Synopses & Reviews
The definitive book on the greatest game in the history of college basketball, and the dramatic road both teams took to get there.
March 28, 1992. The final of the NCAA East Regional, Duke vs. Kentucky. The 17,848 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia and the millions watching on TV could say they saw the greatest game and the greatest shot in the history of college basketball. But it wasn't just the final play of the game-an 80-foot inbounds bass from Grant Hill to Christian Laettner with 2.1 seconds left in overtime- that made Duke's 104-103 victory so memorable. The Kentucky and Duke players and coaches arrived at that point from very different places, each with a unique story to tell.
In The Last Great Game, acclaimed ESPN columnist Gene Wojciechowski tells their stories in vivid detail, turning the game we think we remember into a drama filled with suspense, humor, revelations and reverberations. The cast alone is worth meeting again: Mike Krzyzewski, Rick Pitino, Bobby Hurley, Jamal Mashburn, Christian Laettner, Sean Woods, Grant Hill, and Bobby Knight. Timed for the game's 20th anniversary, The Last Great Game isn't a book just for Duke or Kentucky or even basketball fans. It's a book for any reader who can appreciate that great moments in sports are the result of hard work, careful preparation, group psychology, and a little luck.
Review
“[R]ecaptures the energy of one of sport’s greatest moments….A fitting, illuminating tribute to a game that many believe was the best ever.”
- Kirkus Reviews
Review
“Wojciechowski offers a nice blend of past and present perspectives as he tells the story of how an unlikely classic came to be, how it played out, and how it lives on … [
The Last Great Game] is both fun and thorough without getting tedious.”
- Erik Spanberg, The Christian Science Monitor
Review
“[A] fascinating portrait ….This thoroughly enjoyable book will attract college basketball fans across the country, regardless of team loyalties.”
- Booklist
Review
“You think you know all the stories? So did I. But I had not heard these.”
Review
“A compelling narrative about the people who produced the most spine-tingling moment in modern college basketball history.” -
Sports IllustratedReview
"It's Wojciechowski's eye for the people on the edges that make the account especially compelling." -
The New YorkerReview
“You think you know all the stories? So did I. But I had not heard these.”
- Louisville Courier-Journal
Review
andldquo;A compelling narrative about the people who produced the most spine-tingling moment in modern college basketball history.andrdquo; -
Sports IllustratedReview
andldquo;[R]ecaptures the energy of one of sportandrsquo;s greatest momentsandhellip;.A fitting, illuminating tribute to a game that many believe was the best ever.andrdquo; -
KirkusReview
andldquo;Wojciechowski offers a nice blend of past and present perspectives as he tells the story of how an unlikely classic came to be, how it played out, and how it lives on.andrdquo; -
Christian Science MonitorReview
andquot;It's Wojciechowski's eye for the people on the edges that make the account especially compelling.andquot; -
The New YorkerReview
andldquo;[A] fascinating portrait andhellip;.This thoroughly enjoyable book will attract college basketball fans across the country, regardless of team loyalties.andrdquo; -
Booklist, starred review
Review
andldquo;You think you know all the stories? So did I. But I had not heard these.andrdquo; -
Louisville Courier-JournalSynopsis
A compelling narrative about the people who produced the most spine-tingling moment in modern college basketball history.” –Seth Davis, Sports Illustrated and CBS
March 28, 1992. The final of the NCAA East Regional, Duke vs. Kentucky. Millions could say they witnessed the greatest game and the greatest shot in the history of college basketball. But it wasn’t just the final play—an 80-foot inbounds pass with 2.1 seconds left in overtime—that made Duke’s 104-103 victory so memorable. Each player and coach arrived at that point with a unique story to tell.
In The Last Great Game, ESPN columnist Gene Wojciechowski turns the game we think we remember into a drama filled with suspense, humor, revelations, and reverberations. Not just for Duke or Kentucky fans, this acclaimed New York Times bestseller is for everyone who appreciates the great moments in sports.
Synopsis
Phil Jacksonand#151;the legendary coach of the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bullsand#151;has told his own story. Now it is time for a different viewand#151;a deeply reported, unauthorized account by one of Americaand#8217;s top sports journalists.
About the Author
Gene Wojciechowski is a senior national columnist for ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine. Prior to joining ESPN in 1992, he worked as a sports reporter for publications including the Chicago Tribune, The Denver Post, and the L.A. Times. He has received four Associated Press Sports Editors National Writing Awards, among other honors, for his work. He has also authored and co-authored various sports books, including The Bus, a bestselling biography of Jerome Bettis. A former Duke hater, Wojciechowski has made peace with the Blue Devils. He lives in Wheaton, Illinois.