Becoming a Duke Fan - Part Two
I wrote “Becoming a Duke Fan” in January of 2023, and it’s my favorite article since I started writing. I’ve worked on a few different versions of a follow up to that essay, but none of my subsequent attempts have worked the way I envisioned. However, since part one only covered my experience becoming a Duke fan through 1992, I still wanted to document some other great memories I have growing up a Blue Devil.
1993
Jason Kidd and the Cal Bears (#6-seed) defeated Duke (#3-seed) 82-77 in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32. Until then, Coach K had guided the Blue Devils to the Final Four every year since I could remember, ending Duke’s run of five consecutive trips to the pinnacle of college basketball (1988-1992). It’s not that I had been taking the Final Four for granted - at eight years old you don’t really think like that, but I did learn two things from that game. One, the abrupt disappointment when your team loses early in the tournament was a feeling I’d never forget. Two, a great player can swing the outcome of a game without scoring. No disrespect to any of the other Cal players, especially Lamond Murray who went for 28 points. But JKidd was incredible, showcasing his impeccable talent for the basketball world to see, finishing with 11 points, 8 rebounds, and 14 assists - including the go-ahead three-point play with just over a minute remaining. Grant Hill scored 18 points, and grabbed 7 rebounds to go along with 8 steals. Bobby Hurley posted 32 points and 9 assists in his final game as a Blue Devil.
1993-1994
Coming into the season, the Duke doubters were numerous without Laettner or Hurley on the roster. Grant Hill was already cemented as one of the all-time greats to don the Duke jersey, but as a senior he elevated himself and his teammates to prove the doubters wrong. Duke won the ACC regular season for the third time in four years, while spending the entire year ranked no lower than #6 in the AP poll. A loss to Virginia in the ACC semifinals brought the doubters back out, but after knocking off Purdue and NPOY Glenn Robinson (see Re-watch #9), Coach K and Duke were back in the Final Four for the seventh time in nine years. We were at my grandparents (mom’s folks) during the National Championship, and I was finally allowed to stay up and watch the last game of the college basketball season - Duke vs. Arkansas. True to Nolan Richardson’s system, it was indeed 40 minutes of hell, with the game coming down to the wire despite 23 turnovers for Duke. With the score tied at 70, Antonio Lang’s fingertip grazed Scotty Thurman’s three to beat the shot clock with 50 seconds remaining, but not enough to prevent it from swishing through the net and crushing my heart. Final Score: Arkansas 76 Duke 72. In an effort to be a grown up, I held back my tears in front of Dad and my granddad, and I’ve still never re-watched the whole game. But it was a great lesson for a young fan, because that’s still one of my favorite Duke teams ever. That group maximized their season and was worthy of winning the title, but so were the Razorbacks. Even though Thurman’s shot got replayed over and over, I learned that the game never comes down to one play, and that both the offense and defense can make the right play - sometimes the ball goes in, and sometimes it doesn’t.
1994
Duke Football was off to a 7-0 start and up to #16 in the AP poll before falling in Tallahassee to defending National Champion #9 Florida State. The following Saturday, Dad took me to my first college football game and second trip to Duke’s campus. The #23 Blue Devils were welcoming #13 Virginia to Wallace Wade Stadium. My dad hates traffic (I know where I get that from), so on the way to the game he was in a less than stellar mood - muttering under his breath, changing lanes constantly, and even considered cutting across the median to get off the interstate and take a secondary route to Durham (he was once detained by authorities in Georgia for a similar driving maneuver while on a business trip). But I’ve always been amazed at my dad’s ability to go from being frustrated, to happy and joking in the blink of an eye. As soon as we conquered the headache of arriving and parking, it was like the last couple of hours hadn’t even happened. We still arrived early enough to walk around before kickoff. We went to the Duke Chapel and strolled through the quad, as he encouraged me to keep working hard toward my goal of becoming a student there one day. I fell in love with the campus. The game was awesome, with Duke trailing 17-7 early on before scoring 21 unanswered points and holding on for a 28-25 victory. We cheered as the students tore down a goal post and Duke moved to 8-1 on the season, assured of a bowl game for the first time since Steve Spurrier led them to a share of the 1989 ACC title. The ride home was the polar opposite of our morning drive. It’s strange what your mind remembers, or if a memory is even accurate after all these years, but I’m pretty sure there was no traffic at all. We had the windows rolled down, absorbing the cool November air as we cruised east in Dad’s white Chevy Caprice Classic. “Life is a Highway” was blasting on the radio and, at 10 years old, I’m definitely sure that was one of the best days ever.
