Theory 2 Action Podcast
Theory 2 Action Podcast
MM#398--The Last Great Game: Duke, Kentucky, and the Shot That Defined March Madness
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A perfect shot, a miracle pass, and 2.1 seconds that forever altered basketball history. When Christian Laettner caught Grant Hill's 80-foot inbound pass, took one dribble, faked, and released his iconic buzzer-beater to give Duke a 104-103 overtime victory against Kentucky in the 1992 NCAA East Regional Final, he created what many still consider "The Last Great Game." Our book of the day, The Last Great Game: Duke vs. Kentucky and the 2.1 Seconds That Changed Basketball by Gene Wojciechowski captured the memories of this iconic duel.
This epic contest represented far more than an Elite Eight thriller. For Duke and Coach Mike Krzyzewski, it was the crucial step toward their second consecutive national championship—something no program had accomplished since UCLA's dynasty. With future NBA stars Laettner, Hill, and Bobby Hurley, Duke embodied excellence and championship DNA.
For Kentucky, the moment carried profound emotional weight. Just three years earlier, the storied program faced potential shutdown amid NCAA sanctions and a damning Sports Illustrated cover story dubbed "Kentucky's Shame." Coach Rick Pitino rebuilt the program with four players who stayed loyal through the darkest period—Pelfrey, Feldhaus, Farmer, and Woods. In the tearful aftermath, Pitino reminded his heartbroken team that restoring Kentucky's reputation mattered more than any Final Four appearance, brandishing that same magazine cover as a symbol of how far they'd come.
While subsequent NCAA tournaments have delivered unforgettable moments—Villanova's 2016 championship buzzer-beater, Gordon Hayward's near-miracle in 2010, and Gonzaga's overtime thriller against UCLA in 2021—none have quite captured the perfect storm of circumstances that made the 1992 Duke-Kentucky game basketball's gold standard for drama, execution, and storytelling. As we experience each new March Madness, we're all secretly hoping to witness another contest that might finally surpass what remains, three decades later, truly the last great game.
Key Points from the Episode:
• The game represented both programs at critical points – Duke establishing dynasty status under Coach K while Kentucky was rebuilding from NCAA sanctions
• Rick Pitino had transformed Kentucky from "Kentucky's Shame" (Sports Illustrated cover) to prideful contenders in just three years
• Four Kentucky players (Pelfrey, Feldhaus, Farmer, Woods) stayed loyal through the program's sanctions and darkest period
• Duke went on to win the 1992 championship against Michigan's Fab Five, securing back-to-back titles
• We explore other "great games" since 1992 including Villanova-UNC (2016), Kansas-Memphis (2008), Duke-Butler (2010), and Gonzaga-UCLA (2021)
• The 1992 contest maintains its reputation through perfect combination of drama, stakes, program narratives, and execution
Keep fighting the good fight and enjoy the madness of March!
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Welcome to the Theory to Action podcast, where we examine the timeless treasures of wisdom from the great books in less time, to help you take action immediately and ultimately to create and lead a flourishing life. Now here's your host, David Kaiser Hello.
Speaker 2:I am David and welcome back to another Mojo Minute. It's the madness of March and so let's begin, like we almost always do, with our first pull quote. But Tino did the basketball math in his head. Duke had 2.1 seconds to inbound a pass and then have someone catch it and then shoot it, or have someone catch it and then tip it to someone else for a shot. The clock wouldn't start until the inbounds pass was touched by a player. A miracle was possible.
Speaker 2:But Tino and his staff quickly decided not to put a man on the inbounds passer who they figured would be the 6'8 Grand Hill. They were concerned that Krzyzewski might try one of Dean Smith's favorite desperation plays have the passer run the baseline, which would force the defender to run with him, and then set a player in the defender's path and hope to draw a foul. When the defender slammed into him, the Wildcats also didn't have much height. Mashburn and Martinez had fouled out and Patino wasn't about to insert one of his 6'9 freshman, timberlake or Andre Riddick, into such a crucial situation. Anyway, grant Hill was tall enough to throw over a defender and he had the option of running the baseline to get free. There wasn't any question about Grant Hill's target, it would be Leitner. If Patino were Krzyzewski, that's who he'd throw it to too. Patino instructed Feldhaus and Pelfrey to form a human sandwich around the 6'11 Leitner, the 6'7 Feldhaus in front and the 6'7 Pelfrey in the back. Had he not fouled out, he would have had Mashburn who would have fronted the Duke center. Farmer would shadow Thomas Hill, woods would be on Lang and Brown would guard Hurley. Five defenders for the four Duke threats.
