With 1.7 seconds left, Northwestern senior Nathan Taphorn unleashed a full-court pass to Dererk Pardon for a buzzer-beating layup to break a 65-65 tie against Michigan.
The win effectively clinched the first-ever NCAA Tournament berth for the Wildcats, and here’s how Twitter reacted to the greatest play in Northwestern basketball history.
Holy shit.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) March 2, 2017
If you missed it, the greatest play in Northwestern basketball history. https://t.co/v58HEdduuH
— Jeff Eisenberg (@JeffEisenberg) March 2, 2017
Northwestern. Sharpie.
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) March 2, 2017
That was one of the best fullcourt inbounds passes I have ever seen. THAT's why you shouldn't be able to inbound at halfcourt.
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) March 2, 2017
That's the least Northwestern thing ever.
— Seth Meyers (@sethmeyers) March 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/TitanicHoops/status/837125337850986496
I can't even.
— Brian Hamilton (@_Brian_Hamilton) March 2, 2017
NORTH-EFFING-WESTERN IS GOING TO THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
— Alex Putterman (@AlexPutterman) March 2, 2017
I get chills when I watch this #TheRally https://t.co/9rR0DEo7Tv
— Tim Doyle (@TimDoyle00) March 2, 2017
OMG!!!! @NUMensBball – at the buzzer!!!! To deliver a FIRST-EVER trip to the NCAA Tournment!!! Greatest hoops game ending in school history!
— Dan Shanoff (@danshanoff) March 2, 2017
OMG
— Michael Wilbon (@RealMikeWilbon) March 2, 2017
Can't dance..no feeling in my legs…God Bless My Wildcats!
— Michael Wilbon (@RealMikeWilbon) March 2, 2017
Is that allowed to happen to Northwestern basketball?
— Jordan Majewski (@jorcubsdan) March 2, 2017
Best quarterbacks in Northwestern history, ranked:
3. Trevor Siemian
2. Otto Graham
1. Nate Taphorn— Inside NU (@insidenu) March 2, 2017
Was that @NU_nate32 or Sunshine from Remember the Titans? #Northwestern
— Drew Crawford (@TheRealDrewski1) March 2, 2017
What else would you expect on March 1? https://t.co/eGIrYn6UN4
— Shannon Ryan (@sryantribune) March 2, 2017
Northwestern, get your dancing shoes ready.
— Ari Kramer (@Ari_Kramer) March 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/NicoleAuerbach/status/837120565076975616
!!!! That's one way to seal a first-ever NCAA Tournament bid.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) March 2, 2017
Dance, 'Cats, dance.
— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) March 2, 2017
OH GOODNESS. Northwestern full-court pass and catch and layup and Big Dance and go crazy Wildcats, go crazy.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) March 2, 2017
In my first Northwestern game, they struggled to put away D2 Lewis. In my last, they effectively locked up their first NCAA Tournament bid.
— Jesse Kramer (@Jesse_Kramer) March 2, 2017
DERERK PARDON WILL NEVER PAY FOR A DRINK AGAIN
— Inside NU (@insidenu) March 2, 2017
Northwestern found itself a quarterback! Nathan Taphorn with the a 31-yard TD pass to Dererk Pardon for the win over Michigan
— Jerry Palm (@jppalmCBS) March 2, 2017
What month is it?
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 2, 2017
Chris Collins, man. My guess is he will be an NBA head coach someday.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 2, 2017
NORTHWESTERN BUZZER-BEATER COURT STORMING pic.twitter.com/03rcrIygqy
— Ricky O'Donnell (@SBN_Ricky) March 2, 2017
— Teddy Greenstein (@TeddyGreenstein) March 2, 2017
The streak is over. Only a matter of hearing “Northwestern” during the bracket reveal to make it official.
— Raphielle Johnson 😷 (@raphiellej) March 2, 2017
Greatest thing ever. https://t.co/QZUOGJUfpg
— John Templon (@nybuckets) March 2, 2017
The scene at Welsh-Ryan after DererkPardon beat the buzzer after a full-court pass, beating Michigan 67-65. pic.twitter.com/SQ7T82Aaah
— David Haugh (@DavidHaugh) March 2, 2017
TOUCHDOWN NORTHWESTERN pic.twitter.com/iybiRBnOYC
— SB Nation GIF (@SBNationGIF) March 2, 2017
Taphorn the final Carmody recruit. Stuck with NU commitment. Has never played 12 MPG over a full season. Made the biggest play, ever.
— Nick Medline (@NickMedline) March 2, 2017
Last eight texts I've received have literally just been: "AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
— Nick Medline (@NickMedline) March 2, 2017
#GoCats @NUMensBball pic.twitter.com/yM1wQzWjtW
— Julia Louis-Dreyfus (@OfficialJLD) March 2, 2017
And here’s the WNUR radio call of the final play from Jason Dorow and Henry Bushnell.
Once the celebration was done, a few Northwestern players took to Twitter as well.
successful L💜VE DAY
PARDON! 🖐🏾
— Isiah Brown (@oJigHeem) March 2, 2017
Yes!
— Aaron Falzon (@A3Falzon5) March 2, 2017
I now have the Wildcats as a No. 9 seed and would consider them a lock for the NCAA Tournament.
