The best three weeks of the sports calendar are upon us.
The NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments tip off this week, and fans will be captivated by bracket-busting upsets and unreal buzzer-beaters from now until the first week of April.
To commemorate March Madness, cllct put together its list of the 68 best moments in March Madness history, along with the collectible item we'd love to own from each memory.
Here's our singular list, combining the best of the men's and women's tourneys into one field of 68.
1. Michigan State wins its first national title as Magic Johnson and Larry Bird battle for the first time (1979)
It’s tough to argue against this being the most important game in college basketball history. To this day, it remains the most-watched basketball game of all time, college or pro.
Johnson led Michigan State to a 75-64 victory over undefeated Indiana State and Bird, the National Player of the Year.
This game was the beginning of the rivalry that would bring the NBA to new heights.
PSA has graded two full tickets to this game and 26 stubs. Proving the power of this epic clash, the current rate for an unsigned stub is still $6,000. For a signed one, you’re breaking five figures.
2. NC State pulls off the greatest NCAA Tournament run in history, capped with a buzzer-beating dunk from Lorenzo Charles (1983)
Survive and advance.
While Villanova remains the lowest seed (No. 8) to win a national title, NC State’s 1983 squad had the most improbable run.
Entering the ACC Tournament at 17-10, the Wolfpack had to win the conference tourney in order to make the Big Dance.
That meant beating Michael Jordan’s UNC squad and Ralph Sampson’s Virginia. And State did just that, cutting down the nets in Greensboro, N.C., before going on a six-game tear in the NCAA Tournament, which included another win over No. 1-seeded Virginia and then defeating a top-seeded Houston squad in the final, led by Akeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler.
The shot of Jim Valvano looking around running for a hug will live on forever.
And it was all possible because Charles saw Derek Wittenburg’s 3-pointer falling way short and went up for the dunk.
The Charles jersey would be the top prize in nearly any college basketball collection.
3. Christian Laettner’s hits "The Shot" to lead Duke over Kentucky for a trip to the Final Four (1992)
When a play is known as “The Shot," it tells you its importance.
Grant Hill threw a pass three-quarters of the court to Laettner, who faked right, dribbled once, turned, and hit a jumper as time expired for the 104–103 win to down Kentucky. The play kept Duke’s chances of back-to-back titles alive, which the Blue Devils eventually accomplished with a win over the Fab Five of Michigan.
Laettner, perhaps the greatest player in Duke history, has been well-known for selling anything and everything from his Duke career.
He has sold both his title rings. In 2023, SCP sold his 1991 NCAA championship ring for $20,035 and his 1992 ring for $59,135.
And he sold his jersey from “The Shot” in 2014 for $119,500 at Lelands.
4. Arike Ogunbowale makes back-to-back buzzer beaters in the Final Four, giving Notre Dame its second national championship (2018)
Ogunbowale not only lived out everyone’s playground dream by hitting a game-winning buzzer-beater in the Final Four, she did it twice in the same weekend!
After the Irish guard hit a step-back jumper with one second left to eliminate UConn in overtime in the 2018 national semifinals, she one-upped herself in the title game with a fall-away 3-pointer as time expired to beat Mississippi State and give Notre Dame its second title.
The blue road jersey Ogunbowale wore in the 2018 Final Four or the two game-used basketballs from those shots would all rank among the top collectibles in women’s basketball history.
The Players’ Trunk did sell a collection of Ogunbowale-used items, including jerseys from and shorts from her freshman year.
5. Michael Jordan hits game-winning jumper to lift North Carolina to title over Georgetown (1982)
There was once a time when “His Airness” wasn’t Michael Jordan, but was known as simply Mike Jordan.
That changed when Carolina’s star freshman sank a 16-foot jumper to sink Georgetown and help Dean Smith earn his first national title.
From there on out, Jordan would forever be known as “Michael," en route to becoming perhaps the greatest basketball player to ever live.
And it all began on the biggest stage in college basketball.
Jordan famously wore UNC shorts under his game shorts in the NBA. This title-winning jersey has never surfaced. A jersey from his sophomore season sold in 2021 at Heritage for $1.38 million.
6. Texas Western and the first all-Black starting five in college hoops history take down segregated Kentucky (1966)
Michigan State-Indiana State was the most important game for the business of college basketball. This was the most important game for the sport.
Texas Western (now UTEP), and the nation’s first ever all-Black starting five, against Kentucky and Adolph Rupp, four-time champion, but a man who retired in 1972, having coached just one Black player in his career.
It wasn’t until after Texas Western pulled off the improbable victory that the Southeastern Conference integrated in 1967.
We can’t think of any better item from this game than the official scoreboard, which symbolized so much more than the game itself.
7. Villanova pulls off Cinderella run to become the first No. 8 seed to ever win the title (1985)
In the first year of the 64-team bracket, eighth-seeded Villanova squared off against mighty Georgetown, the reigning champs who had reached the title game in three of the last four seasons, all led by Patrick Ewing.
