And then, grant hills 80foot pass, laettners leap, set, pivot, shot a different sort of destiny. Twenty years later, kentucky still feeling effects of loss. He was the star player on the backtoback national championship teams of 1991 and 1992, and the ncaa player of the year in his. Booklist called it perhaps the best explanation to. The joy of hating duke and christian laettner the new yorker.
First, just 10 percent of gene wojciechowskis new book actually treats the. For long, agonizing stretches last night, the stars were all out of kilter for kentucky. Philadelphia, march 29, 1992 as president bush left his home this morning for a sunday walk around lafayette park, his unsolicited question echoed the ones asked by all the others who have ever been captivated by a basketball, two hoops and the wondrous things that can happen in between. Beginning with the moment laettner tied the game at 98, after being fouled by mashburn and dropping in two free throws, no other duke player would score. Duke and kentucky were the top two seeds in the east that year, and both had advanced mostly comfortably to the elite eight when they met in philadelphia on.
The 1992 ncaa division i mens basketball tournament involved 64 schools playing in singleelimination play to determine the national champion of mens ncaa division i college basketball. Nov 14, 2015 cameron mills, one of the heroes in uks lone victory over krzyzewski 1998 south region finals, grew up in kentucky. Twenty years later, kentucky still feeling effects of loss to. In the elite eight, duke met the rick pitinoled kentucky wildcats. His career for the duke blue devils is widely regarded as one of the best in national collegiate athletic association ncaa history. John biever photo by john biever sports illustrated via getty images set number. As kentucky coach tubby smith said on friday when he was asked about the classic 1992 duke kentucky game. Kentucky went 19 in 1989, its first losing season in more than 60 years. He was thought to be a great coach, but in a specific way. Ive always thought of the game in question as the greatest game. View the class of 2024s blue book your blue book includes specific deadlines and resources to make your transition to duke as smooth as possible. Duke, coached by mike krzyzewski, defeated the michigan wolverines, coached by steve fisher, 7151 to claim their second consecutive national championship.
Dukekentucky 1992 official website of coach mike krzyzewski. This episode covers the last great game by gene wojciechowski of espn. Question about that infamous 1992 kentucky vs duke game. Watch the full classic game between duke and kentucky in the 1992 ncaa tournament regional finals. The 1992 ncaa tournament was highlighted by a game between duke and kentucky in the east regional final to determine the final spot in the final four. On march 28, 1992, arguably the greatest game in the history of college basketball was played between duke and kentucky. The last great game and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Christian laettners heroic shot lifted duke over kentucky in the. Sean woods had given kentucky a 103102 lead with 2. The story of the classic 1992 basketball contest told in espn senior columnist gene wojciechowskis new book, the last great game, truly begins about four years earlier. That was the book common perception of rp at the time. New book rekindles memories of 1992 dukekentucky classic.
As kentucky coach tubby smith said on friday when he was asked about the classic 1992 dukekentucky game. Not long after the dukekentucky overtime began in philadelphia. Duke s christian laettner launches the celebrated shot that lifted the blue devils to an ncaa tournament quarterfinal victory over kentucky on march 28, 1992. That was the bookcommon perception of rp at the time. Books have been written about the game and it was the last that cawood ledford would ever call a kentucky game. Leave a comment its hard to believe that it has been over 20 years since that evening of march 28, 1992 when duke played kentucky at the spectrum in philadelphia in the finals of the ncaa east regionals that would send the winner to the final four. The 1992 ncaa east regional final between duke university and the university of kentucky is considered one of the best basketball games of all time, one. Watch the march madness classic 1992 matchup between duke and kentucky. Duke was up by 12 in the first half and then this scrappy bunch from lexington came back. The two teams combined to shoot over 61 percent, which is a testament not to the lack of defense, but to the excellent offensive execution shown. Mar 07, 2012 lexington public library presents bookmarks. With just over two seconds left in overtime, grant hill threw a perfect 80foot inbounds pass to christian laettner, who made the gamewinning basket over two. Read about the 1968 acc tournament, north carolinas scoreless half at duke in 1979, duke s upset win over unlv in the 1991 final four, and the 1992 duke kentucky eastern regional classic.
Duke 312 had the ball and a onepoint deficit with 2. The 1992 ncaa east regional final between duke university and the university of kentucky is considered one of the best basketball games of all time, one that ended with the improbable. Kentuckys sean woods banked in a running jumper over laettner with 2. Millions could say they witnessed the greatest game and the greatest shot in the history of college basketball. Duke christian laettner in action, shooting vs kentucky at. The photographic archive, consisting of finished exhibition prints, work prints, negatives, contact sheets, book dummies, and some notebooks is officially donated by lee friedlander and richard gedney to the rare book, manuscript, and special collections library of duke university in durham, north carolina. No single foul is more famous in kentucky lore than the 1992 technical foul by christian laettner of the duke blue devils upon the person of aminu timberlake in the 1992 ncaa regional final game.
Duke university vs university of kentucky, 1992 ncaa eastern regional finals college basketball. Tournament, he hit what is perhaps college basketballs most iconic shot of all time, but he probably shouldnt have been playing at all. Jun 18, 2012 no single foul is more famous in kentucky lore than the 1992 technical foul by christian laettner of the duke blue devils upon the person of aminu timberlake in the 1992 ncaa regional final game. Dukes christian laettner launches the celebrated shot that lifted the blue devils to an ncaa tournament quarterfinal victory over kentucky on march 28, 1992. In march of 1992, i was 14 years old and already knew i wanted to be a coach in basketball, baseball, well, really anything which involved sports. The encyclopedia of duke basketball is the ultimate.
