Ohio State Buckeyes guard Aaron Craft (4) shoots the winning shot against Iowa State Cyclones forward Georges Niang (31) in the second half during the third round of the 2013 NCAA tournament at University of Dayton Arena. (Photo: Frank Victores, USA TODAY Sports)
Story Highlights - Valparaiso had practiced Drew's shot many times
- Edney tribbled the length of the court for his shot
- Laettner says he 'willed it into the hoop'
LOS ANGELES — When the buzzer-beating heroes of the NCAA tournament's first week, Ohio State's Aaron Craft and Marquette's Vander Blue, dive into the Sweet 16 Thursday night, Bryce Drew will be rooting for them.
Drew has a special fondness for those players who make magic, who create some of the most indelible memories in sports: buzzer-beaters that win games in the NCAA tournament in dramatic, stunning ways, when defeat turns into victory, when there are zeroes on the clock and pandemonium on the court and in the stands.
But Drew has one nit to pick about the so-called buzzer-beaters in this tournament. When Blue's driving layup put Marquette ahead of Davidson, there was one second left. When Craft's three-pointer put Ohio State ahead of Iowa State, there was half a second left.
BRACKET BRIEFING: NCAA tournament breakdown
NCAA TOURNAMENT: Updated bracket
In both cases, the other team called timeout and had a chance at a desperation basket.
"To me, it's more dramatic when there are zeroes on the clock," says Drew, now Valparaiso's coach. "When a shot ends the game, I always like those best."
Such as 15 years ago, when Drew's three-pointer off a gorgeous in-bounds play lifted Valparaiso to a huge upset over Mississippi in the 1998 tournament?
Or when Tyus Edney's mad-dash, length-of-the-court drive saved the day for UCLA against Missouri in 1995?
Or when Christian Laettner caught Grant Hill's long pass and knocked down an 18-foot jumper to give Duke a one-point overtime win against Kentucky and a spot in the Final Four in 1992?
HIGHLIGHTS: TOP MARCH MADNESS TEAMS OF ALL-TIME
The NCAA has named 25 finalists for the greatest March Madness team of all time. Fans can vote for the award starting in early January. Here's a look at some of the notable finalists (in no order). Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![UCLA, 1969]()
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Indiana, 1976 AP Related story Fullscreen Like this topic? You may also like these photo galleries: Replay 
Autoplay Show Thumbnails Show Captions Fullscreen Last Slide Next Slide Zeroes on the clock every time.
"I'm biased," Drew says, "but those are the top three I can remember."
No arguments from Edney and Laettner, whose shots were part of national title runs. Drew's Cinderella shot put Valparaiso into the Sweet 16 for the only time in school history.
There are others who have beaten buzzers in the tournament, too, and Edney thinks it would be a good idea to get them all together and have a round-table discussion of March Madness heroics.
"Why not?" Laettner says. "If Shaq and Barkley (Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley) can sit around and talk about old times, why not get Tyus and Bryce and some of the others and talk about some great tournament shots?"
They certainly have some great tales to tell.
Drew, Edney and Laettner, in separate interviews with USA TODAY Sports, share some of them.
'Really had a peace about everything'
Oklahoma City. First round, 1998. No.4 Mississippi vs. No.13 Valparaiso.
Drew, a sharpshooting guard who was the Crusaders' best player and the son of coach Homer Drew, knew what was coming when his team was down by two with 2.5 seconds left.
TOP MARCH MADNESS MOMENTS OF ALL-TIME
The NCAA has released a list of 35 finalists for its top March Madness moments of all time. Fans can vote for the top moment starting in January. Take a look at some of the notable moments to make the list, including VCU going from the First Four to the Final Four in 2011. Michael Thomas, Associated Press Related story Fullscreen ![2010: Butler comes up just short against Duke in final.]()
2010: Butler comes up just short against Duke in final. Robert Scheer, The Indianapolis Star Related story Fullscreen ![2008: Kansas rallies in closing minutes to edge Memphis.]()
2008: Kansas rallies in closing minutes to edge Memphis. Mark Humphrey, AP Related story Fullscreen ![2006: George Mason defies odds with Final Four run.]()
2006: George Mason defies odds with Final Four run. Susan Walsh, Associated Press Related story Fullscreen ![1998: The Shot. Valparaiso's Bryce Drew hit a game-winning three-pointer.]()
1998: The Shot. Valparaiso's Bryce Drew hit a game-winning three-pointer. JOHN GAPS III Associated Press Related story Fullscreen ![1995: Tyus Edney saves UCLA against Missouri.]()
1995: Tyus Edney saves UCLA against Missouri. Jack Smith, Associated Press Related story Fullscreen ![1992: Duke's Christian Laettner sinks Kentucky at the buzzer.]()
1992: Duke's Christian Laettner sinks Kentucky at the buzzer. Amy Sancetta, Associated Press Related story Fullscreen ![1990: Bo Kimble shoots lefty in NCAAs as tribute to teammate.]()
1990: Bo Kimble shoots lefty in NCAAs as tribute to teammate. Bob Galbraith, AP Related story Fullscreen ![1983: Indiana achieves perfection.]()
1983: Indiana achieves perfection. Porter Binks, USA TODAY Related story Fullscreen ![1983: N.C. State's last-second heroics to beat Houston.]()
1983: N.C. State's last-second heroics to beat Houston. AP Related story Fullscreen ![1979: Magic Johnson and Michigan State top Larry Bird and Indiana State.]()
1979: Magic Johnson and Michigan State top Larry Bird and Indiana State.
