Duke vs. Kentucky

As I previewed in the previous round, we’ve got a rematch of one of the greatest NCAA tournament games of all time here.  The Elite Eight game in the 1992 tournament was one for the history books and I’m excited to revisit this great matchup.

Kentucky vs Duke, historical match up

Kentucky and Duke are two of the Bluest of Blue Bloods (pun intended) in college basketball.  To refresh your memory, I’ll list the starting five for each team again.

DUKE: Lineup: Christian Laettner, Mike Gminski, Shane Battier, J.J. Redick, Jay Williams

Duke’s lineup laid waste to Florida in the first round so they are fresh for the second round game.

KENTUCKY: Lineup: Anthony Davis, Antoine Walker, Jamal Mashburn, Goose Givens, Rajon Rondo

Kentucky grinded out a nice win against a game Syracuse team in the first round.  They are looking to avenge the loss in the aforementioned Elite Eight game.

The Matchup:

I think Kentucky is the better program of the two here.  I’m a firm believer that National Championships speak for themselves, and Kentucky has a boatload of them.  However, I believe this Duke starting five is superior and carries them over the top in this matchup.

Laettner is not able to replicate the perfect performance he had in 1992, but he does chip in a solid 18 points and 8 rebounds.  Gminski’s size poses a problem for Walker, and he does some damage down low.

Kentucky is able to score the basketball with Mashburn leading the way with 24 and Walker adds 19.

A back and forth game finally falls in Duke’s favor after Rondo turns one over late and Redick sinks two free-throws to ice it.

Duke: 86

Kentucky: 83

-Andy