Most Devastating Loss You’ve Suffered as a Fan

[Steelers2012]

Pretty easy to happily recount a loss and the resulting pain your team inflicted on another team. Let's see who is honest enough to admit the most devastating loss you've experienced as a fan of your team.

Unranked Louisville vs #1 Virginia, March 2018 in the KFC Yum Center. Up 10 points with 4:28 left in the game, the crowd is going CRAZY and Louisville is looking likely to pull off the huge upset to help their NCAAT chances for the year. Despite a furious comeback by UVA, Louisville still leads by 4 with .9 seconds left on the clock. All Louisville has to do is NOT foul UVA on a 3 point attempt...game over. Louisville fouls UVA's Ty Jerome on a 3 point attempt. Jerome hits 2 FT's, then UVA commits a lane violation on the third FT...Louisville's ball. All Louisville has to do is inbounds the ball under UVA's basket...game over. Louisville's Deng Adel is called for travelling on the inbounds play...UVA ball. All Louisville has to do is NOT allow a 3 point shot.. and the worst we can do is go into overtime. An open De' Andre Hunter catches the inbounds pass outside the 3 point line and calmly shoots and banks in a 3. UVA scores final 5 points in .9 seconds to STUN the Louisville home crowd. I was in the stands...and GUTTED. For a full 15 minutes, all I could say was "HOW?"

 

[jhmossy]

So many to choose from but surprisingly it's not Chaminade or UMBC. I was too young and not even a UVA fan for the Chaminade loss and I was just shocked during the UMBC game. The UMBC wasn't devastating so much as it was unfathomable and incomprehensible. I knew I was going to get roasted on this board but my dad had just passed away and it was hard to care too much about a basketball game then.

The most devastating loss was Elite 8 to Syracuse in 2016. We choked a huge lead against a team we had pretty much owned the last few years. Definitely had a good chance in the Final Four against UNC and then we had already beaten Villanova earlier in the year. Felt like that was our best chance to win a natty at the time.

To this day, I hope @brooky03 eats all the dicks and Malachi Richardson is out there blowing dudes just to be able to eat food at night.

 

[brooky03]

So many to choose from but surprisingly it's not Chaminade or UMBC. I was too young and not even a UVA fan for the Chaminade loss and I was just shocked during the UMBC game. The UMBC wasn't devastating so much as it was unfathomable and incomprehensible. I knew I was going to get roasted on this board but my dad had just passed away and it was hard to care too much about a basketball game then.

The most devastating loss was Elite 8 to Syracuse in 2016. We choked a huge lead against a team we had pretty much owned the last few years. Definitely had a good chance in the Final Four against UNC and then we had already beaten Villanova earlier in the year. Felt like that was our best chance to win a natty at the time.

To this day, I hope @brooky03 eats all the dicks and Malachi Richardson is out there blowing dudes just to be able to eat food at night.

This has warmed my heart more than you could know

 

[hailtoyourvictor]

Evan Turner hitting a heave to knock us out of the Big Ten Tournament.

Michigan had a promising team with Manny Harris and Deshawn Sims. The season really sucked but we were 2.2 seconds away from going to the Big Ten title game and winning an auto bid. Lower seeded Minnesota already upset someone to reach the finals. 2.2 seconds and Minnesota was all that stood between Michigan and a tournament bid (big deal for Michigan at the time).

That loss stung more than Luke Hancock going wild. More than Harrison’s buzzer beater. More than the Ben Brust buzzer beater I was in attendance for. More than Derrick Walton missing a wide open three in the Sweet 16 vs Oregon. More than losing to 11 seeded UCLA for a trip to the final four.

 

[brooky03]

The 2010 NCAAT loss to Butler is the worst I’ve witnessed. We were better than that Butler team, even without Onuaku, and would have beaten that Duke team by double digits with a healthy Onuaku.