LOS ANGELES — When the buzzer-beating heroes of the NCAA tournament's first week, Ohio State's Aaron Craft and Marquette's Vander Blue, dive into the Sweet 16 Thursday night, Bryce Drew will be rooting for them.
Drew has a special fondness for those players who make magic, who create some of the most indelible memories in sports: buzzer-beaters that win games in the NCAA tournament in dramatic, stunning ways, when defeat turns into victory, when there are zeroes on the clock and pandemonium on the court and in the stands.
But Drew has one nit to pick about the so-called buzzer-beaters in this tournament. When Blue's driving layup put Marquette ahead of Davidson, there was one second left. When Craft's three-pointer put Ohio State ahead of Iowa State, there was half a second left.
BRACKET BRIEFING: NCAA tournament breakdown
NCAA TOURNAMENT: Updated bracket
In both cases, the other team called timeout and had a chance at a desperation basket.
"To me, it's more dramatic when there are zeroes on the clock," says Drew, now Valparaiso's coach. "When a shot ends the game, I always like those best."
Such as 15 years ago, when Drew's three-pointer off a gorgeous in-bounds play lifted Valparaiso to a huge upset over Mississippi in the 1998 tournament?
Or when Tyus Edney's mad-dash, length-of-the-court drive saved the day for UCLA against Missouri in 1995?
Or when Christian Laettner caught Grant Hill's long pass and knocked down an 18-foot jumper to give Duke a one-point overtime win against Kentucky and a spot in the Final Four in 1992?
HIGHLIGHTS: TOP MARCH MADNESS TEAMS OF ALL-TIME
Like this topic? You may also like these photo galleries: Replay -
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Zeroes on the clock every time.
"I'm biased," Drew says, "but those are the top three I can remember."
No arguments from Edney and Laettner, whose shots were part of national title runs. Drew's Cinderella shot put Valparaiso into the Sweet 16 for the only time in school history.
There are others who have beaten buzzers in the tournament, too, and Edney thinks it would be a good idea to get them all together and have a round-table discussion of March Madness heroics.
"Why not?" Laettner says. "If Shaq and Barkley (Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley) can sit around and talk about old times, why not get Tyus and Bryce and some of the others and talk about some great tournament shots?"
They certainly have some great tales to tell.
Drew, Edney and Laettner, in separate interviews with USA TODAY Sports, share some of them.
'Really had a peace about everything'
Oklahoma City. First round, 1998. No.4 Mississippi vs. No.13 Valparaiso.
Drew, a sharpshooting guard who was the Crusaders' best player and the son of coach Homer Drew, knew what was coming when his team was down by two with 2.5 seconds left.
