MBB: Duke vs. Butler for the NCAA Championship

[Welcome2DaSlopes]

Discuss here

[ice-9]

Is anyone worried as I am that Duke will actually be favored in this title game?

I kinda liked that most of the "experts" were picking Baylor and WVU to beat us.

Butler is going to be a tough, tough game. They're like Purdue but with a better offense.

[Welcome2DaSlopes]

Honestly idc how we win, but I can tell you I've never wanted a game so badly.

[dukebluelemur]

I'm worried, but mostly just because losses are always possible if the other team just goes nuts (see NC State game), and it would be such a letdown after achieving so much. But I'm not concerned that duke won't show up.

Every game since Cal we've been hearing "well, sure we manhandled (last game), but we haven't seen a Defense like (next game)", yet we keep looking better and better.

For the first time since the Purdue game I have that "man, a loss would be embarrassing" feel that comes with being the consensus favorite.

Lets bring it home guys!

[noyac]

The way I look at it is no matter what our offense does or doesn't do our defense keeps us in games. People and "experts" focus so much on what teams other than Duke have they forget to realize that Duke's defense is amazing and if we don't have our best offensive game it is ok because our D will keep us in it.

[hedevil]

I can't describe how amazed I am knowing that there is a good chance that Kyrie, Curry, etc.. could be coming in trying to repeat rather than win a NC for the first time since 2001.

I hope that the starters and Plumlees can create some separation in the championship game so that coach K can clear the bench in the waning minutes. I'd like to see everyone get in the game for a moment if nothing else.

[Spam Filter]

We were favored in every game we played this tournament. No, not by the "analysts", but by people who put their money where their mouths are.

Vegas had us favored in every game, we were a 3 pt favorite over WV and for this game Duke has opened as a 6.5 pt favorite.

[Welcome2DaSlopes]

Hey guys I can't help but think that the Ncaa gave us this, we got the easiest bracket ever!!!!, we didn't even have to work hard for this, Wait Right?

[LSanders]

Think WV, Baylor, Purdue, and Cal agree they are part of the easiest path to the NC in the last 25 years?

Better yet ... How would St. Johns of the near future fair against such a line-up of tourney opponents? Sadly, I feel we'll NEVER know!!!

[camion]

The main worry I have about the Butler game is the West Virginia game that we just played. I don't see any way we can play as well, shoot as well as we did in that game. I expect some let down. That being said, I think that the Purdue, Baylor and West Virginia games are good preparation for us to play Butler. If we play with the same intensity we played those three we have a great chance.

I expect a tough gritty, grabby game.

[LSanders]

The main worry I have about the Butler game is the West Virginia game that we just played. I don't see any way we can play as well, shoot as well as we did in that game. I expect some let down. That being said, I think that the Purdue, Baylor and West Virginia games are good preparation for us to play Butler. If we play with the same intensity we played those three we have a great chance.

I expect a tough gritty, grabby game.

A little like '91 following the UNLV win, and we had to face Kansas. But, this team ... They'll be okay. I have 100% confidence they'll show up Monday. They may not stroke 13 3s, but they won't have to. Butler's a terrific, talented, disciplined, formidable team, but OUR team ... They're special.

Duke's a match-up nightmare, first of all. Who's gonna guard Z? Hayward (6'9" 207)? Howard (6'8" 230)? Don't they have to put Hayward on Kyle? If so, who covers LT and the Plums? Butler basically only goes 7 deep, and all but Hayward and Howard are 6'3" or under.

And, Mack's a terrific PG, but has he faced on-ball D like Nolan will apply? Jon's 6'5" and crafty as hell. Who's gonna stop him?

Obviously, Butler's faced and successfully dealt with mismatches from Syracuse and MSU, but I honestly feel like they haven't faced anything like the Duke D.

I think we'll come out calm, prepared, and confident on Monday - not cocky and overconfident - a healthy focus. This team will find a way to win.

[Welcome2DaSlopes]

A little like '91 following the UNLV win, and we had to face Kansas. But, this team ... They'll be okay. I have 100% confidence they'll show up Monday. They may not stroke 13 3s, but they won't have to. Butler's a terrific, talented, disciplined, formidable team, but OUR team ... They're special.

