When official Tom Rucker threw the opening tip into the air on March 24, 2002, in the Elite Eight, it was forward Johnnie Selvie who won it in the air for Connecticut.
But, before it could reach the hands of small forward Caron Butler, Maryland guard Juan Dixon swiped the ball away and rushed immediately up the floor. Lonny Baxter, who was lined up on the UConn side of the floor, worked his way to the back door and was able to slam home a lob from Dixon less than five seconds into the action.
The Terps ultimately won that high-flying matchup, 90-82, en route to winning the school’s first men’s basketball championship.