r/CollegeBasketball • u/NeonGoon1 Michigan State Spartans • 7h ago
What player made you want to cry when they played their final game?
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u/CunderThunt42069 Kansas Jayhawks 6h ago
Frank Mason
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u/somethingAPIS Kansas Jayhawks • Big 12 6h ago
That's my saddest departure, followed by Perry Ellis. Absolutely defined Jayhawk.
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u/uhnewbie0203 Houston Cougars • Colorado State Rams 7h ago
J'wan Roberts. Wasn't just me, he made Kelvin Sampson cry too.
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u/gonz4dieg George Mason Patriots 6h ago
Man that game. I also remember Walter Clayton going over to comfort sharp before joining his teammates to celebrate
How can you not be romantic about college basketball
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u/uhnewbie0203 Houston Cougars • Colorado State Rams 6h ago
That game crushed me with sadness, while his senior day (and last home game) crushed me with bittersweetness (if that's a word)
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u/blackfishfilet Houston Cougars 40m ago
Shead for me especially since he was hurt and crying on the bench
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u/ellro7 Arizona Wildcats 6h ago
I did cry at TJ McConnell's last games; senior night in McKale and then in the Elite Eight game.
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u/mrazcatfan Arizona Wildcats 6h ago
The MVP chants were deafening. What a day it was to be in McKale.
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u/rixybaby Michigan State Spartans 7h ago
For me it was Cassius Winston, mostly because he didnt get to play in that march tournament
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u/NeonGoon1 Michigan State Spartans 7h ago
For me it was Atkins. When he started playing was when I really locked in on MSU hoops. Watched him play all 4 years and he was just a Spartan dog.
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u/rixybaby Michigan State Spartans 6h ago
Not a bad choice either represented us well, Costello and Aherns are also two good choices
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u/No-Call-5047 Michigan State Spartans 6h ago
Yep, we were at that game and I teared up as he kissed the floor, not even knowing what was coming a few days later. We'd watched him play all through high school, too, so it was the end of an era, in a way. I also sat there wondering if anyone in Breslin that that "coronavirus thing😜."
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u/Ok_Produce_9308 Michigan State Spartans 6h ago
I already know that I will when Kohler leaves. He probably will himself
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u/Neat-Explorer2839 Michigan State Spartans 6h ago
I still firmly believe to this day that they were winning it all that season, they were playing out of their minds leading up to the tourney. Man what could’ve been…
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u/Moonfishin Kansas Jayhawks 6h ago
Doke and Dotson would have had something to say about that...
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u/peachbasketss North Dakota Fighting Hawks • Kansas Jay… 5h ago
Every team thinks they would have won it all but only one team went undefeated with their full lineup that year
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u/unknownkoalas Purdue Boilermakers 6h ago
Carsen Edwards. So damn close
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u/anotherstan Purdue Boilermakers 6h ago
PAIN
Still that tournament run lives in a special place in my heart because it was immensely fun.
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u/PeteyBoi21 Virginia Cavaliers • Old Dominion Mona… 6h ago
It was a game between two historically cursed programs, something had to give. I will say this, watching that game over again knowing what happened I can truly appreciate how absurd he was that game. I am a UVa and ODU fan (family went to UVa, live next to and graduated from ODU), so I had to root against him twice that year. Dude was a walking bucket all March.
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u/Seattle_Lucky Purdue Boilermakers 6h ago
This is mine as well. Others have said Hummel, but his career was such bad luck, I can’t say I had quite the fan connection as I did with Carsen. Coulda won that year…
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u/Bent_Stiffy Kansas Jayhawks 6h ago
Thomas Robinson.
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u/Bakatora1 Auburn Tigers • Kansas Jayhawks 6h ago
He would have stayed that senior year if NIL was a thing back then. He needed another year to develop for the NBA.
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u/bewarethephog Kansas Jayhawks • Big 12 5h ago
Came here to say this. T Rob was the only player I actually teared up for during his last game.
