it!

Love the scoreboard at the end. Crean's face was pretty funny too. I just wish they could have beaten them in the Sweet Sixteen.

ok had to think about it a second but I realize now why there's so many hoosiers coming to this video. Only highlight you guys have in the past 10-15 years ! lol enjoy another year of clappy...we'll all be rooting for him !

@southsider3542

9 жыл бұрын

Indiana's 2002 underdog run to the NCAA championship game

If you scroll threw the suggested videos there's the 2012 NCAA National Championship game and a #1 seed vs #4 seed in the sweet sixteen you can also watch

Watford for the Win, YES!!!!! YES!!!! YES!!!! Best Moment of the game.

most exciting college game i've ever watched

On a night when Kentucky played probably their worst game of the entire 2011-12 season, shooting the ball poorly from the field and free throw line. Didn't defend well, and didn't rebound well, it still took Christian Wapner hitting a "hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee" 3-point at the buzzer to beat Kentucky that night. As I've said many times since, Indiana won the early season game at home and Kentucky won the game that mattered in the NCAA Tournament that propelled them on to the 2012 National Championship. GO CATS!!

@givepaddytheemmy4535

Жыл бұрын

IU was never winning the tournament that year. Like ever in a million years. This game was the biggest for us, and we would easily say y’all can have the tournament knowing we would win like this

@petewagner8602

2 ай бұрын

And UK hasn’t had the balls to travel to Bloomington since!!!!

I'm an Illini fan, but this is up there on my list of best college game endings. It was awesome.

When Oladipo got his pocket picked,I started to cry.

Kentucky only had like 2 losses that year. Being a buzzer beater was one of them but they got revenge in the tourney

The biggest win in Indiana history.

Maybe the greatest game I've ever attended...

Wish the quality was better but it's so nice to still be able to find this legendary game

@CyclonesFan24

3 жыл бұрын

It's cuz it's been uploaded so many times

I will always love this moment

@tgryt8031

8 жыл бұрын

Same here

I love how mad people get when some one posts their team losing and give a huge explanation haha

Start the video at about 1:23:51 If you notice the clock operator stops the clock anticipating a foul shortly after the Watford missed shots. Must have been a little quick on the trigger. However, about .7 seconds tick off the clock, which doesn't seem like a lot with 22 seconds to go. Fast forward to the end, Watford gets his shot off with about .6, .7 left on the clock when the ball leaves his hands. Pretty cool how even the miliseconds matter.

48:12 is the last play of the game. Good recognition coach

IUUUUUUU!! lol this was one of the greatest games I have ever seen. True story

The reason UK and IU aren't playing each other this year is because UK is all about making money, wanting to play in Louisville and Indy instead of Rupp and Assembly Hall, but Coach Crean wants it to be about the students, not the money. That's why we here at IU have the biggest student section in the nation!

Love watching our 2012 team play. They may have lost this game but this one of of the best teams in college basketball history. Go big blue!!

@gjjnvgjjhfhjhfhjh5824

2 жыл бұрын

11-12 team

@isaiahevans4930

10 ай бұрын

@@gjjnvgjjhfhjhfhjh5824basically what he said

Lmao thats #12's best assist of his life

Best game in a very long time!

Is there ANYwhere else on the net that has this game with clear focus? My eyes are hurting.

Kentucky is going to get the W when it matters most. Terrence Jones basically didn't show up, and Anthony Davis played 23 minutes. Also Indiana had the LUCKIEST shooting night, which WILL NOT ever happen again. How Kentucky has been playing lately we could put 4 guys on the court and win. Enjoy this while it last because Saturday morning IU will be back in Bloomington. GO CATS!!!

If anything that reaction just showed how far Indiana basketball had fallen which the reaction was warranted but they used to celebrate championships and Tom crean saying "we want to be contending" looking back in hindsight from 2020 is kinda funny. Cause crean is at Georgia and Archie miller hasn't been great although I think he is building something there. I mean look at pitino at UK it's not always instant success.

I hope no one got hurt! Fans were jumping like crazy out there!

Lots of players played this game are big names in the NBA now

Best game last year hands down

Friday's gonna one hell of a game..

Fantastic game!

Tom Crean gave no fucks that day.

It's a bit like the Saints from Gleason's block to Porter's pick six. The difference is IU is still waiting for March glory.

Now look at Oladipo, starring for the Pacers!

@captainbup

4 жыл бұрын

He didn't leave Indiana

@bigfatwhitedudeinatruckwit3726

3 жыл бұрын

@@captainbup well well well have the turn tables

@zuzuke..

3 жыл бұрын

@@bigfatwhitedudeinatruckwit3726 yes

i do know about basketball and i still wanted to see kentucky vs ohio state. but u sold me.

Great upload but I had to fast forward to the last minute. I am sorry I just can't resist.

How many players from UK could spell CAT last year? or any year?

@ruethewhirly Great job posting this exciting game! Here are some other exciting games you should upload when you have the time: Kansas vs. Mizzou both games (2/4/12, 2/25/12) Duke-NC State 2/16/12 (Big Comeback) Duke-UNC 2/8/12 (Austin Rivers buzzer beater) Iowa State-KSU 1/31/12 Rutgers-UF 12/29/11 (Rutgers wins in 2OT) KU-Texas 1/21/12 Syracuse-UConn 2/25/12 Iowa State-Kansas 1/28/12 UCLA-Arizona 2/25/12 These are the ones I could think of. There'll be more ideas on the way!