And somehow the Wildcats stunned the world. They played the perfect game.
Villanova shot 22-for-28 for the game, a 78.6% field-goal percentage, the best in NCAA history. And it came in the national championship.
In 2014, Gary McLain’s championship ring sold at Goldin for more than $15,000. But the best possible item can’t ever surface, because it was cut up.
Nova was nothin’ but net the entire game. And now, every member from that team has part of the net.
8. Charlotte Smith’s buzzer-beater wins the title for North Carolina (1994)
The first true buzzer-beater to win a NCAA women’s title, Smith’s shot from just inside the 3-point line lifted North Carolina to a 60-59 victory over Louisiana Tech and gave the Tar Heels their only national title in 1994.
Smith is now the women’s basketball coach at Elon, and autographed UNC cards are available from her on eBay for a reasonable price. Her jersey and the game-used ball from that historic jumper both belong in a trophy case.
9. Kris Jenkins walks it off with a game-winning buzzer-beater to lift Villanova to its first title in 31 years (2016)
It’s tough to argue this game didn’t have the greatest ending in national championship history.
With the scored tied, Jay Wright called a timeout and drew up a play for Villanova. Ryan Arcidiacono raced past halfcourt, curled around a pick and dumped the ball off to Kris Jenkins.
“For the championship,” yelled Jim Nantz as Jenkins hit the winner.
The shoes Jenkins wore sold at Goldin for $14,640 last year. But we want his jersey. We will settle though, for Wright’s clipboard.
10. Kemba Walker carries UConn to its third national championship, producing one of the best months in basketball in history (2011)
Walker's run through the entirety of March 2011 was otherworldly. UConn became the first team to win five games in five straight days to win the Big East, with Walker averaging 26 points per game.
Walker then averaged 23.5 points per game, leading the Huskies to their third national title. “Cardiac Kemba” as he was now known, was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
His 2011 title-winning jersey would be nice, but his shoes might actually take the top prize, for how he was able to break ankles.
11. Mario Chalmers drills game-tying 3-pointer to force OT in epic Memphis collapse (2008)
In the 2008 final, Memphis led Kansas by nine with 2:12 left, but a flurry of turnovers and missed free throws let the Jayhawks back into it.
It’s tough to say whether this title was more won by Kansas or lost by Memphis, but regardless, Chalmers’ 3 to force overtime will live in the history books.
Very few items have ever sold publicly from this game, but there’s zero doubt Chalmers’ jersey would be the top prize.
12. Chris Webber infamously calls a timeout to seal North Carolina’s win vs Michigan (1993)
Unfortunately for Webber, who was without a doubt the most dominant player of the Fab Five, his gaffe at the end of the 1993 final against North Carolina is on the Mount Rushmore of title-game errors.
Down by two points, with 11 seconds left, Webber dribbled into the corner near his own bench, was trapped and called a timeout.
But Michigan didn’t have any left. The Wolverines were dealt a technical foul, and Carolina hit both free throws to seal the win.
A North Carolina fan would surely love to own Webber’s title-game jersey. But oddly enough, the whistle from the ref who called the technical foul would be a fun keepsake as well.
13. Bo Kimble honors late teammate Hank Gathers by shooting his first free throw in each NCAA Tournament game left-handed (1990)
In the late 1980s, Loyola Marymount was as fun to watch as any college team ever. The Lions were fast-paced, and Gathers was at the center of it, averaging more than 30 points per game.
During an early-season game in 1989, Gathers collapsed and was subsequently diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat. After a few weeks off, he returned to action. But he collapsed again during the WCC Tournament Semifinals and died shortly after.
An autopsy revealed he suffered from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
During the Lions’ opening-round contest in the NCAA Tournament, Gathers’ teammate, Bo Kimble, the leading scorer in the country, shot his first free throw left-handed to honor Gathers.
Owning Kimble’s jersey, with the No. 44 patch, would be a constant reminder of what the college basketball world lost, but also celebrate one of the game’s giants.
14. Breanna Stewart wins fourth national title, completes most decorated career in women’s history (2016)
Four NCAA titles with four Most Outstanding Player awards in four seasons? Check, check, check. UConn's Stewart never lost an NCAA Tournament game and packed her trophy case every single season in 2013-16 during her career in Storrs.
A wide selection of Stewart memorabilia is available at Collectible Xchange, including a signed piece of the floor from the 2016 final (inscribed “4x NCAA champ”), a signed bracket (made from game-used floor) and player-worn gear.
15. Sheryl Swoopes scores 47 points — a title game record for men or women — in the 1993 championship win over Ohio State
The record for the highest-scoring performance in a title game, either men’s or women’s, was set in the 1993 final as Swoopes scored 47 points to surpass Bill Walton’s 44-point effort in the 1973 men’s final.