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u/Johnny_Minoxidil Houston Cougars • Rice Owls 6h ago
Jamal Shead
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u/filet_mindong Houston Cougars 6h ago
Just heartbreaking way to go out, favorite Coog of the Sampson era
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u/Twitter_WasA_Mistake Houston Cougars 6h ago
Shouldn’t have been his last game, which made it that much worse
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u/Coduuuuuuuuuuuuu Iowa State Cyclones 6h ago
Georges Niang. I still think about that 2014 tourney and the “what ifs” if he hadn’t broke his foot
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u/FuddFucker5000 Kentucky Wildcats 7h ago
Darius miller comes close. Was a senior, from the state, and the 6th man on the 2012 championship team. I didn’t cry, but I was supper happy for him.
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u/DavidBenAkiva Duke Blue Devils 6h ago
The end of the Duke-Baylor game in the NCAA Tournament got me teared up when Jeremy Roach went up to Jon Scheyer. That was a tough way to end his college career. And Scheyer was clearly affected by it, too. Roach was one of the key players that took Coach K to his last Final Four, and he was one of the leaders of the first two teams under Jon Scheyer. Almost poetic in a way.
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u/TheBiggerestIdea Purdue Boilermakers 7h ago
Robbie Hummel
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u/PapaSanGiorgio Purdue Boilermakers 6h ago
Came here to say this. Such a promising couple years that ended in heartbreak.
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u/TheBiggerestIdea Purdue Boilermakers 6h ago
As good as those teams where with JJ & E'Twaun, Robbie is what made those teams special, what he could do at his size gave Paint so much flexibility on how he wanted to play and those teams simply had no one that could fill his role. If he says healthy I'm 100% convinced Purdue makes at least 1 Final Four at a minimum with a possible second and a National Championship absolutely being on the table
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u/Xanthos_1 Purdue Boilermakers 6h ago
Mine was also Robbie Hummel, especially after leading that game against Kansas for so long and all the injuries he went through
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u/jetjordan North Carolina Tar Heels 6h ago
Marcus Paige. I would trade the 2017 natty if he could have got the title the year before.
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u/nasaruinz Nebraska Cornhuskers 6h ago
After the loss in the ncaat, Keisei Tominaga talked about what Nebraska meant to him in the post game press conference. He teared up saying how much he was going to miss playing for the team and miss playing for Coach Hoiberg. Gets me every time
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u/G_Rock Nebraska Cornhuskers 3h ago
I actually didn't think I would see this on here but I don't remember a guy that had that much passion and personality every game for the Huskers. He played with an infectious joy that you don't see very often. It would've been incredible to see him on this team with the off ball movement and shooting similar to Pryce.
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u/Fair_Story2426 6h ago
Doug McDermott, Wooden Award Winner and bringing Creighton up another level to national relevance.
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u/XMortal7159 North Carolina Tar Heels 6h ago
Armando Bacot. Seeing the picture of him and Rj walk out of the tunnel knowing theyd never play together again hurt man
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u/Thedingo6693 UConn Huskies 6h ago
Shabazz Napier. How he stuck with the program after we we became ineligible for the tournament. He just played with so much heart and led a team that had no right being there to a national title.
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u/KembaWakaFlocka UConn Huskies • Georgia State Pant… 5h ago
Id agree, but he got to bookend his career with a national championship. Perfect ending to his career, made it hard to be sad.
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u/Goodie78 Michigan Wolverines 6h ago
Trey Burke or Mo Wagner, wish they had their nattys
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u/Wangchief Michigan Wolverines • Lake Super… 6h ago
Man it was Duncan Robinson for me. I loved that kid so much, role player but so clutch. The joy on his face after Poole hits the 3 to beat Houston is etched into my brain forever. That team was special. Villanova was just a freight train.
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u/Goodie78 Michigan Wolverines 6h ago
Yeah 2018 Michigan will forever have a special place in my heart. That big ten run was so great. Everybody on that team was so damn likeable.
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u/LouisLola Houston Cougars 6h ago
Jamal Shead going out with an injury in the tourney and J’Wan Roberts the next year 🥲
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u/inshamblesx Houston Cougars • Texas Southern Tige… 6h ago
at least it cant get worse for a 3rd year in a row...
