The 2010 NCAA tournament was defined by two Cinderellas.
First, No. 9 UNI shocked the world in the opening weekend, winning a thrilling opening game against No. 8 UNLV before stunning top-ranked Kansas 69-67 to punch their ticket to the Sweet 16.
The Panthers Cinderella run would be taken up by the No. 5 Butler Bulldogs in another quadrant of the bracket. While Butler was favored in their first two games of the tournament, the Bulldogs found a way to win three straight close games over No. 1 Syracuse, No. 2 Kansas State, and No. 5 Michigan State to reach the national championship game.
Facing off against Duke, Butler would come just inches away from lifting the trophy, with future NBA star Gordon Hayward barely missing the game-winning half-court heave.