Two very different calls describe one remarkable shot
Posted February 9, 2012 5:36 p.m. EST
Updated February 10, 2012 6:04 a.m. EST
It was the shot that broke thousands of UNC hearts and inspired thousands of Duke cheers. It was the shot that fans on both sides of the rivalry keep watching today – over, and over, and over.
Both sides can agree, even the day after, that it was one of the wildest finishes to one of the greatest rivalries in college basketball - if not American sports - as Duke's Austin Rivers sank a three-pointer as time expired to complete a Blue Devils comeback at the Dean Smith Center.
For more than three decades, Bob Harris has been the voice of the Blue Devils. He said this win will go down in his top four to date - so good, he can't even recall the words that flew out of his mouth.
“It's not something you can script, that you can plan to do,” Harris said. “Even after the game, and I was going to the locker room to do my postgame interviews, I had three different media people stop me and say, ‘what was your call, what did you say?’ I said, ‘I don't remember.’ And I really didn't.”
For the record, here is an excerpt of Harris’ call:
Nine seconds left and rivers comes front court… Rivers works to the right side, he'll try to step back with one second left…let's fly…got it! The Blue Devils win it over North Carolina! 85-84! Oh my gosh! I do not believe this!
Listen to Bob Harris' call on 620 The Buzz
Duke students who flooded campus didn't believe it was real either.
"We were talking about it last night, you know, and it seems like a movie,” said Duke freshman Jordan Pearson. “Like, it doesn't happen in movies, but it doesn't happen in real life."
UNC play-by play voice Jones Angel had an understandably different call to the Austin Rivers shot that decided the 133rd meeting between UNC and Duke.
His closing seconds read:
"With two seconds to go, try the three for the win...and he hit it. Rivers hits the three to win the game. Are you kidding me? Duke wins it by one."
Listen to Jones Angel's call on the Tar Heel Sports Network
It is an especially good game when, even in defeat, the losing side can appreciate it.
“Yeah, I mean, the rivalry is great, this is just another game in that legacy,” said UNC senior Prajwal Kilari. “I mean, a buzzer-beater, what more could you ask for? I just wish it was our buzzer-beater.”
