Remember When: Christian Laettner’s Buzzer Beater

This is the most iconic play in college hoops history. Duke and Kentucky battled in the Elite Eight of the ’92 NCAA tournament. Kentucky had just hit a late shot to go up by one in overtime until Christian Laettner answered. Not only did his team manage to launch the ball down the court in seconds, he was able to score an amazing shot right at the buzzer. Laettner’s buzzer beater not only helped Duke win the National Title, but it was the signature moment the defined him as one of college basketball’s all-time greatest players — a legend that he had trouble living up to in the NBA.

Laettner was the star on Duke’s back-to-back title teams in ’91 and ’92. He was a two-time All-American and got his #32 Jersey retired. He was also the only college player selected to the 1992 Olympic dream team that won the gold medal. While Laettner made the ’93 all-rookie team and ’97 all-star team, his 13-year career didn’t live up to the legend he created in college. Regardless of this, no one can take away the moment he beat all odds to score and win for his team. In a tournament defined by buzzer beaters, this was the biggest one of all.