The most infamous collapse in Maryland basketball history—and one of the greatest individual clutch performances in college hoops—occurred exactly 25 years ago on January 27, 2001, at Cole Field House in College Park. No. 2 Duke, led by the electrifying sophomore guard Jason (Jay) Williams, erased a 10-point deficit in the final 54 seconds of regulation to force overtime and ultimately defeat the eighth-ranked Maryland Terrapins 98-96. What became forever known as the “Miracle Minute” wasn’t just a comeback; it was a soul-crushing sequence that silenced a raucous home crowd chanting “Overrated! Overrated! Overrated!” and left Maryland fans haunted for decades.
This Duke-Maryland rivalry game, part of the intense ACC battles of the early 2000s, featured two powerhouse teams on a collision course for national titles. Duke entered at 19-1 overall and 7-0 in the ACC, riding a juggernaut lineup that included Shane Battier, Carlos Boozer, Mike Dunleavy, Nate James, and the dynamic Williams. Maryland, coached by Gary Williams, boasted stars like Juan Dixon (who led with 27 points), Lonny Baxter, and a tough, experienced core. The Terps had long been frustrated by Mike Krzyzewski’s Blue Devils, and this night at raucous Cole Field House seemed poised for revenge.
The Build-Up: Duke Struggles, Maryland Dominates
For nearly the entire game, Maryland controlled the action. They built leads, fed off home energy, and capitalized on Duke’s uncharacteristic sloppiness—particularly from Williams, who was having one of the worst performances of his stellar career. The sophomore point guard, normally a scoring machine averaging over 23 points in recent games, struggled mightily: turnovers piled up (he had 10 in the game), shots clanged off the rim, and free throws were missed at key moments.
By the late stages, Maryland led comfortably. With under four minutes left, the Terps were up by double digits at times. Duke clawed back somewhat, but as the clock dipped under a minute, the score stood at 90-80 Maryland with 58 seconds remaining. The Cole Field House crowd erupted in premature celebration, unleashing the infamous “Overrated!” chant directed at the No. 2 Blue Devils. Williams later admitted the taunt “pissed me off”—it lit a fire that turned the game upside down.
Maryland fans, sensing victory and perhaps vindication after years of dominance by Coach K’s squad, taunted relentlessly. The arena shook with confidence. What happened next would enter ACC lore as one of the most improbable sequences ever witnessed.
The Miracle Minute: 54 Seconds of Chaos
With 53.5 seconds left and trailing by 10, Duke inbounded the ball. Williams drove hard to the basket, drawing contact but finishing a tough layup through traffic to make it 90-82. The deficit was eight—still daunting, but a spark.
Maryland inbounded, but Duke’s pressure defense kicked in. Williams, fueled by adrenaline and irritation, anticipated the pass perfectly. He stepped out of bounds momentarily during the steal (a point Maryland fans still debate), but officials let it stand. He raced upcourt, pulled up from beyond the arc, and drilled a three-pointer—90-85 with around 48 seconds left. The lead was cut to five in a blink.
The crowd’s energy shifted from glee to stunned silence. Maryland called timeout at 48.7 seconds, but the momentum had flipped irreversibly. In the huddle, Williams told teammate Chris Duhon they could funnel Maryland’s Drew Nicholas into a trap in the corner. On the ensuing possession, that’s exactly what happened: Duke trapped Nicholas, forcing a bad pass or loose ball. Williams stole it again, dribbled into transition, and buried another three from the wing—90-88 with time still ticking.
In roughly 13 seconds, Williams had scored eight points (layup + two threes), turning a 10-point hole into a two-point deficit. The “Miracle Minute” was born.
Maryland, rattled, got the ball back but couldn’t execute. With seconds winding down, Nicholas launched a desperation three from the left corner that clanged off the rim. Duke rebounded, and Williams was fouled. He calmly sank both free throws to tie the game at 90-90 with just over 20 seconds left in regulation.
The Cole crowd, moments earlier chanting triumphantly, sat in disbelief. Duke had outscored Maryland 10-0 in under a minute. Overtime loomed.
Overtime: Duke Seals It
In the extra period, Duke carried the momentum. Williams hit early free throws to give Duke its first lead since early in the game. The teams traded blows, but Duke never trailed again. Maryland’s final chance came when Dixon drove for a potential tying layup, only to have Battier swat it cleanly at the rim. The Blue Devils secured the rebound, ran out the clock, and escaped with a 98-96 victory as Williams hurled the ball skyward in celebration amid a shower of boos.
Williams finished with 25 points despite his early struggles—proving his clutch gene was unbreakable. All five Duke starters scored in double figures, a testament to their depth. Maryland’s Dixon poured in 27, but the collapse overshadowed everything.
Why It Still Shocks Fans 25 Years Later
- The Audacity: Erasing 10 points in 54 seconds is rare; doing it on the road against a top-10 rival with a hostile crowd chanting your demise is legendary.
- The Catalyst: The “Overrated!” chant backfired spectacularly. Williams later reflected that it motivated him to prove doubters wrong.
- Rivalry Impact: Duke beat Maryland three times that season—including this game, the ACC Tournament, and a historic 22-point Final Four comeback en route to the 2001 national title. The Miracle Minute became a symbol of Duke’s resilience and Maryland’s near-miss frustration.
- YouTube Gold: Clips of the sequence (like the famous highlight reel showing Williams’ explosion) have millions of views. Comment sections overflow with Maryland fans lamenting “the one that got away” and Duke fans reliving the glory.
- Emotional Scars: For Terps faithful, it’s a painful memory—often compared to other historic collapses. Jay Williams has playfully referenced it over the years, keeping the wound fresh.
This wasn’t just a win; it was a defining moment in college basketball history. One minute turned arrogance into agony, doubt into destiny, and a routine road game into eternal lore. Twenty-five years on, Maryland fans still wince at the chants, while Duke fans cherish the Miracle Minute as proof that in sports, miracles can happen when you refuse to quit.