That Cuse team was electric. All because Onuaku ripped up his knee on a meaningless chase down block against GTown, Syracuse lost out on a 2nd Natty.

 

[Steelers2012]

Evan Turner hitting a heave to knock us out of the Big Ten Tournament.

Michigan had a promising team with Manny Harris and Deshawn Sims. The season really sucked but we were 2.2 seconds away from going to the Big Ten title game and winning an auto bid. Lower seeded Minnesota already upset someone to reach the finals. 2.2 seconds and Minnesota was all that stood between Michigan and a tournament bid (big deal for Michigan at the time).

That loss stung more than Luke Hancock going wild. More than Harrison’s buzzer beater. More than the Ben Brust buzzer beater I was in attendance for. More than Derrick Walton missing a wide open three in the Sweet 16 vs Oregon. More than losing to 11 seeded UCLA for a trip to the final four.

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Hard to imagine that hurt worse than losing to Louisville in the 2013 Title game. That game had the potential to be a devastating loss for Louisville with Spike Albrecht (who?) going all Pete Maravich on us for 17 points...in the first half. Turns out...we lost the game anyways, in the court of the NCAA. 😌

 

[JimboBBN]

I have not looked at college basketball the same since April of 2015. That is just a fact. Losing to Wisconsin had a very long lasting affect on me.

 

[hailtoyourvictor]

Hard to imagine that hurt worse than losing to Louisville in the 2013 Title game. That game had the potential to be a devastating loss for Louisville with Spike Albrecht (who?) going all Pete Maravich on us for 17 points...in the first half. Turns out...we lost the game anyways, in the court of the NCAA. 😌

It absolutely did. Losing as a 5 seed in the national championship game sucked but just making the national championship game was amazing in and of itself. Turner hitting that shot was crippling.

 

[Kevin Bryan]

I have not looked at college basketball the same since April of 2015. That is just a fact. Losing to Wisconsin had a very long lasting affect on me.

Still not as brutal as losing to Duke in '92 (for those of us old enough to remember). 😆

 

[JimboBBN]

Still not as brutal as losing to Duke in '92 (for those of us old enough to remember). 😆

I was born about 8 months after that shot lol

That game hurts worse than seeing a perfect season go down the drain?

 

[Kevin Bryan]

I was born about 8 months after that shot lol

That game hurts worse than seeing a perfect season go down the drain?

Yep, especially because it was to Laettner, Hurley, K, and the rest of those arrogant Duke pricks. 😆

 

[lurkeraspect84]

Yep, especially because it was to Laettner, Hurley, K, and the rest of those arrogant Duke pricks. 😆

The '97 loss to Arizona was pretty brutal as well.

Also the loss to Wade's Marquette team.

 

[MGC_07]

Might go against this thread a bit, but 2010 Final Four against Butler. We were down one with the ball on the last possession, and the refs just turned a blind eye. Everyone in the arena could here Hayward slap Draymond’s hand. On replay it’s clear as day. And no call. I really think we could have beaten Duke in the next game as well and gotten Izzo’s second one.

It’s the most devastating just because it feels the most stolen.

 

[brooky03]

Might go against this thread a bit, but 2010 Final Four against Butler. We were down one with the ball on the last possession, and the refs just turned a blind eye. Everyone in the arena could here Hayward slap Draymond’s hand. On replay it’s clear as day. And no call. I really think we could have beaten Duke in the next game as well and gotten Izzo’s second one.

It’s the most devastating just because it feels the most stolen.

Should’ve been Cuse/MSU in that game.

 

[Kevin Bryan]

The '97 loss to Arizona was pretty brutal as well.

Also the loss to Wade's Marquette team.

That Arizona game wouldn't have been close had Anderson been playing.

 

[Noahtogo24]

2001 vs Duke and 2010 second round vs Michigan State-Greivis's last game-could have went to final four that tourney..