Texas Tech needed every bit of Swoopes’ record outburst as it edged Ohio State 84-82 for its first and only crown.
SCP Auctions has sold some of Swoopes’ game-worn memorabilia from the her WNBA career and her 1997 WNBA championship ring with the Houston Comets. But any game-used items from that title-game performance would vault to the top on the list of women’s hoops collectibles.
16. After 27 long years, Jim Boeheim finally brings the first NCAA title to Syracuse (2003)
For decades, Syracuse basketball was always the bridesmaid, never the bride.
Finally, in 2003, led by a freshman in Carmelo Anthony, Boeheim and Syracuse finally got it done, capped by Hakim Warrick’s emphatic, game-saving block in the closing seconds to down Kansas 81-78.
When the game ended, “The Post-Standard”, a local Syracuse paper, handed out pre-made cover stories that just said “CHAMPS!”
Since they were pre-made for the team to hold up in celebration post-game, there are only limited numbers of them, and they would be a tremendous collector’s item to frame on a wall.
17. Geno Auriemma and Pat Summitt meet in the final for the first of four times as UConn completes a perfect season (1995)
The rivalry between Hall of Fame coaches Auriemma and Summitt defined the women’s game for two decades, with the two meeting four times in the NCAA final, and UConn winning all four matchups.
The first of those came in 1995 when Auriemma’s upstart program was trying to prove it belong with Summitt’s powerhouse, which had already cut down the nets in 1987, 1989 and 1991.
Led by Player of the Year Rebecca Lobo, UConn edged Tennessee 70-64, completing the second perfect season in women’s NCAA history.
Lobo’s white No. 50 jersey from that title game would rank as an all-time relic, but for a much more affordable memento, there’s always the special issue of Sports Illustrated that featured Huskies point guard Jennifer Rizzotti.
18. Keith Smart drills the game-winner for Bobby Knight’s third national title (1987)
Everyone wants to be “Like Mike," but Smart actually was.
Like Jordan, Smart hit a game-winner from the side of the basket in the Superdome, about 15 feet out to win the title.
Knight sold his rings, but Smart’s would be the real prize from this team.
19. Mamadi Diakite hits miracle game-tying shot off Kihei Clark assist in Elite Eight to keep Virginia’s hopes alive against Purdue (2019)
In 2018, UVA became the first No. 1 seed to ever lose to a 16 seed. Fans and media alike dunked on Tony Bennett for his team’s style of play, stating not only won’t he win in March, but that his teams physically can’t.
Well, in 2019 they were back, again as a No. 1 seed. But again, in the Elite Eight, it appeared the Cavs would go home disappointed.
Down by two in the closing seconds, a missed free throw bounced around into the backcourt. Freshman Kihei Clark raced back and corralled it, before passing ahead to Mamadi Diakite, who drilled a short jumper to force OT. It was a miraculous play, and one that helped catapult the Cavs into the Final Four.
The OT win vs Purdue was followed with Kyle Guy hitting three straight free throws in the final second to beat Auburn in the next round, before taking down Texas Tech in OT for the national title, to complete the revenge tour.
The top item from this entire run would be the physical bracket that the team celebrated with after each game.
20. UCLA enacts revenge on Houston for snapping 88-game win streak, beats Cougars 101-69 en route to another title (1968)
On Jan. 20, 1968, Houston did the unthinkable, knocking off UCLA in the “Game of the Century”, ending UCLA’s 47-game win streak in the first nationally televised regular-season college hoops game.
When the two met again two months and two days later in the Final Four, the Bruins were on a mission.
Houston’s Elvin Hayes, who averaged over 37 points per game, was held to just 10, as Lew Alcindor and UCLA won by 32.
In 2017, a 1966-67 Alcindor game-worn jersey sold for $137,849. A jersey from this contest against Houston would likely double that.
But Alcindor’s ring from that season, now that would sure be something.
21. NC State ends UCLA’s run of seven straight titles with a double OT win in the Final Four (1974)
The Wolfpack ended one of the greatest dynasties in sports history, while also sporting one of the greatest teams we’ve ever seen.
The nation’s No. 1 team avenged its only loss of the season with a win over the Bruins in the Final, ending UCLA and John Wooden’s unparalleled run of seven straight NCAA titles.
While some might want game-used jerseys from Tommy Burleson or David Thompson, the real find would be Norm Sloan’s plaid sports coat from the final.
22. Bill Walton puts together arguably the best tourney performance in history, going 21-for-22 and scoring 44 in the win over Memphis State (1973)
Taking everything into consideration, it’s hard to argue this isn’t the greatest single-game performance in the history of college basketball.
Bill Walton shot 95% on 22 shots and scored 44 points. His 44 points still remain the single-game championship record.
Walton’s entire collection is actually going to auction this June and will include his rings.
