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Defining moments - 'The greatest game'
Duke’s dramatic overtime win against Kentucky in 1992 rises above the rest
Duke’s dramatic overtime win against Kentucky in 1992 rises above the rest
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By Greg Johnson
The NCAA News
The NCAA News
In a CBS Sports show about great moments in the Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, commentator Verne Lundquist said the 1992 East regional final between Duke and Kentucky was simply “the greatest game.”
That game, which Duke won in dramatic fashion on a Christian Laettner basket after a length-of-the-court inbounds pass from Grant Hill, may not be a defining moment in NCAA history, but it did help define the Association’s most historic event.
The NCAA released its list of Top 25 Defining Moments to coincide with the 100-year anniversary of the Association. Those events, people and occurrences were recognized in 2006.
But many other moments are worthy of acknowledgment.
The game between Duke and Kentucky on March 28, 1992, ranks as one of the most unforgettable sporting events, period.
At stake that day inside the Spectrum in Philadelphia was a berth to the 1992 Men’s Final Four.
Duke, the consensus No. 1 team and defending national champion, was on a mission that season to become the first program to win consecutive titles since UCLA’s run of seven straight national championships from 1967-73.
Kentucky was looking to rekindle its storied basketball history after being placed on probation for recruiting violations in the late 1980s.
Immediately after Duke’s thrilling 104-103 overtime victory, media members were already quizzing themselves on whether they had just witnessed the greatest college basketball game. It remains a relevant question today.
The participants have moved on with their lives, but all are forever linked by the drama that captivated the millions of viewers both in the stands and in front of their television sets.
2.1 seconds
Laettner, who was a perfect 10-for-10 both from the field and from the free-throw line in the game, said talking about the game hasn’t grown old.
“I haven’t got tired of it yet,” Laettner said in a story about the upcoming 25-year anniversary of the game on Dukeupdate.com. “Maybe some other people do, but I don’t. It’s a blessing, something I get to enjoy until the day I die.”
Even before Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski led the Blue Devils to their third national championship in 2001, he said the win over Kentucky to advance to the Final Four was his most thrilling moment.
“It was the epitome of what I try to get from a team in a crisis situation,” Krzyzewski said in an interview with the Academy of Achievement in May 1997.
Duke and Kentucky waged a great contest well before the dramatic ending, with both teams playing at a high level throughout the game.
The Wildcats shot 56.9 percent (37-for-65) from the field for the game, with Duke posting an even more impressive 65.4 percent (34-for-52).
Kentucky led, 20-12, early on before Duke gained control to eventually take a 50-45 advantage at halftime.
The Blue Devils kept the momentum and led, 67-55, with 11 minutes left in regulation.
Kentucky all-American forward Jamal Mashburn, who finished with 28 points before fouling out in overtime, led his team’s comeback. Still, Duke’s championship experience shined as it rebuilt the lead to 10 points.
The Wildcats clawed their way to a tie in the closing minute, and Duke point guard Bobby Hurley missed a jumper at the end of regulation.
The twists and turns continued over the five-minute overtime before Kentucky was dealt a tough blow when Mashburn fouled out in the waning seconds.
Duke held a 102-101 advantage when Kentucky’s Sean Woods floated a shot over the outstretched arms of Laettner to give the Wildcats the lead with 2.1 seconds remaining.
Duke’s coronation to a second straight NCAA title appeared in doubt to everyone except Krzyzewski, who used the moment to do some of his best coaching.
Krzyzewski admitted he was upset at the moment Woods’ shot banked in because he felt his team played good defense on the possession and didn’t deserve to lose the game on a high-arching bank shot.
“It was from straight on and you just don’t do that,” Krzyzewski said. “To me, it was a lucky shot, and I didn’t want to lose that way. So I used my anger properly.”
As the Duke players made their way to the bench with the crowd roaring at the prospect of a stunning upset, Krzyzewski told his players, “We’re going to win,” despite Duke having to figure out a way to go the length of the court and convert in 2.1 seconds.
“Whether you completely believe it or not, you have to have the expression on your face, and the words in your mouth that we’re going to get a good shot to win,” Krzyzewski said.
While Krzyzewski was instilling confidence in his players, Kentucky coach Rick Pitino was devising a strategy to defend the last play. The Wildcats faced a dilemma because the 6-8 Mashburn and starting center Gimel Martinez had both exited on fouls.
That left Pitino’s team having to defend the 6-11 Laettner, who hadn’t missed a shot yet. Pitino decided to sandwich 6-7 forwards John Pelphrey and Deron Feldhaus in front and behind Laettner to keep the ball out of his hands.
