Originally Posted by
rsvman
I do think it is interesting how much our discussions and thoughts and attitudes and feelings swing on small things.
For example, had Brakefield made the three and we had won the game, what would the narrative be? We fought hard and came back very late from a deficit and snuck out a win on the road against a well-coached, veteran, physical team. Look how much this team has matured! Bounced back from a tough loss to gut this one out, etc., etc.
One shot, folks. That's the difference. The block on Brakefield right before the half when taking a shot that could have put us up 8, followed by the three at the halftime buzzer was really the difference in the game. Such a back-breaking way to go into the half. In years past, we were the team doing stuff like that to our opponents right before the half, demoralizing them. Now we are on the other end of it. The other thing that really killed us was that period of time in the "fourth quarter" when we had four turnovers in six possessions. We needed to have more of our possessions end with us at least taking a shot!
What is clear to me is that this team can pretty much hang with almost anybody. If our guards are shooting well and Hurt doesn't foul out, they can beat anybody. At the same time, they can lose to anybody, anytime. Having said that, I wouldn't write off this team's chances of winning the ACCT. UConn won the Big East tournament one year when they had double-digit losses during the regular season. They just put it together at the right time. I don't see any team in the ACC that Duke couldn't beat. I don't think it is likely that we win it, but if we do, it won't be all that surprising. We have the capability, if we can find a way to put it together. If Steward comes out of his shooting slump we are much more difficult to beat. I hope that that happens and happens soon. Saturday evening would be a good time for that to happen, as a matter of fact.