Achieving the impossible\nBill James, the baseball guru known for creating sabermetrics, developed a formula that attempts to determine when a basketball game is "statistically over." He wanted to find out when a lead was safe, or at what point the outcome was certain regardless of future events. Statsheet.com tested the formula for close to 10,000 games and not a single game failed the test.
The website ran the data from Thursday's game and found that Mustapha Farrakhan's made free throw with 0:42 remaining - which put Virginia ahead by 10 - made the Cavaliers' lead 100 percent safe. In other words, the Hurricanes' subsequent comeback win was statistically impossible.
Other notable comebacks\n1999 Southern California @ Oregon - USC trailed 84-79 with 2.8 seconds left in regulation, but Adam Spanich's quick three-pointer off an in-bounds pass, followed by his steal and halfcourt swish at the buzzer, gave the Trojans an unlikely 85-84 victory ... 1994: Kentucky @ Louisiana State - LSU led 68-37 with 16 minutes to go, but the Wildcats clawed back to grab a 99-95 win ... 1977: Bradley @ New Mexico State - New Mexico State rallied from a 28-0 first-half deficit to claim a 117-109 win in regulation against the Braves.
-compiled by Nick Eilerson
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