YouTube Gold: Duke Wins A Tight On Over Rhode Island In 1988

On the road to the 1988 Final Four.

As most of you know, being Duke fans, the Blue Devils got to the Final Four and the championship game in 1986, the first of many trips to the final weekend for Mike Krzyzewski’s teams.

In 1987, the team was retooled around Tommy Amaker and Danny Ferry, and that team got to the Sweet Sixteen after losing four starters.

That validated Duke’s program: the ‘86 team wasn't a fluke. Duke wasn't going anywhere.

In 1988 though, the Blue Devils would get back to the Final Four, starting an historic five-year run of Final Four appearances that would ultimately include two championships.

Not that it was easy. There were some close games throughout that streak and none were any closer than Duke’s 1988 win over Rhode Island.

Duke won, 73-72, but it was anything but an easy win.

Coincidentally, 10 years earlier the teams met as Duke was on the way to the 1978 title game. The score in that one?

63-62.