Watch: Northwestern likely clinches 1st NCAA bid in the most dramatic fashion
Northwestern hasn't been to the NCAA tournament in the program's 112-year history, but it almost certainly clinched its first berth ever in the most dramatic way Wednesday.
With the game against Michigan tied and just 1.7 seconds to play, the Wildcats held the ball out of bounds under their own net, meaning they had 94 feet to go for the potential win.
Senior Nathan Taphorn threw a perfect pass to Dererk Pardon under the Michigan hoop, and the sophomore forward banked home the winning basket as time expired.
Pandemonium broke loose as Wildcats fans stormed the court in jubilation. With the victory, Northwestern hit the 21-win plateau for the first time in its history, and is all but guaranteed to be in the field of 68 on Selection Sunday.
Some of the school's most famous alums took their celebrations to Twitter:
That's the least Northwestern thing ever.
— Seth Meyers (@sethmeyers) March 2, 2017
Can't dance..no feeling in my legs...God Bless My Wildcats!
— Michael Wilbon (@RealMikeWilbon) March 2, 2017
Seven words I have been waiting TWENTY ONE YEARS to say.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) March 2, 2017
Northwestern.
Is.
Going.
To.
The.
NCAA.
Tournament.
Northwestern just clinched the first NCAA tourney berth in school history on a layup off a full court pass with no time remaining. I swear.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) March 2, 2017