I am sad we lost but am not angry or frustrated about it. The better team tonight won. Truly bad luck that Mitchell was out and we can play "what if" all day, but this is the season we had. So much adversity but our guys kept fighting and I think that's why this season feels so satisfying even with this ending. This will go down as one of the most fun years I've had watching a Duke team. I truly hope a couple of the freshman stay for a special season next year.
We all have to feel great about Scheyer and what the future holds. What a masterful job he did with this team. I'm excited for what lays ahead. Thank you Blue Devils for your heart and soul this year.
I know I'll be in the vast minority on this, but is there anyone else that has now completely lost interest in the Tournament? I'll still watch some of the games, but I won't be paying much attention.
Proud of this team. And I would rather lose playing the gave as we play it, than win playing dirty basketball, and day of the week.
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That was a hell of a scrum. Rick Barnes' style hasn't changed much since he was at Clemson. Mitchell's absence was significant, but whether his availability would have changed the outcome is speculation. Like the announcers, anyone who isn't emotionally invested must have agreed that the charging call (#3?) on Filipowski when his defender clearly jumped right in front and impeded his path was remarkably bad, but, again, that one incident was more symptomatic of the game than determinative of the outcome.
Some of the IC buzzard breaths will no doubt crow and wallow in their happiness, but no point expecting any better from that outfit.
I admit that the result caught me a little by surprise. Nevertheless, one can only admire the development of a team which was so dependent upon freshmen led by a coach who is a young man, in his first season as HC, and following a legend, dealing no only with inexperience but also with multiple injuries which impede development. Really proud of those guys and of the coaching. It's hard to blame athletes with such extraordinary ability to accept the absolutely silly money which will be available and to leave for the pros. I have no idea whether there's a reasonable chance that Flip comes back. I hope so, and Mitchell as well and certainly Proctor. Given the excellent chance that none may, Scheyer's declared intent to alter recruiting strategy a bit makes sense.
Thanks to the players and the coaches for one heck of a year. It was great.
Also want to add that after watching this game - I feel peace because I don't think we would have matched up to the Final Four caliber teams like Alabama and Houston. Those are teams with size, age and physicality that our freshman, despite all noble attempts, would struggle to keep up with.
I have lost all interest minus the bit of interest I have to root for Coach Jeff Capel, III and Pitt as well as our ACC brothers at Miami, FL.
But 60% of the 5 ACC teams in the NCAAT were bounced in the first weekend already. Not a good look for the league. The ACC was horrific this year by and large.
When I want to watch football, I watch Ohio State or the NFL. That was not basketball, even by B1G standards. The referees set the tone for the game early on. Even my wife commented on how rough of a game it was. Other reasons for the loss but that certainly contributed largely to the outcome.