TOP MARCH MADNESS MOMENTS OF ALL-TIME
The NCAA has released a list of 35 finalists for its top March Madness moments of all time. Fans can vote for the top moment starting in January. Take a look at some of the notable moments to make the list, including VCU going from the First Four to the Final Four in 2011. Michael Thomas, Associated Press Related story Fullscreen ![2010: Butler comes up just short against Duke in final.]()
2010: Butler comes up just short against Duke in final. Robert Scheer, The Indianapolis Star Related story Fullscreen ![2008: Kansas rallies in closing minutes to edge Memphis.]()
2008: Kansas rallies in closing minutes to edge Memphis. Mark Humphrey, AP Related story Fullscreen ![2006: George Mason defies odds with Final Four run.]()
2006: George Mason defies odds with Final Four run. Susan Walsh, Associated Press Related story Fullscreen ![1998: The Shot. Valparaiso's Bryce Drew hit a game-winning three-pointer.]()
1998: The Shot. Valparaiso's Bryce Drew hit a game-winning three-pointer. JOHN GAPS III Associated Press Related story Fullscreen ![1995: Tyus Edney saves UCLA against Missouri.]()
1995: Tyus Edney saves UCLA against Missouri. Jack Smith, Associated Press Related story Fullscreen ![1992: Duke's Christian Laettner sinks Kentucky at the buzzer.]()
1992: Duke's Christian Laettner sinks Kentucky at the buzzer. Amy Sancetta, Associated Press Related story Fullscreen ![1990: Bo Kimble shoots lefty in NCAAs as tribute to teammate.]()
1990: Bo Kimble shoots lefty in NCAAs as tribute to teammate. Bob Galbraith, AP Related story Fullscreen ![1983: Indiana achieves perfection.]()
1983: Indiana achieves perfection. Porter Binks, USA TODAY Related story Fullscreen ![1983: N.C. State's last-second heroics to beat Houston.]()
1983: N.C. State's last-second heroics to beat Houston. AP Related story Fullscreen ![1979: Magic Johnson and Michigan State top Larry Bird and Indiana State.]()
1979: Magic Johnson and Michigan State top Larry Bird and Indiana State.
- AutoplayShow ThumbnailsShow CaptionsFullscreen Last Slide Next Slide
Zeroes on the clock every time.
"I'm biased," Drew says, "but those are the top three I can remember."
No arguments from Edney and Laettner, whose shots were part of national title runs. Drew's Cinderella shot put Valparaiso into the Sweet 16 for the only time in school history.
There are others who have beaten buzzers in the tournament, too, and Edney thinks it would be a good idea to get them all together and have a round-table discussion of March Madness heroics.
"Why not?" Laettner says. "If Shaq and Barkley (Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley) can sit around and talk about old times, why not get Tyus and Bryce and some of the others and talk about some great tournament shots?"
They certainly have some great tales to tell.
Drew, Edney and Laettner, in separate interviews with USA TODAY Sports, share some of them.
'Really had a peace about everything'
Oklahoma City. First round, 1998. No.4 Mississippi vs. No.13 Valparaiso.
Drew, a sharpshooting guard who was the Crusaders' best player and the son of coach Homer Drew, knew what was coming when his team was down by two with 2.5 seconds left.
TOP MARCH MADNESS MOMENTS OF ALL-TIME
The NCAA has released a list of 35 finalists for its top March Madness moments of all time. Fans can vote for the top moment starting in January. Take a look at some of the notable moments to make the list, including VCU going from the First Four to the Final Four in 2011. Michael Thomas, Associated PressRelated story Fullscreen![2010: Butler comes up just short against Duke in final.]()
2010: Butler comes up just short against Duke in final. Robert Scheer, The Indianapolis StarRelated story Fullscreen![2008: Kansas rallies in closing minutes to edge Memphis.]()
2008: Kansas rallies in closing minutes to edge Memphis. Mark Humphrey, APRelated story Fullscreen![2006: George Mason defies odds with Final Four run.]()
2006: George Mason defies odds with Final Four run. Susan Walsh, Associated PressRelated story Fullscreen![1998: The Shot. Valparaiso's Bryce Drew hit a game-winning three-pointer.]()
1998: The Shot. Valparaiso's Bryce Drew hit a game-winning three-pointer. JOHN GAPS III Associated PressRelated story Fullscreen![1995: Tyus Edney saves UCLA against Missouri.]()
1995: Tyus Edney saves UCLA against Missouri. Jack Smith, Associated PressRelated story Fullscreen![1992: Duke's Christian Laettner sinks Kentucky at the buzzer.]()
1992: Duke's Christian Laettner sinks Kentucky at the buzzer. Amy Sancetta, Associated PressRelated story Fullscreen![1990: Bo Kimble shoots lefty in NCAAs as tribute to teammate.]()
1990: Bo Kimble shoots lefty in NCAAs as tribute to teammate. Bob Galbraith, APRelated story Fullscreen![1983: Indiana achieves perfection.]()
1983: Indiana achieves perfection. Porter Binks, USA TODAYRelated story Fullscreen![1983: N.C. State's last-second heroics to beat Houston.]()
1983: N.C. State's last-second heroics to beat Houston. APRelated story Fullscreen![1979: Magic Johnson and Michigan State top Larry Bird and Indiana State.]()
1979: Magic Johnson and Michigan State top Larry Bird and Indiana State.
