Originally Posted by
kako
Posters are certainly entitled to their opinions, and I respect that. But I'll say it again. Overconfidence is the biggest opponent for this team. I need only point to Wake Forest as an example.
Warning - Rant Ahead!
Fans tend to think ahead. The last thing this team needs is to start thinking like fans. This young team needs to focus on each and every opponent, taking each one seriously with the utmost attention. The smiling, flexing Zion is fun, but they could use more nasty MJ or Kobe in them... or in K's terms, that MFer like Laettner that will make sure this team won't lose. One thing that bugs me is how all of sportsyak is saying how screwed MSU is getting placed in Duke's region. It makes it seem like Duke's championship is a guarantee, so it's inevitable that Duke will get to the Elite 8. Duke is very good, and maybe borderline great. Two All-Americans on the same team. Zion is a monster, RJ is the alpha dog, Jones is a defensive wizard. McDonald's All-Americans, the Brotherhood. Blah blah blah... All of this means nothing if Duke gets overconfident in any game from now on. They have a huge target on their backs. No team will be looking past them. If these freshmen start to believe the hype and think it's their birthright to win the natty, they will get beat by a very good team like a MSU, and they may even get upset by a weaker team like a UCF. Again, I'm pointing right at Brown's shot as it goes up at the buzzer. If a truly awful team like Wake can be within a hair's breath of beating Duke (even without Zion), any decent team at least has a shot of doing the same (with Zion). To think otherwise is, again, overconfidence. It scares me to think that the players may be lurking and reading these comments. They are NOT what I would want anyone on the team reading. And if they are reading this, stop right now. Go watch more tape on your next opponent or get back on the court... maybe practice the high post screen, or better yet - free throws. Nothing is guaranteed!
9F
I’m not convinced that what posters post here directly affects how the players mentally approach the game. Obviously, that changes once the game begins and fans aren’t properly prepared and wearing the correct lucky jerseys, hats, sitting in the correct place with the proper food and refreshments and cheering with the proper intensity.
“Those two kids, they’re champions,” Krzyzewski said of his senior leaders. “They’re trying to teach the other kids how to become that, and it’s a long road to become that.”