 

[Random UK Fan]

I have not looked at college basketball the same since April of 2015. That is just a fact. Losing to Wisconsin had a very long lasting affect on me.

Still not as brutal as losing to Duke in '92 (for those of us old enough to remember). 😆

I’m going to nominate losing to UConn in the final four as a runner up. Not because it was devastating emotionally, but because those turds didnt have the talent to match us so they flopped their way to victory and Higgins escorted them.

Punk asses.

 

[Orlando Buckeye]

Evan Turner hitting a heave to knock us out of the Big Ten Tournament.

Michigan had a promising team with Manny Harris and Deshawn Sims. The season really sucked but we were 2.2 seconds away from going to the Big Ten title game and winning an auto bid. Lower seeded Minnesota already upset someone to reach the finals. 2.2 seconds and Minnesota was all that stood between Michigan and a tournament bid (big deal for Michigan at the time).

That loss stung more than Luke Hancock going wild. More than Harrison’s buzzer beater. More than the Ben Brust buzzer beater I was in attendance for. More than Derrick Walton missing a wide open three in the Sweet 16 vs Oregon. More than losing to 11 seeded UCLA for a trip to the final four.

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Would it lessen the sting some if I mentioned that game was the B10 Quarterfinal and not a Semifinal? Had he missed, UM would have still had to beat Illinois before getting to the finals.

 

[IUfanBorden]

Pretty easy to happily recount a loss and the resulting pain your team inflicted on another team. Let's see who is honest enough to admit the most devastating loss you've experienced as a fan of your team.

Unranked Louisville vs #1 Virginia, March 2018 in the KFC Yum Center. Up 10 points with 4:28 left in the game, the crowd is going CRAZY and Louisville is looking likely to pull off the huge upset to help their NCAAT chances for the year. Despite a furious comeback by UVA, Louisville still leads by 4 with .09 seconds left on the clock. All Louisville has to do is NOT foul UVA on a 3 point attempt...game over. Louisville fouls UVA's Ty Jerome on a 3 point attempt. Jerome hits 2 FT's, then UVA commits a lane violation on the third FT...Louisville's ball. All Louisville has to do is inbounds the ball under UVA's basket...game over. Louisville's Deng Adel is called for travelling on the inbounds play...UVA ball. All Louisville has to do is NOT allow a 3 point shot.. and the worst we can do is go into overtime. An open De' Andre Hunter catches the inbounds pass outside the 3 point line and calmly shoots and banks in a 3. UVA scores final 5 points in .09 seconds to STUN the Louisville home crowd. I was in the stands...and GUTTED. For a full 15 minutes, all I could say was "HOW?"

Cedric Jenkins tip-in at the buzzer.....Brutal loss.

 

[IUfanBorden]

1992 vs Duke....TBH, I thought we were better. Couldn't buy a bucket in the 2nd half missed first 7 second half---and was 1-11 midway through. Ended up 12-29....after shooting 59% in the 1st. Even then, still had a chance at the end. Meeks got a good look, just didn't go in...

Few others of note was loss in 1993 to KU, and 2013 Syracuse. But damn.....1992.

 

[Villian07]

Might go against this thread a bit, but 2010 Final Four against Butler. We were down one with the ball on the last possession, and the refs just turned a blind eye. Everyone in the arena could here Hayward slap Draymond’s hand. On replay it’s clear as day. And no call. I really think we could have beaten Duke in the next game as well and gotten Izzo’s second one.

It’s the most devastating just because it feels the most stolen.

In that same line of thinking, 2014 SS vs uk. Zebras zebras zebras, and losing to uk(again) of course.

Plus we were criminally underseeded in a stacked region with 3/4ths of the previous years final four, despite being the reigning champs and being ranked like 5-6 in the nation we got a damn 4 seed smh.

Plus we ran eventual champ uconn out the gym by 20-30 pts 2/3 times we played em and beat them pretty soundly the meeting in storrs as well iirc.