1995
One of the most classic rivalry games of all-time took place in February when #2 North Carolina (16-1) came to Cameron. The Blue Devils were 1-6 without Coach K and still winless in the conference. As usual, Coach Smith brought a ton of talent with him on the short bus ride to Durham, led by Jerry Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace. UNC jumped ahead 26-9, Stackhouse authored a signature dunk, and it seemed the rout was on. But Duke battled back, took the lead early in the second half and, like so many other rivalry games, a barn burner played out from there. Cherokee Parks tied the game with a pair of free throws to send it to overtime, and Carolina led by nine with 90 seconds to go in OT. Jeff Capel had a chance to tie it again after two missed free throws, knocking down the iconic buzzer beater that sent the Cameron Crazies, and Dickie V, into a frenzy (and bloodied Vitale’s head). In double overtime, UNC held on for a 102-100 win. I was devastated, but learned that the records and rankings don’t matter when Duke and Carolina get together. That season also taught me how difficult it is to close out a crunch time basketball game. Most people remember that after starting 9-3, Duke finished 13-18 (2-14). What they don’t remember is all the close losses: 91-88 (2OT) vs. UVA; 78-75 at FSU; 74-72 at #8 Maryland; 62-61 vs. #11 Wake Forest; 94-92 vs. #6 Maryland. Throw in this UNC game, and that’s six defeats by a combined 13 points, not to mention four other two possession losses on the season. Winning is hard, don’t take it for granted.
1995-1996
The ‘95-’96 season probably isn’t top of mind for most Duke fans when they think of important years in the history of the program. It was Coach K’s first season back after missing the final 19 games of 1995 and, thankfully, AD Tom Butters hadn’t allowed Coach K to resign earlier that year. However, it’s a season I’ll never forget. Dad took me to my second game in Cameron, a 75-65 loss to Illinois in December (Duke would go 184-1 in their next 185 non-conference games in Durham), and the Blue Devils lost four straight games to open ACC play in January. The conference losing streak was almost five, with Duke trailing NC State 70-68 with 16 seconds remaining in Raleigh. But Chris Collins hit a three from deep that touched every part of the rim, a la Don Nelson (1969) and Kawhi Leonard (2019). State rushed the ball back up the floor, and their attempt at the buzzer also touched every part of the rim, but spun out. Later that season, Ricky Price hit a jumper at the buzzer in Cole Field House to down Maryland 77-75. After starting 0-4, the Blue Devils finished 8-8 in ACC play and were back in the NCAA Tournament field. Since that season, I’ve never considered it a given that Duke would be in the tournament - getting called on Selection Sunday is something that must be earned every year, and something fans should always appreciate. Here’s Coach Collins for the win…
1997
My dad suggested we stay up on the final Monday night of the season to watch Kentucky and Arizona play for the National Championship (Wildcats vs. Wildcats). Though I’d been keeping up with college basketball for several years, it’s the first game without an ACC team I can ever remember watching start to finish. Kentucky and Rick Pitino were trying to repeat as champs, while Arizona was trying to complete a magical run through March as a #4-seed. Like Bobby Cremins, Lute Olson was another coach Dad was particularly fond of - maybe he just liked coaches with white hair? We were excited to see if Arizona could become the first team since the tournament expanded in 1985 to defeat three #1-seeds. Neither team led by more than six points, and when Kentucky hit a game-tying three with 12 seconds remaining, the match-up became just the sixth title game to go into overtime (it’s happened twice since). Arizona didn’t make a basket in OT, but converted 10 free throws to win 84-79, with Miles Simon dropping 30 points to take home MOP honors. It was the kind of game that surpassed expectations, and galvanized me into a full-fledged college basketball fan. Thanks, Dad.
1998-1999
Duke lost to Cincinnati in the finals of the Great Alaska Shootout, and then reeled off 32 consecutive wins before falling 77-74 to Connecticut in the National Championship. Many people, including some Duke fans, consider this season to be a failure. How could such a dominant team not win the title? And though I’m certain no one inside the Duke program felt great about finishing runner-up, I was (and still am) so proud of that team. The 1999 Duke team still has the only 19-0 season in ACC history, and their ACC Tournament crown began a run of five consecutive tournament titles. Elton Brand was the NPOY and #1 overall pick, Shane Battier was named National DPOY (the first of three straight), and Coach K was awarded the Naismith and NABC Coach of the Year awards. It should also be said, that UConn team was incredible as well, and spent more weeks at #1 in the polls than Duke that season. I did a Ferris Bueller impression the morning after the championship game - I’m sure my dad saw right through it, but let me stay home from school anyway. However, if you read part one, you know he made me wear my Duke sweatshirt to school on Wednesday - be proud of your team, win or lose.
1999-2000
A few weeks after the 1999 season, Elton Brand, William Avery, and Corey Maggette became the first players ever to leave Duke early for the NBA draft - kind of amazing when you think about the talent to come through Durham over the years. Trajan Langdon graduated, Chris Burgess transferred, and Coach K underwent hip replacement surgery. Some experts seemed to think Duke would be rebuilding again after going 31-1 in the ACC regular season the past two years. Instead, Chris Carrawell, Nate James, and Shane Battier (the lone returners with any experience) visited Coach K during his recovery to assure him that Duke Basketball was back for good. The season started with two consecutive losses, but finished with the Blue Devils going 15-1 in the league (if you’re counting, that’s a ridiculous 46-2 over three regular seasons), winning the ACC Tournament, and finishing #1 in the final AP poll. Carrawell won ACC POY and was a consensus 1st Team All-American, Battier joined him on the 2nd team, and I learned not to listen to the preseason pundits. The leadership of those three upperclassmen, starting with that summer visit, should never be forgotten.