Duke's a match-up nightmare, first of all. Who's gonna guard Z? Hayward (6'9" 207)? Howard (6'8" 230)? Don't they have to put Hayward on Kyle? If so, who covers LT and the Plums? Butler basically only goes 7 deep, and all but Hayward and Howard are 6'3" or under.

And, Mack's a terrific PG, but has he faced on-ball D like Nolan will apply? Jon's 6'5" and crafty as hell. Who's gonna stop him?

Obviously, Butler's faced and successfully dealt with mismatches from Syracuse and MSU, but I honestly feel like they haven't faced anything like the Duke D.

I think we'll come out calm, prepared, and confident on Monday - not cocky and overconfident - a healthy focus. This team will find a way to win.

This post gives me so much confidence for our team on monday.

[House G]

We were favored in every game we played this tournament. No, not by the "analysts", but by people who put their money where their mouths are.

Vegas had us favored in every game, we were a 3 pt favorite over WV and for this game Duke has opened as a 6.5 pt favorite.

Not only have we been favored in every game, I think we have covered the spread in every game--certainly against West Virginia, Baylor, Purdue, and Cal. A buddy of mine who bets only "dogs" has lost every time he bets against Duke. He refers to Duke as the "covering Caucasians"--his words, not mine.

[Sgt. Dingleberry]

In the WVU post game thread I thought we had already won the National Championship...It's good to see more perspective in this thread...

Duke is capable of losing to anybody if we don't shoot well...We have a size advantage, but I don't expect to see Z and the Plumlees posting up Butler...Our size advantage will lead to second chance opportunities, that is the one of the advantages I see for us...

The other big advantage for us is our defense...I think it will be tough for them to score consistently...

Remember the Wisconsin game? The first half of the Purdue game? I could easily see this game becoming similar to those games...

If Butler shoots well and we shoot poorly we will probably lose...

This is going to be an intense grinder where the team that makes the most shots will probably win...

I might need more than a 6-pack for this one...LGD!!!!

[-bdbd]

I'm worried, but mostly just because losses are always possible if the other team just goes nuts (see NC State game), and it would be such a letdown after achieving so much. But I'm not concerned that duke won't show up.

Every game since Cal we've been hearing "well, sure we manhandled (last game), but we haven't seen a Defense like (next game)", yet we keep looking better and better.

I am sensing some solid confidence on our side. I am telling you that we had better take Butler seriously!! They EARNED their way here, they play terrific defense, can assert a physical game, will have 50,000+ rooting for them rabidly (particularly given our so-so track record in hostile facillities...), and will have the whole underdog theme motivating the (and refs?). What if all our shots aren't falling like Satrurday in that dome, what if we're getting into foul trouble... Yes, we'll likely be favorites in Vegas - but that can be as much name recognition as anything. This game is no gimme!

I do NOT want to be known as PHI-SLAMMA-JAMMA-II (with Butler reprising the NCSU role)...

Stay focused Duke...just one more to go!!!

[mgtr]

Remember that Singler is iron (or maybe even steel) and some of that has rubbed off on the other players. We are battle-hardened! Butler may not have lost a game this calendar year, but they haven't played us!!!!

[soccerstud2210]

confidence is good.

over-confidence is not so much.


butler is legit. they didn't get here by a fluke.

yes, the cuse was injured. but they legitimately beat KSU

yes MSU was injured too, but they just grind and play tough defense and win.

we are the favorite to win this game, but it is definitely not going to be easy and a cake walk.

we better beware the bulldog

[ice-9]

Don't forget that Butler has dealt with two very, very good perimeter teams: Kansas State and Syracuse.

It WILL be a defensive dogfight. We cannot afford to underestimate them.

[proelitedota]

How are the injuries on Howard and Mack looking?

I don't know why, I am getting the jitters again thinking about the Butler game.

[Welcome2DaSlopes]

How are the injuries on Howard and Mack looking?

I don't know why, I am getting the jitters again thinking about the Butler game.

Seems like they will be ok, I haven't heard anything different.