There are a lot of things that can go into making a good weekend – no lines at the bars, a “Rocky” marathon, some company with a member of the opposite sex, etc.

However, one thing that occurred this weekend gave everyone who saw it an unforgettable time.

The basketball gods smiled down on all of us and gave us the best basketball weekend of our lives.

The weekend was capped with a double-overtime thriller between Kentucky and Michigan State. The Spartans prevailed to win after Kentucky overcame an eight-point deficit in the final 5:30 to force overtime.

It all began Friday night, with MSU dropping the Duke Blue Devils 78-68.

A few factors made the win even sweeter for me, a huge Spartan fan.

First, it helped silence critics of the Big Ten.

The criticism of the conference has been non-stop, with people eagerly pointing out how the league isn’t deep.

While the ACC owned the Big Ten in their pre-conference season Big Ten-ACC Challenge, the Big Ten turned the tables on the biggest, brightest stage – the NCAA Tournament. Minutes after the Spartans advanced to the Elite Eight, the Wisconsin Badgers moved on, beating N.C. State.

After the weekend’s games, the Big Ten can proudly claim to be the best conference in the nation, placing two teams in the Final Four.

The second thing the MSU win did was silence color analyst Billy Packer. I have never encountered someone who can make me yell at the television more than Packer can.

During the MSU-Duke telecast, Packer and play-by-play man Jim Nantz went to lengths to mention how MSU has fallen apart in their big losses. Even after a MSU steal with seconds left, the announcers noted how “the ball squirted” into the hands of a Spartan, like it was luck and not a steal.

Then, on Saturday, basketball fans got treated to two of the best games of the year in the first set of regional final games.

First, Cinderella West Virginia led favored Louisville by as many as 19 in the first half, getting three-point jumpers from every spot on the floor by every player in a navy uniform.

But, with their best player on the bench with five fouls, Louisville advanced to the Final Four by getting hot from beyond the three-point arc and winning in overtime.

The game seemed un-toppable by anything Illinois and Arizona could do.

But the Illini’s comeback win proved to be even more incredible than Louisville’s improbable win. Trailing late in the second half, the Illini caught fire to force overtime.

When the dust settled Sunday night, my eyes had witnessed three days and nights of the best basketball I’ve ever seen.

The games made me yell, made me cheer, made my skin cover with goosebumps and made me remember why there’s no better time to be a college basketball fan then on a weekend in late March.

It was madness.

Dan Woike, a senior journalism major, is already a little choked up at the prospect of hearing “One Shining Moment.” E-mail him at [email protected] and tell him what makes your eyes tear up.