March Madness is a time when memories are made and legends are created. From plays like Christian Laettner’s shot against Kentucky to Ali Farokhmanesh’s 3-pointer against Kansas, the ability to get it done during crunch time can mark the difference between winning or losing in the NCAA Tournament. Whether it’s free throw shooting or the ability to hit outside shots when time is running out, teams that are not battle-tested in the clutch rarely succeed.
With that in mind, we decided to take a look at the five teams that have the best record in close games this season. Close games are defined as contests decided by five points or fewer, or games that go to overtime regardless of the final score.
Here are five of the most clutch teams in March Madness.
Chattanooga, 12-seed
8-0 record in close games
Chattanooga is the undisputed king of close games. The Mocs won four games by a single basket in 2016, and that includes dramatic two-point road victories at Georgia and Dayton. Matt McCall, the Mocs’ first-year head coach, has done a masterful job guiding UTC to a 29-5 record while flawlessly handling the pressure-packed final minutes of close ball games. The former Billy Donovan assistant has a chance to earn Chattanooga its first NCAA Tournament win since its Cinderella run to the Sweet 16 in 1997. The Mocs draw the Indiana Hoosiers in the first round, a program that has been dreadful in close games. Tom Crean’s team is just 3-5 in games decided by five points or fewer this season.
Oregon State, 7-seed
6-0 record in close games
The Beavers’ NCAA Tournament drought is over, and the team’s record in close games is the reason why. Oregon State won four Pac-12 games by four points or fewer, scoring the final points of the game in all four contests. Stephen Thompson Jr. has been the real hero for OSU down the stretch. The true freshman from LA made the game-winning foul shots against Utah and the game-winning three pointer against Washington. He closed out both games in the final five seconds. For a program that hasn’t made the Big Dance in 26 years, the Beavers have no shortage of playmakers who can handle the pressure.
Kansas, 1-seed
4-0 record in close games
It’s one thing to rack up tight victories against inferior opponents, but it’s another thing entirely to be perfect in pressure situations against elite competition. The Jayhawks won all four of their close games this season, and they all came against ranked opponents. Their 109-106 triple overtime victory over Oklahoma went down as one of the greatest regular season college basketball games ever played. But that three-point triumph wasn’t a flash in the pan; Bill Self’s group has proven time and again that they can close out tight games. The last time KU had a perfect record in games decided by five or fewer was 2011, when they advanced to the Elite Eight.
Saint Joseph’s, 8-seed
7-1 record in close games
Phil Martelli’s team has exceeded expectations this season, and they’ve done it by squeezing out close games. The Hawks narrowly defeated both Temple and Dayton this season, two schools in this year’s field of 68. In both of those one-possession victories, Martelli leaned heavily on his dynamic forwards DeAndre Bembry and Isaiah Miles. Miles, in particular, is an excellent weapon down the stretch because he’s the best foul shooter in the A-10 at 88.3 percent. The last time Saint Joe’s won a game in the NCAA Tournament was 2004 when they posted a 5-1 record in close games. In fact, two of their five close wins came during the Big Dance, including a four-point victory over Chris Paul’s Wake Forest squad.
Michigan, 11-seed
5-1 record in close games
The Wolverines were left for dead, sitting at 20-11 before the Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis. A two-point overtime victory over Northwestern got them into the conference’s quarterfinals. Then Kameron Chatman’s buzzer-beater knocked off Indiana and punched Michigan’s at-large ticket. The Wolverines have excelled in close games, and their foul shooting is a big reason why.
Michigan shoots 73.9 percent as a team, but that number improved to 76.4 percent in its six close finishes this season. When you combine their performances in close games with John Beilein’s track record in the NCAA Tournament, it easy to see why the Wolverines are a trendy pick to go from the First Four to the Sweet 16.
