Looks like Bama going down. Duke is for real. Not sure anyone can beat them, but hopefully we get the chance. They just might beat three straight SEC teams to win it all. As much as I would like to see Duke go down, watching the refs calling Sears for all the pushing off and travelling he does now that he isn't protected by the refs is a joy.
Alabama is a fraud against any team that can actually play a semblance of defense and slow their offense down, that’s why Florida romped them twice this year. Elite offense that can score right there with them but also an elite defense that can contain them. I knew Duke would handle them, easy money. People read way too much into their performance against a BYU team that was abysmal against the 3 all year.
Bama with over a 5 minute zero points drought at the most critical time. Going from 113 points to 58 (with under 3 to go) is crazy.
Duke is the real deal. The once knock against them was their youth and how they would handle the pressure. But at this point in the season/tournament, they’re not true freshmen anymore. Hope we get a chance to see if our experience can beat their youth.
Duke has length and talent on both ends of the floor. Their 7'2" guy is a rim protector and vert athletic for his size. Duke can shoot it, they defend extremely well and they have solid bench play. To me they are the favorites to win it all. I honestly think Florida is the only team left who can beat them. But we would have to play a total 40 minute game to do it. We're capable.
I'm a little less impressed with Duke than everybody else. Their centers are not disciplined and go for too many shot blocks leaving them exposed to offensive rebounds and foul trouble (in Maluach's defense, he's a freshmen that started playing backsetball like 2 years ago, so this is expected). Zona figured that out and scored a bunch against that defense, Bama was undersized but we won't have that problem. The concern I'd have if Florida plays Duke is that Duke will probably control the tempo of the game. Gators need to get out and run, TT controlled the tempo again today and it almost cost them.
The Law of Averages caught up with Bama. They couldn't miss in the game against BYU. Against Duke, they couldn't make 'em even when left wide open. I'm not calling it a fluke, though. Duke was clearly much better, and looked downright scary. Can't worry about them yet, though. Here's hoping UT wins today; I think their defense gives them a chance. Not much of one, but a chance.
Be apparently has a standing reach of 9'-8". I agree, we would need to play our best game of the year to beat them.
People overlook Duke's defense. They are tenacious and their length makes it hard to get off clean shots, plus they alter shots around the rim. They are extremely talented individually and probably have 4-5 guys who will play in the NBA.
I really don't keep up with Duke much, I know of Cooper Flagg and that's it. But ESPN did a synopsis of both our wins last night, and when they bring up what Duke has it's theirs to lose. Their bench alone would be ranked in the Top 5 with almost the college version of a dream team. They really pulled some of the best players in the country from the portal last year and they are on the bench. Like Purdue's 2nd best player from last year as a bench player. The guy was a starter on a team that played for the title last year and he's a backup. All of Duke's backups are like that. 2 others are Top 30 recruits. They have the deepest and most talented roster in college basketball. Several on the bench are NBA lottery picks. But when Duke has an NIL budget almost triple anyone else's, I guess you can keep a team like that together.
While I am not sure either could beat Duke, both Houston or Tennessee will beat them up for 40 minutes, wearing them down for the final just two days later.
Neither will even break their sweat. Look at Duke's roster again. If you think ours is deep, Duke's is even deeper. The only weakness Duke has I think is Cooper Flagg - he's kryptonite. You want to beat Duke, take Flagg out of the game. He's their field general.
spears looked incredulous when he was called for a charge, thinking “I’ve done that all year with no call or a blocking foul”. I’m concerned that the refs will protect them against everyone.
