If Duke couldn't win it all

[Chris Randolph]

Of course all of us are cheering Duke on in hopes they will win the national championship. But if you took Duke out of the tournament, before any games are played, what one team would you want to win the national championship?

[Dev11]

But let me be the first to tell you that that ain't happening.

[uh_no]

1. Butler
2. Armageddon

[wallyman]

But could live with Gonzaga.

[BlueDevilinNYC]

Just because of this article Grantland put out last year. Really admired the determination of this scrappy team.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/...te-jackrabbits

Plus how awesome is a Jackrabbit?

[gcashwell]

1. Butler
2. St. Louis (scrappy, tough team that plays proper basketball)

Since UK did not make the tournament, it is already successful in my eyes.

[throatybeard]

1. Butler
2. St. Louis (scrappy, tough team that plays proper basketball)

Since UK did not make the tournament, it is already successful in my eyes.

Absolutely either of the above. The way this SLU program has come back from Majerus' death is amazing.

[wsb3]

Davidson or the Zags..

[bluedevil007]

Butler
New Mexico
Gonzaga
St. Louis

I would be happy for any of these programs to win.

[78Devil]

If I limit it to the "most likely", it would be Miami. It is good for us in the long run for the ACC to do well. How refreshing to be able to root for an ACC team that is not UNC! I always tell myself I NEED to root fo UNC for our conference's sake (when its not against us or another ACC team), but I just can't make myself do it.

Miami has worked hard, and since we split with them, it would be no shame to see them win it all.

One of the nice things this year is that only one of the 3 "evil triumverate" (UNC, Kentucky and UConn) are even in the tournament, and UNC is not much of a threat. So for once, I won't be dreading seeing who wins if we are out of it.

One exception -- I don't "hate" Florida, but I sure don't want Donovan to get a 3rd Championship before Coach K has a 5th.

[JNort]

Butler or NC State

[luburch]

Indiana, Harvard, Butler, Gonzaga.

[wallyman]

Could live with any of these except Harvard. Would be nice for Amaker, but can you imagine how insufferable Harvard would be and the full-bore media slobber that would ensue? Too bad they can't beat UK in the NIT. That would be fun.

[moonpie23]

if they are going to vacate some banners down the road, may as well have one more up there to vacate....

i said "IF"




wait....i didn't write that....

i'll say butler

[Dev11]

Everybody saying Butler is just driving up Brad Stevens's contract value when he succeeds K in 6 years.

[/DBR pipe dreams]

[tommy]

One of the nice things this year is that only one of the 3 "evil triumverate" (UNC, Kentucky and UConn) are even in the tournament, and UNC is not much of a threat. So for once, I won't be dreading seeing who wins if we are out of it.

One exception -- I don't "hate" Florida, but I sure don't want Donovan to get a 3rd Championship before Coach K has a 5th.

Could not agree more. It's one of the real anxiety producers for me each year, as at the same time I'm trying to root the Devils home, I'm also focused on making sure those "evil 3" get knocked off too, or else it's a double nightmare. I also put Baylor in that category, thanks to Scott Drew, but thankfully they're not even in it this year.

I don't want Donovan getting a third either, and I always root against Arizona too. Pretty much anyone else is OK w/ me. I'd love to see any non-BCS conference team win it with the possible exception of Memphis. No evidence, but just don't seem clean to me.

[captmojo]

Yes, Jackrabbits is a cool mascot. Only 'cause the Banana Slugs are absent.
Harvard.
NC State
Whoever that put Duke out. I would prefer to think that if I couldn't win against that team, guess what? Your bunch didn't win against them either.

[BlueDevilCorvette!]

North Carolina A & T

[Mal]

I'd take anyone seeded 13 or higher other than Albany, of course, and be happy to pull for pretty much any non-BCS conference team (or Big East non-football school) seeded better than that, other than Creighton, of course. And there seem to be a lot of those this year. Butler, Gonzaga, New Mexico (and State), St. Louis, VCU, Bucknell, SDSU, Belmont, UNLV, etc.

It's probably easier to list those I just couldn't stomach than those I could, as I'm an unabashed hater and see through those glasses. A good number of the nemeses like UCon and Kentucky aren't even here this year and there aren't that many plain unlikeables. I mean, look at the East: I pretty much hate IU although I don't necessarily hate Crean or his team; even though I despise the institution, out of ACC pride I wouldn't be terribly upset if Miami made the Final Four. And those are the only two teams I can get even a little worked up about coming out of the region. I wouldn't jump for joy if Syracuse or UNLV made it, but I wouldn't curse, either.

In order, here are my tiers of hate, then:

- Wisconsin, UNC
- Notre Dame
- Indiana, Kansas, Louisville, Florida, Michigan State
- any SEC school, Cincinnati

If it can't be us, eliminate those 10 or 12 teams and I'll nevertheless be nothing but smiles and rah rahs for the Final Four. Too bad three of them are 1 seeds!

[turnandburn55]

Could not agree more. It's one of the real anxiety producers for me each year, as at the same time I'm trying to root the Devils home, I'm also focused on making sure those "evil 3" get knocked off too, or else it's a double nightmare. I also put Baylor in that category, thanks to Scott Drew, but thankfully they're not even in it this year.

I don't want Donovan getting a third either, and I always root against Arizona too. Pretty much anyone else is OK w/ me. I'd love to see any non-BCS conference team win it with the possible exception of Memphis. No evidence, but just don't seem clean to me.

I think Kansas would rapidly become insufferable as well if they won it all. Not real keen on Pitino winning a ring either.