How the 1992 duke and kentucky teams took a trip into college basketball. The definitive book on the greatest game in the history of college basketball, and the dramatic road both teams took to get there. The last great game by gene wojciechowski overdrive. Christian laettners heroic shot lifted duke over kentucky in. Prior to joining espn in 1992, he worked as a sports reporter for publications including the. Twentysix years ago, to the day, few who watched it have forgotten ukduke. Duke christian laettner 32 in action, shooting vs kentucky at the spectrum. With fourteen final four appearances and three national championships for the mens teams and four final four appearances and five acc championships for the womens teams, the blue devils have established a worldwide reputation for excellence and have inspired the fierce devotion of generations of fans. It appeared kentucky had sealed the win in overtime when guard sean woods hit a. Read about the 1968 acc tournament, north carolinas scoreless half at duke in 1979, dukes upset win over unlv in the 1991 final four, and the 1992 dukekentucky eastern regional classic. Christian laettners improbable buzzer beater off grant hills perfect pass sent the blue devils. Theres a world of new ideas in every books newsletter. Question about that infamous 1992 kentucky vs duke game posted by keys open doors on 33116 at 12. Kstv talks to author of book on legendary 1992 dukeuk.
Philadelphia, march 29, 1992 as president bush left his home this morning for a sunday walk around lafayette park, his unsolicited question echoed the ones asked by all the others who have ever been captivated by a basketball, two hoops and the wondrous things that can happen in. Associated press file photodukes christian laettner hit the shot heard. Even in the last great game, gene wojciechowskis terrific new book celebrating the 20th anniversary of kentuckyduke 1992, that shot only merits a page and a. Cameron mills, one of the heroes in uks lone victory over krzyzewski 1998 south region finals, grew up in kentucky. Mar 23, 2012 and then, grant hills 80foot pass, laettners leap, set, pivot, shot a different sort of destiny. When kentucky came downcourt and woods missed a jumper, it was laettner who claimed the rebound. I lived for the ncaa tournament and loved the underdog stories. It outlines everything you need to do during the summer before you arrive on campus. Life on the wwii home front is real and wrenching in this triumphant novel by newbery honor author larson. Christian laettners heroic shot lifted duke over kentucky. The 17,848 at the spectrum in philadelphia and the millions watching on tv could say they saw the greatest game and the greatest shot in the history of college basketball. Et hosted by rich eisen, the documentary looks back at. Duke and kentucky were the top two seeds in the east that year, and both had advanced mostly comfortably to the elite eight when they met in philadelphia on march 28, 1992, and produced one of the.
Verne lundquist discusses book, broadcasting, and christian. I thought the book would be about duke, and it ended up being as much a kentucky book. University of kentucky basketball, football, and recruiting news brought to you in the most ridiculous manner possible. The encyclopedia of duke basketball by john roth nook book. In determining whether duke would earn its fifth straight trip to the final four or if kentucky would make its first trip after spending time in purgatory, the two teams shot a combined 61%, and laettner, duke s senior star, launched 20 shots on the evening, 10 from the field and 10 from the line, bottoming out each one. Grant hill threw a pass the length of the court to christian laettner.
Duke university has been home to thirtysix allamerican basketball players. They talk about what the shot means today and what it was like to be on the court for one of ncaas most classic moments and how it still resonates. Nancy maclean is an awardwinning scholar of the twentiethcentury u. Acclaimed espn columnist wojciechowski delivers the definitive book on the greatest game in the history of college basketballthe march 28, 1992, matchup between duke and kentucky in the final of the ncaa east regionaland the dramatic road both teams took to get there. But it wasnt just the final playan 80foot inbounds pass with 2. Jan 11, 2012 duke s christian laettner launches the celebrated shot that lifted the blue devils to an ncaa tournament quarterfinal victory over kentucky on march 28, 1992. Apr 04, 2015 even in the last great game, gene wojciechowskis terrific new book celebrating the 20th anniversary of kentucky duke 1992, that shot only merits a page and a half, and a lot of this discussion. It began on march 19, 1992, and ended with the championship game on april 6 in minneapolis, minnesota. Record book duke basketball year by year 000 duke women year by year 000 individual records 000 team records 000 womens. Ive always thought of the game in question as the greatest game and the greatest shot that ive ever seen. Espn classic laettners buzzerbeater ended 92 classic. In determining whether duke would earn its fifth straight trip to the final four or if kentucky would make its first trip after spending time in purgatory, the two teams shot a combined 61%, and laettner, dukes senior star, launched 20 shots on the evening, 10 from the field and 10 from the line, bottoming out each one. Duke basketball is one of the most celebrated programs in intercollegiate athletics. The story of the classic 1992 basketball contest told in espn senior columnist gene wojciechowskis new book, the last great game, truly begins about four.
Unlv 77, duke 79, kentucky 103, duke 104, unc 54, kansas 53, nc state 54, houston 52 ncaa tournament 1988 ncaa, 1976 ncaa, 1940 ncaa, 1950 ncaa, 1981 ncaa. The deep history of the radical rights stealth plan for america, has been described by publishers weekly as a thoroughly researched and gripping narrativeand a feat of american intellectual and political history. Eight minutes left in regulation, dukekentucky, screeching soldout spectrum, winner goes to the. But theres a lot of ucla and kentucky in that record book.