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EarlJam
02-12-2009, 12:49 AM
I say it will be all Big East. They let their players "play," and their players are big.

I see a UCONN vs. PITT in the final. Blair is a stud.


One ACC team makes the final eight. None to the final four, unless B.C. or UNC.

-EJ
FireOgilvie
02-12-2009, 12:57 AM
I say it will be all Big East. They let their players "play," and their players are big.

I see a UCONN vs. PITT in the final. Blair is a stud.


One ACC team makes the final eight. None to the final four, unless B.C. or UNC.

-EJ


Boston College is not going to the Final Four. They might not even make the tournament. Did you mean WF? Also, "none to the final four, unless..." Bold prediction:rolleyes:

The best teams in the country right now are UCONN, UNC, and Pitt. One of these teams will win the whole thing. Oklahoma is good, but I don't think they will go to the Final Four.
EarlJam
02-12-2009, 01:07 AM
Boston College is not going to the Final Four. They might not even make the tournament. Did you mean WF? Also, "none to the final four, unless..." Bold prediction:rolleyes:

The best teams in the country right now are UCONN, UNC, and Pitt. One of these teams will win the whole thing. Oklahoma is good, but I don't think they will go to the Final Four.

I meant B.C.
in
They are flying under the radar and are tough.


UNC will NOT win it all. Hansbrough's "mass flopping" wiill not be called in March. That's ACC stuff. Trust me.


-EJ
riksmits
02-12-2009, 01:15 AM
Please tell me this is some sort of level.

I mean every man is entitled to his own opinion. But...come on.
CameronCrazy'11
02-12-2009, 02:12 AM
BC lost to Harvard and St. Louis. If they had lost to UNC by 1, no one would even consider them a bubble team. They're not going to the final four.

I thought Wake might be a final four team, but if they can't start making threes, they won't be. Oklahoma's probably the best bet behind U-con, unc, and pitt, although the weakness of the big 12 might be making them seem better than they are.
Kewlswim
02-12-2009, 02:41 AM
Hi,

As Coach K has often said, "We don't have to be better, we just have to be better on that day." Given that the Devils have been victims of more than their share of upsets in recent years--I think the Devils will get hot in March with a barrage of threes unlike the tournament has ever seen and blow the competition out of the water making our beloved Blue Devils even more hated by some than they are now. :D Ever seen a grown Beaker cry? GTHC! (and take Wake there while you're at it)

GO DUKE! GTHC!
CameronCrazy'11
02-12-2009, 02:49 AM
Duke in the final four is still very possible. But they're going to have to figure out their offense.
mo.st.dukie
02-12-2009, 03:07 AM
Duke in the final four is still very possible. But they're going to have to figure out their offense.

And how to defend lightning quick point guards which they'll get some more practice at this Sunday.
DukeWarhead
02-12-2009, 04:33 AM
As much as the loss to UNC sucks, and it does, it really doesn't say too much about what will happen in March. I look across the country and see only a few teams that I would expect Duke struggle against on a neutral court. They would be:
UNC
UCONN
Pitt
Oklahoma

Also, I don't think there is another team playing better than Villanova right now, but that might just be a hot streak. (Which is all it takes come march.)

I would like Duke's chances against just about any other team in the country. Sure, there are match up issues with a lot of teams, but Duke has enough skill and heart to compete with 99% of the competition out there.

I find it weird when people say with certainty that Duke can't make the Final Four with this team. As we know stranger things happen all the time in the tourney. Remember the Georgia Tech team that made the final - that was not a great team. Jarret Jack was very good, but the team as a whole did not eclipse this Duke squad in terms of skill or heart. Neither did the Arizona team that won it all in '98. Sure, you can debate those all you want, but there is no set formula for getting to the final four. It can happen. And this Duke team can get there if they play hard, smart, and focused ball.

