What Rick Pitino said about Duke, 1992 Elite Eight ahead of Sweet 16
It didn’t take Rick Pitino long to bring up Duke basketball following St. John’s win over Kansas in the second round of the 2026 Men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 22.
A Dylan Darling buzzer beater pushed the 5-seeded Red Storm past the 4-seeded Jayhawks, 67-65, and the Hall of Fame coached quickly referenced the Blue Devils and Christian Laettner’s game winner in the 1992 Elite 8 when Pitino was coaching at Kentucky.
“You win some you lose some,” Pitino said. “I’m hoping we can get Duker at the buzzer next to make up for that Christian Laettner shot.”
After taking down Kentucky that year, Duke went on to win the national title two games later, defeating Michigan 71-51.
Pitino also met the Blue Devils in the 2013 Elite 8 when coaching at Louisville. The Cardinals won 85-63, also going on to claim the NCAA title two games later, taking down Michigan 82-76.
The East’s top-seeded Blue Devils (34-2) and head coach Jon Scheyer will face off against the 5-seeded Red Storm (30-6) and head coach Rick Pitino at 7:10 p.m. ET (CBS) from Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
Duke defeated No. 9 seed TCU 81-58 in the Round of 32 to make its 31st trip to the Sweet 16. St John’s is making its first Sweet 16 appearance since 1999. The Blue Devils are 2-1 against the Red Storm in the NCAA Tournament., with the last meeting in March Madness being a Duke 78-61 win in the 1991 Elite 8.
