An Instant Classic in Salt Lake City

The basketball fans in Salt Lake City are used to a display of excellence on the hardwood. Home of the Utah Jazz, Salt Lake has been home to some incredible professional hoops action over the years. However, this Utah metropolis has never really been associated with basketball at the collegiate level. After Thursday night's insanely exciting double-overtime affair between Xavier and Kansas State, that has changed.

The Xavier-Kansas State showdown had a lot to live up to after Syracuse and Butler put on a thrilling show earlier in the evening at EnergySolutions Arena. That game, won by Cinderella Butler, was a reminder of why madness is associated with the NCAA Tournament. It was absolutely stunning to watch the amazing comeback by Butler, and the astonishing collapse of the Orange. That game would be a tough act to follow. Little did we know that it was only the warmup act. Xavier and Kansas State proceeded to deliver a wildly entertaining, double-overtime affair, won by Frank Martin's gritty K-State team.

The Wildcats' 101-96 victory made for a magical viewing experience for sports fans across the globe. It had all the makings of an instant classic: euphoric triumph for one team, devastating heartbreak for the other. It was a seemingly impossible test of endurance that featured undeniable greatness from a player on the losing team (Jordan Crawford). And the fact that the game featured the orgasmic awesomeness of the great Gus Johnson, calling the game for CBS alongside the terrific Len Elmore, made it all the more sweet.

I prefer the pro game to the college game, but Thursday night's classic served as a reminder of why March Madness is the most exciting event in all of sports. It was yet another chapter in a tournament that has already been filled with unforgettable stories and images. What a night.