So, Duke is a #2 seed in the Norfolk region. ND is the #1 seed in the region. We'll play Hampton at 12:05 on Sunday.
I like the placement and the #1 seed matchup (relative to the other options, as noted by others). I am intrigued by Texas A&M. They had 9 losses (including three in a row to end the regular season) going into the SEC tournament and then went through Tennessee and Kentucky on their way to the championship. So they have been vulnerable, but they're currently hot. Should be interesting if both team advance to the Sweet 16.
I'd feel better if we had Chelsea available to match up with Diggins, but I think EWill will have her way with Achonwa unless ND gives a lot of help, which will be a real test of their ability to rotate and recover to our three-point shooters.
That's in two weeks. First things first: Hampton.
Also, note the need for a quick turnaround from rooting against Albany on Friday to rooting for them on Sunday (Great Danes play the Sylvias in the first round).
I think this draw is about as good as Duke could have hoped for. They avoided Baylor, traveling across the country, and UConn in Connecticut. No matter what, it will take a huge upset to make the Four, but I think ND in Norfolk would give us the best shot.
On a non-Duke note, I have a lot of Blue Hens in my family. They had already bought tickets for Newark and are stoked to see Elena Della Donne try and take down Carolina.
I love our bracket. Two home games and then (hopefully) 2 games in a place that Duke fans can travel to. I read an article that pointed out in the last 3 tourneys, we've lost to Stanford, UCONN, and Baylor...so we might as well try our luck with the Irish.
No women's team is unbeatable. Not even Baylor. That's why no women's team is undefeated. On to New Orleans!
Q "Why do you like Duke, you didn't even go there." A "Because my art school didn't have a basketball team."
WBB brackets link:
http://espn.go.com/womens-college-ba...nament/bracket
So, I guess that, if the seeds hold up, our path is through 15-Hampton, then 7-OK State (both in Durham), then Texas A&M and Notre Dame in Norfolk. First game is Sunday, 3/24, at 12:05pm in CIS. I hope that doesn't conflict with the men on TV in Philly.
Also, an 8th-seeded FSU, if they get by Princeton, gets to play Baylor in Waco in the second round. Gulp! (Hey, if you don't like our placement, then go talk to FSU...)
UNC has to play in Newark, DE as a 3-seed, against a 6-seed Delaware squad, then would go to Bridgeport to face KY and then U-con....
MD gets to play first two at home as a 4-seed, but if they get out of there (beating MSU to do so), they then get U-con in Bridgeport...
I think this sets up well for us until we get to the Regional Finals in Norfolk versus Notre Dame. Obviously would have preferred Stanford, but this was to be expected, and isn't all bad playing so near to Durham. And I don't think that we are a poor match-up with ND either. Might as well get used to playing against them before in-conference games next year!
Last edited by -bdbd; 03-19-2013 at 10:41 AM.