Miller’s Miracle: The Shot That Sparked a Gators Legacy
25 years ago to this day, on March 17, 2000, Mike Miller etched his name into Florida Gators lore with a dramatic buzzer-beater that stunned the Butler Bulldogs in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
The game, played at Lawrence Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was a nail-biter from start to finish, pitting the fifth-seeded Gators against a scrappy No. 12 Butler squad riding a 15-game winning streak heading into the tournament. What transpired was a classic March Madness moment that still resonates 25 years later.
Trailing late, Florida clawed back to force overtime, thanks to Udonis Haslem’s clutch free throws with just 15 seconds remaining in regulation. In overtime, Butler held a one-point lead with eight seconds to go after Lavall Jordan missed two pivotal free throws.
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That’s when Miller, a sophomore forward under coach Billy Donovan, delivered his moment. Catching a pass from Teddy Dupay at the three-point line, Miller drove into the lane, leaned into contact, and floated a runner over several outstretched defenders. As the buzzer sounded, the ball kissed the rim and dropped through, securing a 69-68 victory for the Gators.
The Gators mobbed Miller in a joyous pile, their relief being noticeable after a heartbreaking tournament loss to Gonzaga the previous year.
“You dream of moments like that,” Miller later said, reflecting on a play that sparked a run to the 2000 NCAA Championship game.
Though they fell to Michigan State in the final, Miller’s heroics against Butler marked a turning point for a program that would soon become a basketball powerhouse. For Gators fans, that shot remains a timeless snapshot of March magic.
