First published 2012
March 28, 1992. The NCAA East Regional final pits Duke against Kentucky at Philadelphia's Spectrum. Over 17,000 fans pack the arena while millions watch on television. The game stretches into overtime, tied at 104. With 2.1 seconds remaining, Grant Hill launches an 80-foot inbound pass to Christian Laettner, who scores the winning basket. But this victory represents more than a single dramatic moment. ESPN columnist Gene Wojciechowski traces how both teams reached this climactic showdown, following the distinct journeys that brought Mike Krzyzewski's Blue Devils and Rick Pitino's Wildcats to Philadelphia. The narrative weaves through the preparation, psychology, and personalities that shaped this contest. Players like Bobby Hurley, Jamal Mashburn, Sean Woods, and Christian Laettner emerge as central figures, while coaches including Bobby Knight influence the story's trajectory. Wojciechowski examines how hard work, strategic planning, team dynamics, and fortune combined to create this legendary college basketball encounter twenty years after it captivated the nation.
Genres: history, 20th-century, sports, biography-memoir, college, basketball
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, underdog
Setting: Duke, Kentucky, Philadelphia, The Spectrum
Period: 1992, March 28, 1992
320 pages · Hardcover · Blue Rider Press