#1 Duke vs #20 LSU Highlights [Shaq vs Laettner] (1992)

February 8 1992

BEST PLAYS: 2:20 Shaq huge block 4:30 great Laettner pass 5:38 Shaq almost lands on G. Hill after dunk 6:28 Laettner poster dunk 7:36 Shaq dish leads to and-1 8:54 Shaq dunk got position on Laettner

Shaquille O'Neal Christian Laettner Grant Hill Cherokee Parks Thomas Hill Vernel Singelton Bobby Hurley (broken foot-OUT) Brian Davis Clarence Caesar Jamie Brandon Antonio Lang Justin Anderson T.J. Pugh

Ranked number one in the nation the Duke Blue Devils (18-1) travel to the Maravich Assembly Center to face their biggest challenge of the season down low in Shaquille O'Neal. O'Neal and his LSU Tigers were ranked 20th (some had them 22nd) in the nation heading into this game.

The matchup of Christian Laettner and Shaquille O'Neal did not disappoint, with O'Neal putting up 25 points, 12 rebounds, and a game high SEVEN blocks, and Laettner finishing with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 three pointers (on back to back possessions). Laettner was playing out of position on defense at center against the huge figure of Shaq, requiring the help of then-little known freshman big Cherokee Parks as well. O'Neal drew heaps of praise from the commentators, who both had Shaq as a lock to be the next great big man out of college, following in the footsteps of Patrick Ewing, Bill Walton, and Lew Alcindor (Kareem).

Christian Laettner would be chosen as the one "amateur" player for the 1992 Olympic Dream Team over Shaq.

Duke would get the win 77-67, with LSU's free throw shooting being the achilles heel of their great performance against the best team in the nation and eventual national champions.

Sophomore Grant Hill put up a stellar all around game as well, playing point guard for the injured Bobby Hurley, who had a broken bone in his right foot. Hill finished with 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists, acting as point for Coach K the entirety of the game against LSU's full court press and zone defensive coverage.

[bijouxdoum]

Duke had some of best games alltime back then. UNLV×2, KY, UNC, Michigan, Indiana, GT. So many greats on those squads, Larry Johnson, Jamal Mashburn, Chris Webber, Kenny Anderson, SHAQ, Cal Cheney ect.
80s and 90s was the best college basketball.

[tylersouthcott]

This duke team could shoot all around, was athletic, big, smart. Really had the full package

[Danny-sdvm]

I remember watching these games as a kid. The really good games always came on Saturday afternoon. It's hard to get behind a team now with all the transferring and 1 and dones.

[leftyspade]

While living in Great Falls Virginia, Christian Laettner lived a few houses from us. He used to come over with his two daughers to play with our dogs. I was never into basketball and had no idea who he was. Neighbors used to come over and say, "do you know who you're talking to?" I really didn't but he was the most gracious 'star' i ever met. A gift to know now, especially watching this that Christian was a genuinley nice human being. He played for the Wizards while living in Virgina.

[porscheoscar]

Not long after this game Shaq came into my hotel restaurant where I waited on his table for breakfast, it was an expensive place for those days. It was Shaq, his father Phil and his brothers. Nobody really knew who he was unless they watched ball. I came to his table and he put in his order in Shaq portions "I want 5 juices, 7 toasts, 6 eggs, 6 pancakes" 😅. Then when I gave him the bill he looked at it and I could tell he hadn't looked up the prices beforehand and said "hey dad can you got $40 you can lend me". His father wore glasses and didn't say much and without reacting in any way slid his hand back behind his pocket and got out his wallet. I can still hear Shaq asking for the money like we all did at some point before we got adult people jobs. Shaq autographed the check with his college number. When he got up he hit his head on the chandelier and the whole thing swung like a giant boat anchor. When he shook my hand it was like the size a giant dinner platter. When I got home I turned on MTV ane there he was as the guest DJ with Ed Lover and Dre on Yo MTV Raps. Now I watch him in on YouTube videos randomly paying for people's stuff like little kids bikes at Walmart.

[DavidChen]

Christian Laettner is someone who would have done very well in the modern NBA.

[ludvigborga]

One of the greatest Duke teams of all time. Played in the toughest bracket in the tournament to the point the championship game was just an afterthought.

[Thonas-de]

Damn this game is better than watching the NBA in the year's of 2022

[Shinobi]

It's crazy how Laettner played Center in college, but was too small and had to play PF in the NBA. He'd be a huge Center in today's NBA

[dougB]

Love him or hate him. I always rooted for Laettner.

[njdrummer]

Damn these guys were good shooters. I miss 90s bball

[rashb]

This game was a treat. It was basketball excellence! Grant Hills midrange in college was way better than I remember. Love Laettner putting his fist up everytime he scored. He embraced the troll / villain role. Lol

[chriswillis]

Was there. After the game, a night I'll never forget.

[cloudz]

6:25 Mic picks up T.Hill after block, "Gimmie that shit"😂

[thompson]

What a game! They don't basketball like this anymore!

[theicyridge]

What a game. Laettner was amazing. But even if he lost, 6 blocks from Shaq against a team that smart is just outstanding.

[yaimcuddy]

Shaq helping Hill get up after that was wholesome af

[bigmike]

Fun fact!
I’m the same age as Laettner pretty much. I am definitely a HUGE DUKE FAN And I’m actually on the team, in my own mind!
During Duke’s 1992 magical season, I was hanging out at Northgate Mall in Durham, NC. I was about 20 or 21 years old at the time and I was a competitive bodybuilder in those days!
Laettner was standing in the middle of the breezeway with a super fine bad to the bone chick, probably spitting some game to her, while brushing his hair!!?
I worked up the courage to approach him for an autograph because he was my favorite basketball player on Earth!

He kinda politely blew me off and acted as if he didn’t hear me when I asked him to sign a record case I had purchased earlier in the record store.
So I didn’t want to be rude and possibly be a bit of a cock block, so I waited patiently until I detected a break in their conversation and I asked him once more.
He sighed and said “Look my Man, I know you’re gonna understand this because you look like someone who knows his way around the gym and people approaching you while you’re attempting to have a little down time. Right?

So thanks for understanding, and I appreciate your support

Again politely blew me off again.
It hurt my feelings a little and it confused me as well. He took way more time to explain why he wouldn’t do an autograph for me than he would have taken by just taking a half second to scribble his signature and make a fan’s day

But I had a moment with Laettner!

[jimmyPureYa]

What a time to be alive… basketball back then was pure not like this trash today..

[DMe]

Just imagine if Shaq stayed in that size range