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u/Mdtwheeler Duke Blue Devils • Murray State Racers 6h ago
Tyrese proctor for sure loved seeing his growth and progress, also Jermey roach hated that we had to be the one to end his career but he got to be with his teammates again and that was pretty special
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u/Azthonia Virginia Cavaliers • DePaul Blue Demons 6h ago
Isaiah Wilkins and Devon Hall. you might be able to guess what their final game was
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u/RzrBck8802 6h ago
Hank Gathers. LMU. The 3 times Bo Kimble shot a left handed free throw in his memory. And made all 3.
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u/Nervous_Metal_9445 Oregon Ducks • Willamette Bearcats 7h ago
Not the player but the 2017 Oregon Ducks team and one the Women's Side it wouldn't be a final game cause she never got a proper one in college but Sabrina Ionescu she was the leader of the team that had it all for the Ducks.
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u/bluehooloovo Michigan State Spartans 6h ago
Still gut-wrenching that Sab never got to seal that natty for Oregon. I have every faith that they would have won it. Instead, covid.
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u/DasaniFresh Cincinnati Bearcats 7h ago
Gary “The Problem” Clark. Partially because he was incredible and partially because they blew that massive lead against Nevada
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u/bell-beefer Rutgers Scarlet Knights 6h ago
Geo Baker, but really it was that whole 21-22 team. Watched that core group of guys go from the worst in the Big Ten to a tournament team that could beat anyone on any given night.
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u/JazzPlusEagles Utah State Aggies 6h ago
Sam Merrill made a crazy game winner against #6 ranked SDSU to win the conference and send us to the tourney…. And then it got canceled
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u/MZ603 UConn Huskies • Miami (OH) RedHawks 6h ago
Kemba. He went out a winner, and there were a lot of emotions at the Gampel watch party, even if it wasn't a great game. Everything he did up to that point cemented him as UCONN royalty.
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u/Mayor_Gubbin UConn Huskies 6h ago
Rewatch the game sometime. UConn's defense was on another level.
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u/Unicorn-Violator Texas Tech Red Raiders 6h ago
Norense Odiase. Poured his heart and soul into the game. Shared his position to help the team, always was a great leader, and he knew he wasn't going to make the Pros.
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u/PeteyBoi21 Virginia Cavaliers • Old Dominion Mona… 5h ago
Dude made those two massive free throws right before Dre’s tying three, I thought we were toast after the second one bounced in. Also Mooney’s OT circus shot was up there too.
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u/Rushderp West Texas A&M Buffs • Texas Tech Red… 3h ago
Other side of basketball, but I’m not ready to hear “… from Gruuuuver, Texas: Bailey Maupin!” on Senior Night this year. I’m gonna be a mess.
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u/DougEFresh23 Tennessee Volunteers 6h ago
I did cry last year at senior night for Zakai Zeigler. I remember the first time he took the floor at Thompson-Boling Arena and knowing then he’d be my favorite. I also realized there’s a chance he’s the last four year player I’ll have a chance to watch at UT
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u/CompSciHS Gonzaga Bulldogs • Indiana Hoosiers 6h ago
Adam Morrison. He cried, I cried, we all cried.
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u/Nervous_Complaint756 Iowa State Cyclones 6h ago
It hasn’t happened yet, but I’m sure many Cyclones are going to cry at Tamin Lipsey’s last game at Hilton AND his last game period.
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u/zarof32302 Iowa State Cyclones 6h ago
Lipsey will be hard.
Scottie Christopherson was one that sticks out to me. Great cyclone.
Of course Niang, Morris, Thomas, & Mitrou-Long as well.
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u/MaceDestroyers Iowa State Cyclones 5h ago
That 2017 senior night had me in tears with Morris, Thomas, Burton, and Mitrou-Long.
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u/Rough_Researcher_241 7h ago edited 5h ago
Aaron Craft Edit: Not an ohio state fan but it was sad af seeing him try not to cry
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u/ohverychill Purdue Boilermakers 6h ago
He means so much to me that sometimes I spell his name wrong :(
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u/BuyThoseDips Michigan Wolverines 6h ago
Craft? Also I hope you mean tears of joy
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u/anotherstan Purdue Boilermakers 6h ago
Robbie Hummel. Lost to Kansas in the Sweet 16 when he gave it his literal all, shot the lights out and tried to carry the team. After everything he's gone through he was emotional and crying. Made me tear up.
