Skip to main content
Come Fan with UsTuesday, August 4, 2026

Colorado’s ultimate March Madness game-winner needed every part of rim to beat Florida

K.J. Simpson needed every part of the rim to lift Colorado over Florida in the 2024 men’s NCAA tournament.

Ricky O'Donnell
Ricky O'Donnell has covered basketball at all levels for more than a decade at SB Nation. He’s currently the Associate Director of Programming.

Lives can change with one bounce of the ball in March Madness. No. 10 seed Colorado was apparently living right.

Colorado beat No. 7 seed Florida, 102-100, in the first round of the 2024 men’s NCAA tournament. Star point guard K.J. Simpson hit the game-winner with under two seconds left in regulation, and he needed every part of the rim to get the shot to foul.

The Buffaloes inbounded in the front court with six seconds left. Simpson got the ball in the corner and tried to attack, but had to settle for a pull-up jumper. The ball bounced on the rim several times, and eventually fell through for the game-winner. Florida’s last second heave bricked off the backboard, and Colorado was onto the round of 32. Watch Simpson’s March Madness game-winner here:

Simpson finished with 23 points, five assists, and five rebounds in the win on 7-of-12 shooting from the floor. He has been a stud for Colorado all season long. We ranked him as the No. 17 overall player in the men’s NCAA tournament coming into the field. He’s living up to the hype.

Colorado already beat Boise State in the First Four to start this run. Next up is No. 2 seed Marquette on Sunday.

Simpson’s game-winner was reminiscent of the shot Kawhi Leonard hit in the 2019 NBA Playoffs. This is March.

Men's College Basketball
College basketball’s 9 national championship contenders for 2027 men’s titleCollege basketball’s 9 national championship contenders for 2027 men’s title
Men's College Basketball

These teams can win it all this season in men’s college basketball.

By Ricky O'Donnell
Men's College Basketball
College basketball rankings: Updated men’s top 25 after busy summer of movementCollege basketball rankings: Updated men’s top 25 after busy summer of movement
Men's College Basketball
UCLA lands Nikola Kusturica, its best recruit since Lonzo Ball and a top 2028 NBA Draft pickUCLA lands Nikola Kusturica, its best recruit since Lonzo Ball and a top 2028 NBA Draft pick
Men's College Basketball

Kusturica will be a 17-year-old freshman phenom at UCLA before entering the NBA Draft in 2028.

By Ricky O'Donnell
NBA
Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje is the best prospect in the world outside of the NBA, and Duke is nextJoaquim Boumtje Boumtje is the best prospect in the world outside of the NBA, and Duke is next
NBA

Duke struck gold again. The NBA is already salivating over Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje for 2028.

By Ricky O'Donnell
Men's College Basketball
Dusty May’s stunning NBA departure leaves Michigan facing its biggest test yetDusty May’s stunning NBA departure leaves Michigan facing its biggest test yet
Men's College Basketball

How will Michigan recover from losing Dusty May?

By Mike Rutherford

Comments
Loading comments
Getting the conversation ready...