TERRY LEWIS: UMBC? No kidding, that upset was a monster

0-135.

That was how many times a 16th seed had tried and failed to knock off a No. 1 seed in the NCAA basketball tournament.

The record now stands at 1-135 after Maryland Baltimore County routed No. 1 overall seed Virginia 74-54 late Friday evening.

UMBC’s run came crashing down Sunday with a 50-43 loss to Kansas State, but that’s OK. The team no one knew existed will always have Virginia.

That win wasn’t a fluke, folks. It was a thorough butt kicking by a determined team, and Virginia had no answer. The Retrievers struggled to win the America East just to get into the dance. They were 20.5 point underdogs, yet were tied at 21 with the Hoos at the half.

I thought UVA would turn things in in the second half and that would be it. But for some reason, I hung around and watch history being made.

Instead of UVA cranking up their game, UMBC stepped on the gas with a dazzling display of ball handling and shooting, outscoring Virginia 53-33 in the half. The Retrievers shredded the betting line by a staggering 40.5 points. And the record many though could stand forever, fell to the floor like a shattered backboard.

UVA head coach Tony Bennett made no excuses in his postgame news conference. He knew what happened, he had one of the best seats in the house. Virginia, to put it in the words of Finebaum caller Charles from Reetown, was just handed a “good ol’ country boy butt whoopin’.”

Over the years there have been many other noteworthy upsets. Here are four others I will always remember.

1980, The Miracle On Ice

The 1980 U.S. Team consisted of mainly college players and they were facing the undefeated Russians in the semifinals in Lake Placid. The U.S. team trailed by a goal heading into the third period where the Americans shocked the world with two goals to win 4-3.

The US later beat Finland in the final to win the gold medal.

1990, Buster Douglas vs. Mike Tyson

Tyson was unbeaten (37-0) and the undisputed heavyweight champion. Douglas, with a 29-4-1 record, was ranked as the No. 7 contender for the belt.

In the 10th round Douglas hit Tyson with a uppercut, which staggered the champion. Douglas quickly followed with four shots to Tyson’s head, and he went down for the first time in his career.

Douglas’ next fight was against No. 1 contender Evander Holyfield, who knocked Douglas out in the third round. Douglas retired from boxing shortly afterwards, but his place in boxing lore was assured.

1992, Virginia vs. Chaminade

Before last week, Chaminade’s 77-72 win in Honolulu was considered to be the biggest upset in college basketball. At the time, the Hoos were the No. 1 team in the country. Virginia, led by the legendary Ralph Sampson, had planned to play Hawaii but those plans fell through and the Cavaliers instead agreed to play lower-level Chaminade.

It is widely called the “best game no one ever saw” as only 3,383 were in attendance. The game ended at 3 a.m. on the East Coast. Only one non-Hawaiian based sportswriter covered the game, and that was Michael Wilbon of the Washington Post. He was on press row as a casual observer because he had been assigned to cover Maryland in the Aloha Bowl.

2007, Appalachian State vs. Michigan

Regarded by many as the greatest upset in college football history, FCS power Appalachian State opened the season in Ann Arbor against fifth-ranked Michigan and shocked the world with a 34-32 victory.

With less than five minutes to go, Michigan led 32-31. Michigan attempted a 43-yard field goal that was blocked, leading to a Mountaineers field goal to take a 34-32 lead. Michigan then drove the field and, with six seconds left, attempted a 37-yard field goal that was also blocked.

Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr retired at the end of the fateful 2007 season.

Contact Terry Lewis at [email protected].