Pitino admitted later that it was a mistake, because it allowed Hill to inbound the ball uninhibited.
After telling his players they were going to win, Krzyzewski used another strategy to set up the winning play.
“I felt we were connected,” he said. “I asked Grant Hill — instead of telling him what to do — I asked Grant, ‘Can you throw the ball 75 feet?’ And he said, ‘Yes, I’ll throw it.’ And by saying it already, I think he had already done it.”
Krzyzewski then asked Laettner if he could catch the pass. Laettner replied that if Hill could make the pass, he would catch the ball.
When the whistle blew to put the ball in play, Hill made the pass and, much to Pelphrey’s astonishment, Laettner caught the ball near the foul line. The Kentucky players were anxious about defending the shot for fear of fouling.
Laettner, who put Duke in the 1990 Final Four by making a shot at the buzzer to beat Connecticut in the East regional final, calmly dribbled once, turned and swished a 17-foot jumper to complete a perfect night shooting the basketball and unleashing tears of joy and disappointment on both sides.
Honor for all
Kentucky’s players were devastated by the turn of events, but a few days later the senior class of Woods, Pelphrey, Feldhaus and Richie Farmer had their jerseys retired in a ceremony for staying in the program throughout the probation period that included a ban from postseason play. The team in fact was given the nickname “The Unforgettables.”
During the ceremony honoring the senior class, then-Kentucky Athletics Director C.M. Newton said, “Today, our program is back on top due largely to four young men who persevered, who weathered the hard times and who brought the good times back to Kentucky basketball. Their contributions to UK basketball cannot be measured in statistics or record books.”
For Duke, it was the most memorable part of the journey to a second straight national title. The Blue Devils went on to defeat Indiana in the national semifinals and Michigan in the championship game.
In 1991, Duke upset previously undefeated UNLV in the national semifinals en route to its first national crown.
However, after the Kentucky game, Duke point guard Bobby Hurley told the assembled media, “I can’t speak for any other game in the past, but this is the best game I’ve ever been a part of in my life. What the UNLV game stands for is us beating a team that was almost unbeatable. So that on a larger scale counted a little bit more. But this game, as far as playing the game itself, was a lot greater feeling, and a lot more satisfying to me.”
Krzyzewski made several sporting gestures after the win, including seeking out legendary Kentucky radio announcer Cawood Ledford, who was calling his last game after 39 years on the job.
Krzyzewski addressed a stunned Kentucky fan base and told them how proud they should be of their team.
His summation of the game was, “I thank God I was a part of it.”
That game, which Duke won in dramatic fashion on a Christian Laettner basket after a length-of-the-court inbounds pass from Grant Hill, may not be a defining moment in NCAA history, but it did help define the Association’s most historic event.
The NCAA released its list of Top 25 Defining Moments to coincide with the 100-year anniversary of the Association. Those events, people and occurrences were recognized in 2006.
But many other moments are worthy of acknowledgment.
The game between Duke and Kentucky on March 28, 1992, ranks as one of the most unforgettable sporting events, period.
At stake that day inside the Spectrum in Philadelphia was a berth to the 1992 Men’s Final Four.
Duke, the consensus No. 1 team and defending national champion, was on a mission that season to become the first program to win consecutive titles since UCLA’s run of seven straight national championships from 1967-73.
Kentucky was looking to rekindle its storied basketball history after being placed on probation for recruiting violations in the late 1980s.
Immediately after Duke’s thrilling 104-103 overtime victory, media members were already quizzing themselves on whether they had just witnessed the greatest college basketball game. It remains a relevant question today.
The participants have moved on with their lives, but all are forever linked by the drama that captivated the millions of viewers both in the stands and in front of their television sets.
2.1 seconds
Laettner, who was a perfect 10-for-10 both from the field and from the free-throw line in the game, said talking about the game hasn’t grown old.
“I haven’t got tired of it yet,” Laettner said in a story about the upcoming 25-year anniversary of the game on Dukeupdate.com. “Maybe some other people do, but I don’t. It’s a blessing, something I get to enjoy until the day I die.”
Even before Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski led the Blue Devils to their third national championship in 2001, he said the win over Kentucky to advance to the Final Four was his most thrilling moment.
“It was the epitome of what I try to get from a team in a crisis situation,” Krzyzewski said in an interview with the Academy of Achievement in May 1997.
Duke and Kentucky waged a great contest well before the dramatic ending, with both teams playing at a high level throughout the game.
The Wildcats shot 56.9 percent (37-for-65) from the field for the game, with Duke posting an even more impressive 65.4 percent (34-for-52).