Speaker 2:And here's where the book is really good, because Gene Wojohowski did his homework and did his research. Brown, kentucky guard who would be guarding Bobby Hurley. Brown had been beaten in the Mississippi State High School Tournament two consecutive years by last-second shots and again in the semifinals of the National Junior College Tournament. The basketball gods owed him. All we got to do is take care of our defense, get one stop and we're going to the Final Four, he told himself. Oliver glanced at the clock and then at the dispirited Duke players as they sent on the Blue Devil bench. We got this thing, thought Oliver. He wasn't alone. I knew we were going to the Final Four, said Woods, no doubt in my mind.
Speaker 2:With two players bracketing Leitner, patino thought the Duke star would have no choice but to tip the ball to another Blue Devil. Don't leave your man on the sidelines and run to Leitner. Patino told Farmer Brown and Woods Stay at home, he's probably going to tip it. Then, just as the huddle broke, patino grabbed Pelfrey and Feldhaus. The guy hasn't missed a shot. He told him Whatever you do, don't foul him. Make them make a play. And that says Pitino. Now was my mistake.
Speaker 2:And that, my friends, opens chapter 12, titled March 28, 1992, in the NCAA East Regional Final, duke's dramatic 104-103 overtime victory and sealed, christian Laettner's famous buzzer-beater shot off an 80-foot inbounds pass from Grand Hill with just 2.1 seconds remaining into NCAA lore. Now, beyond the game itself, this book delves into the broader context of how both teams arrived at that historic moment. And it is fantastic folks. The book explores the journeys of the players, and coaches include Duke's Mike Krzyzewski and Kentucky's Rick Pitino, as well as the key figures that played out in the drama Bobby Hurley, jamal Bashburn and Sean Woods, from the Kentucky side and from the Duke side. Like we said, leitner, bobby Hurley and Granhill Wojciechowski also highlighted the contrasting paths of the two programs. Kentucky was rebuilding under Patino after NCAA sanctions, and Duke, the defending champions, established a modern-day dynasty under Krzyzewski, having won the year before. The narrative weaves together suspense, humor and tons of behind-the-scenes revelations, which offers insights into the preparation, the personalities and the stakes involved. It was released to mark the game's 20th anniversary in 2012 and appeals to all basketball fans and general readers alike, as well as emphasizing how great sports moments can be and are crafted through the effort, the strategy and perhaps just a touch of luck.
Speaker 2:Let's go back to our next pull quote. It was the most famous pass in Duke sports history, including football Time and heartbeat stopped. Grant throws that ball, says referee Tom Clark. The ball's in flight and when I tell you your whole life passes in front of you, I'm not kidding. Harris began his call on the Duke radio network of the final play. Bobby Hurley up the floor with Leitner. They throw at the length of the floor.
Speaker 2:Clark made his way down the sidelines as the final play unfolded. He looked for a foul as Leitner reached up to catch the pass with two hands. There was none. Pelfrey and Feldhaus didn't contest the pass at all. Leitner catches, comes down dribbles.
Speaker 2:Leitner had decided during the timeout that he had enough time for one dribble and one fake. Clark watched to make sure Leitner didn't shuffle his feet during the dribble and the pivot. There was no traveling. However, there was panic on the Duke bench as Leitner dribbled the ball once, says Marty Clark. I think we all shared the same exact sentiment, like what the F? Are you doing, man? We're putting it on the deck. That's real smart.
Speaker 2:Leitner turned towards the basket. Pelfrey backed away. Feldhaus at the last moment made a tepid attempt to challenge the shot. Too late the ball was out of Leitner's hands. Referee Tom Clark saw the release and then stared at the clock .2 seconds. The shot fell straight through. Shoots scores. Kristen Leitner has hit the bucket at the buzzer. The Blue Devils win it 104-103. Look out Minneapolis. Here come the Blue
Speaker 2:Devils. Tom Clark looked immediately at the scorer's table. Was it good or not? Someone asked. Clark waved it good. The spectrum in Philadelphia became a human exclamation point pandemonium, bedlam, cheers and tears. Wow. This book brought back so many memories. I was in high school at the time when that shot fell through the basket, having just concluded my junior year of playing high school
Speaker 2:basketball. And yes, duke went on to win the national championship in 1992 after defeating Kentucky in that iconic Elite Eight game. So Duke would beat Kentucky 104-103 in overtime again, thanks to Leitner's buzzer beater, they would go on to the Final Four game and defeat Indiana 81-78, with Leitner again playing a key role, scoring 31 points. And then Duke defeated the Michigan Five, the Michigan fab five, in a 71, 51 lopsided victory to secure their second consecutive title. Late it was named the tournament's most outstanding player, capping a perfect 10 for 10 performance from the field and a free throw line in the final game, finishing with a 34 and two record in C-Manning. One of the most celebrated runs in college basketball history. It was one for the ages, surely, and this was the second straight title under Mike Krzyzewski, reinforcing their status as a dynasty in the early
