Lopresti: A great play, a great game, two great coaches

Mike Lopresti, USA TODAY Sports | USATODAY

INDIANAPOLIS – One unforgettable game. And suddenly, Mike Krzyzewski and Rick Pitino would forever be connected, always able to look at each other and understand.

You've seen the replays. The long, desperate lob to Christian Laettner. His miracle jumper at the buzzer. Krzyzewski's Duke beating Pitino's Kentucky 104-103 in overtime in the 1992 East Regional to go to the Final Four. The greatest college basketball game ever played, by popular acclaim.

The men have not met in the NCAA Tournament since. Not until Sunday, when it's Duke vs. Louisville for the Midwest Regional title. This is between coaching giants and old friends who were joined by a classic that happened 21 years ago but stays with them to this very weekend.

You could hear that from Krzyzewski on Saturday.

"It's like one of those things where you shared something that no one else could share. So we'll always be close as a result of that."

And from Pitino.

"It was a game where two coaches could sit back and watch great players perform at the highest level. It was like being in Carnegie Hall and just seeing the best musician or the best singer, and just sitting there in amazement of what they were doing out on the basketball court."

What do Sunday's players think of the past, even if it is a landmark? Not a lot. They have their own game to play, and memories to make.

"I try to dismiss history. Maybe for our coaches it's relevant. This is our team, this is our time," Duke's Mason Plumlee said.

"I wasn't even thought of when that was going on," Louisville's Chane Behanan said. "But I have (seen) the same highlights over and over since this morning."

For the men who were there, it will never be dismissed, for what it meant to their game – and their relationship.

You could hear that from Krzyzewski,

"After the game, it's grown exponentially. I think when the basketball gods deem you worthy enough to put you in a great moment, sometimes you're placed in that moment and sometimes you lose. But sometimes the loser shines more than the winner. I thought how (Pitino) reacted and has reacted since has made him shine.

"If I'm placed in that situation, I would hope that I would be able to do it at the level that he did it."

And from Pitino.

"We've been friends from that point on. ... I've had the Kentucky fans always say it's one of the worst losses. To me, it's one of the best losses I've ever had. ... It was a great loss because my guys played almost a perfect game and just had the wrong ending for us."

Pitino said he has watched the replay five times. They each have their special memories.

You could hear that from Krzyzewski:

"I will always remember the stark difference in emotion, because really right in front of me, (Kentucky's) Richie Farmer collapsed. And I see our guys jump and I see him fall. And really, I was taken more by Richie. I understood by looking at him – I could never understand completely because it didn't happen to me – just how tough that was."

And from Pitino, discussing his strategy on the last play, and telling his players to be careful not to foul Laettner.

"I shouldn't have done that. That was the mistake I made. I should have said, 'Whatever you do, bat the ball down. I don't care what the contact is.'

"You see my guys freeze a little bit. That's the one thing when I look back at the game, I wish I could have done different."

They are fortunate men. How many friends can say they are tied together by one of the most riveting moments their profession has ever seen? A night so grand that it transcended winning or losing.

You could hear that from Krzyzewski.

"It's one of those moments in time that helped define our sport. I've talked to Rick about it. We realize we were the lucky guys."

And from Pitino.

"I do think about it often. Not in a revenge standpoint, but just in a great game that I was happy to be a part of."

But now it's 2013, and they played in November, with Duke winning. So much is at stake Sunday, who has time for history? Except, history is what binds these men, and even the players sense that. "Hopefully," Louisville's Russ Smith said, "history don't repeat itself."

The other regions have had their surprises, but in the Midwest, all the underdogs have gone home. Louisville is the last No. 1 seed standing, Duke the bluest of bloods left in the bracket. Krzyzewski could join John Wooden with his 12th Final Four trip. Pitino could remain the tournament favorite to win his second title.

"I think it's like a national championship game," Krzyzewski said. "I hope we both live up to the game."

They have before.