Kentucky led, 20-12, early on before Duke gained control to eventually take a 50-45 advantage at halftime.
The Blue Devils kept the momentum and led, 67-55, with 11 minutes left in regulation.
Kentucky all-American forward Jamal Mashburn, who finished with 28 points before fouling out in overtime, led his team’s comeback. Still, Duke’s championship experience shined as it rebuilt the lead to 10 points.
The Wildcats clawed their way to a tie in the closing minute, and Duke point guard Bobby Hurley missed a jumper at the end of regulation.
The twists and turns continued over the five-minute overtime before Kentucky was dealt a tough blow when Mashburn fouled out in the waning seconds.
Duke held a 102-101 advantage when Kentucky’s Sean Woods floated a shot over the outstretched arms of Laettner to give the Wildcats the lead with 2.1 seconds remaining.
Duke’s coronation to a second straight NCAA title appeared in doubt to everyone except Krzyzewski, who used the moment to do some of his best coaching.
Krzyzewski admitted he was upset at the moment Woods’ shot banked in because he felt his team played good defense on the possession and didn’t deserve to lose the game on a high-arching bank shot.
“It was from straight on and you just don’t do that,” Krzyzewski said. “To me, it was a lucky shot, and I didn’t want to lose that way. So I used my anger properly.”
As the Duke players made their way to the bench with the crowd roaring at the prospect of a stunning upset, Krzyzewski told his players, “We’re going to win,” despite Duke having to figure out a way to go the length of the court and convert in 2.1 seconds.
“Whether you completely believe it or not, you have to have the expression on your face, and the words in your mouth that we’re going to get a good shot to win,” Krzyzewski said.
While Krzyzewski was instilling confidence in his players, Kentucky coach Rick Pitino was devising a strategy to defend the last play. The Wildcats faced a dilemma because the 6-8 Mashburn and starting center Gimel Martinez had both exited on fouls.
That left Pitino’s team having to defend the 6-11 Laettner, who hadn’t missed a shot yet. Pitino decided to sandwich 6-7 forwards John Pelphrey and Deron Feldhaus in front and behind Laettner to keep the ball out of his hands.
Pitino admitted later that it was a mistake, because it allowed Hill to inbound the ball uninhibited.
After telling his players they were going to win, Krzyzewski used another strategy to set up the winning play.
“I felt we were connected,” he said. “I asked Grant Hill — instead of telling him what to do — I asked Grant, ‘Can you throw the ball 75 feet?’ And he said, ‘Yes, I’ll throw it.’ And by saying it already, I think he had already done it.”
Krzyzewski then asked Laettner if he could catch the pass. Laettner replied that if Hill could make the pass, he would catch the ball.
When the whistle blew to put the ball in play, Hill made the pass and, much to Pelphrey’s astonishment, Laettner caught the ball near the foul line. The Kentucky players were anxious about defending the shot for fear of fouling.
Laettner, who put Duke in the 1990 Final Four by making a shot at the buzzer to beat Connecticut in the East regional final, calmly dribbled once, turned and swished a 17-foot jumper to complete a perfect night shooting the basketball and unleashing tears of joy and disappointment on both sides.
Honor for all
Kentucky’s players were devastated by the turn of events, but a few days later the senior class of Woods, Pelphrey, Feldhaus and Richie Farmer had their jerseys retired in a ceremony for staying in the program throughout the probation period that included a ban from postseason play. The team in fact was given the nickname “The Unforgettables.”
During the ceremony honoring the senior class, then-Kentucky Athletics Director C.M. Newton said, “Today, our program is back on top due largely to four young men who persevered, who weathered the hard times and who brought the good times back to Kentucky basketball. Their contributions to UK basketball cannot be measured in statistics or record books.”
For Duke, it was the most memorable part of the journey to a second straight national title. The Blue Devils went on to defeat Indiana in the national semifinals and Michigan in the championship game.
In 1991, Duke upset previously undefeated UNLV in the national semifinals en route to its first national crown.
However, after the Kentucky game, Duke point guard Bobby Hurley told the assembled media, “I can’t speak for any other game in the past, but this is the best game I’ve ever been a part of in my life. What the UNLV game stands for is us beating a team that was almost unbeatable. So that on a larger scale counted a little bit more. But this game, as far as playing the game itself, was a lot greater feeling, and a lot more satisfying to me.”
Krzyzewski made several sporting gestures after the win, including seeking out legendary Kentucky radio announcer Cawood Ledford, who was calling his last game after 39 years on the job.
Krzyzewski addressed a stunned Kentucky fan base and told them how proud they should be of their team.
His summation of the game was, “I thank God I was a part of it.”
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