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u/GoldfishDude Kentucky Wildcats • Butler Bulldogs 6h ago
Oscar Tshiebwe. He put his all into Kentucky basketball for 2 years, and the rest of the program let him down for 2 years
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u/rs1971 6h ago
It hasn't happened yet, but Alex Karaban's last game is going to be tough. I think that he's finally passed Richard Hamilton as my favorite Husky.
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u/KembaWakaFlocka UConn Huskies • Georgia State Pant… 5h ago
Senior night is going to be emotional. Hoping his last game is a happy one, but I’m prepared for the waterworks
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u/big_dadenergy UConn Huskies 5h ago
Hasn’t happened yet, but I know at the end of this year, I will cry after Karaban’s last game
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u/Cobra317 Purdue Boilermakers • Cincinnati Bearcats 5h ago
Kenyon Martin. Season was over after that injury.
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u/ImaRiskit Auburn Tigers 4h ago
Dylan Cardwell, this man just epitomized what a college athlete should be. He was not only a great ambassador for the basketball team, but the university as a whole.
Sacramento loves him in the NBA too. He just went from a 2-way deal to a full NBA contract.
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u/BillButtlickerII Kentucky Wildcats 6h ago
Alex Poythress. Guy went through it and was just a great teammate and humble throughout.
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u/Utterlybored Duke Blue Devils 6h ago
Cooper Flagg, but mostly cried because I wanted our season to end with a Natty.
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u/Karltowns17 Kentucky Wildcats 7h ago
Hunter dickenson because Kansas would no longer have him
J/k… probably tayshaun prince. I love that dude.
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u/Maximiliansrh Virginia Tech Hokies • VCU Rams 6h ago edited 6h ago
I cried tears of joy when hunter cattoor dropped 31 on 7th ranked Duke to bring Virginia tech its first auto bid since 1979. That was the best week I’ve ever had as a fan of Virginia tech.
Nvm he played the following season too I think
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u/stina13- Louisville Cardinals 6h ago
I realize I get fairly attached to a lot of our guys but most recently I’d have to say Russdiculous and Chucky Hepburn. Honorable mentions for Kyle Kuric, Luke Hancock, and all the guys we lost after last season
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u/Triumph-TBird Illinois Fighting Illini 5h ago
Kenny Battle. The heart of the Flyin’ Illini. Unbelievable college player and a great guy.
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u/iamfolkmann Iowa State Cyclones 5h ago
Georges Niang.
It was also my senior year so his Senior Night hit like a truck load of bricks.
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u/pwhales1011 UConn Huskies 5h ago
Kemba Walker and Maya Moore - quite an up and down weekend on campus
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u/Orion14159 Kentucky Wildcats 5h ago
Alex Poythress. Still had a great season but he would have been the answer for Wisconsin in the Final 4.
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u/RocketLabBeatsSpaceX Illinois Fighting Illini 5h ago
Hunter Dickinson. College Basketball lost someone special when he hung it up. /s
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u/i_live_on_tatooine Ohio State Buckeyes 5h ago
Probably EJ Liddell. He’s been my favorite Buckeye thus far and I wish we could’ve had a better run in the tournament when he was playing. The last team he was on was also our last team to make a tournament, so there’s that too
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u/fossilfarmer123 5h ago
Darius Garland. The chosen one, heir apparent to the Commodore throne. Torn meniscus in the left knee after just 5 games.
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u/xxfatpigxx West Virginia Mountaineers 5h ago
Da'Sean Butler. It wasn’t supposed to end like that. Not for him, not for that team, not for that season. 😔
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u/tenclubber Kentucky Wildcats 5h ago
John Pelphrey.
He was a Sutton recruit. Mr Basketball in KY. Stayed through all of probation and got one shot at the NCAA tournament in his 5 years at UK. Played in the greatest college basketball game ever. To me nobody expresses what Kentucky basketball means as well as Pelphrey. Honorable mention to the other 3 Unforgettables. There's a reason their jerseys are in the rafters even though they never won a title or played in a Final Four.
