2016 Tournament: Raleigh?

[dukejunkie]

Similar to last year, I believe UNC, Virginia, and Duke will be vying for spots in Raleigh for the opening rounds. I remember that only two of three were allowed to be in Charlotte. Do you think Duke is likely to climb over UVA again? I think UNC is almost a lock. If both Duke and UNC are at PNC, the place would be crazy.

A consolation prize of Brooklyn isn't so bad. Might even be more like home games.

I know the team will be young and we shouldn't look too far ahead or expect too much. However, I can't help the thought...

[Kedsy]

I think UNC is almost a lock.

Really?

[dukejunkie]

Really?

Barring any suspension which they've somehow been skating from for years. Maybe not a lock but as preseason #1, I think they have the highest percentage of the three teams.

[Olympic Fan]

Similar to last year, I believe UNC, Virginia, and Duke will be vying for spots in Raleigh for the opening rounds. I remember that only two of three were allowed to be in Charlotte. Do you think Duke is likely to climb over UVA again? I think UNC is almost a lock. If both Duke and UNC are at PNC, the place would be crazy.

A consolation prize of Brooklyn isn't so bad. Might even be more like home games.

I know the team will be young and we shouldn't look too far ahead or expect too much. However, I can't help the thought...

I think your analysis is right in that Duke, UNC and Virginia will be likely candidates to be in Raleigh ... and only two of the three can be there.

Where I think you are wrong is your suggestion that UNC is "a lock" or is even the favorite to get one of the two spots.

I've said it before and I'll say it again ... Virginia has a much better -- and much more accomplished -- core group coming back. We did the same thing a year ago, when the media picked Virginia (the defending ACC regular season and tourney champs) fourth in the preseason poll. After all they had to replace Joe Harris and Akil Mitchell, right? Who cares if they returned Malcolm Brogdon, Anthony Gill, London Perrantes, Justin Anderson, Darius Atkins, Mike Tobey and Evan Nolte off their title team.

Now the refrain is "Oh, they lost Anderson and Atkins"" ... forgetting they return Brogdon, Gill, Perrantes, Tobey, Nolte, and Shayok off last year's 30-win team. They also add a better player -- Tennessee transfer Darius Thompson -- than anybody UNC is going to add. They'll be the best defensive team in the country and they'll be far more experienced than UNC with four seniors and a junior likely starting.

So Virginia is the favorite for one spot in Raleigh.

On paper, UNC would probably rank ahead of Duke for the second spot -- right now. Duke is a wild card with four freshmen likely to play major roles. I think Duke's TALENT is the best of the three ... but experience is lacking. Last season, K caught freshman lightning in a bottle. That could happen again, but I wouldn't count on it.

The three way race for Raleigh will be interesting to watch. But don't go awarding UNC a spot by default.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

I think UNC is almost a lock.

Only if they are being locked up in Central Prison in Raleigh!http://www.crazietalk.net/ourhouse/images/smilies/devil9f.gifhttp://www.crazietalk.net/ourhouse/images/smilies/devil9f.gifhttp://www.crazietalk.net/ourhouse/images/smilies/devil9f.gif:cool:

[Lar77]

Only if they are being locked up in Central Prison in Raleigh!http://www.crazietalk.net/ourhouse/images/smilies/devil9f.gifhttp://www.crazietalk.net/ourhouse/images/smilies/devil9f.gifhttp://www.crazietalk.net/ourhouse/images/smilies/devil9f.gif:cool:


And this is why you are on Mt. Hatemore!

As Sagegrouse and Kedsey have pointed out (in one thread or another), UNC has flaws but will likely start out with a good early season and may be undefeated going into January. I am prepared to hear many proclaiming them to be the best ever for a while. FALSE. They will crash and burn in a conflagration.

We at Duke have a very particular set of skills. Skills acquired over many practices and games. Skills that will be a nightmare for people wearing light blue. We will find you.

[TKG]

Quite frankly, given that PNC Arena has been a house of horrors for us, I hope we avoid Raleigh.

[SCMatt33]

Quite frankly, given that PNC Arena has been a house of horrors for us, I hope we avoid Raleigh.

Given that if the runner up of the three has a good shot at Brooklyn as the next option, I'd normally tend to agree, but if that's the case, there's a good chance that the top seed in the other pod in NY is Maryland...ugh. I'll take Raleigh with UNC or UVA over that.

[Duvall]

Given that if the runner up of the three has a good shot at Brooklyn as the next option, I'd normally tend to agree, but if that's the case, there's a good chance that the top seed in the other pod in NY is Maryland...ugh. I'll take Raleigh with UNC or UVA over that.

Wouldn't the Big Ten school be a better fit for the Des Moines subregional?

[brevity]

I think UNC is almost a lock.

Actually, this whole discussion is moot. Roy Williams said that Kennedy Meeks gets to pick the venue, and he picked the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence.

No matter what happens, I think the goal is for the ACC to be dominant enough to keep Maryland out of Raleigh, which is only about 70 miles further from College Park than Brooklyn.

The Big XII better be really good, because 3 of the 8 opening weekend sites are in their footprint: Des Moines, St. Louis, and Oklahoma City. (There's also Denver, which is Big XII adjacent.) Based on preseason rankings, that's plenty of space for Iowa State, Kansas, and Oklahoma, plus Kentucky and Wichita State.

Western coverage is bleak: Denver and Spokane. Can Gonzaga even play in Spokane?