I’m starting the thread so someone can tell me who we play and when.
I’m starting the thread so someone can tell me who we play and when.
Here is a link to the tournament bracket:
http://theacc.com/sports/2018/1/12/2...ournament.aspx
Duke is scheduled to play Thursday at 9:00 pm but tip-off will be closer to 9:30 pm.
EDIT: Here is a better link: https://i.turner.ncaa.com/sites/defa...nt-bracket.pdf
Last edited by Bob Green; 03-10-2019 at 11:36 AM. Reason: Add better bracket link
Bob Green
This is one of the times that Daylight Savings Time comes in handy, since our first two games would be 9:30ish, and the Championship game is at 8:30. Our internal clocks will not have adjusted well by then, and it will be easier to stay up to see the end of games, even though we are crushing the opponents by 25 - 30 points.
Just want to point out the tournament is set up for a possible complete revenge tour....with our possible path being:
Cuse->UNC->VT
allowing us to avenge (or re-avenge) all the losses we had without Zion.
1200. DDMF.
This is the path I am selfishly hoping happens. I have a strong distaste for Syracuse and VT, and my contempt for all things Carolina is at an all-time high.
UVA will have no picnic with the Clemson/NCState winner and likely either FSU or VT. However, I am predicting a Duke/UVA ACC Final. I realize that we have beaten UVA twice, but, to me, they are the best team in the country right now. They are also the “rival” that I respect most and the team I can tolerate losing to more than any in the country. I attended graduate school at UVA but that has very little to do with it. I just admire the heck out of Tony Bennett, the players he recruits, and the way they play. It is next to impossible to get players to sacrifice and play as one as UVA has been able to accomplish with regularity lately. That’s also a reason that I love this Duke team as much as any — they seem to genuinely enjoy playing with and for each other.
I forecast Duke/UVA 3, but I am blood thirsty for uh_no’s Revenge Tour scenario.
I'm a real wanker for saying this.I'm a real wanker for saying this.I'm a real wanker for saying this.I'm a real wanker for saying this. unc. That is all.
Getting Zion back will be huge, but no guarantee we’ll immediately return to being a superteam. He’ll have some rust to work off and K basically admitted he has lost some conditioning. Playing on three consecutive days is difficult for anybody, much less a big guy coming off a knee injury. Plus we likely won’t have Bolden. So other guys will need to step up and we can’t have another 2-20 type performance from three.
I’m hoping we hit some shots against Syracuse for a comfortable win. Alex must be licking his chops to play them, as his two best games by far have come at their expense. As a side note, I’m actually glad to be playing them and not Louisville who would be set for their own revenge game, so I guess that’s the silver lining behind losing last weekend. Win and we’ll have adrenaline to carry us into the CHeat game, and you know Zion wants to destroy them.
If we are fortunate enough to make it to the final, we’ll be running on fumes but UVA also has very little to play for. It honestly wouldn’t shock me if they got upset before the final. Even though they are a veteran team, they have a #1 locked up and probably the overall #1 even if they lose, so human nature may still kick in.
I would normally agree with you, but given last year's, um, episode, I predict Bennett isn't going to take his foot off the gas. UVA isn't going to be complacent with a number one seed.
If any team needs to keep their momentum, it's UVA, and if they were able to beat the only team that has put Ls on their resume this season before the Big Dance, I suspect they would have a massive confidence boost.
UNC on the other hand, might mail in a game, either officially or otherwise. I can see them not wanting to expose their team to a fully operational battle station like Zion. And we ALL have been told a billion times how much Roy values regular season over the tournament.
Last edited by Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15; 03-11-2019 at 08:28 AM. Reason: Added UNC thoughts
Agree that we shouldn't assume that Duke will hit on all cylinders right away. The theory of Zion being easy to integrate makes sense but is still just theory at this point.
Also, I'm not sure Duke had proven "superteam" status yet, if "superteam" means something more than just being a first-tier team in the 2019 college basketball season. Being historically great is something else. UVA and maybe Gonzaga are right there with full-strength Duke this season. 2018 Villanova is better than all three, imo -- at the very least, they're right there. And personally, when comparing Duke teams, I still think 2015 Duke is right there with this team, possibly better.
UVA would need Duke to lose to lock up the #1 overall seed and the DC regional, imo.
Seems that the all knowing Committee wants to see what happens with Zion (as we all do). Pretty straightforward mission now, if we play well and beat unc, they very well might give us that one seed...
If Duke wins the ACC Tournament do you think they get seeded higher than UVA?
If Zion is back and we beat UNC in the semis, I just about guarantee Duke will get a 1-seed because I don't think the committee could defend giving UNC a 1-seed ahead of us, and I think it's unlikely that 2 teams from behind jump up ahead. Even as of today, it's 50/50 between Duke and Kentucky for the final 1-seed according to Bracket Matrix.
Yes, assuming that Duke winning the ACCT means Zion is back and playing well. Based on Duke's head-to-head record with UVA and having not lost at full-strength since before Thanksgiving. Now, getting "seeded higher than UVA" just means we get the DC regional, as I would expect both to be 1-seeds in that scenario.
It all depends on how the committee decides to consider the losses without Zion. If they do what they say they normally do, then yes we should be seeded above UVa. Because we have only one loss with our full squad, and if we win the tournament over UVa then that would theoretically confirm our status as more or less that team.
That's clearly the angle Coach K is playing with his comments about "9 games without our starting 5 intact" and his recent note that Bolden is not as critical as Zion and Jones (I don't think that was a throwaway comment).
But you never know what the committee will decide.
I don't like loovil but, go cards! (shower time-I feel dirty)
[redacted] them and the horses they rode in on.