Oklahoma City Becomes Cinderella City During March Madness

Former Valparaiso star Bryce Drew hopes to one day bring his son to see where he hit his famous game-winning shot in the 1998 NCAA Tournament.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 1:09pm

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Bryce Drew, a former Valparaiso basketball player, hopes to one day bring his son to Oklahoma City to show him the site where Drew hit a famous game-winning shot in the 1998 NCAA Tournament. The game, between Drew's Valparaiso team and Ole Miss, took place at the Myriad in Oklahoma City, which has become known as a hub for March Madness upsets and Cinderella stories over the years.

Why it matters

Oklahoma City has developed a reputation as a prime location for NCAA Tournament upsets and Cinderella runs, with the city's Myriad arena hosting several memorable March Madness moments over the decades. Drew's famous shot is one of the most iconic plays in tournament history, and revisiting the site holds deep personal significance for the former Valparaiso star.

The details

In the 1998 NCAA Tournament first-round matchup between Valparaiso and Ole Miss, Bryce Drew hit a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift his underdog Valparaiso team to victory. The shot, which has become known as "The Shot," took place at the Myriad in Oklahoma City and is considered one of the most memorable plays in NCAA Tournament history.

  • The 1998 NCAA Tournament first-round game between Valparaiso and Ole Miss took place in Oklahoma City at the Myriad.

The players

Bryce Drew

A former basketball player for Valparaiso University who hit a famous game-winning shot in the 1998 NCAA Tournament.

Valparaiso University

The small college basketball team that Bryce Drew played for, which pulled off an upset victory over Ole Miss in the 1998 NCAA Tournament.

Ole Miss

The opponent of Valparaiso in the 1998 NCAA Tournament first-round game where Bryce Drew hit his famous shot.

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What they’re saying

“It's such a big part of my history as a basketball player,”

— Bryce Drew (The Oklahoman)

The takeaway

Oklahoma City has cemented its reputation as a hub for March Madness upsets and Cinderella stories, with the Myriad arena hosting several iconic NCAA Tournament moments over the years, including Bryce Drew's famous game-winning shot for Valparaiso in 1998.