Still a very good season and I am as big a Duke fan as ever.
eddiehaskell
02-12-2009, 06:19 AM
I think the rest of the season will determine how much stock I put in Duke come tournament time. They get one more shot at Wake and UNC and they'll probably face at least one of them again in the ACC tourney (and maybe Clemson). Winning 2 of 3 against good teams would renew my confidence in this team.
brevity
02-12-2009, 09:17 AM
I maintain that the road to the national championship runs through the Big East. By that I mean that either a Big East team will win, or a team from another conference will have to defeat at least 2 Big East powers to get there.

If the top seeds hold, UNC is in excellent position. They will, at best, share their regional with the 3rd place Big East team (Villanova). I think that particular matchup works in the Heels' favor. That's not to say that they won't stumble, to Nova or another team, but that their part of the bracket won't look so imposing.

Oklahoma is in a similar position. In all likelihood, either they or the 2nd place Big East team will be shipped out West. There was brief announcer discussion about bracketing the NCAA tournament with more respect to geography and economy -- it will be interesting to see if this makes the West Regional look significantly less difficult than the others.
whereinthehellami
02-12-2009, 10:03 AM
I really like Pitt. They are tough and well suited for some March Madness.
jv001
02-12-2009, 10:42 AM
If we want to play in Greensboro in the NCAA Tourney, we had better go 5-2 in the last 7 games and we must beat Wake. What's bad about winning those 5 is that only 2 are at home. Point guard play had better pick up quickly. Especially on the ball defense.Go Duke!
SoCalDukeFan
02-12-2009, 10:55 AM
UCLA is improving. Their coach knows how to get to the FF having done so the last 3 years, and their AD heads (or is on) the tournament committee, so they will probably have the easiest road.


SoCal
sue71, esq
02-12-2009, 11:03 AM
UCLA is improving. Their coach knows how to get to the FF having done so the last 3 years, and their AD heads (or is on) the tournament committee, so they will probably have the easiest road.


SoCal

UCLA. Feh. I don't see them as a FF team. Not that it can't happen, just don't see them getting there. UNC or UCONN would eat them alive if they're in the same part of the bracket.

UCONN just looks sick right now. Thabeet is a beast.

UNC & UCONN should be in :( ... not sure of the other 2- I just don't see anyone jumping out at me yet. I see Pitt tripping somewhere along the way. Oklahoma- nope, don't see that.
weezie
02-12-2009, 11:13 AM
So nobody sees the MSU spartan or Lville cardinal sneaking in the backdoor? Couple of tourney tested coaches in both cases......
Reddevil
02-12-2009, 11:20 AM
I really like Pitt. They are tough and well suited for some March Madness.

Please basketball Gods - no UNC / UCONN final! If Duke can't catch lightning in a bottle, then go Pitt! They won't be pushed around by anyone, and will be a very tough out. The formula for success is still greatness at the PG and post positions. Those who don't have it can mask it for a few games, but not 6 in row. Oh, and if it can't be Duke - go OK and Caple too!
FireOgilvie
02-12-2009, 05:55 PM
So nobody sees the MSU spartan or Lville cardinal sneaking in the backdoor? Couple of tourney tested coaches in both cases......

Duke can beat MSU... I don't see MSU getting any farther than the Sweet 16/Elite 8. Louisville has a bunch of great athletes that can't shoot. If they get hot, then they could go really far... but I just don't see that happening. I think Pitt is too slow to match-up well against UNC if they play like they did against Duke. They have really thick guys at every single position... even their point guard Fields is big. He's listed at 5'10" 190... but he's been listed at 190 since his freshman year... I'm guessing he's 205+. He literally bowls his way into the lane. DeJuan Blair's arms are like kegs and Sam Young looks like he's 40 years old.
dukemsu
02-12-2009, 09:22 PM
So nobody sees the MSU spartan or Lville cardinal sneaking in the backdoor? Couple of tourney tested coaches in both cases......

