For Duke University, the 1991-92 season marked a historic moment in their basketball legacy. Led by National Player of the Year Christian Laettner, the Blue Devils fulfilled a challenging journey to become Back-to-Back National Champions.
The road to the Final Four was filled with formidable opponents, and the semifinal matchup against Bobby Knight’s Indiana squad was no exception. In a thrilling contest, Duke emerged victorious, securing an 81-78 win to propel them to the championship game.
Awaiting Duke in the final were the formidable "Fab Five" of Michigan. Led by a starting five of uber-talented freshmen including Chris Webber, Jalen Rose and Juwan Howard, the Wolverines had defied all expectations by reaching the title game. The clash between these two powerhouse teams promised to be an epic showdown. The championship game on April 6, 1992, at the Metrodome in Minneapolis was aptly billed as "The Fab Five meets The Victory Tour." The anticipation was palpable as fans eagerly awaited the clash between Michigan's rising stars and Duke's experienced champions.
Ironically, the two teams had already crossed paths earlier in the season. In a December matchup in Ann Arbor, Duke narrowly edged out Michigan in overtime, winning by a mere three points with a final score of 88-85. This earlier encounter only added to the intrigue surrounding the championship game, as both teams sought to settle the score on the biggest stage.
As the final buzzer sounded, Duke emerged triumphant once again. With a dominant 71-51 victory, they secured their second consecutive national championship. The win solidified their place in basketball history as one of the most dominant NCAA teams of all time. Looking back on that season, head coach Mike Krzyzewski reflected on the challenges his team faced. He acknowledged that their road to the Final Four and the championship was the toughest they had ever encountered. The emotional toll of the journey was also a concern for Krzyzewski, unsure if his team could maintain their composure in such high-stakes games. Yet, Duke's resilience and unwavering determination propelled them to unprecedented success.
Adding to the significance of these pair of Final Four ticket stubs is the fact that they come from Christian Laettner's personal collection. Laettner, the heart and soul of the Duke team, personally signed both tickets in bold blue pen. The tickets themselves remain in outstanding condition. Each signed ticket is the highest dual-graded example in the PSA pop report. For reference, a total of 12 unsigned National Semifinal stubs and 32 unsigned National Championship stubs have been encapsulated by PSA. The only other dual-graded signed stub from either game is from the National Championship; the ticket is graded Authentic, but the auto grade (and signer) is unknown. This lot comes with a letter of provenance from Christian Laettner.