1992 Maryland at Duke
1992 Maryland at Duke
Re-watch #4 - The Duke Basketball Project
Maryland at Duke
ACC Regular Season
Cameron Indoor Stadium - Durham, NC
February 20, 1992
Where I was
This was the first game I ever attended in Cameron, my first Duke game anywhere for that matter, and I have no idea who my dad got the tickets from but I feel like it was probably a task he had been working on for a couple of years. There isn’t a bad seat in Cameron but these were, to this day, the best seats I’ve ever had there. Dad and I were almost at mid-court, slightly towards the Duke basket in the second half, and only a few rows up behind the Cameron Crazies. The thing I remember most was actually after the game. Security in those days was much different and after the horn sounded, my dad asked me if I wanted to walk down onto the court. I remember walking to mid-court and staring at that old Duke Basketball logo, ingraining it in my memory, then swishing a couple of imaginary free throws before we left hoops heaven. However much of a Duke fan I had been for the last few years as a young boy, going to experience a classic game like this in person with my dad took it to a whole new level.
Why this game
In working on some additional content for The Duke Basketball Project, I’ve been reflecting on all the Duke games I have been to in person, as well as reflecting on my early years as a Duke fan. This game is obviously at the intersection of those two thoughts so I decided it would be next on the list. Some of these older games can be tough to locate, so I was happy this one was available.
Storylines
Duke was back home after four consecutive road games, including their first loss of the season, dropping the rivalry game to North Carolina 73-75. The loss was exacerbated by the fact that Bobby Hurley broke his foot during the game and would now miss significant time as the regular season moved into mid-February. Despite the loss in Chapel Hill, Duke remained the #1 team in the country, as it had been since the AP released its preseason poll, meaning the Blue Devils were attempting to go wire-to-wire as the #1 team. UCLA has gone wire-to-wire at #1 four times (the last being the 1972-73 season). Since 1962, only seven teams other than UCLA have gone wire-to-wire at #1 in the AP Poll. How many can you name? See trivia answer below. Maryland was in just their third season under coach Gary Williams and, after an 8 game losing streak earlier in the season, had alternated wins and losses over the last 5 games and was coming off a 77-74 victory over N.C. State.
The Teams
In Hurley’s absence, Coach K had moved Grant Hill over to point guard and inserted Antonio Lang into the starting lineup. Since taking over for Hurley, Grant Hill had also taken his workload, playing all 40 minutes in the previous three games. The rest of the familiar starting lineup for Duke included Christian Laettner, Brian Davis, and Thomas Hill. Cherokee Parks and Kenny Blakeney were Duke’s main subs, with Marty Clark also checking in. Maryland started ACC Player of the Year candidate Walt Williams, Kevin McLinton, Vince Broadnax, Evers Burns, and Chris Kerwin. The Terrapins also played Matt Downing, John Walsh, Kurtis Shultz, and Wayne Bristol. If you don’t remember Walt Williams, “The Wizard” was a future NBA veteran and current big time problem for ACC defenses. Williams had scored 30+ points in 7 straight conference games from January into early February and was one of the top scorers in the nation at over 26 points per game.
The Game
1st Half Summary
Maryland had four turnovers early in the game, including on their first possession, as Thomas Hill picked up a deflection by Laettner, fed Brian Davis in the open court, and received the pass back for a layup. With Hurley out, Maryland used a variety of defensive looks early to disrupt the Blue Devils, including Gary Williams’ full court diamond (1-2-1-1) press and doubling Laettner in the post, sometimes before the catch. Duke led 12-7 at the first media timeout, but Maryland would soon respond with an 8-0 run. Laettner scored between two defenders before Walt Williams answered with a 3 and Maryland was now ahead 22-24 with 10:44 remaining in the half. The two All-Americans would continue to score in bunches throughout the game. Laettner scored on a high/low action for the second time in the half, this time off a pass from Cherokee Parks. Walt Williams made his second consecutive jumper and, after a Duke turnover, Grant Hill showed off his athleticism with a spectacular block in transition. With Duke now trailing 25-32, Brian Davis sparked a Duke run with a driving shot in the lane as he was fouled. He missed the free throw but Laettner was able to tip the ball out and convert a layup for a 4 point possession. Grant Hill would get on the scoreboard with a jumper of his own and then found Laettner for a dunk on the break. Duke now led 39-36 with 3:42 remaining in the half. Unfortunately for Maryland, Walt Williams picked up his third foul and Gary Williams got a technical in protest, all while the Terrapins were in the midst of a 3 minute scoring drought. Duke now led 45-36 and would use a block by Cherokee Parks to start a fast break, ending with Brian Davis spinning in the lane to find Grant Hill and extend the lead to 49-39. After a 3 from John Walsh, Maryland’s Kevin McLinton made a tough jumper in the lane with four seconds left to cut the Duke lead to 52-46 at the half.
2nd Half 20:00 - Duke 52 Maryland 46
Maryland opened the 2nd half in a zone to help shield their foul trouble. Duke immediately experienced foul trouble of their own, as Laettner committed a charge and Brian Davis fouled Walt Williams on the other end - the two Duke seniors now had 3 fouls each less than a minute into the 2nd half. McLinton sliced through Duke’s defense, a theme that would continue for the remainder of the game, before Laettner knocked down a corner 3. After Walt Williams drained a 3 of his own, Laettner picked up his second charge of the half and was now on the bench with 4 fouls at the 16:41 mark. Maryland changed defenses again, this time to a 1-3-1 zone, but Walt Williams couldn’t avoid his 4th foul as Brian Davis attacked in transition for a 3 point play. With Williams out, Cherokee Parks would block another shot to start a Duke fast break and then throw a full court pass to Thomas Hill to cap a 9-0 Duke run.
