Any Kentucky basketball fan watching Tuesday evening's Purdue-Illinois match probably had a nightmarish flashback to Christian Laettner in the 1992 Eastern Regional Final.
Nobody hit a buzzer-beater game-winning shot in West Lafayette, Indiana. But with a sinister stomp, an Illinois player evoked images of the Big Blue Nation's greatest nemesis.
After Purdue guard Sasha Stefanovic fell on the right foot of Illinois player Alan Griffin after converting a finger-roll layup, Griffin stepped on Stefanovic's chest with his left foot before heading down court.
The referees ejected Griffin with a Flagrant 2 technical foul — a different outcome than when Duke's Laettner stomped on Kentucky player Aminu Timberlake in 1992, as Wildcat fans were quick to point out.