Buzzer Beater Victim 25 Years Apart - University of Kentucky

source: NCAA
Christian Laettner, Duke University

To Ashley Judd and longtime Kentucky basketball fans, please look away.

March 28, 1992.
Duke versus Kentucky, NCAA East Regional Final.

In overtime, Duke power forward/center Christian Laettner catches a 70-foot pass from (source: Wikipedia) from Grant Hill. Laettner dribbles once, turns around and from the the free throw line sinks the winning shot.

Final score: Duke 104, Kentucky 103.



March 26, 2017.
North Carolina versus Kentucky, NCAA South Regional Final.

Game is tied at 73-73. With less than 15 seconds left in the game, Kentucky's Malik Monk (source: Ricky O'Donnell, SB Nation) sinks a 3-pointer to tie the game. North Carolina regains possession with 7.2 seconds remaining. North Carolina forward Luke Maye receives the pass inside of the 3-point line. Shoots, scores with 0.3 seconds to win the game 75-73.

March Madness, indeed.

Former North Carolina Basketball Coach Dean Smith

source: Yahoo! Sports

Today, former University of North Carolina Men's Basketball Coach Dean Smith passed away at the age of 83.

Most know Coach Smith's first national championship came in 1982. Three of the starting five went on to the NBA: Sam Perkins, James Worthy and Michael Jordan.

What I didn't know was in 1964, Smith recruited Charlie Scott, the first black athlete to be awarded a scholarship to North Carolina.

In 2013, President Barack Obama awarded Smith the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Other recipients from sports who have received the award: Jack Nicklaus, Hank Aaron, Bill Russell, and Jackie Robinson.

Rest in peace, Coach. Here's a nice tribute from UNCTarHeels Athletics: