Totally agree with you, DBA. It has always amazed me that Kansas has had all this swirling around their program for years, yet they seem to get a free pass from everyone - recruits, the media, and the NCAA. Arizona too. Can you imagine what would be said about our program if even one of those players had gone to Duke?
I think it’s about time the NCAA finally starts looking into both those schools. I just hope that the NCAA moves faster than a snail’s pace, and recruits start seeing the clouds converging over Lawrence.
So here's a tough question: who do you root for in the big Tennessee-UK game tomorrow? I'm honestly torn. A couple Tennessee losses down the stretch would go a long way towards us securing the No. 1 overall seed in the tourney. However, a couple more Kentucky losses would all but eliminate them from No. 1 seed contention, making our overall claim to a No. 1 seed stronger in case we falter a touch down the stretch... plus, I think a UK loss helps Michigan more (as my Wolverine's will need to jump Kentucky to have a shot at a No. 1 seed, or at least get the top 2 seed).
Then there's the non-logical side of things, which says screw UK always... plus I sort of like how Tennessee plays ball.
What're people thinking?
Scott Rich on the front page
Trinity BS 2012; University of Michigan PhD 2018
Duke Chronicle, Sports Online Editor: 2010-2012
K-Ville Blue Tenting 2009-2012
Unofficial Brian Zoubek Biographer
If you have questions about Michigan Basketball/Football, I'm your man!
This is a tough one. I am rooting for both to lose.
I would just prefer Kentucky not be our 2 seed.
And to be a little more serious, is there anyone left on Tennessee’s schedule who could possibly beat them? That is the one reason to root for KY.
If those are the two things you are weighing in your mind, you should root for Kentucky. Duke's margin over TN for the overall 1 seed is less than Duke's margin over UK for a 1 seed.
During the bracket reveal, the Selection Committee guy basically said that Duke and TN were a coin flip for overall #1. (This was surprising to me, btw. I thought we were clearly the overall 1 at that point). We've probably gained some distance on them since then with the wins @UVA and @Lville, though.
Yes, according to KenPom rank, Tennessee has not played any of other top 6 teams in the SEC yet.
2 games with #7 Kentucky, @#20 LSU, @#36 Ole Miss, vs #23 Mississippi St, and @#17 Auburn. They also play vs #128 Vandy.
Besides Vandy the only game that they are more than a 66% favorite is Mississippi St (81%).
I'd put the over/under at 5-2 for Tennessee against that slate
Coach K on Kyle Singler - "What position does he play? ... He plays winner."
"Duke is never the underdog" - Quinn Cook
That's very much along the lines of what I was thinking, although I agree that I think we've pulled ahead after our last two games. Plus, we have more opportunities to improve our resume down the stretch then they do. At the moment those competing factors are basically balanced in my head, so the Michigan rooting interest plus UK hatred may have me leaning towards Tennessee.
Scott Rich on the front page
Trinity BS 2012; University of Michigan PhD 2018
Duke Chronicle, Sports Online Editor: 2010-2012
K-Ville Blue Tenting 2009-2012
Unofficial Brian Zoubek Biographer
If you have questions about Michigan Basketball/Football, I'm your man!
I'll be rooting for Kentucky for 2 reasons...
1) I want Duke to be undisputed #1. We are already #1 in the advanced metrics. Now we should add the human polls to cement our status as the best in the land.
2) We beat the !#*#$& out of Kentucky earlier this year. If the Wildcats look good it makes our destruction of them seem all the more impressive.
-Jason "As I said on the podcast this past week, Duke will be a #1 seed and will get the BigTen's 2nd best team as our #2 seed (one of Michigan, Mich St, or maybe Purdue). Mark it down" Evans
Why are you wasting time here when you could be wasting it by listening to the latest episode of the DBR Podcast?
GTHKY GTH! Duke does not need anyone to lose to look like anything. Destiny is in their own hands. Bring on all comers. If the good guys play with maximum intensity they will win. If not they let others have a chance. I am really interested in how Duke comes out against State. If they blow the doors off, step on their necks and say, "Not today - no chance!" then they learned the right lesson in Louisville. If they come out with another lackluster first half.....well then all this talk about positioning becomes relevant I suppose. This is the one team that the basketball gods can't touch if they play hard ALL THE TIME.
Scott Rich on the front page
Trinity BS 2012; University of Michigan PhD 2018
Duke Chronicle, Sports Online Editor: 2010-2012
K-Ville Blue Tenting 2009-2012
Unofficial Brian Zoubek Biographer
If you have questions about Michigan Basketball/Football, I'm your man!
I might be a bit biased as a Vol for Life, but I will never cheer for Kentucky (unless they play the Cheats and even then I don't feel good about it). It's strange to have any conflict between cheering for Duke and cheering for the Vols. The Vols have never really been relevant to what was going on in Durham before. I would agree with those above who argue that there's no need to cheer against Tennessee. If Duke takes care of business with their own games, I don't think there's much to worry about. With 2 or 3 wins against both UVa and UNoClass plus all the other quality wins on Duke's resume, it would be nearly impossible for Tennessee to put together a better resume.
Obviously I'm hoping for a meeting in Minnesota to settle this on the court.