4 Games & 3 Games Left.

[Uncle Drew]

Well people as usual it just seems like we're getting into the swing of the basketball season when suddenly there are two weeks left in the regular season. Duke has the following games....

Wed. Feb 27th Georgia Tech @ home
Sat. March 1st NCSU @ away
Wed. March 5th UVA @ away
Sat. March 8th UNC @ home / senior day for Demarcus Nelson

UNC has only three games left, apparently they chose not to schedule an out of conference foe on their off rotation. For the heels with the injuries they have the decission looks great on their part....

Sat. March 1st Boston College @ away
Tues. March 4th FSU @ home / senior day for Woody Surry, maybe last home game for a couple others.
Sat. March 8th Duke @ away

Couldn't help but notice the heels have an extra day to prepare for Duke in addition to the rest they get this week. And it's also intresting to note that although Duke has the extra games both schools face teams in the bottom five of the conference. (Besides March 8th of course.) I think we had all hoped UNC would be really struggling without Lawson, but after their last two games I'm not so sure. He has been out much longer than anyone has expected, which makes me wonder if since they keep winning if they aren't letting him rest and get 100% for the ACC and NCAA tournaments.

It looks like on paper both teams should win out until the March 8th clash. (Of course we didn't forsee Duke losing two straight last week either.) So the winner of the last Duke / UNC game should be the #1 seed in the ACC tourney. For UNC to be the #2 is important IMO because the #3 is likely to be Clemson. And after losing heartbreakers twice this year to the heels I'm pretty sure Oliver Purnell wants another go at UNC. Plus we all know it's difficult to beat any team three times in one season.

So have at it. Predictions? Items of intrest? Potential pitfalls for both teams? Regardless of what happens the rest of the year I have to say I've been more proud of this team than any in recent memory. In a year when many thought UNC would go undefeated in conference play I think Coach K deserves COY honors hands down. But odds are the award will go elsewhere. Oh and of course Singler for ROY!

[mgtr]

Good analysis, but you left out one award. Tyler baby should definitely get POY (psychotic of the year).

[Uncle Drew]

Good analysis, but you left out one award. Tyler baby should definitely get POY (psychotic of the year).

Good one. As much as I'd like Nelson to win Player Of The Year in the ACC and / or nationaly it isn't going to happen and I think Tyler (as much as I loathe the guy) deserves it. And hey, maybe if he gets some award to hang his hat on he'll finally go pro. Hopefully without an NCAA title and take at least one guy with him!

[Jumbo]

Good analysis, but you left out one award. Tyler baby should definitely get POY (psychotic of the year).

What is the point of that?

[TwoDukeTattoos]

What is the point of that?

Listers, I think Jumbo may be an undercover Baby Blue.

[Jumbo]

Listers, I think Jumbo may be an undercover Baby Blue.

You got me. If we could get through a thread without a Tyler Hansbrough reference, it would be really refreshing. And, you know, reasonably mature.

[TwoDukeTattoos]

You got me. If we could get through a thread without a Tyler Hansbrough reference, it would be really refreshing. And, you know, reasonably mature.

I could be wrong, but I think the point of the list isn't to make posts that we hope will be pleasing to everyone. Rather, I think the point of the list is for Duke fans to enjoy cameraderie among other Dukies and to be able to voice their thoughts and opinions (as long as they're flush with the rules, of course).

[Jumbo]

I could be wrong, but I think the point of the list isn't to make posts that we hope will be pleasing to everyone. Rather, I think the point of the list is for Duke fans to enjoy cameraderie among other Dukies and to be able to voice their thoughts and opinions (as long as they're flush with the rules, of course).

The point of this board is to discuss Duke basketball. Obviously, part of that involves dealing with UNC. But the fact that basically every thread now has some lame attempt at humor with some stupid derivative of Hansbrough's name detracts from the overall IQ and quality that has made this site different over the years. If you want to play pin-the-name-on-Tyler all day, the Devils Den is perfect.

[TwoDukeTattoos]

The point of this board is to discuss Duke basketball. Obviously, part of that involves dealing with UNC. But the fact that basically every thread now has some lame attempt at humor with some stupid derivative of Hansbrough's name detracts from the overall IQ and quality that has made this site different over the years. If you want to play pin-the-name-on-Tyler all day, the Devils Den is perfect.

Again, I could be wrong, but I think the point of the list isn't to make posts that we hope will be pleasing to everyone.

[Jumbo]

Again, I could be wrong, but I think the point of the list isn't to make posts that we hope will be pleasing to everyone.

It's not a list. It's a community. And being part of this community includes recognizing when you are annoying other members.

[TwoDukeTattoos]

It's not a list. It's a community. And being part of this community includes recognizing when you are annoying other members.

So, rather than discuss it with them politely offline, you try your best to make them look like idiots publicly. Great etiquette.

