The 1991–92 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team was a Division I college basketball team that competed in the
Atlantic Coast Conference. Led by All-American
Christian Laettner and
Grant Hill
Grant Henry Hill (born October 5, 1972) is an American former professional basketball player who is a co-owner and executive of the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He attended Duke University and is widely consider ...
, Duke won its 2nd national championship in as many years to become the first repeating team since
UCLA
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a Normal school, teachers colle ...
's seven-year dynasty from 1967 to 1973. The feat would not be accomplished again in college basketball until the
Florida Gators
The Florida Gators are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Florida, located in Gainesville. The University of Florida, its athletic program, its alumni and its sports fans are often collectively referred to as th ...
did it in 2007.
Roster
Expectations
The Blue Devils started the season as the defending National Champions, and were looking to repeat as National Champions for the first time since
UCLA
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a Normal school, teachers colle ...
did it in 1973. Losing only
Greg Koubek to graduation, Duke retained its core players including Laettner,
Bobby Hurley
Robert Matthew Hurley (born June 28, 1971) is an American college basketball coach and former professional player who is the head coach of the Arizona State Sun Devils. He was previously the head coach at the University at Buffalo.
As a college ...
, and
Grant Hill
Grant Henry Hill (born October 5, 1972) is an American former professional basketball player who is a co-owner and executive of the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He attended Duke University and is widely consider ...
and was able to add recruits
Cherokee Parks
Cherokee Bryan Parks (born October 11, 1972) is an American former professional basketball player. He played nine seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
A 6 ft 11 in (211 cm), 240 lb (109 kg) center, Parks play ...
and Erik Meek to its lineup.
Regular season
The Blue Devils started the season ranked No. 1 and won its first 17 games. Their unbeaten streak came to an end when they lost a close contest to
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia a ...
in the
Dean Dome by a score of
75–73. However, Duke would only lose another game (to
Wake Forest 72–68) for the rest of the season and finished the season with a 25–2 record and the 10th regular-season championship in school history.
Conference Tournament
Duke entered the
ACC tournament as the No. 1 seed. They defeated North Carolina in the ACC title game 94–74 to capture their 9th ACC Tournament Championship in school history. As a result, the Blue Devils received a No. 1 seed in the East Regional of the
NCAA tournament.
NCAA tournament
The Blue Devils had little trouble progressing through the first three rounds, but faced the toughest test of the season in the East Regional Final against sixth-ranked and No. 2 seed
Kentucky
Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virgini ...
coached by
Rick Pitino
Richard Andrew Pitino (born September 18, 1952) is an American college basketball coach who is the head coach for Iona College. He was also the head coach of Greece's senior national team. He has been the head coach of several teams in NCAA ...
. In perhaps the greatest college basketball game in history,
Christian Laettner hit a buzzer-beating turnaround jumper on a long inbounds pass from
Grant Hill
Grant Henry Hill (born October 5, 1972) is an American former professional basketball player who is a co-owner and executive of the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He attended Duke University and is widely consider ...
, and Duke got a 104–103 overtime win over Kentucky to earn its fifth straight Final Four appearance. Laettner scored 31 points in that game, making all 10 of his field goal attempts (including a
three-pointer
A three-point field goal (also 3-pointer, three, or trey) is a field goal in a basketball game made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc surrounding the basket. A successful attempt is worth three points, in contrast to the two poi ...
) and all 10 of his free throws.
After defeating an
Indiana
Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th ...
team led by
Calbert Cheaney, Duke reached the title game for the third consecutive time to face off against
Michigan
Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the List of U.S. states and ...
's
Fab Five, led by freshmen
Chris Webber
Mayce Edward Christopher Webber III (born March 1, 1973) is an American former professional basketball player. Drafted number one overall by the Orlando Magic, though arguably best known and remembered as the star forward for the Sacramento King ...
,
Jalen Rose
Jalen Anthony Rose (born January 30, 1973) is an American sports analyst and former professional basketball player. In college, he was a member of the University of Michigan Wolverines' " Fab Five" (along with Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jim ...
,
Juwan Howard,
Jimmy King and
Ray Jackson. The Blue Devils ended the Fab Five's dream run in a 71–51 contest to become the first team since UCLA 19 years ago to repeat as National Champions. Bobby Hurley was named
NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player
At the conclusion of the NCAA men's and women's Division I basketball championships (the "Final Four" tournaments), a media panel selects a Most Outstanding Player (MOP). It is usually awarded to a member of the championship team. There have been ...
.
Schedule
, -
!colspan=9 style=, Regular season
, -
!colspan=8 style=,
ACC Tournament
, -
!colspan=9 style=,
NCAA tournament
Rankings
Accomplishments
*2nd straight national championship (1991–1992)
*3rd straight appearance in national championship game (1990–1992)
*5th straight appearance in Final Four (1988–1992)
*Held AP No. 1 ranking from start to finish throughout season (18 polls)
*Christian Laettner received several Player of the Year accolades in 1992:
**NABC Player of the Year
**AP National Player of the Year
**
Oscar Robertson Trophy
The Oscar Robertson Trophy is given out annually to the outstanding men's college basketball
In United States colleges, top-tier basketball is governed by collegiate athletic bodies including National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the ...
**
Wooden Award
**
Naismith Award
**
Adolph Rupp Trophy
*Christian Laettner was a unanimous First Team
All-American selection.
NCAA.org: 2008 Men's Basketball Records Book
*Christian Laettner became the only player to start in four consecutive Final Fours. He also played in a record-setting 23 games in the NCAA Tournament. (To break this record, one would have to play in four consecutive ''championship'' games.)
*Four players received All-ACC honors:
**Christian Laettner (1st Team)
**Grant Hill, Bobby Hurley (2nd Team)
**Thomas Hill (3rd Team)
*Three players from the 1992 squad (Laettner, Hurley, and Grant Hill) had their jerseys retired by Duke.
*Mike Krzyzewski was named the Naismith College Coach of the Year
Naismith College Coach of the Year Award is an award given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to one men's and one women's NCAA Division I collegiate coach each season since 1987. The award was originally given to the two winning coaches of the NCAA Divisi ...
References
External links
Duke Blue Devils Basketball Statistical Database
{{DEFAULTSORT:1991-92 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team
Duke Blue Devils men's basketball seasons
Duke Blue Devils
The Duke Blue Devils are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Duke University, located in Durham, North Carolina. Duke's athletics department features 27 varsity teams that all compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Associati ...
NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament championship seasons
NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Final Four seasons
Duke
Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of Royal family, royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, t ...
Duke
Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of Royal family, royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, t ...
Duke
Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of Royal family, royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, t ...