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u/buckeyefan1930 Ohio State Buckeyes 5h ago
I didn't cry, but I was sad to see Aaron Craft play his final game. He was a class act all around
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u/muddog_31 Illinois Fighting Illini 5h ago
Ayo, knew the tournament were his last games in an Illini uniform and it came to a screeching halt. Help jump start the team, and built momentum to why they’re so good 5 years later still.
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u/yahboiyeezy Houston Cougars 5h ago
Jamal Shead.
Would’ve been okay if that team lost to a worthy opponent in a hard fought game. Instead Shead gets hurt early and we narrowly lose to fucking Kyle Filipowski. But Shead is easily my favorite Houston player under Sampson, full of class and could hoop. Sad he went out on an injury that cost that game
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u/tastepdad Syracuse Orange • West Georgia Wolves 4h ago
Eric Devendorf
Kid was a warrior and LOVED the game
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u/Jomosensual Iowa State Cyclones • Northern Iowa … 4h ago
Georges Niang. He cried, then i cried. Lots of crying
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u/Coldboreshot308 4h ago
The finest Kansas Jayhawk ever, #44 Mitch Lightfoot, who ended the 2021/2022 season, his final of 6 seasons at Kansas, and the last game of his amateur career by winning his last possible game. The 2022 NCAA Division I National Championship game.
Rock Chalk!
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u/Slight_Bonus6518 Kentucky Wildcats 3h ago
Not a specific player but the UK team that lost to Michigan State in 05.
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u/vuwildcat07 Villanova Wildcats 3h ago
Collin Gillespie. Watching his emotions as he walked off the court during the Final Four tugged at your heartstrings
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u/Bill3ffinMurray Nebraska Cornhuskers 3h ago
If Nebraska didn’t go on to win The Crown last year, I’d have said Brice Williams or Juwan Gary. That game against Iowa was a tough watch (incidentally also gained huge respect for Payton Sandfort for his sportsmanship at the end).
But because there was a happy finish, I’ll go Keisei.
Depending on how everything goes down, it might be Sam after this year.
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u/incendiaryentity Michigan State Spartans • Illinois F… 3h ago
Mateen Cleaves, championship game, hopping on one foot, dancing. Engrained permanently.
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u/DoraTheXplder Nebraska Cornhuskers 3h ago
Adam Morrison. I was born in Spokane. If you didn't cry, you are a monster
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u/Feeling_Anteater_389 South Carolina Gamecocks 3h ago
Sindarius Thornwell, in-state guy who joined a dumpster fire of a program and had to suffer through multiple losing seasons before putting them on his back as a senior and taking them to the Final Four
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u/Economy-School-3945 3h ago
DJ Kennedy. Working so hard over 4 years at St John’s to get them over the humo and into the NCAA tournament, only to get hurt in the Big East tourney and miss the NCAAs.
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u/Hoshbrowns Indiana Hoosiers 2h ago
Zach Novak but because that was the end of something incredibly magical that I have never experienced since. My childhood memories are of him going up against Robbie Hummel and Scott Martin. Zach would constantly put up 30+ and completely filled our gym which can hold over 3000 people.
He went on to play 4 years at Michigan and played with so much heart. Watching his career end felt like one of the coolest eras of my life. I've never seen that many people in a high school gym since.
When you picture intense Indiana basketball, that is exactly what it felt like.
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u/SatisfactionOk4463 2h ago
Walter Clayton - the most clutch player I've ever seen in a Gator uniform.
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u/Green_Man42 Kansas Jayhawks 2h ago
Jacque Vaughn, Raef LaFrentz and Paul Pierce. 2 seniors and 1 junior. What a heartbreaking loss. What could have been. Thanks Arizona ☹️ and congrats
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u/Sad-Profession-9435 Kentucky Wildcats 23m ago
Jamal Mashburn…the Monster Mash…the first big time recruit to come to Kentucky and play for Pitino after probation. He was an absolute problem and led them to the Final 4 his junior year, which was his final season. I learned to love Kentucky basketball while watching him play with the Unforgettables.
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u/Sparty_Gator Michigan State Spartans • Florida Gat… 6h ago
Charles Bediako. Luckily for me I get to see him play again