2000-2001
This year had as many memorable moments as any season that comes to mind. I’ll have to go back and look up some scores and rankings, but here’s everything I can remember. Duke opened the year at #2 in the AP poll behind Arizona and won 10 straight to start the season, including a 78-77 win over #9 Illinois, before falling 84-83 to #3 Stanford in late-December. There was the 103-61 blowout of #10 Virginia in Cameron, the “Miracle Minute” at #8 Maryland, and Duhon’s runner to beat the buzzer at #24 Wake Forest. The Blue Devils dropped the first rivalry game with #4 UNC (85-83) and the rematch with #12 Virginia (91-89), but their only loss of the season by more than a bucket was on Senior Night in Durham. Juan Dixon, Steve Blake, and Lonnie Baxter wouldn’t let the Terps lose (man, those guys were tough) and Carlos Boozer left the game with a broken foot in Duke’s 91-80 loss to #16 Maryland. The loss stung, but the injury to Boozer was devastating. In true Coach K fashion, he rallied the team, saying something to the effect of “if you guys listen to me, we’re going to win the National Championship.” Duhon was inserted into the starting lineup and the Blue Devils ran (and ran, and ran) through Chapel Hill, going small and firing 38 threes to beat #4 Carolina 95-81, highlighted by Shane Battier’s chase down block. Duke got #11 Maryland again in the ACC semifinals. Nate James’ tip-in was the difference: Duke 84 Maryland 82. After the game, Battier told Juan Dixon he would see them in Minneapolis at the Final Four. But before that, it was the rubber match with the #6 Tar Heels. Duke led 50-30 at the half, and won their third consecutive ACC Tournament 79-53. In the Sweet Sixteen against UCLA, Boozer miraculously returned off the bench and Jason Williams ripped off 17 consecutive second half points, before Duke took out the rest of Los Angeles by defeating USC to advance to the Final Four. Battier was correct - it was Maryland for a fourth time and, as I said earlier, those guys were tough. I actually didn’t get to see this game live. It was my junior year of high school, and I was on our school’s leadership retreat as a counselor and student-body VP. We’d be in leadership sessions most of Saturday night, but I enlisted Mr. Smith, our Assistant Principal, to keep an ear on the radio for me. During a changeover between sessions, I emerged from the cabin to find him sitting with his headphones in - it was perfect timing, as he gave me a thumbs up and repeated Bill Packer’s words “…and Mike Krzyzewski goes wow.” Of course, I found out later that Duke was down 22 points with less than seven minutes to go in the first half, before outscoring the Terps 78-45 the rest of the way. It’s still the largest Final Four comeback ever. We arrived home Monday afternoon in plenty of time to watch one of the great (and somewhat overlooked) National Championship games. The contest featured nine future pros (98 combined seasons in the NBA), Mike Dunleavy’s three-point flurry, and at least three of the best plays I’ve ever seen by Shane Battier. Jason Williams hit a dagger from deep to put the game out of reach, and Duke won 82-72. It was Coach K’s third title, and the culmination of Duke’s emphatic return to success. From 1998-2001, the Blue Devils finished #1 in the final AP poll three times, won four ACC regular seasons and three ACC Tournaments (with a combined conference record of 70-6), and went to two Final Fours. I just remember being so elated for the program to hang that third banner. The 2001 team was special, but who knows if that group would’ve captured the crown in Minneapolis if it weren’t for the signature wins and tough losses of the previous three years. It was also the last full season when I still thought I’d be a Duke student one day, and a good reminder that the season is never over. From the outside, Duke’s title hopes seemed dashed after Boozer’s injury, and again trailing Maryland 39-17 in the Final Four. But, led by Coach K and Shane Battier, those guys continued to believe in each other and their ultimate goal. Although his retired jersey hangs in Cameron, Battier capped one of the most underrated careers in the history of college basketball. You hardly ever hear his name mentioned as one of the greats, but he was, is, and always will be.
No doubt, I could keep naming Duke memories through the years that taught me things about basketball, and maybe I’ll write part three at some point. But I changed as a fan during this time more than any other - going from a nine-year old holding back tears after the Arkansas game, to a seventeen-year old applying to Duke after their third National Championship. The players who seemed larger than life were now my peers, and the games that seemed all-important were now viewed with proper perspective (I hope). What hasn’t changed is that I’m as much of a fan at age 40 as I was in 1992. Probably more, like each season builds on the ones before it. I always wondered if, as an adult, I wouldn’t be able to watch every game anymore, or if I just wouldn’t be as interested to cheer for a school I couldn’t quite get in to. I’m glad that didn’t happen because it’s been so fun to be a Duke fan for 35+ years, win or lose.
Thanks for reading, Go Duke!
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