Guess in himdsight all it cost was the ncaa a chance to take more stuff away from us but at the time that loss was brutal.

The aforementioned UVA loss was brutal too though my goodness.

 

[Villian07]

I’m going to nominate losing to UConn in the final four as a runner up. Not because it was devastating emotionally, but because those turds didnt have the talent to match us so they flopped their way to victory and Higgins escorted them.

Punk asses.

You forgot the pic of harrison standing on the baseline with the ref looking right at his foot while choking on his whostle against us in Sweet 16, among other terrible calls lol.

That def should have been traveling on napier tho what a joke.

 

[Villian07]

Def Glad i wasnt alive for us reeds half court shot that sent arky to the FF over Louisville in like 83 maybe?

 

[IUfanBorden]

Def Glad i wasnt alive for us reeds half court shot that sent arky to the FF over Louisville in like 83 maybe?

1981...2nd Round game.



UL made the FF in 1983....Losing to Houston.

 

[TheBlueCat]

05 double OT loss to Mich St in the elite 8. I was 14 and loved that team.

 

[Rollin Dirty]

UVA scores final 5 points in .09 seconds to STUN the Louisville home crowd. I was in the stands...and GUTTED. For a full 15 minutes, all I could say was "HOW?"

Do you mean 9 seconds or 9/100 of a second? I presume 9 seconds, because you can’t even catch and shoot with less than something like 6/10 of a second left, but you wrote it as “.09 seconds twice”.

Regardless, that’s brutal.

Speaking of brutal, Brutal Bruce had something similar happen, but against a much more formidable opponent than Va. He led Texas Southern by 4, with the ball, with 15 seconds left and lost. The CATS committed an offensive foul, TS made both frees throws, so down two with about 5 seconds left. In-bounding the ball under the TS basket, the CATS threw it out of bounds with nobody touching it —>TS ball under their own basket. Tossed it out to a wide-open dude who drained a 3 and won by one. Texas Southern was like 0-6 at the time.

B-R-U-T-A-L

 

[CardinalBoiler]

Diakite. Elite 8.

 

[Villian07]

It was .9 seconds smdh not nine seconds or .09 seconds. Nine tenths of a second. Darius Perry unexplainably fouled jerome shooting a three with .9 left, up 4(terrible call, he never touched him, didnt jump to try and block it, just closed out with his hand up, but regardless perry had no reaon to be within 10 ft of him)

He made the first two, missed the second on purpose and uva knocked the rebound oob taking the clock to like .7. Then on our inbound we could have literally done anything……except have the inbounder(deng adel) try to run the baseline like u can after a made basket. So that was a violation on us with no time taken off and now uva inbounds under there own goal with .7 left and somehow we get caught chasing guy and jerome and left deandre davis open on the elbow entended and they threw it to him and he sunk a 3 for the win. Had to have been the most lopsided win percentage loss in history lol. So yea 5 points in .9 seconds of game clock smdh. Brutal.

The duke/zion meltdown was brutal as well. Blew a 22 pt lead in about 6 mins smdh.

 

[Villian07]

OP is a d word for penis for making this thread, reviving demons i killed with drugs long long ago.

 

[WestTexasRaider]

There is only one game for our fledgling Basketball Program that brings instant pain.

I'm still thankful for the '18 season and just being in the Championship game, but being so close to that immortality and letting it slip away still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It a weird feeling. A scar that will never go away.

 

[Random UK Fan]

I’ll tell you that pissed me off; at aTm our Australian center got what would have been a game winning block in the waning seconds and being pumped he bounced the ball hard one time. The ref blows the whistle, calls a technical and aTm scores at the line. Ball game. Complete judgment call by the ref. I’ll never be convinced that UK has had a few games that have been decided by the refs.