[Jumbo]

So, rather than discuss it with them politely offline, you try your best to make them look like idiots publicly. Great etiquette.

Let me try this again. This board is quickly denigrating to something not unlike IC or TerpTown. More and more posts are simply lame attempts to make fun of players on other schools. The problem is pervasive; it does not apply to just one poster. So, a private message would do nothing. Weren't you just talking about people being able to express their feelings? Well, I'm expressing mine -- I don't like the turn this board has taken in the last two weeks. Understand?

[TwoDukeTattoos]

Let me try this again. This board is quickly denigrating to something not unlike IC or TerpTown. More and more posts are simply lame attempts to make fun of players on other schools. The problem is pervasive; it does not apply to just one poster. So, a private message would do nothing. Weren't you just talking about people being able to express their feelings? Well, I'm expressing mine -- I don't like the turn this board has taken in the last two weeks. Understand?

So, rather than slam posters at random, how about create a single post, tactfully written, dedicated to improving the quality of the community? It will be much better taken that your currently brash methods and will ultimately help you to acheive your goals regarding the community. After all, isn't that what you really want?

[Jumbo]

So, rather than slam posters at random, how about create a single post, tactfully written, dedicated to improving the quality of the community? It will be much better taken that your currently brash methods and will ultimately help you to acheive your goals regarding the community. After all, isn't that what you really want?

There are nothing "random" about my responses. I've considered starting another thread, and still might. But I'm also going to try to call attention to the problem where it crops up.

[SeattleIrish]

I blame Latta69 for simply starting this thread.


And I think you should, too.


s.i.

[DankeShane]

Thread needs more photoshops.

[dynastydefender]

Thread needs more photoshops.

How did you get that to fit when that obviously is bigger than the 100 x 100 dimension limit?

[Devilsfan]

My NPOY is Beasley of KSU not Hanstravel. Hope we have our A game on the 8th with our "top" recruits in the stands.

[Classof06]

As of today, Joe Lunardi has Duke as the 2 seed in the East Regional, meaning we would still get the Raleigh-to-Charlotte path. To be honest, while a 1 seed would be great, I wouldn't mind Duke being a 2 seed but still getting the in-state path.

Obviously, I'm not trying to lose to UNC one (or two) times this year but to me, as long as Duke is on that in-state path, I could care less. Barring a massive collapse, I don't see Duke being any worse than a 2 seed, even if we take an early exit from the ACC tournament.

[SilkyJ]

generally speaking, when you've got a couple star players with similar numbers running neck and neck for the NPOY, i tend to lean towards the doctrine of "rewarding the best player on the best team."

Now by no means do I believe that should be done EVERY time in these situations. I'm just saying that generally I lean that way, often because you encounter situations where some guy from Virginia Military Institute is leading the country in scoring at 32ppg and dishing out 11asts per game...(I seem to remember a guy from VMI actually leading the country in scoring not too long ago...maybe during the Jwill years...)

Of course, that isn't the situation we are dealing with it and its sort of an extreme situation at that. The point, though, has to do with two main things: the fact that putting up those #'s against far inferior competition is not nearly as impressive as putting up lesser, but still very good, numbers against much, much better competition. Secondly is the fact that basketball is about winning and being a top 5 team (which means you have a really, really, good record) as opposed to an OK team holds a premium for me.

So, Hansbrough is the leader/workhorse of one of the top 5 (arguably 2 or 3) teams in the country and is obviously a very, very, very good basketball player. So normally I would lean to him.

Now I know after that somewhat lengthy explanation that you probably think I am going to back hansbrough for POY, but wait, there's more.

The thing about K State, is that they probably wouldn't even make the tournament without Beasley, so I have to place a premium on the fact that he really raises the quality of the team...and by a lot. So essentially the "best player on the best team" aspect of the evaluation is even with the "takes the team from irrelevant to very relevant." So basically I consider that a wash. How can I value being a great player and the leader on a great team where you already have good-great players playing around you, MORE than I value taking a completely irrelevant team with average players and making them a top 25-30 team? Its just too difficult for me to place a higher premium on one vs the other.

So it comes down to the numbers for me, basically, and beasley has better #'s. Hansbrough has stepped it up with lawson out, but beasley still scores 26ppg to Tyler's 23ppg. Pulls down 12.5rpg to tyler's 10.5, and has a good to very good 3 pt shot. Tyler has displayed his jumper more this year (and it looks pretty good) but Beasley's is still better. Not to mention on the defensive end beasley is a presence as well swatting 1.6 shots and getting over a steal a game. Hansbrough gets a steal a game as well, but doesn't block anything. So after all that, I am forced to basically just look at the #'s and a little bit at versatility, and Beasley has him in just about every aspect, even if it is by a narrow margin, so I go with Beasley.