23. Caleb Love’s dagger against Duke sends UNC to the national title, ending Coach K’s career (2022)
It is impossibly difficult to describe the importance of the 2022 Final Four matchup between Duke and North Carolina.
In all the years of excellence for both schools, they never crossed paths in the NCAA Tournament. And to add pressure to it, it was Mike Krzyzewski’s final season at Duke.
With 35 seconds left, Carolina led Duke 75-74 when Love hit a dagger 3 that catapulted UNC to the title game and ended Coach K’s career with a loss to his bitter rival.
Love’s jersey would, of course, be spectacular, but the game ball signed by the entire Tar Heels roster would ultimately be the best possible piece.
24. Caitlin Clark’s 40-point triple-double in 2023 Elite Eight to send Iowa to Final Four (2023)
The legend of Caitlin Clark was already in full effect in March 2023 … and then the Iowa superstar turned in one of the greatest individual performances in tourney history.
Splashing her trademark logo 3s from all over the court, Clark recorded the first 40-point triple-double in men’s or women’s tourney history with a 41-point, 12-assist, 10-rebound performance in a 14-point victory over Louisville.
Clark often claimed the game ball from her most memorable college performances, usually tossing it to her brother or father to preserve in the family’s collection of her memorabilia. The race for Clark memorabilia, including game-worn shoes and jerseys was ignited during Iowa’s back-to-back Final Four runs in 2023 and 2024.
Goldin Auctions sold a Clark-signed 2024 Final Four replica jersey for more than $3k in January, so you can only imagine what her game-worn uniform from the triple-double would fetch.
25. Saint Peter’s goes on a magical run all the way to the Elite Eight, defeating Kentucky, Murray State and Purdue (2022)
Every year seemingly we see a magical NCAA Tournament run. But perhaps none were as likely to happen as Saint Peters, which knocked off No. 2 seed Kentucky and No. 3 Purdue en route to an Elite Eight appearance in 2022, marking the first time in tournament history a 15th seed reached the regional finals.
A Doug Edert Peacocks jersey from the wins over Purdue or Kentucky would go hard.
26. Anthony Davis leads a squadron of Kentucky freshman to John Calipari's first title (2012)
This team was flat-out phenomenal. With a 38-2 record, the Wildcats never dipped below No. 3 in the AP Poll throughout the entire season; and they capped it off with a victory over Kansas in the national championship, in a game that the scoreline looks way closer than the game actually was.
If anything were to ever come to auction from this game, Cal’s ring would be the easy choice.
27. Indiana caps perfect season, still remains the last unbeaten team in men's history (1976)
Perfection. It hasn’t existed in men’s basketball since 1976, when Bob Knight won his first NCAA championship with the 32-0 Indiana Hoosiers, who remain the last undefeated team in men’s college hoops.
Six players from the ‘76 team made it to the NBA, but none were as memorable as Knight, who sold all his rings as well as his Olympic gold medal in 2012.
The 1976 ring dwarfed all the other sales, with a price tag of more than $200,000.
28. UMBC becomes the first 16-seed to ever defeat a No. 1 seed (2018)
It seemed like it was never going to happen, as every year talking heads and commentators asked, “Will this be the year a No. 16 seed beats a No. 1seed?” But each March the hopes of the colossal upset were dashed, again and again.
That is, until UMBC came along.
Matched up with top-seeded Virginia, playing in the NCAA tournament for just the second time in school history, UMBC did the impossible, dismissing Virginia 74-54.
What would be sweeter than a busted bracket signed by the whole UMBC team?
29. Bryce Drew’s game-winner to send 13th seed Valparaiso past Ole Miss (1998)
With 2.5 seconds left, the Crusaders ran a play known as “Pacer,” inbounding the ball to Bill Jenkins, who leaped and tipped the ball to Drew, who drained a 23-footer to win the game.
Drew’s jersey from that game would easily be the most coveted Valpo jersey in the history of the school.
30. Harvard becomes the first 16th seed in the men’s or women’s tourney to stun a No. 1 seed (1998)
Long before there was UMBC and Fairleigh Dickinson on the men’s side, the only No. 16 seed to ever knock off a top seeded was the 1998 Harvard women, who stunned a Stanford squad that had been hit hard by injuries.
Still, the upset ranks as one of the biggest in sports history: the Cardinal was the first overall seed in the tourney, and the Crimson were No. 62 in the 64-team field.
Allison Feaster, who led the nation in scoring, was the face of Harvard’s stunner, so we’d love to add her road jersey from that historic night.
31. Tennessee wins its third straight title in 1998 behind one of the best teams in history, going 39-0 (1998)
Summitt and the Lady Vols answered Connecticut’s challenge by assembling one of the best recruiting classes in NCAA history and ripping off a run of three straight titles, including a dominant 39-0 season in 1998.
With Chamique Holsclaw and Tamika Catchings leading the way, Tennessee laid claim to being one of the best teams in history.
