This Week in the ACC - 2/3-2/9

Clemson is good. We know this. Beat UK. top three ACC. Hunter and Schiefflen are strong. Maybe a trap game. On other hand GT. beat Louisville and Tigers back to back. Weird. We better not let up tomorrow.
Win at Syracuse and we have a 2 game lead !!! Then can afford to drop one and still win ACC. DO NOT OVERLOOK THE SYRACUSE. Clemson got caught. And ours is on road. Much harder
 
Then can afford to drop one and still win ACC.
I get this sentiment and I fall prey to it myself some of the time, but given how bad the ACC looks this year, I would prefer to pump up the few good teams as much as possible so Duke's wins against them look good. Clemson is now diminished. Louisville is too. Our victories (I hope!!) over them are at least a little bit diminished as well.

Of course, the other side of this could be that there is now a very clear path for Duke to win the ACC by multiple games. Going 20-0 is more impressive in a league where no one else can even manage to get 17-3 (for example) versus going 20-0 and only winning the regular season title by a game or two.

Bottom line -- I can rationalize how last night's (and Saturday's) results were good and bad for Duke.

I make my own head spin.
 
I get this sentiment and I fall prey to it myself some of the time, but given how bad the ACC looks this year, I would prefer to pump up the few good teams as much as possible so Duke's wins against them look good. Clemson is now diminished. Louisville is too. Our victories (I hope!!) over them are at least a little bit diminished as well.

Of course, the other side of this could be that there is now a very clear path for Duke to win the ACC by multiple games. Going 20-0 is more impressive in a league where no one else can even manage to get 17-3 (for example) versus going 20-0 and only winning the regular season title by a game or two.

Bottom line -- I can rationalize how last night's (and Saturday's) results were good and bad for Duke.

I make my own head spin.
At this point the dye has been cast for Duke in terms of ACC strength of schedule. I am now focused on winning championships and hanging banners. Yes the regular season is a championship and a banner can be hung. So the rest of the league is on their own and I have no qualms cheering for losses by all of Duke’s closest contenders for the ACC crown
 
I get this sentiment and I fall prey to it myself some of the time, but given how bad the ACC looks this year, I would prefer to pump up the few good teams as much as possible so Duke's wins against them look good. Clemson is now diminished. Louisville is too. Our victories (I hope!!) over them are at least a little bit diminished as well.

Of course, the other side of this could be that there is now a very clear path for Duke to win the ACC by multiple games. Going 20-0 is more impressive in a league where no one else can even manage to get 17-3 (for example) versus going 20-0 and only winning the regular season title by a game or two.

Bottom line -- I can rationalize how last night's (and Saturday's) results were good and bad for Duke.

I make my own head spin.
I'll admit to growing weary of defending conference loyalty. The expanded conference (numerically and geographically) weakens my interest and sense of comraderie.

In the late 80s and early 90s I could name almost every starter on every team and most of the bench. Now I probably could name the majority of coaches.

I was an ACC flag waver for decades. I would root hard for our other squads to get into the tournament and make deep runs for the pride of the conference.

My interest in the conference being successful now is pretty much to maximize Duke's profile. And this season is proving that Duke might not even need that help.
 
I'll admit to growing weary of defending conference loyalty. The expanded conference (numerically and geographically) weakens my interest and sense of comraderie.

In the late 80s and early 90s I could name almost every starter on every team and most of the bench. Now I probably could name the majority of coaches.

I was an ACC flag waver for decades. I would root hard for our other squads to get into the tournament and make deep runs for the pride of the conference.

My interest in the conference being successful now is pretty much to maximize Duke's profile. And this season is proving that Duke might not even need that help.
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Tech is sure trying hard to lose this. Some really bad basketball on both sides.
Ineptitude by both teams. 3 OT! Hopefully Clemson will be worn down for our game Saturday

I'm willing to forgive some of the poor play due to pure exhaustion from the players, both physical and mental. GT basically had to go iron man from the latter part of the second half through overtime. Three guys played 50+ minutes, two more with 49 and 43. Scheifflin for Clemson started cramping late in regulation and played through it, while another big had long since fouled out. It was exhausting just watching the game.

We should beat Clemson and the notion that they could win the league over us feels absurd. Louisville looks legit but has been aided by an easy schedule. Regardless, the league is there for the taking so now its up to us to capitalize.
 
I'm willing to forgive some of the poor play due to pure exhaustion from the players, both physical and mental. GT basically had to go iron man from the latter part of the second half through overtime. Three guys played 50+ minutes, two more with 49 and 43. Scheifflin for Clemson started cramping late in regulation and played through it, while another big had long since fouled out. It was exhausting just watching the game.

We should beat Clemson and the notion that they could win the league over us feels absurd. Louisville looks legit but has been aided by an easy schedule. Regardless, the league is there for the taking so now it’s up to us to capitalize.
Clemson shouldn’t be an overly tough game for us, but Chase Hunter looks like he could really do some damage against us.
 
Clemson shouldn’t be an overly tough game for us, but Chase Hunter looks like he could really do some damage against us.
You have seen some of our other good teams have a tough time in Little John. Their crowd will be loud for their Super Bowl basketball game. I expect a close game. But next play tonight against Cuse.

GoDuke!
 
My hat's off to those of you who made it through the 3rd OT. It was past my bedtime, so I bailed after the 2nd OT.

In the late 80s and early 90s I could name almost every starter on every team and most of the bench. Now I probably could name the majority of coaches.

I was an ACC flag waver for decades. I would root hard for our other squads to get into the tournament and make deep runs for the pride of the conference.


My interest in the conference being successful now is pretty much to maximize Duke's profile. And this season is proving that Duke might not even need that help.
Same for me to the bolded above, but add in the 70's.
 
If you want to know the failings of KenPomeroy's stat based system...

GT soph PG Nathain George went for a career high 28 points in the Clemson game on an absurd 35% usage rate. He took 26 shots and had 7 assists. He was GT's entire offense for much of the game. It started (and often ended) with him.

For Clemson, Chase Hunter also scored 28 points with an outrageous boxscore that included 7 rebs, 4 asst, 2 blocks, and 5 steals.

Pomeroy awarded the "game MVP" to Ian Schieffelin who had 23 points, 8 rebs, and 3 blocks. The MVP was probably tilted by the fact that George and Hunter -- who had the ball in their hands on EVERY DAMN POSSESSION -- combined for 14 turnovers.

Still, to give the MVP to someone on the losing team who was not even the leading scorer on that team when we also had a player on the winning team post a career game... sometimes computers are really confusing.
 
You have seen some of our other good teams have a tough time in Little John. Their crowd will be loud for their Super Bowl basketball game. I expect a close game. But next play tonight against Cuse.

GoDuke!
Pardon me for bringing a third "orange" team with discussions about Clemson and Syracuse, but Clemson in general reminds me of Tennessee -- big and physical. Historically, the kind of team that can "knock us back" especially if given a loosely officiated game.

But thanks to Jon's astute scheduling, we've seen Auburn and Kansas already. I'm feeling confident about this trip to Clemson.
 
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