Unforgettable NCAA Tournament Runs: The Players Who Shattered Expectations and Made History

Every March Madness brings fresh drama and unforgettable moments—but who’s truly stood head and shoulders above the rest since 2012? Sure, plenty of players have etched their names into the frenzy of college hoops lore, but remembering a clutch shot or two doesn’t always tell the full story. Sometimes, the heroics that genuinely changed the game hide in the nitty-gritty beyond the highlight reels—the hustle, the defense, the assists that don’t always show up on your TV screen but swing momentum like a wrecking ball. Now, thanks to some savvy number crunching with WAR rankings, we can finally pinpoint the best single-game performances and full tournament runs with an accuracy that honors not just flash but real impact. So, ready to see if your March Madness legends line up with the cold, hard stats—or if some under-the-radar warriors deserve their due? Buckle up, because this is the definitive look at the NCAA Tournament’s finest acts from the last decade-plus, and it’s a tour you won’t want to miss. LEARN MORE.

A lot of players have made their mark during March Madness. But these are the best of the best in the NCAA Tournament since 2012.

Every March Madness, we add another chapter to the lore of one of America’s favorite sporting events.

There hasnât been much madness this March in the NCAA men’s tournament, with the top seed winning each region en route to the Final Four. But there have been some great individual performances along the way. Now, each player in the Final Four will have a chance to etch his name in stone in the memories of college basketball fans forever.

Itâs easy to remember some of the players who have done that in the past. By having a massive game or tournament run, there are some players weâll always remember.

It was difficult to determine who among those players actually performed the best in the tournament. Memories are nice, but they canât always be trusted. We might remember a player having one great moment and forgetting all the shots he missed before that moment. With all the moving parts each year, there hasnât been a great way to quantify exactly how well a player has played in March.

Until now.

Youâve seen our WAR rankings that calculate how much value a player has added over the course of a season. Weâve been able to narrow that down to the game level going back to 2012. That means, since 2012, we can determine exactly how much value each player added in a given game within a season.

Using this method, weâve determined the best single games and best tournament runs for any player since 2012 and the best so far in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Letâs see if these names are the same ones everyone remembers.

Best Tournament Games by WAR Since 2012

1. Markquis Nowell, Kansas State vs. Michigan State, March 23, 2023 (0.51 WAR)

If this was just a list of the best scoring games, Nowell wouldnât be near the top. He had an average scoring performance, tallying 20 points on 7-of-18 shooting in a 98-93 overtime victory over Michigan State.

But Nowell did a lot more than score. He had 19 assists, the most ever in an NCAA Tournament game.

Nowell had highlight-reel paces all game, including a no-look delivery to David NâGuessan and an alley-oop from the top of the key to Keyontae Johnson, both in overtime.

He also had a great defensive performance, bothering the Spartans throughout the game and finishing with five steals. His biggest was his last one, a steal on Michigan Stateâs final possession that led to a breakaway score as time expired to preserve the victory.

The last play put an exclamation point on an overtime that was dominated by Nowell. He scored or assisted on 12 of the 16 Wildcats’ points in the extra session.

2. Josh Hagins, Little Rock vs. Purdue, March 17, 2016 (0.49 WAR)

Hagins had the game every player on a Cinderella team dreams of having.

Little Rock was better than the average Cinderella, as a No. 12 seed with a 30-4 record in the 2015-16 season. But Purdue looked to have the game in hand twice, only for Hagins to bring the Trojans back from the dead.

At the end of regulation, Vince Edwards hit two free throws with 17 seconds left to give the Boilermakers a three-point lead. Hagins then proceeded to hit a deep step back 3-pointer with 5.1 seconds left to force overtime.

In OT, Purdue once again took the lead with 25 seconds left, only to see Hagins make a tough shot after a drive to tie the game once more.

Little Rock led for all of double overtime after a jumper by, yes, Hagins went in on the Trojansâ first possession. Purdue got it to within one with two seconds left, but a free throw by Hagins and a missed desperation heave by the Boilermakers gave the Trojans an 85-83 win.

Hagins finished the game with 31 points, six assists, seven rebounds and five steals. He stuffed the stat sheet, had big-time moments, and made his mark in March.

3. T.J. McConnell, Arizona vs. Ohio State, March 21, 2015 (0.47 WAR)

McConnell had the best game on this list that didnât include overtime and, in some ways, his game highlights why using WAR can highlight performances that arenât remembered as much by the general populace.

The Arizona guard tied for the team lead with 19 points and was efficient, shooting 8 of 13 from the field to lift Arizona to a 73-58 win. He also chipped in six assists and six rebounds.

Those are the kind of offensive numbers that are impressive, but not impressive enough that theyâd be remembered for years to come. McConnell meant more to the Arizona offense than those numbers would indicate, though. On a team with star power, it was McConnell who consistently organized the offensive attack and made it run better.

