In 1966, Duke was the favorite going into the Final Four but Bob Verga was too ill to contribute much and without him, Duke lost a tight game to Kentucky, 83-79.
As it turned out, all-white Kentucky lost to Texas Western (now UTEP) which started five African-Americans and Kentucky, rather than Duke, became the enduring symbol of the end of segregated basketball.
Sports Illustrated sent Frank DeFord, then a young rising star at the magazine, to cover the game.
As you’ll see here, his story on the Final Four was brilliant though not perfect.