MSU has potential, if put in the right region, to make noise. They are 10 deep and will be getting back their best player (Raymar Morgan) from an illness. They are back the old Izzo model of defense and rebounding, and Lucas can take over segments of a game. I don't see MSU as capable of beating UNC or UConn, but they can play with anyone else.

Even though the 'Ville got run tonight, they are still a dangerous outfit.

dukemsu
jv001
02-12-2009, 09:27 PM
So nobody sees the MSU spartan or Lville cardinal sneaking in the backdoor? Couple of tourney tested coaches in both cases......

The Cardinals of Louisville were just beaten badly by Notre Dame. They are not a FF team in my opinion. Go Duke!
Devilsfan
02-12-2009, 10:38 PM
If Ol'Roy doesn't win it all he is a failure IMO (with all that talent). Others should include Uconn, Oklahoma and Pitt.
jipops
02-12-2009, 10:42 PM
Please tell me this is some sort of level.

I mean every man is entitled to his own opinion. But...come on.

Great post name btw. I was a fan of Derrick McKey on that Pacers team back in the day.
ACCBBallFan
02-13-2009, 11:12 AM
Top 8 is a lot easier to gauge than the last 8. Still lots of jockeying. This will change since Notre Dame just crunched Louisville who had beaten Pitt earlier. UConn and Pitt also face each other Monday.

May be too little too late as I still have Notre Dame #78

Arizona is back inside the bubble which surprised me, as is Stanford though Lunardi shows them no love.

01 14499 BE UCONN beat Louisv, Syr, Gonzaga Nova, W VA Miami-FL, Mich Wisc Notre Dame, Prov & Buffalo, lost to G-town
02 14309 ACC UNC lost to Wake & BC, beat Duke, Mich St, Clemson, UK, Miami-FL, FSU, Notre Dame NC St & UVA(2)
03 14138 B12 Oklahoma lost to Ark, beat TX, Purdue, Baylor(2) Davidson,Okl St USC Utah, TX A&M(2), Iowa StTulsa UAB VCU & Nebr
04 13209 BE Louisville lost to UCONN, MN, UNLV & W Ky, beat Pitt,Syr Nova , W VA, UK & split w Notre Dame

05 14196 BE Pittsburgh beat Syr, W VA(2), G-town FSU,Notre Dame Siena & Vermont, lost to Louisv & Nova
06 13017 ACC Wake Forest beat Duke, UNC, Clemson, Baylor BYU,BC(2) & UTEP, lost to Miami, VA Tech, NC St& GA Tech
07 13780 ACC Duke beat ,Xav & Purdue, G-town Mimai, FSU, Davidson, VA Tech & MD, split w Mich, lost to UNC, Wake & Clemson
08 12975 CUSA Memphis lost to , Xav, Syr & G-town beat Zaga, TN, NE, Houston,Tulsa(2) UAB,& Cinc

09 12967 B10 Michigan St lost to UNC & MD, beat TX Illini,, MN(2) , KU, Ohio St(2),Okl St, Mich & Iowa split w NW & Penn St
10 12811 ACC Clemson lost to Wake UNC & FSU,beat Duke Illini Miami-Fl, BC, VA Tech, So Car & Temple
11 12483 BE Marquette split w Nova, beat WV , Wisc, G-town,Notre Dame, N Iowa, Cincy & Prov & DeP (2) lost to TN, Dayton & USF
12 12377 P10 UCLA lost to AZ St(2) TX ,Wash & Mich , beat Calif,Stanf, USC(2), Notre Dame,AZ, Miami-OH & Wash St

13 12310 BE Villanova split w Marq lost to UCONN, Louisv, TX, beat Pitt, Marq(2) Syr, Niagara,Prov Temple URI, Cincy St. John's, Seton Hall & St Joe's
14 11646 HOR Butler beat Xav NW, UAB, WI-Milw & Clev St, Wright ST(2)split w WI- GB, lost to tOSU
15 12391 A10 Xavier lost to Duke, Butler Dayton & Duquesne, beat Memphis, MO , Robt Morris, VA Tech, LSU & Temple
16 11129 B10 Illinois lost to Mich St, Clemson & MN, split w V & Mich, beat Purdue (2), MO, Ohio St,NW, TX A&M-CC, & Tulsa