Also, if youâve followed McConnellâs NBA career, you know his offense can be good, but confrontational defense is where he makes his mark. Thatâs just what he did against Ohio State.

DâAngelo Russell was a consensus All-American in his lone season at Ohio State and drafted second overall in 2015. But McConnell cared not for his accolades and was part of a concerted effort to make life miserable for the Buckeyes’ lead playmaker. Russell finished the game with nine points on an abysmal 3-of-19 shooting.

4. Jeremy Morgan, Northern Iowa vs. Texas A&M, March 20, 2016 (0.45 WAR)

Morgan is the only player on this list who might rather forget his big game ever happened because it came during a monumental collapse by Northern Iowa.

Morgan made a couple of free throws with 44 seconds left to put the Panthers ahead 69-57. But Northern Iowa turned it over four times down the stretch, allowing Texas A&M to go on a 14-2 run to send the game to overtime. The Aggies would go on to win 92-88 in double overtime.

Lost in the painful defeat was Morgan’s amazing game. He had 36 points on 10-of-20 shooting and pulled down 12 rebounds. He also had three steals and two blocks.

Morgan barely came off the floor, playing 49 minutes, the fourth most of any player in the NCAA Tournament since 2012.

It was a tough loss, but Morganâs brilliance should still be remembered.

5. Michael Carter-Williams, Syracuse vs Marquette, March 30, 2013 (0.44 WAR)

We highlighted how defense was a part of McConnellâs big game, but it was an even bigger part of Carter-Williamsâ effort against Marquette.

He scored 12 points and had five assists, but the real story was his defense as he had three steals and two blocks, and helped completely neutralize Marquette offensively in a 55-39 win. The 39 points were eight lower than Marquette scored in any other game that season.

Best of 2025: Sean Pedulla, Ole Miss vs Iowa State, March 23, 2025 (0.40 WAR)

There have been several great efforts this year, but Pedullaâs game against Iowa State had the most WAR, due to a great offensive and defensive effort.

Pedulla led the Rebels with 20 points, eight assists and four steals with just one turnover. Ole Miss came away with a convincing 91-78 upset victory.

Sean Pedulla had the best game by WAR in the 2025 NCAA Tournament

Best Tournaments by WAR since 2012

1. Shabazz Napier, 2014 UConn (1.95 WAR)

This pick matches the run people remember, as UConnâs national championship came as a No. 7 seed and is one of the most memorable of this century.

Napier averaged 21.2 points per game on .463/.465/.939 shooting splits, which culminated in a 22-point effort to lead UConn to a 60-54 victory over Kentucky in the title game.

2. Jaime Jaquez Jr., 2021 UCLA (1.76 WAR)

Jaquez Jr. wasnât the leading scorer for UCLA during its Cinderella run as a No. 11 seed in the 2021 tournament, but he was the rock for a team that wasn’t sure it would hear its name on Selection Sunday and had to win a First Four game against Michigan State.

He averaged 15.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, second-best on the team in both of those stats. He also led the team in steals and was second in assists, 3-pointers made and blocked shots. His multi-faceted skill set unlocked the offense and defense for the Bruins, and helped them make an improbable Final Four run.

3. Ty Jerome, 2019 Virginia (1.76 WAR)

Jerome was the leader for the Virginia redeem team in the 2019 tournament. A year after becoming the first No. 1 seed to lose in the first round, Virginia marched all the way to a national championship with Jerome manning the offense.

He averaged 16.5 points, six assists and 5.2 rebounds per game and also led the team in steals in the tournament. After not being considered a first-round option for most of the season, Jeromeâs strong tournament helped convince the Philadelphia 76ers to draft him 24th overall in 2019.

4. Cam Spencer, 2024 UConn (1.70 WAR)

The 2023-24 UConn Huskies were loaded with talent and won their second straight national championship, but Cam Spencer was particularly good during the tournament run. He scored 13.3 points per game on .462/.407/.900 shooting splits and was a key cog in the defense as well, averaging 2.0 steals per game. Donovan Clingan and Stephon Castle were bigger names, but Spencer was as crucial as anyone on that championship run.

5. Zach Edey, 2024 Purdue (1.66 WAR)

Spencer just edged out the best player on the other team in the 2024 NCAA championship game â Zach Edey.

The two-time AP national player of the year put a stamp on his collegiate tenure with a 37-point, 10-rebound game in the 75-60 loss to UConn. For the tournament, he averaged 29.5 points and 14.5 rebounds per game.

Best of 2025: L.J. Cryer, Houston (0.96 WAR)

Cryer has been the leading score during Houstonâs Final Four run, averaging 16.8 points per game and shooting well on 3-pointers (39.4%). Heâs also been one of the lead playmakers and most important defenders for the Cougars.