Speaker 2:1990s. You might remember at the time no team had won back-to-back championships since the 1973 UCLA dominant teams, so that was a big deal at the time. Now, what you might not remember is how the most iconic Blue Blood basketball school, that is, the Kentucky Wildcats, had been suffering. And, even though many don't like him, what coach then coach Rick Pitino, had did to restore faith in that program. In fact, this is where the book is also extremely good. Let's go back to the book Three years earlier, when the NCAA had seriously considered shutting down the Rogue UK program, sports Illustrated, had pounced on the
Speaker 2:controversy. The magazine's headline still froze the hearts of Wildcat fans. Quote Now Patino, who had been offered the UK job the same week that the SI cover hit the newsstands, stood in the middle of his locker room. He could hear two sounds the muffled Duke celebration from the court and the crying of several of his Wildcats. Players slouched in front of their lockers. Patino held something in his hand. It was the same Sports Illustrated cover of 1989, and he had brandished it as if he were a Baptist minister waving a Bible. He had brought the magazine to Philadelphia just in case the Wildcats lost. For years he had kept it, despised it and used it for motivation. Now it was time to be rid of
Speaker 2:it. His voice breaking his eyes red, patino told his team what you have accomplished in just a very short period of time is to take this program from its nadir to its highest point. Kentucky's shame had become Kentucky's pride. They had lost the game, but they had won back a program's reputation, and done so honorably. That said, pitino, composing himself was more important than reaching a Final Four. You can't let your basketball career be defined by 2.1 seconds, he told the Wildcats when you come out of that shower. I don't want any more tears, except the more Patino talked, the more he
Speaker 2:cried. He had been at Kentucky for only three seasons. But Pelfrey Feldhaus, farmer and Woods true UK Bluebloods, had been there from the beginning. They had seen the stunning fall from the grace of Sutton, the revelation of clumsily handled payments to a recruit, academic cheating, the TV camera crews parked outside their dorm rooms, the first losing Kentucky season in 62 years, the firing of hoops legend Hagen, the NCAA investigation, the program's neutering by harsh penalties, the hiring of Newton, the dance with Carlissimo and the hiring of Patino. And through it all, pelfrey Feldhaus, farmer and Woods had chosen to stay. That's why Patino cried, not because of the loss to Duke, but because he had seen what those four players endured, and now he had coached them for the last time. For a man who preached sacrifice and dedication, patino understood better than anyone what those four players' presence had meant to Big Blue
Speaker 2:basketball. Wow, just wow, just great reporting, fantastic reporting and storytelling, from the thrill of victory on the Duke side to the agony of defeat on the Kentucky side. Just a well-rounded, balanced story and book that captures all the human elements. It's just that good. Great job, gene. This is a well-done book. Let's go back to the book for one more
Speaker 2:quote. The mood was more somber when the Wildcats finally returned to the downtown Philadelphia hotel, the historic but now somewhat dark and gloomy Warwick. As the players entered the marbled floor lobby, they were met by their parents, friends and assorted Kentucky fans. It was a basketball wake. Everywhere you looked someone was crying. Cameron took the elevator up to his room, sat down on the bed and wept. It was the first and the last time in his career that he had cried after a
Speaker 2:game. A short time later, cameron returned to the hotel lobby. The scene was the same Pelfrey Feldhaus and Farmer, encircled by well-meaning but tearful fans. Cameron looked at Vincini and said we got to get him out of here. So they grabbed the three players by the arms and pulled them away from the lobby through the hotel kitchen and out a back door. They made the short walk from the team hotel to the media hotel where Vincenni was staying. Once in Vincenni's room, cameron and Vincenni raided the minibar. Your eligibility is up, you're adults now. He told Pelfrey Feldhaus, the farmer, as they pulled out tiny bottles of bourbon, scotch and vodka in gin, as they pulled out tiny bottles of bourbon, scotch and vodka in gin, and then the five of them drank the night away. Their toasts were always the same to Kentucky and to the ones who
Speaker 2:stayed. Just incredible. This book is that great. Now, if you're an NCAA hoops junkie like me, this book is going to be a high recommend to you. Now there's just one question left to ask this game the Duke, the Duke-Kentucky matchup, the 1992 Duke-Kentucky matchup, which is often dubbed the last great game due to its dramatic stakes and Leitner's buzzer beater, and then, frankly, because of the intensity, the significance and the memorable finish. Has there been any other games since the 1992 game that might qualify, that might pass it up as the last great game? And frankly, in my research I would say there's many that are close, many, and as examples, let's go through some of
