2010 Black History Month: #27 Black Sports Moment - Keith Smart

By: Luke Florence

2010 Black History Month: #27 Black Sports Moment

Keith Smart in the 1987 NCAA Championship Game

Don't think Matt Barnes remembers watching this one live, seeing as he was less than one year old when it took place. But, it was a shot ... and a moment, that Bobby Knight and Keith Smart both will never forget.

Indiana and Syracuse battled back and forth in the 1987 NCAA Championship, and with less than 30 seconds remaining, Jim Boeheim's squad had a one point lead and one free throw left to shoot. With no three-point line in play, it was crucial that the Orangemen converted their last freebie.

Historically Syracuse is a notoriously bad free-throw shooting team, and the 1987 Championship game continued that notion. As expected, the 'Cuse missed their last free throw, and Indiana held for the final shot.

Keith Smart found the ball, and from almost the same exact spot as Michael Jordan was when he hit the game-winner five years prior, Smart showed no hesitation in burying the jumper and giving the Indiana Hoosiers a 74-73 victory.

Indiana's All-American guard Steve Alford was being shut-down by Syracuse during the final four minutes, so Smart figured prominently in the scoring column down the stretch. He scored 12 of the team's final 15 points and was named the NCAA Men's Tournament Most Outstanding Player.

Has there been a 1987 F'd Up Tournament, Keith Smart would have been a top four seed.

The NCAA tournament is known for buzzer beaters, but very rarely does it happen in the Championship game. The only reason this is so low on the list is because both Barnes and I were too young when it took place.

Hint for #26: He stole his teammates' signature shot to steal a victory.

Until next time, "read it, roll it, hole it."