Michigan State legend Magic Johnson was among the 43,116 at the RCA Dome to witness the Spartans win their second national championship. After Mateen Cleaves left the game with an ankle injury early in the second half, Morris Peterson took over and scored 15 points in the final 11:11. Peterson ended the night with 21, while Mateen also finished a brilliant career at Michigan with 18 points. This marked Florida's first ever appearance in a national championship, however, it was certainly not their last in the 2000s, as they won back-to-back titles between 2006 & 2007.

Michigan State's stifling defense held Wisconsin to a dismal 41 points. It was the third-lowest scoring first half in Final Four history, as both teams could only muster a combined total of 36 points. However, at the end of the night, Morris Peterson and his 20 points led the Spartans to victory and ultimately to the next round where they defeated the Florida Gators 89-76 in the title game.

Florida overcame foul trouble and dominated the final 13 minutes to secure a spot in the title game. Joseph Forte, the first freshman ever to lead North Carolina in scoring, went on a tear early in the second half by scoring 10 straight points during a 12-2 run. The Tar Heels' Brendan Haywood led the night's scoring with 20 points, while Forte finished with 15 before fouling out.

Joseph Forte's season-high 28 points allowed the Tar Heels to squeak past Tulsa in a close 59-55 victory. Tulsa's Dante Swanson kept the Golden Hurricanes in the game down the stretch by scoring seven points in the final 1:50, including a 3-pointer that brought the Golden Hurricane within 57-55 with 20 seconds to go. However, North Carolina was able to hold on in the final moments and ultimately advance to the Final Four for a tournament record 15 times.

After nearly blowing a 17-point second-half lead, the Gators held on to defeat Oklahoma State 77-65 and advance to the Final Four for the second time in school history. Mike Miller's 14 points and five rebounds led a balanced Florida attack as they took one step closer to a title game against Michigan State.

With 11.5 seconds left in the game, Purdue's Carson Cunningham sank an off-balance 3-pointer to bring the Boilermakers to within three points. However, Mike Kelley sealed the game moments later with a clutch free throw. This was the deepest the Badgers had gone into the tournament since they won the title back in 1941. Wisconsin went on to meet the eventual national champs Michigan State in a low scoring 53-41 game.

The Spartans took one step closer to clinching a national championship after stunning Iowa State after a 75-64 victory. Morris Peterson delivered nine points late in the second half, including a [thunderous alley-oop dunk, to spur Michigan State past the Cyclones on their way to the Final Four for their second straight season.

Brandon Kurtz' 17 second-half points led Tulsa to their first regional final berth in school history after they beat sixth-seeded Miami 80-71. Tulsa (32-4) trailed the Hurricanes with just over 10 minutes to play in the second half, however, the Golden Hurricanes responded with a 22-5 run and never looked back. All five starters scored in the double figures as Tulsa rolled to the Elite Eight where they battled it out with North Carolina.

Florida wore down the nation's top-ranked team en route to an 87-78 victory at the Carrier Dome. The fifth-seeded Gators (27-7) rallied from a six-point deficit and held Duke scoreless for the final four minutes of the game. Shane Battier collected 20 points and nine rebounds while Chris Carrawell added 16 of his own to take Florida one step closer to their matchup with Michigan State for the title.

North Carolina came back from a seven-point deficit in the final 4 1/2 minutes to shock No. 4 Tennessee 74-69. Despite having their star center Brendan Haywood foul-out early, the Tar Heels advanced to the Elite Eight for the third time in four seasons. North Carolina went on to knock Tulsa out of the tournament after a close 59-55 win.

Oklahoma State barely knocked off a tenacious Seton Hall squad after a 68-66 victory at the Carrier Dome. With several starters playing through injuries, the Pirates hung tough until the very end, however, Glendon Alexander's 3-of-4 free throws in the last few moments sealed the win for the Cowboys as they squeezed into the Elite Eight for a chance to square off against Florida.

The Cyclones routed the Bruins 80-56 on their way to the regional finals for the first time since 1944. Iowa State opened a 17-point lead early in the second half and never looked back. The Cyclone's Stevie Johnson, Marcus Fizzer, and Michael Nurse all had 16 a piece as the Cyclones rolled to theElite Eight for a matchup against eventual national champions Michigan State.

Jaraan Cornell scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds as Purdue advanced to the Elite Eight with a 75-66 victory over Gonzaga. Casey Calvary scored 20 points for Gonzaga, however, it was the No.4 seed Boilermakers who dominated the inside with 20 offensive rebounds and 23 second-chance points to send Purdue to the next round where they took on Wisconsin.

After a clumsy first 20 minutes, the Spartans came back in the second half and hit nine 3-pointers to rally from a 14-point deficit to beat Syracuse 75-58. The win moved Michigan State one step closer to reaching the Final Four for the second straight season. Morris Peterson netted 21 points while A.J. Granger hit 19, as the Spartans advanced to the next round to face off against Iowa State.

Wisconsin's potent offense and smothering defense allowed the Badgers' improbable run through the tournament to continue after a 61-48 victory over LSU. Wisconsin's defense held the Tigers to their lowest point total of the season and more than 27 points below their season average. The Badgers went on to the Elite Eight where they beat Purdue in a close one.