cpt_tusktooth's review against another edition
5.0
What a great find. I remember watching this game and thinking it was the greatest game I had ever witnessed, in any sport. Twenty year later, that is still true. Wojciechowski did a great job interviewing all the principals from the two teams and telling the story of the teams leading up to this great moment in basketball history. I found the portions of the book that detailed Christian Laettner's love-hate relationship with his teammates particularly gripping. For any fan of college hoops, especially those my age, I highly recommend this book.
rebeccavenchers's review
4.0
This is a great sports read in every sense. The story of the players, coaches and supporters of Duke and Kentucky, as well as the 1992 East Regional Final itself lends itself to a fantastic retelling, but Wojciechowski does it justice. The pacing of the books works wells, balancing background of the players, coaches and teams, providing good build up. You can tell that Wojciechowski had great access to the key people involved in the game, because I really came to understand the context of the game much better.
The sanctions that Kentucky were faced with and the subsequent effect on Big Blue Nation were portrayed really well in this book. The relationships between players, coaches and other important people was also dealt with wonderfully, and I finished the book feeling like I understood the individuals and the teams a lot better. Particularly, the portrayal of camaraderie of the Kentucky team (particularly 'The Unforgettables'), as well as the Hurley-Laettner "like-hate relationship" really added to the story. I was able to tie together the events in this book (including the Duke-UNLV rivalry, the rise of the Fab Five at Michigan and Krzyzewski's relationship with Bob Knight) with other college basketball books I've read and loved. That made the reading of this book all the better.
My only criticism was that it lacked some critical insight into the teams, games, coaches and events - this might be because it's literally a retelling, 20 years after the fact, rather than following an unknown season. Perhaps people's recollections are mostly of fondness of people and events, rather than what the feelings truly were at the time. It's also likely due to the fact this is an ESPN commissioned book. Nevertheless, I loved this book - it's pacing was great and I highly recommend re-watching the game as well - amazing, every time.
The sanctions that Kentucky were faced with and the subsequent effect on Big Blue Nation were portrayed really well in this book. The relationships between players, coaches and other important people was also dealt with wonderfully, and I finished the book feeling like I understood the individuals and the teams a lot better. Particularly, the portrayal of camaraderie of the Kentucky team (particularly 'The Unforgettables'), as well as the Hurley-Laettner "like-hate relationship" really added to the story. I was able to tie together the events in this book (including the Duke-UNLV rivalry, the rise of the Fab Five at Michigan and Krzyzewski's relationship with Bob Knight) with other college basketball books I've read and loved. That made the reading of this book all the better.
My only criticism was that it lacked some critical insight into the teams, games, coaches and events - this might be because it's literally a retelling, 20 years after the fact, rather than following an unknown season. Perhaps people's recollections are mostly of fondness of people and events, rather than what the feelings truly were at the time. It's also likely due to the fact this is an ESPN commissioned book. Nevertheless, I loved this book - it's pacing was great and I highly recommend re-watching the game as well - amazing, every time.
annabella82's review against another edition
5.0
Even knowing how this story ends, it was still a great read. It kind of made the book all that more interesting; you wanted to know the back-story.
What an interesting inside story on how each player and coach got put in place to be at that particular moment in time. You truly feel for both teams, regardless of where your allegiances may lie or who you may root for.
This is a must read for any sports fan.
What an interesting inside story on how each player and coach got put in place to be at that particular moment in time. You truly feel for both teams, regardless of where your allegiances may lie or who you may root for.
This is a must read for any sports fan.
nicholasgrantgarcia's review against another edition
4.0
Too many cuss words, but other than that it was the single most outstanding book on college basketball I've ever read.
paulogonzalez's review against another edition
3.0
Why is that game supposed to have changed basketball? The title says just that, but I didn't find any mention to it in any page. So it seems a 'clickbait', and this is not a good beginning.
The book is still fine, it becomes in some way enjoyable alternating chapters between one team and the other. It was a really great game, and this is an good entertaining and a decent approach to college basketball in those years.
And a recommendation, you must have seen the game before reading the book.
The book is still fine, it becomes in some way enjoyable alternating chapters between one team and the other. It was a really great game, and this is an good entertaining and a decent approach to college basketball in those years.
And a recommendation, you must have seen the game before reading the book.
kintha's review against another edition
4.0
As a Kentucky fan, this was a tough book to read, but it's very good.
jamison's review
4.0
I would label this a must read for any basketball fan. I literally got goose bumps reliving my earliest sports memory and the reason I wanted to play basketball. Gene does a phenomenal job weaving all of the story lines together and taking us in depth to Kentucky and Duke.