No collection of women’s basketball history would be complete without Summitt memorabilia, so we’d love to own one of the nets the legendary coach cut down with her young son, Tyler, after either the ‘96, ‘97 or ‘98 finals — we aren’t picky.
32. Steph Curry goes on absolute rampage against Wisconsin, Gonzaga and Kansas (2008)
It’s easy to forget Steph Curry wasn’t always Steph Curry, the greatest shooter in the history of the sport of basketball. But, in 2008, the sophomore was just becoming a household name.
As the No. 10 seed, Davidson notched wins over Gonzaga (Curry had 40 points), No. 2 seed Georgetown (Curry had 30 points) and No. 3 seed Wisconsin with LeBron James courtside (Curry had 33).
There is something so special about Curry’s future rival and peer, LeBron, being in attendance for Curry’s coming-out party. A dual-signed Curry-LeBron photo from the game would be a perfect way to capture the moment.
33. Duke overcomes 22-point deficit to take down rival Maryland in the Final Four (2001)
The Blue Devils entered the 2001 NCAA Tournament as THE title contender, but a 22-point deficit in the first half put those hopes in extreme jeopardy.
Duke trailed by 11 at halftime, but rallied in the second half to take down Maryland 95-84 — the largest halftime comeback in Final Four history until 2022.
Anchored by All-Americans Jay Williams, Shane Battier and future NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer, the Blue Devils would go on to top Arizona for the school’s third title.
A piece of the floor from the Metrodome would be a centerpiece for many collections.
34. George Mason becomes first double-digit seed to reach Final Four (2006)
After George Mason reached the Final Four as a No. 11 seed, coach Jim Larranaga received a call from Butler athletic director Barry Collier saying, “Now you’ve broken the four-minute mile.”
It was THAT improbable, and, much like Bannister and the four-minute mile, paved the way for future underdogs to make their own runs to the Final Four in subsequent years.
What would be a better memento from the legendary Cinderella story than the net the Patriots cut down after their Elite Eight win over UConn?
35. UNLV completes one of the greatest seasons in history with a 30-point thrashing of Duke (1990)
Talk about total decimation.
The 1990 Runnin’ Rebels will always go down as one of the most explosive teams in college hoops history. Duke found this out the hard way when UNLV boat-raced the Blue Devils 103-73 in the national title game.
UNLV coach Jerry “The Shark” Tarkanian was always known for holding a towel during games, which he would often chew on. The Shark’s towel from what likely ended up being one of the least stressful games from his coaching career would be a great relic to own.
36. Diana Taurasi wins back-to-back MOPs in leading UConn to a three-peat (2004)
When UConn beat rival Tennessee to win its third consecutive championship, the ball found its way to Diana Taurasi at midcourt, and the Huskies’ All-American spun around and kicked the ball with her left foot, sending it sailing high into the stands.
That basketball would be the perfect keepsake to symbolize the dominance of Taurasi, who won three college titles. We’d also love to get our hands on the custom Nike shoes that the Huskies received, inscribed with “3peat” on the heel.
37. Danny Manning leads 11-loss Kansas to a title under Larry Brown (1988)
Heading into the national final, Oklahoma had already beaten Big Eight rival Kansas twice in the regular season, but the 11-loss Jayhawks pulled off the win when it mattered most against the Sooners.
Led by Manning, Kansas pulled off one of the biggest point-spread upsets in title game history to earn the "Danny and the Miracles" nickname.
Among the best items from the miracle run to sell is Brown’s championship ring, which fetched $4,783 at Lelands in 2016.
38. FGCU makes miracle run to the Sweet 16 on the backs of Dunk City (2013)
The first No. 15 seed to make the Sweet 16, Florida Gulf Coast delivered highlight dunk after highlight dunk en route to upsets over Georgetown and San Diego State.
One of the rims from FGCU’s upset over Georgetown, which felt like they might be ripped out of the backboard more than once, would be the perfect collectible.
39. UConn finishes a 39-0 season with a dominant win over Oklahoma behind arguably the best women’s team ever (2002)
Connecticut’s 2001-02 lineup was arguably the best in the history of the women’s game — yes, we will hear arguments from Tennessee’s 1997-98 squad.
Led the legendary backcourt of Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, the Huskies overpowered opponents in a 39-0 season.
A game-used ball from that 2002 Final Four at the sold-out Alamodome in San Antonio, signed by that stellar lineup and coach Geno Auriemma, would definitely look nice on any collector’s mantle.
40. Brittney Griner leads undefeated Baylor to national title (2012)
With Griner overpowering opponents in the middle, Baylor rolled to a 40-0 record and claimed the program’s second national title.
As for the collectible item we’d love to own, it’s hard to beat one of the sideline outfits from stylish Baylor coach Kim Mulkey. Her shimmering pink and blue jacket from the national semifinals ranks on her list of memorable looks.