17 11175 B12 Missouri lost to Xav, Illinois Nebr & K-St, beat KU, TX, Baylor, Calif Okl St, USC, TX Tech & Iowa St(2)
18 11752 B12 Kansas U lost to Mich St, MO, Syr, & AZ, bad loss to UMASS, beat Wash,Baylor, TN, Siena, Okl St, TX A&M, Temple Nebr, K-St, Iowa St
19 11120 P10 AZ St lost to Baylor, Cal, Wash, USC & Wash St, beat UCLA(2), BYU, Stanf, AZ Nebr & Oreg (2)
20 10952 BE Syracuse beat Memphis, WV, KU, FL, Notre Dame,Cornell & Long Beach lost to UC\ONN, Louisv, Pitt, Nova, G-town Prov & Clev St

21 10931 WCC Gonzaga beat St Mary's(2), TN(2) Okl St MD, Wash St & Portl (2), lost to UCONN, Memphis, Utah, AZ & Portl St
22 10586 BE West Virginia lost to UCONN, Louisv, Pitt(2), Marq, Syr, UK,& Davidson beat G-town, Ohio St.Prov, Miami-OH, St John's, & MS
23 10450 B10 Ohio St. beat Butler, Notre Dame,Miami-FL Mich(2) & Iowa, lost to Mich St(2), MN Illini &W VA
24 10872 B10 Purdue lost to OKL,Duke, Illini (2) & split w Penn St, beat MN, Davidson, Wisc(2),Mich BC & NW,

25 10308 ACC FSU beat Clemson, Calif,FL, W Ky, TX A*M-CC, MD, Cincy NC St & UVA(2) lost to Duke,Pitt UNC, Miami-FL & NW
26 10266 B12 Texas lost to OKL, Mich St, MO, Notre Dame, Nebr, K-St & Ark, beat UCLA, Nova, Baylor, Okl St Wisc, TX A&M
27 10147 B10 Minnesota beat Louisv,Illini, Wisc, N Dak St, Cornell, Iowa,& Ind (2) lost to Mich St(2), Purdue & NW, split w Ohio St,
28 10126 P10 California lost to UCLA, MO, FSU, Stanf,USC & Oreg St beat AZ St, Wash(2), Utah, UNLV,AZ, & Wash St(2)

29 10412 P10 Wash beat UCLA, AZ St, Okl St, Stanf(2), USC Wash St, Clev St & Portl St, lost to Cal(2), KU FL, & AZ
30 10184 WAC Utah St. lost to BYU, beat Utah, Weber St. Boise St, Wyoming & New MX St(2)
31 9798 MWC Utah beat BYU, Zaga TCU & New MX, split w SDSU, lost to OKL,Calif Utah St,UNLV & Idaho St & Div 2 SW Baptist
32 9948 MWC BYU lost to Wake, Az St , Utah, UNLV, & New MX, beat Utah St, Long Beach, Weber St, SDSU, Tulsa, TCU & Boise St

33 9778 SEC Tennessee lost to Memphis,Zaga (2), KU, UK, LSU, Temple & Auburn, beat G-town Marq, FL, Siena, So Carol & Ark
34 10065 SEC Florida lost to Syr FSU, TN, UK & So Carol, beat Wash ,Ark, Vandy & Auburn
35 9852 BE Georgetown beat UCONN,Syr, Memphis & Prov, lost to Duke, Pitt Marq, W VA, TN,N Dame Cincy(2) & Seton Hall
36 9657 ACC Miami-FL lost to UCONN, UNC, Duke, Clemson, tOSU, VA Tech & NC St, split w MD, beat UK, FSU, Robt Morris, BC So MS & St. John's