 

[bMORE607]

1. That ***git Jeffery Maier game
2. Miracle Minute against Duke and the FF loss to them in 2000
3. Air McNair Ravens holding Peyton Manning to just 5 FGs and lost 15-6.
4. Korie Lucious 3 pt at the buzzer in ‘10
5. Doesn’t technically count but the Os getting swept by the Royals
6. Pick any of the Capitals choke jobs before they finally won the Stanley Cup.

Am I missing any @Noahtogo24

 

[RR30]

I’m going to nominate losing to UConn in the final four as a runner up. Not because it was devastating emotionally, but because those turds didnt have the talent to match us so they flopped their way to victory and Higgins escorted them.

Punk asses.

Higgins reffed their losses in 2011, 2015 and 2017 which had multiple controversial calls. What a coincidence.

 

[Villian07]

I’ll tell you that pissed me off; at aTm our Australian center got what would have been a game winning block in the waning seconds and being pumped he bounced the ball hard one time. The ref blows the whistle, calls a technical and aTm scores at the line. Ball game. Complete judgment call by the ref. I’ll never be convinced that UK has had a few games that have been decided by the refs.

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That was BS and i hate UK

 

[coryfly]

Losing to Duke on the Austin Rivers shot was tough because it is the only UNC game I've ever seen where I felt we were legit cheated.

Villanova was tough because I wanted Paige and Brice to win one so bad.

The worse for me was the loss to Georgetown in 2007. thought that team had a great chance to win it.

Next worse would be Kansas after Kendall went down because I thought UNC wins that game for sure with him. I also thought they were the only team with a chance to beat Kentucky that year. Not saying UNC wins but think they were the only team with a legit shot.

Third would be 1998 loss to Utah. UNC was definitely better than them but just had a dud of a game.

 

[Aberdale]

Every time Kentucky wins

 

[brooky03]

Losing to Duke on the Austin Rivers shot was tough because it is the only UNC game I've ever seen where I felt we were legit cheated.

Villanova was tough because I wanted Paige and Brice to win one so bad.

The worse for me was the loss to Georgetown in 2007. thought that team had a great chance to win it.

Next worse would be Kansas after Kendall went down because I thought UNC wins that game for sure with him. I also thought they were the only team with a chance to beat Kentucky that year. Not saying UNC wins but think they were the only team with a legit shot.

Third would be 1998 loss to Utah. UNC was definitely better than them but just had a dud of a game.

2012 Syracuse with the Brazilian who was suspended for not being able to read and write in English would have been a good match for Kentucky. If Fab never got suspended, Syracuse might’ve been undefeated. With Fab parked at the rim, it was really really difficult for teams to score in the paint. AD would have had his hands full on both ends of the court.

Even without Fab, it took the legitimately worst officiated game I’ve seen in my life for the NCAA to get their wish and push Ohio State along.

 

[silkcitypirate]

1989 Finals Michigan beats my Seton Hall Pirates because of the Worst call EVER in the history of the tournament .

 

[lurkeraspect84]

Every time Kentucky wins

 

[dukedevilz]

The 2010 NCAAT loss to Butler is the worst I’ve witnessed. We were better than that Butler team, even without Onuaku, and would have beaten that Duke team by double digits with a healthy Onuaku.

That Cuse team was electric. All because Onuaku ripped up his knee on a meaningless chase down block against GTown, Syracuse lost out on a 2nd Natty.

I really think we could have beaten Duke in the next game as well and gotten Izzo’s second one.

Hah people underestimate the 2010 Duke team ALL the time. And honestly, I don't think it's really warranted. We had the #1 rated offense. We had the #5 rated defense. We were the highest rated team on KenPom by a significant margin.

Once Zoubek was inserted into the starting lineup, we went 15-1. Dude was a monster on the offensive glass... Our only loss during that 16-game stretch came on the road to Maryland, a 4 seed in the tournament that year. Game was tied with less than two minutes left (we also won the 3 games prior to Zoubek starting, meaning we won 18 of our last 19). We dominated the last 1.5 months of the season.