41. Florida becomes the first repeat champs since Duke in 1991-92 (2007)
Florida, led by returning stars Al Horford, Joakim Noah and Corey Brewer, defeated Ohio State to become the first back-to-back winners since Duke 15 years prior.
Considering the star power of the Gators' big three, a game-used ball from the game, signed by the trio, would be a fitting keepsake.
42. North Carolina becomes the first team to win every tournament game by double-digits (2009)
Domination is the only way to describe UNC’s 2009 title, becoming the first team in history to win each game by double-digits, with an average margin of victory of nearly 20 points across the six games.
A ticket from each one of the historic tournament wins seems like the best way to commemorate the team’s magic run.
43. UConn shocks the world, beating Duke and winning its first national title (1999)
The Blue Devils were 9.5-point favorites over UConn, which was looking to cut down the nets for the first time. UConn won by three in an instant classic, shocking the Blue Devils, who had five future NBA players on their roster.
Rip Hamilton will always have a special place in UConn lore as the team’s first superstar to win a title, and his game-worn jersey would likely be on the Mount Rushmore of UConn memorabilia.
44. Notre Dame dethrones UConn in the national semifinals in 2001 en route to its first national title (2001)
UConn would have won five consecutive titles to start the 2000s, if not for a stellar effort from All-American center Ruth Riley and Notre Dame to pull out a 90-75 stunner in the 2001 national semifinals.
The Irish rallied from a 16-point deficit in the first half behind guard Niele Ivey (Notre Dame’s current coach) to overwhelm their Big East rivals.
Riley was the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, and her trademark headband would be the collectible symbol of ND’s first title.
45. Bill Russell leads San Francisco to back-to-back national titles (1956)
The greatest winner in the history of basketball is Bill Russell. No questions asked.
In 1955 and 1956, Russell led the Dons of San Francisco to consecutive national titles, while earning back-to-back First Team All-American honors.
For a man who did nothing but collect rings, his second San Francisco ring would be a top collector’s item.
46. Butler goes on a miracle run to the title game against Duke (2010)
It’s rare that a missed shot is one of a tournament’s most memorable moments, but that’s the case with Butler’s Cinderella run to the 2010 final against Duke.
The first of back-to-back title game trips for the Bulldogs, the team was led by coach Brad Stevens and star Gordon Hayward. A No. 10 seed, Butler delivered five consecutive wins, including victories over Syracuse, Kansas State and Michigan State to reach the final.
With Duke leading 61-59, Hayward’s desperation heave from half court in the final moments hit the back of the rim to provide one of college basketball’s most iconic “almost” moments.
Though Duke did hold a championship auction following the win, no item from the game would be a better collectible than the rim from Hayward’s miss.
47. Wisconsin ends Kentucky's bid for an undefeated season (2015)
For those who don’t remember, legitimate sports media figures were debating if the 2015 Kentucky team could beat an NBA team. The Wildcats couldn’t. And they couldn’t beat Wisconsin.
In Bo Ryan’s final full season at the helm of the team, the Badgers managed to upset the then-undefeated Kentucky Wildcats 71-64 in the Final Four, led by Frank “The Tank” Kaminsky’s 20-point, 11-rebound performance. What could be better than The Tank's game-worn jersey from the upset.
48. Luke Maye’s buzzer beater over Kentucky in the Elite Eight keeps the North Carolina redemption tour alive (2017)
UNC was on a mission after losing on the Kris Jenkins buzzer beater the year before. Meanwhile, Kentucky touted three spectacular freshmen in De’Aaron Fox, Bam Adebayo and Malik Monk.
Sophomore Luke Maye hit an 18-foot jumper with 0.3 seconds remaining, to seal the Carolina win and a trip to the Final Four, where the Tar Heels would ultimately win the natty.
Maye’s jersey would be a great item, especially for a Tar Heel collector, considering this is one of the top five shots in team history.
49. Behind Angel Reese, Kim Mulkey’s LSU squad overwhelms Caitlin Clark and Iowa (2023)
In the waning moments of LSU’s dominating victory over Iowa in the 2023 title game, Most Outstanding Player Angel Reese taunted Iowa rival Caitlin Clark by pointing to her ring finger.
What better collectible than the championship ring which was eventually presented to Reese, who averaged 21.3 points and 15.2 rebounds in the Tigers’ title run.
50. Illinois overcomes 15-point deficit in final four minutes to beat Arizona (2005)
Miraculous. Simply miraculous.
Arizona led Illinois 75-60 with 4:04 remaining in the game, before the Illini’s big three of Deron Williams, Luther Head and Dee Brown went nuclear, hitting 3s from all over the court.
The game ball signed by all three would be any Illinois’ collector’s dream, and probably the best item in Illini basketball history.
