Thanks team Duke

[Constantstrain 81]

We have the makings of a team. If we can jump to big leads and hold teams down for 30 minutes, then we can do it for 40 minutes.

What seemed so odd was our lack of cohesiveness on offense. Early in the season, we needed to run a patterned offense just to score it seems. Tonight (and the last ten games) it seemed to be that whoever got the ball first made the move to score. It was like five guys who didn't know each other playing.

Momentum is a confidence killer. Once that worm turns, it turns. When we had the 61-50 lead and gave up five points in seconds - I knew we were in for it. Momentum had turned. Only experienced superstars can stop that (or a bigger lead).

That said, the framework is there. A year under the belt. A little motivation (instead of trying to play to expectations) from this year's finish. More talented freshmen coming it. More shooters. A summer of training and strength work. No injuries.

The difference between 22-11 and 33-4 can be a very fine line. I guess if it was easy to do, everyone would be doing it.

[DukeUsul]

Thanks especially to Greg and Josh for trying to carry us to a win. Gutty performance by those two. Thanks to everyone on the team for playing their heart out.

[vango]

What a suspenseful season. Ups and downs everywhere. Oh well. We are Duke. We will be fighting to be a nat'l champ next year.

Paulus played great tonight. I would imagine McBob would want to leave on such a strong performance...hopefully he stays.

I can't wait to see what improvements are made this offseason. It's going to be a long wait, but with guys like singler, king, smith, and hopefully patterson...it will be well worth the wait.

The bad thing about this...were all going to hear about how duke lost for the next 3 days.

GO DUKE

I'll hear it from the UNC faithful tomorrow - I'm outnumbered 6 to 1 in the office. But, I'm ready to say that we lost to a CAA team just like they did last year.

Anyhow, we've all seen teams take lumps and come out the other side champions (I'm a Colts fan and I finally got to see it this year after some tough years). So, with this team showing that they never give up and with age and some additions we're going to be NC contenders in the years to come. I'm convinced of it.

But for now, let's go Women!!!!

[Constantstrain 81]

This is the worst Duke team in 20+yrs. No athleticism , no basketball IQ, no relentless defense, no pressure offense whatsoever, no mental toughness.McRoberts is the slowest , most methodical waste of height that is currently in the ACC.(hope he goes pro).Hang in ther Gerald and Jon....also, Duke had better get some assistants that know what they're doing...these former players don't.Roy is kicking our butts and does'nt look tired!

This would be an example of over-reacting. I hope that the Duke team (and particularly Josh) reads this with some dignity and grace and with some understanding of the frustration of a disappointed fan. That said, let's all be the insightful, positive, supportive fans that I know we can be.

Good season. Not what we dreamed of (but we all have pretty big dreams, don't we?). But a good season. Gutty effort by Greg and Josh. I might be bleeding - but it's Duke blue.

[lmb]

Has anyone else come to dread the off-season these last few years? Between JJ's DUI, K to the Lakers, surprise jumps to the NBA, McRobert's surprise back surgery, etc., they seem to be more stressful than all these nail-biters we've sat through this year.

That said, the effort tonight far exceeded the game against NC State. I was proud of the team, they just ran out of juice. The summer break will probably be a welcome one for this team, both physically and mentally. I predict good things next year.

Paulus was a highlight of the season. He played his guts out tonight.

[drion97]

It's not embarrassing. It could have been. Maynor has TALENT. They went CRAZY from three. Honestly, VCU has a tough draw with Pitt, but against MANY other teams they could make the elite 8. I've been more embarrassed by other losses this season. Throw out their conference and their seed-- just look at the team-- VCU played GREAT. Free throws, 3 pointers, heart. That was a tough team to beat. Granted, Duke of old would've beat them, but with out youth and the heart we showed, that game was anything but embarrassing.

[snewman92]

Dear Greg, Josh, Coach K, and the rest of the Devils,

I'm sure you're disappointed; so are we. It's hard to sugarcoat a first-round tournament loss, given our record of excellence. But I am proud of the effort you showed tonight and have great but realistic hopes for the future. And most of my sour feelings dissipated when I thought of how much I owe the program for all the joy it's brought me and how much I owe Duke for a great education (I was lucky enough to graduate in 1992). And any residual sadness dissolved when I thought of my 19-month-old daughter asleep, upstairs--Duke class of 2027, G-d willing.

I have to say I have a hard time undestanding the other posters (on a thread designed to express our gratitude, no less) gnashing their teeth and excoriating a bunch of 18-22 year-olds . . .for what, exactly? I would ask them: What is the nature of your attachment to Duke and Duke basketball if this is how you react? I'm not talking about well-intentioned criticism, though I'd advise all of us, as I do my students, to wait 24 hours before posting a complaint; they're usually more convincing with a bit of time to reflect. I'm not even talking about a little vinegar in the wake of a season that didn't turn out as we'd like. If my daughter weren't sleeping upstairs I'm sure I would have cursed very loudly when Maynor's last shot went in and at all those missed free throws. I'm talking about the venom toward our own players being hurled around here. It's really unseemly; some of you need to get a grip.

In any case, I don't doubt that the players and the coaches are being harder on themselves than we can imagine (and they have the advantage of actually knowing a fair bit more about basketball than we do). So I thank all of them again for their efforts this year and look forward to the next.

Best,

Steve Newman (T'92)

[rsvman]

This would be an example of over-reacting.

This is not over-reacting. "Belmontdfan" is a Tarheel. Duh.

[ricks68]

Thanks, guys, for all the hard work and effort you put in before and during the season. I wish you all the best during your off season and good luck in everything that you decide to undertake in the future.

ricks

[BELMONTDFAN]

This is not over-reacting. "Belmontdfan" is a Tarheel. Duh.

I can assure you I am not a tarheel fan...quite the opposite.Somehow we have lost our ability to see real natural talent in recruiting players.Except for the excuse of being young, we were always outmatched in athletic ability and speed.We did have height, but that was very slow and methodical and easy to defend. Did we not have enough rest for the VCU game.Our quick exit in the ACC tournament should have given us a chance to be better prepaired.

[BELMONTDFAN]

This is not over-reacting. "Belmontdfan" is a Tarheel. Duh.

Wrong...just an honest opinion of the team.When the real season started in March, how did we do....0 for...

[Virginian]

I will add this. Except for about a 8-minute stretch in the first Md. game when they drummed us pretty darn convincingly, we played head to head with every single team we met. And we beat 2/3 of them.

I don't think we're guaranteed to fix all our problems next year, but I think we have a strong nucleus that MIGHT WELL improve. And I think the competitive landscape in the ACC will be more in our favor next season.

So I for one am looking forward to the next campaign. I just hope we keep Josh, avoid injuries (!), gain body strengthy, muscle mass, speed, agility and stamina and have some good luck with recruits and get a few breaks and a few bounces when we need them. And can we please practice our free throws?!