Duke Basketball: Some Big Shots in Blue Devil History

Recently coach K said that Bobby Hurley's three-point shot against UNLV in the 1991 Final Four is probably the biggest shot in Duke's history. Bigger than Laettner's buzzer beater against Kentucky.

"They were up five, which is three two-point possessions in a game," Krzyzewski said. "He cut out two possessions, but he also cut out part of their heart. I thought that was the biggest shot I've seen a Duke basketball player make, especially considering the circumstances and what happened the year before."

The fact that coach K said this as Hurley is about to be inducted into the Duke's Sports Hall of Fame could be seen as coach K just promoting the event. But if you examined this closer, there is more to it than you think.

The degree of difficulty on Laettner's shot is much higher, but Hurley's shot lead to Krzyzewski's first national championship. Not to mention that Duke had been to the finals at least twice before but came away the runner-up in Coach K's early tenure.

Hurley's shot got Coach K over the hump against a team that not just blew them out, but embarrassed them in the previous season's finals. That shot put an end to the "Duke is soft" comments.

Laettner's shot will always be the best buzzer beater of all time until someone does something equal or better, but for Coach K, it's Bobby Hurley's shot. Just as you will always remember your first car, a coach will always remember his first championship and how he got there.

In light of this, I have assembled five other buzzer beaters or top performances in Duke history that were great but did not mean as much as either Hurley's shot or Laettner's heart breaker.

Sean Dockery's Half-Court Heave

With mere seconds on the clock and Duke down by a point, hope went out the window. Time to concentrate on hand shakes and looking like a good sportsman. You know, show some class in defeat.

Then Sean Dockery heaves one from half court, but you still don't believe. It's Sean Dockery, a hard-nosed player, but buzzer beaters aren't his thing.

Your eyes follow the ball's trajectory, it looks OK. But your mind wanders for a bit as the ball seems to squeeze itself through the rim. It just gave a tiny little bubble before it squeezes through.

Five minutes later, you are still jumping and screaming.There is nothing like winning a game you thought was lost.

David McClure's Buzzer Beater Against Clemson

This one was an example of a player being in the right place at the right time.

Clemson came to Cameron Indoor stadium looking for the upset. They thought they had it when they tied the game on a three-point shot in the dying moments of the game.

It looked like Duke was on one of their notorious late-game meltdown when Greg Paulus found McClure cutting down the middle of the lane with a crisp pass.

McClure, a role player, just caught it in stride, made an adjustment to avoid a defender and laid that baby in.

Duke wins 68-66.

Jason Williams Scores 17 Points in a Row

Williams is better known for leading that miracle minute against Maryland, where Duke scored 18 straight points to beat Maryland in a come-from-behind win.

But over his college career he had some great highlights, including this game against UCLA where he scored 17 straight points.

Gene Banks' Last-Second Jumper That Gave Coach K His First Win over Dean Smith

It's 1981, senior night. Coach K's first season as Duke's basketball coach. Duke is at home. North Carolina is the opponent.

Start from 0.33 seconds. Kenny Denard passes to Gene Banks, in a similar position to Christian Laettner's buzzer beater, who turns and hits nothing but net. 

Several other buzzer beaters on this video for your viewing pleasure.

JefF Capel's Last-Second Three to Take North Carolina to Overtime

Coach K had to take a hiatus from coaching due to a back injury. His assistant, Pete Gaudette, took over what turned out to be a disastrous season for Duke.

But for one game, Duke showed some moxy. That game was against North Carolina, who ranked No. 2 at the time. Duke was 10-9 and 0-7 in ACC play.

Jeff Capel made a last-second shot to send the game to overtime.

Duke eventually ran out of steam and lost 102-100.

But on this one night, they showed that they may have been in the middle of a turbulent season, but that there was no way North Carolina was going to come into their house and win one without a fight.