Speaker 2:them. 2016, villanova was against North Carolina. In the championship game. Villanova won 77-74 on Chris Jenkins' buzzer beater, three-pointer capping, a wild finish. North Carolina's Marcus Page had just tied it with a double-clutch three with 4.1 seconds left only for Jenkins to answer as time expired. It's a national title game with two lead changes in the final seconds. It's a rare championship decided at the buzzer, the emotional stakes, villanova's second title ever versus UNC's powerhouse legacy, so that elevates its status. It's often replayed as a defining March Madness moment. So it's a modern classic. So this one's very
Speaker 2:close. Our second example is Kentucky versus Memphis, the 2008 National Championship game. Kentucky had overcome a nine-point deficit with 212 left, tying it at 63, all with Mario Chalmers' three-pointer with 2.1 seconds remaining in regulation. And then they went on to win 75-68 in overtime. You know the comeback against the Memphis team that missed critical free throws down the stretch, paired with Chalmers' clutch shot, mirrors the drama of the 1992 game and it decided a national title. It's also showcased the resilience and the execution under pressure of the Kansas team. Chalmers' shot is an NCAA highlight reel staple and it ended Kansas' 20-year title drought. So this game was very, very close to being the last great
Speaker 2:game. And then we got to go back to to 2010 National Championship because Duke edges out Butler 61-59 when Gordon Hayward's half-court heave at the buzzer rimmed out. The game was a tight throughout. Butler was a mid-major Cinderella, nearly top of the Blue, the Duke Blue Devils, and the razor-thin margin in the near-miss of an all-time upset gave it that same 1992-esque tension, the stakes. The title game were high. The narrative David versus Goliath, butler being the David and Duke being the Goliath just amplified the greatness of the game. And then Hayward shot as one of the most replayed what-ifs in tournament history. If Butler could have won it on that half-court heave it might just surpass the 1992 Duke-Kentucky game as the greatest game
Speaker 2:ever. We also have two more games we want to highlight Gonzaga versus UCLA and then most recent 2021 Final Four game. Gonzaga won 93-90 in overtime. When Jalen Suggs banked in a 33-foot three-pointer at the buzzer, ucla had tied it moments earlier. You'll remember, in both teams' traded blows in the Classic. The overtime finish, suggs' improbable shot and the clash of an undefeated Gonzaga team against a resurgent UCLA just echoed that 1992 game flair. It was a Final Four game with a champion's level intensity and Suggs' shot is already iconic and it dashed Gonzaga's perfect season hopes. So yeah, it had the flair of the 1992 game, but it just, I don't think, gets to that
Speaker 2:level. Then, finally, virginia versus Purdue, the 2019 Elite Eight game. Virginia beats Purdue 80-75 in overtime After Dickey's buzzer-bebeating Tippin forced the extra time. Then Purdue's Carson Edwards scored 42, but Virginia's late heroics prevailed. Now the furious rally in the last-second tie and then the overtime finish made it structurally the same as the 1992 game and the stakes the final four birth in Edwards is brilliance just adds to the to the game. And then just the fact that Virginia's redemption arc after the 2018 upset, and then it culminates in the title. That was just a thriller. Now it's a great story by all. Now it's a great story by all means. It's a great story, but I don't think it outranks the 1992 game. So back to our 1992, the last great game, and back to our book for one last quote. And back to our book for one last
Speaker 2:quote. In the years that followed, patino took two UK teams to the national title game, defeating Syracuse in 1996 and losing to Arizona in 1997. After that loss, he left Lexington to return to the NBA as coach and team president of the Boston Celtics. That didn't go over well in Big Blue Nation, a feeling that got worse when he came back to the college game as head coach of Louisville in 2001. As for Duke, they would go on to win other championships in 2001, 2010, 2015, giving Coach K five national championships to his name, along with his record of most all-time wins in D1 history at 1,202, as well as the 13 Final Four appearances which make him arguably the greatest NCAA basketball coach so far in the
Speaker 2:game. So in today's Mojo Minute the drama of the NCAA tournament lives on annually as we march through the month of March and we all, secretly, deep down, want the March to become full of madness. We all secretly, deep down, want the march to become full of madness Because when, like the 1992 Duke-Kentucky game, these contests, they feature the dramatic endings, the buzzer beaters or the near misses, the high stakes involved often a Final Four title game and the compelling narratives, the upsets, the rivalries, the legacies, it is the stuff of NCAA lore, just like Leitner's iconic shot. For us, no single game has universally overtaken that 1992 game and its reputation. 1992 game and its reputation. So for many of us who are NCAA tournament basketball junkies, the last great game is still the 1992 Duke Kentucky game of March 28, 1992. And this book captured it almost perfectly. Great job again, jean. For the rest of the tourney, folks enjoy the madness of March and, as always, keep fighting the good fight.
Speaker 1:Thank you for joining us. We hope you enjoyed this Theory to Action podcast. Be sure to check out our show page at teammojoacademycom, where we have everything we discussed in this podcast, as well as other great resources. Until next time, keep getting your mojo on.