51. South Carolina completes a perfect season at 38-0, defeating Caitlin Clark and Iowa in final (2024)
Dawn Staley’s South Carolina is the current standard bearer in the women’s game, and the Gamecocks smothered Clark and Iowa to win their second title in three seasons and complete a 38-0 campaign.
Staley, who has earned the moniker “Louis Vuitton Dawn,” wore a $5,000 silver LV jacket in the final, which would be a top collectible.
52. Tyus Edney goes coast-to-coast to keep UCLA’s title hopes alive (1995)
It’s amazing to consider UCLA’s toughest tourney test in 1995 came in the second round.
The Tigers took the lead with just 4.8 seconds remaining, on a play that seemingly defeated all hopes of a title run for UCLA.
Nonetheless, point guard Tyus Edney drove coast-to-coast, finishing with a very difficult bank floater as the Bruins mobbed the court.
While Edney certainly delivered the game heroics, star Ed O’Bannon was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, and he actually would be the fun choice for game-used memorabilia, because he was the plaintiff at the forefront of suing the NCAA over name, image and likeness. So anything O’Bannon from this tournament would be ideal.
53. Danny Ainge drives the full court for a running layup at the buzzer to send BYU into the Elite Eight (1981)
Though Ainge might be best known to many basketball fans today for his NBA career with the Celtics and now his work as an executive, the former All-American’s single greatest moment arrived in 1981 with BYU basketball.
Trailing 50-49 against Notre Dame in the Elite Eight, Ainge sprinted the length of the court and sank the game-winning layup with just two seconds left.
Ainge’s blue BYU jersey would be the ultimate collectible for not just any BYU fan, but any college basketball fan.
54. Freshman Cheryl Miller lifts USC to first title in second NCAA women's championship ever (1983)
Miller was one of the most dominant players in NCAA history, and it didn’t take her long to make an impact as she led USC to the 1983 championship and then a repeat title in 1984.
Just about any item from the three-time Naismith Player of the Year would be highly collectible, including Miller’s jerseys from the 1983 final (27 points) and 1984 title game (22 points). However, the one item we would love to own from Miller’s career is the ball from the game in her senior year at Riverside Polytechnic High School in which Miller scored a record 105 points.
55. Ronald Moore’s 3 lifts No. 9 Siena over No. 8 Ohio State, prompting “Onions, double order” from Bill Raftery (2009)
While the most memorable games are often associated with play on the court, the broadcasters can sometimes elevate the experience to an all-new level — Raftery did just that in the 2009 NCAA Tournament.
With Ohio State leading 65-62 in overtime, Siena’s Ronald Moore canned the game-tying 3-pointer to send the game to double overtime. Raftery lifted the sequence with his iconic “Onions!” call.
Moore and Raftery did it again in double overtime, this time with Moore drilling the game-winning 3 with 12 seconds remaining. Raftery followed with his now-famous call of “Onions! Double order!” Raftery’s microphone from the game could be the ultimate oddball piece for any collection.
56. Lennie Rosenbluth leads UNC to a triple OT victory over Kansas to complete an undefeated season (1957)
Little is seemingly remembered of the pre-Dean Smith days in Chapel Hill, but it’s impossible to forget the accomplishments of Lennie Rosenbluth, one of Carolina’s all-time greats.
Rosenbluth averaged over 28 points per game his senior year, leading the Tar Heels to their best season in program history.
In the national title, they met Kansas and fellow All-American Wilt Chamberlain.
After three overtimes, UNC emerged victorious 54-53, capping a perfect 32-0 season. Rosenbluth’s No. 10 jersey is one collectible that most college basketball junkies wouldn’t know, but certainly should.
57. Candace Parker lays it all on the line to lead Tennessee to another national title (2008)
Talk about a true warrior. In the first half of an Elite Eight matchup vs Texas A&M, Parker suffered a dislocated shoulder after scoring the previous 16 points for the Lady Vols.
But even a separated shoulder couldn’t stop Parker, who helped the Lady Vols cut down the nets for the second straight year and earned her second consecutive Most Outstanding Player award.
We weren’t there for the official tests. One can assume an X-ray was likely involved. If so, a signed X-ray of the injury would be unreal.
58. Rolando Blackman’s buzzer-beating jumper helps Kansas State eliminate No. 1 Oregon State (1981)
Considered one of the most iconic days in tourney history, March 14. 1981, delivered three second-round upsets, including Kansas State dispatching No. 1 Oregon State on Rolando Blackman’s game-winning jumper.
Blackman’s shot ended up on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s “The Mighty Have Fallen” issue. A Blackman-signed copy of that SI cover would stand out as a key piece in most collections.
59. Jalen Suggs’ half-court heave sends Gonzaga to its second NCAA final (2021)
For some reason, UCLA and Gonzaga always play instant classics in the NCAA Tournament, and this 2021 Final Four matchup was no different.
