9. Grayson Allen vs. Virginia
Date: Feb. 13, 2016
Place: Cameron Indoor Stadium
Final score: Duke 63, Virginia 62
What’s most fun about this shot is that non-Duke fans — especially Virginia lovers — wailed because they didn’t think it should have counted.
And it makes it even sweeter that they were absolutely right. You can’t land before releasing the ball, but Grayson Allen did — and got away with it.
What a shame. Oh well, it’s a not a travel if it isn’t called.
Besides, if we’re going to be technical about the sport, eye-gouging is supposed to at least be a foul; apparently, though, when the victim is a Duke basketball player, it isn’t. Imagine the uproar from Duke haters if Allen had done this:
https://twitter.com/espn/status/1084204444110213121
But back to Allen’s shot at home against the Cavaliers.
Duke entered the game unranked with an 18-6 record. The season needed a big win — a boost — and it came against No. 7 Virginia.
UVA’s Malcolm Brogdon had just hit an over-the-shoulder layup to give his team a 62-61 lead. Following a timeout with 6.0 seconds left, though, Allen inbounded the ball to Marshall Plumlee, who then handed it back to Allen. The sophomore guard then used five dribbles to drive into the lane, trying to draw a foul, and with his body nearly sideways, he put up a one-handed bank shot.
Bam!
Buzzer.
Game over.
I’ll cherish it forever.