37 9538 Southern Davidson lost to Duke, OKL & Purdue, beat W VA, NC St Drake & split w Charleston,
38 9338 B10 Wisconsin lost to UCONN, TX, Marq, Purdue(2), MN split w Illini, & NW ,& Iowa,, beat V AT, Long Beach, Mich & Penn St(2)
39 9327 A10 Dayton lost to Creighton, Charl, & UMASS,beat Xav, Marq, G Mason,Miami-OH, St. Jos,LaSalle, Akron & GWU
40 9324 P10 USC lost to OKL, UCLA(2), MO, Wash,Seton Hall & Oreg St,split w AZ beat AZ St, Calif, Stanf, N Dak St, Wash St &GA Tech

41 9225 SEC Kentucky beat W VA, FL, TN, K-St Vandy, N MX, Alab & Auburn, lost to UNC Louisv, Miami-FL, VMI So Carol & MS,
42 8952 ACC Va Tech lost to Duke, Clemson Xav, Wisc,Seton Hall, split w BC beat Wake, Miami-FL St. John's, NC St, UVA & GA Tech
43 8912 B12 TX A&M lost to Okl(2), TX, ,Tulsa, & K-St, split w Okl St, beat Baylor, AZ, LSU, TX Tech, Bama, SF Austin & Kent St
44 9253 SEC LSU lost to Xav, Utah, TX A&M, TX Tech & split w Bama beat TN, Ark, So Carol, Wash St, MS St(2) & MS,

45 8908 P10 Stanford beat Cal, NW AZ & TX Tech, split w Wash St, lost to AZ St, UCLA, Wash(2), USC, & Oreg St
46 9193 MWC UNLV lost to Calif, SDSU, Cincy, & split w TCU beat Louisv, BYU,Utah, AZ, UTEP & split w New MX
47 8941 P10 AZ lost to AZ St,UCLA, Calif, UNLV, Stanf, UAB,& Tx A&M, split w USC, beat Zaga, KU, Wash, Wash St,Houston & SDSU

Automatic bids 48 - 65

Last 4 outside the bubble

66 8902 SEC So Carol lost to Clemson, TN, LSU,& Charleston, beat Baylor FL, UK, MS, Vandy GA Auburn & Jax St
67 9126 B12 Baylor beat AZ St Okl St Prov, Wash St & K-St lost to Okl(2), WF,TX, MO, KU ,Tx A&M & So Car, split w TX Tech
68 9228 B12 Okl St lost to Okl, Mich St, Zaga,KU,TX, MO, Baylor, & Wash, split w Tx A&M, beat Siena, TX A&M-CC, Nebr, TX T URI,Tulsa, Ark St. & Mercer
69 8880 WCC St. Mary's lost to Zaga(2), UTEP & SIU beat SDSU, Prov, San Diego Pacific, Oregon & San Fr (2), split w Santa Clara

Next to Last 4 outside the bubble

70 9230 MWC San Diego St U lost to AZ St, BYU,St Mary's & AZ,, split w Utah, beat UNLV, TCU, New MX, San Diego & W Carol
71 8808 ACC BC beat UNC,MD UAB, Iowa NC St UVA & Prov,split w VA Tech, lost to Wake(2),Clemson, Purdue, Miami-FL, SLU & Harvard
72 8552 BE Cincy beat UN LV G-town(2), Notre Dame ,UAB & MS St & St John's(2) lost to UCONN Xav, Marq, Nova, Memphis, FSU, Prov (2)
73 8507 ACC Maryland beat Mich St , Mich & GA Tech(2), split with Miami-FL, lost to Duke, G-town, Zaga, FSU BC & Morgan St.

