1994 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game

The 1994 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game was the final game of the 1994 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. It determined the national champion for the 1993–94 NCAA Division I men's basketball season and was contested by the Duke Blue Devils from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the Arkansas Razorbacks from the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The game was played on April 4, 1994, at Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Arkansas defeated Duke 76–72 to win their first national championship in program history, denying the ACC a fourth straight title.

Participants

Duke Blue Devils

The Duke Blue Devils represented Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and were led by head coach Mike Krzyzewski in his fourteenth season. They were ranked No. 4 in the preseason AP Poll and No. 3 in the preseason Coaches Poll.

• Southeast
• (2) Duke 82, (15) Texas Southern 70
• (2) Duke 85, (7) Michigan State 74
• (2) Duke 59, (6) Marquette 49
• (2) Duke 69, (1) Purdue 60
• Final Four
• (SE2) Duke 70, (E3) Florida 65

Arkansas Razorbacks

The Arkansas Razorbacks, representing the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas, were led by head coach Nolan Richardson in his ninth season. The team entered the season ranked No. 3 in the preseason AP Poll and No. 3 in the preseason Coaches Poll.

• Midwest
• (1) Arkansas 94, (16) North Carolina A&T 79
• (1) Arkansas 85, (9) Georgetown 73
• (1) Arkansas 103, (12) Tulsa 84
• (1) Arkansas 76, (3) Michigan 68
• Final Four
• (MW1) Arkansas 91, (W2) Arizona 82

Starting lineups

Game summary

Source:

Duke's Grant Hill made a 3-pointer to tie the game at 70 with 1:30 left. After an Arkansas timeout, Scotty Thurman hit a 3-pointer over Antonio Lang as the 35-second shot clock expired, giving the Razorbacks a 73–70 lead with 50.7 seconds remaining. Chris Collins missed a 3 that would have tied the score. Clint McDaniel rebounded for Arkansas and was fouled with 28.4 seconds left. He made one of two free throws to put Arkansas up by four, 74–70. Collins missed a floater in the lane. Corey Beck rebounded and was fouled. Beck missed the first free throw and made the second for a 75–70 Razorbacks lead with 17.2 seconds left. Jeff Capel's 3-point attempt missed, but Cherokee Parks got the offensive rebound and scored on the putback to bring the Blue Devils within three, 75–72, with 10.2 seconds left. McDaniel was fouled with 9 seconds left, and he hit one of two free throws to seal the national championship for Arkansas with a 76–72 victory over Duke.

References