Following a UCLA game-tying bucket with just four seconds left, the freshman Suggs raced down the court and launched a near half-court prayer, which banked in, sending Gonzaga back to the national title game.
Suggs’ jersey though would be a must-have from this game.
60. NC State reaches Final Four as an 11 seed (2024)
Anchored by fan-favorite big man DJ Burns, the Wolfpack finished the regular season just 17-14, but a miracle run in the ACC Tournament, which included five wins in five days, catapulted NC State into the Big Dance.
The run for NC State continued with wins over Texas Tech, Oakland, Marquette and Duke, which secured the team a spot in the Final Four against eventual tournament runner-up Purdue.
Burns’ 29 points against the Blue Devils in the Elite Eight were a highlight of the entire tournament, and one of his game-used jerseys would be a great addition to any collection.
61. VCU’s full-court press terrorizes the NCAA Tournament en route to a date with Butler in the Final Four (2011)
One of the greatest Cinderella runs in tournament history, VCU’s trip to the Final Four in 2011 was the first for a team to start in the tournament’s First Four.
Led by coach Shaka Smart, VCU’s "havoc" full-court press confused and frustrated teams en route to five straight tournament wins before it ended against Butler in the Final Four.
Even if he didn’t score a single point for the Rams, no star was bigger during that tournament than Smart. For a Rams superfan, a pair of Smart’s used sneakers might be a holy grail.
62. Chris McNaughton’s hook shot lifts No. 14 Bucknell over No. 3 Kansas for first NCAA Tournament win in school history and Patriot League history (2005)
With just over 10 seconds remaining, McNaughton’s hook landed to give the Bison a 64-63 stunner of the mighty Jayhawks.
Not only did the upset give Bucknell its first NCAA Tournament win in school history, it served as the first tournament win for any team from the Patriot League, which was in its 15th season.
The ball from McNaughton’s hookshot would be a great collectible, but a superfan might like the ESPY the team won for “Best Upset” later that year even more.
63. John Lucas hits game-winning 3 as Oklahoma State upsets undefeated Saint Joe’s in the Elite Eight (2004)
Saint Joseph’s entered the NCAA Tournament with a No. 1 seed after finishing the regular season with a perfect 27-0 record.
Trailing 62-61, Baylor transfer John Lucas buried a 3-pointer with 6.9 seconds to give the Cowboys the lead and the win. A team-signed basketball, like the one sold at Pristine Auction in 2019, would be an ideal collectible.
64. Maya Moore wins her second straight title (2010)
Picture this ...
Your school elects you to its ring of honor WHILE YOU’RE STILL PLAYING.
And then you go on to win the national championship that year, your second straight, and capture the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player Award.
Maya Moore did just that, and her jersey from the title game would be quite the collectible.
The First Four
65. Jimmer Fredette leads BYU on a shocking Sweet 16 run (2011)
Jimmer Mania swept the nation as the 2011 Player of the Year carried BYU to its first Sweet 16 since 1981.
Fredette memorabilia is few and far between, though Heritage did list a pair of his game-worn sneakers for auction in 2013, however, it went unsold, failing to meet its reserve of $500.
Since Sports Illustrated featured Fredette on the cover of its 2011 NCAA Tournament preview issue, his jersey from the photoshoot would be an incredible find.
66. No. 9 seed Northern Iowa and Ali Farokhmanesh upset top overall seed Kansas (2010)
The No. 1 overall seed, Kansas expected to make a serious run at an NCAA title. Ali Farokhmanesh and Northern Iowa had other plans.
Leading 63-62 with 36 seconds to play, Farokhmanesh drilled a 3-pointer with 30 seconds remaining to help seal UNI's stunner.
A Farokhmanesh-signed copy of his “Divine Madness” Sports Illustrated cover would be a tremendous addition to the collection of any hardcore college basketball fan.
67. Louisiana Tech wins the first NCAA Women’s Tournament in 1982
Led by a feisty, pigtailed point guard named Kim Mulkey, the Lady Techsters won the first NCAA Women’s Tournament with a rout of Cheyney State to complete a 35-1 season and wire-to-wire campaign as the nation’s top-ranked team.
Louisiana Tech was known for years its sleeved jerseys, so getting a game-used edition from either Mulkey or leading scorer Pam Kelly would be a historic collectible.
68. Jordan Poole drains a 3-pointer to lead Michigan to the Sweet Sixteen (2018)
Jordan Poole became a tournament star with a game-winning 3 to lift Michigan over Houston in 2018.
Michigan would eventually lose to Villanova in the championship game, but Poole’s buzzer beater remains one of the tournament’s most memorable shots.
What elevated the shot even more was Poole’s celebration, with the Wolverines chasing him down across the court following the make.
Poole’s game-used jersey from the moment would be among the most coveted items for collectors.
This list was composed by cllct staff members Matt Liberman, Kevin Jackson, Will Stern and Ben Burrows.