The Greatest Shot in Duke Basketball History: Not The One You Think…
Posted by rtmsf on September 6th, 2011We mentioned this over on TumblRTC a little while ago, but thought it was interesting enough to bear repeating here. Duke great Bobby Hurley is set to enter the school’s athletic hall of fame on Friday afternoon, and although we think he’s on the short list of the greatest collegiate point guards to ever lace them up, we’re not sure that many people under the age of 30 remember much about him because his professional career was a bust (in large part due to a serious car accident he sustained during his rookie season). Here’s what you need to know:
- Four-year starting point guard on Duke teams that went 119-26 (.821) overall and 18-2 (.900) in the NCAA Tournament
- Won two national championships (1991, 1992)
- Played in three national championship games (1990, 1991, 1992)
- Won two ACC championships (1991, 1992)
- Two-time All-American (1992, 1993)
- Three-time All-ACC selection (1991, 1992, 1993)
- Final Four Most Outstanding Player (1992)
- All-time NCAA leader in assists (1,076)
- Retired jersey at Duke (#11)
From the perspective of a coach who, at the time, was burdened with the weight of multiple Final Four flameouts (prior to 1991, Duke was the classic college basketball bridesmaid, having been to eight Final Fours and four under Krzyzewski without yet bringing home a trophy), Hurley’s long-range bomb to bring Duke back to within two points against the same team that had incinerated them the previous year probably felt massively important (for a detailed look at this game, check out our Greatest Games piece). And K’s selection of this moment belies a fundamental truth about sports, and frankly, life in general. When you’re the underdog fighting for recognition and a piece of the title, that unequivocal breakthrough moment (in K’s mind, Hurley’s 1991 three) where you finally and ultimately slay the dragon feels better than the moments where you’re already on top and merely seeking to protect that status (Laettner in 1992). Heavy is the head that wears the crown, indeed, and it’s obvious that even after all of these intervening years and unbelievable successes that Krzyzewski has enjoyed in Durham, he still looks back at that one moment late in the 1991 UNLV game as the pivotal point between Duke’s oft-disappointing past and its bright future.
