Duke to face Marquette in CBE Classic semifinals

[RockLobster]

It looks like the four "major" schools (the other two being K-State and Gonzaga) will advance to the semis no matter what. Does anyone else find facing Marquette every year in an early-season tournament a little wearisome?

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=5440330

[WiJoe]

It looks like the four "major" schools (the other two being K-State and Gonzaga) will advance to the semis no matter what. Does anyone else find facing Marquette every year in an early-season tournament a little wearisome?

Absolutely. I would expect this to be a good test.

[Cameron]

WiJoe, buddy, I gotta tell you something, that team has been played. SO PLAYed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDqCtD-fTtk

Then again, a semi-final match-up with Marquette could avenge the CBE final of '06, in which we were beaten by double figures to Dominic James and Co., if I remember correctly.

[G man]

I was disappointed I have tickets to the semifinal and I was hoping to see K-state, but what ya going to do.

[HopJokey]

I don't get the format of this tournament. If four teams are guaranteed a spot to the semi-finals (which has only four spots) then what is the point of the other 8 teams? Is it just to play a few more games?

[papa whiskey]

I don't get the format of this tournament. If four teams are guaranteed a spot to the semi-finals (which has only four spots) then what is the point of the other 8 teams? Is it just to play a few more games?

Yes.

[WiJoe]

WiJoe, buddy, I gotta tell you something, that team has been played. SO PLAYed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDqCtD-fTtk

Then again, a semi-final match-up with Marquette could avenge the CBE final of '06, in which we were beaten by double figures to Dominic James and Co., if I remember correctly.

That was UGLY. A 73-62 loss.

http://goduke.statsgeek.com/basketba...ameid=20061121

Also, the format for this tournament is LAME, LAME, LAME!

[Duvall]

I don't get the format of this tournament. If four teams are guaranteed a spot to the semi-finals (which has only four spots) then what is the point of the other 8 teams? Is it just to play a few more games?

Yup. Can't sell commercials without games, can't have games without opponents.

If it helps, don't think of it as one weird 16-team tournament; think of it as five normal four-team tournaments.

[gep]

I don't get the format of this tournament. If four teams are guaranteed a spot to the semi-finals (which has only four spots) then what is the point of the other 8 teams? Is it just to play a few more games?

There was some discussion awhile back on the CBE format...

http://www.dukebasketballreport.com/...721-CBE...-wtf