Gonzaga’s halfcourt miracle heave in the 2021 Final Four needs a deep rewind

Jalen Suggs’s deep attempt to stave off double overtime had so much behind it.

It’s April 3, 2021. In the midst of this long, miserable pandemic ... we’ve got a pretty wild basketball game taking place. Yes, March Madness is back this year, and this Final Four contest between Gonzaga and UCLA appears to be headed for a second overtime unless there’s a miracle.

Before we see any potential miracle, we need to recall the strange shape of this matchup. UCLA, the historic basketball superpower, is a distinct underdog. Gonzaga, the tiny private school, is one of the most dominant teams of all time. How the heck did we get here?

Oh, and could this shot actually go in? Gonzaga’s Jalen Suggs needs to pull up from like half-court if he wants to break a tie. He’s one of the best players in the country and one of the best in Gonzaga recruiting history, so he’s as up for the task as anyone ... but HAS anyone made a game-winner from this deep?

To answer all of the above, we need to rewind.