Duke 91 & 92: Back to Back tells the story of both seasons through interviews and footage from the former players when they returned to campus last fall for the Duke Hall of Fame induction of point guard Bobby Hurley and head coach Mike Krzyzewski. The documentary, directed and produced by Madeleine Sackler and Amy Unell in collaboration with Turner Sports, will be aired in Cameron Indoor Stadium Friday night at 8 p.m. in advance of its television premiere on TruTV March 11 at 8 p.m. The Chronicle’s Mike Schreiner interviewed the directors of the documentary as well as Hill and Laettner, the executive producers. Unell, Sackler and Laettner were reached by phone, and Hill responded to an email.
The Chronicle: What was your favorite moment while filming on campus?
Amy Unell: Just to be a part of them reuniting after so long. I think one of the highlights was definitely when they were all back in Cameron together. There were so many fun things. Like going back to Satisfaction—maybe that was the most fun because I could tell that they were just loving it. They hadn’t watched the games together in so long. It was cool to help make that happen.
Madeleine Sackler: My favorite moment was when we went with the team to Satisfaction and watched some of their old games. I think it’s rare to see that in film. Athletes watching amazing moments from 20 years ago—I think that was a really emotional thing to see. I think it ended up being one of the highlights of the film.
TC: How did the former players react when they reunited for filming?
MS: They were really excited. The context for them all coming back together was Bobby Hurley and Coach K being inducted into the Duke Hall of Fame and so it was really a positive weekend for all of them. And even the guys who stayed in touch, everyone has family and work so as time passes larger lapses between when they see each other develop. I think they were really excited to see each other and I think that comes through in the film.
TC: What is your favorite part of the film?
AU: I love the part where it’s the dream-like euphoria after the Kansas win. They worked so hard for that moment—they [had] lost by 30 points to UNLV. They were just determined to make history, determined to get that first championship. Some other sequences I love? The one at Satisfaction is really fun. The audience really reacted a lot of the moments in a vocal way, like laughing and clapping. I like Christian’s line. I don’t want to give it away, but right before he takes the shot against Kentucky, he has this amazing sound byte about how he got his mindset to be prepared for that moment. And that’s just a great line in the film. I could probably tell you what I like about each part [of the film]. I love how it’s the guys really telling the story, and it’s all from their perspective of how it unfolds. It’s different. It doesn’t have a narrator—each teammate gets to tell the story.
TC: How did the former players react to watching their games at Satisfaction?
MS: It’s amazing how much they remember from that experience. I think it must have been such an emotional roller coaster, which implants memories and ingrains them in your mind. I’m still constantly amazed by how much detail they remembered, but I think when they started watching it, even more memories flooded back. That came out in our interviews with them, we were able to learn so much about what happened behind the scenes and how they treated each other on the court and off the court—you know, some of that conflict. Most importantly, how they were able to use that conflict to achieve something great. To me, that’s the most exciting thing about this film is that it transcends sports and becomes something bigger.
It’s really about how a diverse group of people comes together to achieve something great. Does it have to be that they’re always getting along? Or can they actually use conflict to become better and to work better together? It sounds contradictory, but I think we have found that what we have found in talking to these guys is that conflict can help you improve as long as you are moving towards the same goal.
TC: What was the most memorable interaction a former player had with a fan during filming on Duke’s campus?
MS: A bunch of the guys went to go see the football game and Christian was stopped by someone who introduced her daughter to him. She said, ‘Christian, this is my daughter, she is named after you.’ I think that actually happened twice, and I thought that was pretty hilarious. There are big fans running around, that’s for sure.
TC: What are your thoughts on the finished product?
MS: I’ve been really happy with the way it’s developed. It’s turned into a really positive, funny and fast-paced story with a real narrative, real acts and real characters. I have watched a lot of sports films in preparation for this, and very few, if any, have the kind of narrative, characters, tone that we have. I think that makes it a really special film.
TC: What does the 1991-92 season mean to you today?
Christian Laettner: It means everything in terms the four years of commitment and all the blood, sweat and tears out there on the court and the brotherhood and fellowship that we built there at Duke. My four years were a special four years, so I was very lucky in terms of being at the pinnacle pretty much every year—the very top of college basketball—which made it pretty fun.
Grant Hill: It probably means more to me today. The sacrifice, dedication and commitment that we shared as young men has proven to be a valuable life lesson. My teammates and I share a bond that will continue to endure through the years.
TC: How has the legacy of the Kentucky game stuck with you?
GH: The Kentucky game was probably the greatest college basketball game in the modern era. To have played a small part in wonderful performance by both teams was an honor and a privilege.
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