I don't show these two in yet but they have very strong schedules

74 8787 B10 Michigan beat UCLA NW & Iowa split w Duke, Illini & Penn St, lost to UCONN, Purdue, Ohio St(2), Wisc MD
75 8605 B10 NW beat MN, FSU & DePaul,split w Mich St & Wisc, lost to Butler,Purdue IL,,Stanf Mich, Penn St & Iowa
ncexnyc
02-13-2009, 11:41 AM
Please basketball Gods - no UNC / UCONN final! If Duke can't catch lightning in a bottle, then go Pitt! They won't be pushed around by anyone, and will be a very tough out. The formula for success is still greatness at the PG and post positions. Those who don't have it can mask it for a few games, but not 6 in row. Oh, and if it can't be Duke - go OK and Caple too!
You've said it all brother. Yes, Duke can beat any team on any given night, but winning 6 in a row, well I'm sorry, but the basketball gods aren't that kind.

Our current weakness at the PG position and at center will eventually catch-up with us, again as I've said before, this squad is very good, but is lacking all the necessary components for a title run.
ncexnyc
02-13-2009, 11:43 AM
The Cardinals of Louisville were just beaten badly by Notre Dame. They are not a FF team in my opinion. Go Duke!
And Duke got waxed by Clemson, so what does that mean for our chances?;)
BlueintheFace
02-13-2009, 11:57 AM
Louisville, Uconn, UNC, Team that will be smashed by one of the other 3 (oklahoma?)

or... Duke (please God, let it happen)
bird
02-13-2009, 12:02 PM
If we want to play in Greensboro in the NCAA Tourney, we had better go 5-2 in the last 7 games and we must beat Wake. What's bad about winning those 5 is that only 2 are at home. Point guard play had better pick up quickly. Especially on the ball defense.Go Duke!

I ordered tickets to Greensboro expecting Duke to win 1 or 2 of Wake-Clemson-UNC; I am now sweating my substantial financial commitment.
rsvman
02-13-2009, 12:24 PM
Things change quickly.

Since this thread started, the following things have happened:

1) UConn lost one of its star players to injury
2) Louisville got BLOWN OUT by Notre Dame
3) UCLA got beat by Arizona State.


Sadly for Duke fans, bullet point number 1 means that the road for UNC probably just got a little easier. But in the tournament anything can happen. I agree that if the 2004 Georgia Tech team could make the Final Four, this Duke team can. I'd take this Duke team over that Ga Tech team all day every day.

Just keep supporting the team, come what may.:)
redick4pres
02-13-2009, 01:09 PM
And Duke got waxed by Clemson, so what does that mean for our chances?;)

I'm pretty sure what he was trying to say was that Notre Dame has been way overrated the entire year and they just waxed L'ville. Duke getting waxed by a top 10 Clemson team is much different in my opinion. Final Four will be: Duke, Oklahoma, Pitt, and U-con. Pitt and Duke Final. We WILL win the rematch from last year!
should_be_working
02-13-2009, 02:03 PM
I'd go with:

UCONN
UNC
Pitt
Mich st

but as we all know, the tournament is about match-ups and any of these teams can slip up depending on the path they have to take
flyingdutchdevil
02-13-2009, 04:12 PM
The Cardinals of Louisville were just beaten badly by Notre Dame. They are not a FF team in my opinion. Go Duke!

Lville and MSU generally perform so much better come March then previously in the season. Their coaches really prepare the team for the big one. I see one of them, if not both, going to the Final Four.

As far as the other teams, like everyone else said, UCONN, Pitt and UNC are likely candidates. We need to do a lot to be taken seriously as a FF candidate. I also really like OK (best big in the nation, good and reliable guard play), Nova (great great guards but their small) and Clemson (I really like the team, Booker is a rock star and although Ogelsby may be the most annoying opponent since McCants, the boy can shoot). My super dark horse: LSU. Trent Johnson knows how to win. Period.

Teams that look FF material but definetely aren't: WF - shows that experience matters. Maybe the most talented team in the country but you need experience. UCLA - although Jrue is good, he isn't the savior that many thought he would be.