2nd Half 14:37 - Duke 70 Maryland 56
At this point in the game, Gary Williams had no choice but to put Walt Williams back on the floor - Williams immediately came through with an assist to McLinton and then an elbow jumper of his own. The Wizard delivered a helpside block leading to a Maryland fastbreak, hit corner 3 on the next possession and, just like that, Williams was responsible for all 9 points in the Terps 9-0 run and Maryland was back within 5.
2nd Half 11:39 - Duke 70 Maryland 65
Coach K would respond by inserting Laettner back in the game and switching to a zone defense to help with Duke’s foul trouble. After the teams traded free throws, Maryland set up their full court press and the Blue Devils executed press offense to perfection, finishing with a Tony Lang dunk. McLinton answered with a 3 from the corner as Duke stayed in their zone. After another bucket by Lang, Duke began to run a little clock. Billy Packer pointed out that Duke’s delay game wouldn’t be as effective without Hurley and, almost on cue, Walt Williams shot through a passing lane for a steal and dunk. Brian Davis answered with a 3 and then out of Duke’s double stack low set, he got Walt Williams to commit his 5th foul as Davis slipped to the basket. Davis hit both free throws and Williams exited with 26 points and 5 rebounds as the Crazies said “see ya!”
2nd Half 6:41 - Duke 82 Maryland 74
Laettner hit a turnaround jumper to push the lead to 10 and Duke went back to their man defense on the other end. With Williams out, Kevin McLinton would go to work converting 3 of 4 free throws and then forcing a turnover in the full court press, leading to a layup by Vince Broadnax. Wayne Bristol then found a seam against the Duke D for a layup before McLinton hit a pull-up jumper to his right over Brian Davis to cut the lead back to a single point at the final media timeout.
2nd Half 3:12 - Duke 84 Maryland 83
Out of the timeout, the teams would trade jabs. First, Davis found Grant Hill cutting to the basket for a layup on a side out of bounds. Vince Broadnax answered with a turnaround jumper. Laettner scored off the double stack low set Coach K had used throughout the 2nd half before McLinton hit a crossover jumper in response.
2nd Half 1:55 - Duke 88 Maryland 87
After four straight baskets, the defenses for both teams tightened up. Thomas Hill and McLinton both missed tough jumpers in the lane. Duke couldn’t rebound McLinton’s miss but Maryland turned the ball over attempting to feed Chris Kerwin in the post. Grant Hill missed a pull-up jumper in the lane driving to his right and the rebound went out of bounds off Duke.
2nd Half 0:53 - Duke 88 Maryland 87
Kevin McLinton continued to attack for the Terps, taking the ball to the right wing before moving back to his left and hitting a foul line jumper over the outstretched arm of Grant Hill.
2nd Half 0:36 - Duke 88 Maryland 89
With the shot clock now turned off, Duke went double stack low again and everyone in the building knew Laettner would get the ball. This included the two Maryland defenders who challenged Laettner at the rim causing a miss, but allowing Antonio Lang to capitalize on not being blocked out. Lang’s tip-in gave Duke the lead and Coach K immediately called timeout to set his defense.
2nd Half 0:19 - Duke 90 Maryland 89
Duke picked up Maryland full court, forcing them to use a little clock to get the ball across half court. McLinton crossed the timeline with 12 seconds remaining and then drove quickly to his right against Brian Davis, hoisting a jumper from inside the arc as both Davis and Grant Hill challenged the shot. It missed and Thomas Hill grabbed a strong two-handed rebound and was fouled.
2nd Half 0:05 - Duke 90 Maryland 89
Duke was not yet in the double bonus, so Thomas Hill’s first free throw was especially clutch as it swished through. A 76% free throw shooter on the season, Hill’s second attempt was long but Evers Burns led McLinton too far on his outlet pass and the ball sailed out of bounds. Duke inbounded the ball to Anotnio Lang and the clock expired.
Final Score - Duke 91 Maryland 89
From the Box Score
Unfortunately, I have been unable to locate the full box score for this game but the broadcast provided enough to know that we saw an ACC classic. Laettner led all scorers with 30 points to go along with his 8 rebounds. Kevin McLinton finished with a double double, registering 25 points and 11 assists while Walt Williams had 26 points and 5 rebounds before fouling out.
Postgame Notes
The win was Duke's 27th straight victory in Cameron, a streak that would continue into January of the following year. The Blue Devils would finish the regular season with only one more loss, at Wake Forest, go on to win the ACC Tournament and become the first back-to-back National Champions since John Wooden’s UCLA teams in 1972 and 1973. This game featured two top 10 picks in the 1992 NBA Draft, with Laettner going 3rd to Minnesota and Walt Williams going 7th to Sacramento.
Trivia Answer
Ohio State (1961-62), Cincinnati (1962-63), Indiana (1975-76), UNLV (1990-91), Duke (1991-92), Kentucky (2014-15), Gonzaga (2020-21)
Thanks for reading, Go Duke!
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