Top 5 NCAA Basketball stories of 2012

In a year in sports in which real life intruded on the games all too often, college basketball was the rare exception. Arrested players, extra benefit scandals and splintering conferences made their share of headlines like always, but most of 2012's memorable college hoops moments took place on the court rather than in court.

You want buzzer beaters? Austin Rivers' game winner over Tyler Zeller will long be a part of Tobacco Road lore. How about rivalry games? Nobody in Lawrence or Columbia will forget the Border War ending on a high note with an overtime classic. There were great players like Anthony Davis and Thomas Robinson, great stories like Murray State's bid for an unbeaten season and great individual performances like Jack Taylor's NCAA record 138 points.

All of those were compelling, yet none was quite significant enough to crack our list of the five biggest college basketball stories of 2012:  – By Jeff Eisenberg

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5. UCLA makes headlines for all the wrong reasons  –  Hollywood's best screenwriters would be hard-pressed to concoct a more gripping melodrama than the one that has played out in Westwood the last 12 months. The year began with UCLA slogging through a disappointing 14-loss season that culminated with the Bruins missing the NCAA tournament for the second time in three years. It got worse in February with the release of a Sports Illustrated ... more
5. UCLA makes headlines for all the wrong reasons  –  Hollywood's best screenwriters would be hard-pressed to concoct a more gripping melodrama than the one that has played out in Westwood the last 12 months. The year began with UCLA slogging through a disappointing 14-loss season that culminated with the Bruins missing the NCAA tournament for the second time in three years. It got worse in February with the release of a Sports Illustrated article detailing disciplinary issues within the program. UCLA coach Ben Howland scrambled to replenish his roster by signing a decorated recruiting class highlighted by top-five prospects Shabazz Muhammad and Kyle Anderson, but the talent infusion hasn't sparked a turnaround. Howland ends the year again coaching for his job after the Bruins dropped an early home game against lightly regarded Cal Poly, plummeted out of the top 25 and lost two key players to transfers. less