#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.