laettner podcasts

Saving Stories remembers the shot felt ‘round BBN

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2025 4:55

It's Final Four weekend and sadly the Kentucky Wildcats came up short this year in their bid for a 9th national title. Bookending our look back at special moments in UK basketball history WUKY's Saving Stories highlights another famous shot, the one Duke's Christian Laettner hit in overtime against the Wildcats in the 1992 East Regional final in Philadelphia. The buzzer beater marked the end of an era for the team affectionately known as “The Unforgettables.” Nunn Center director Doug Boyd shares interviews with UK players Sean Woods – who hit the Wildcats' go-ahead basket with two seconds on the clock, and John Pelphrey, one of the defenders responsible for guarding Laettner on the long inbounds pass; a split-second moment that he admits misremembering. Doug even shares a clip of a song he wrote about the game and the aftermath called 1992.

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MM#398--The Last Great Game: Duke, Kentucky, and the Shot That Defined March Madness

Theory 2 Action Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2025 26:16 Transcription Available

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text MessageA 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 executionKeep fighting the good fight and enjoy the madness of March!Other resources: Want to leave a review? Click here, and if we earned a five-star review from you **high five and knuckle bumps**, we appreciate it greatly, thank you so much!

Season 14 Episode 17- John Feinstein

The Sports-Casters

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2024 79:25

Steve interviews John Feinstein (00:16:59) author and columnist from the Washington Post. John joins us to promote not one but two new books. First, The Ancient Eight, is a look at football played in the Ivy League. Next, Five Banners, is a deep dive into the five National Championship victories by Coach K and Duke basketball. Steve and John talk about things unique to sports in the Ivy League, Christian Laettner, Butler's near miss, and Mike Lupica. John also tells us where he was when Laettner his his famous shot against Kentucky and tells us how he felt watching Butler's half court heave headed towards the basket. Steve starts the show with First Things First and discusses the Saints finally firing Dennis Allen, the end of the World Series and start of the MLB off-season. Also, thoughts on Italy and Mike Tyson. The show ends with one last thing about trying to slow down and take in all the magic of the Christmas season. For more information follow the podcast on twitter @sports_casters Email: thesportscasters@gmail.com

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Grant Hill Part 1: Hall of Fame, Duke vs. UNC and the Pass to Laettner

NBA Pulse with Sarah Kustok

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2024 59:08 Transcription Available

Grant Hill Part 1 - Vince and Grant discuss what it is like to go into the Hall of Fame, this year's Men's and Women's NCAA Tournaments, the rivalry between Duke and UNC that never stops, plus the back story on The Pass Grant made to Christian Laettner vs Kentucky in 1992. The VC Show is a production of iHeartPodcasts and the NBASee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grant Hill Part 1: Hall of Fame, Duke vs. UNC and the Pass to Laettner

NBA Rookie Life with Ryan Hollins

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2024 59:08 Transcription Available

Grant Hill Part 1 - Vince and Grant discuss what it is like to go into the Hall of Fame, this year's Men's and Women's NCAA Tournaments, the rivalry between Duke and UNC that never stops, plus the back story on The Pass Grant made to Christian Laettner vs Kentucky in 1992. The VC Show is a production of iHeartPodcasts and the NBASee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grant Hill Part 1: Hall of Fame, Duke vs. UNC and the Pass to Laettner

NBA Flashback

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2024 59:08 Transcription Available

Grant Hill Part 1 - Vince and Grant discuss what it is like to go into the Hall of Fame, this year's Men's and Women's NCAA Tournaments, the rivalry between Duke and UNC that never stops, plus the back story on The Pass Grant made to Christian Laettner vs Kentucky in 1992. The VC Show is a production of iHeartPodcasts and the NBASee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.