Well, here we are. It’s pretty amazing what one loss has done to the fanbase, the media (which always does when we lose) and the rankings.
I’ve made this assertion before with a friend of mine, many times, and he agrees, it’s funny how these things work. Had Matt (can I call him Matt?) caught that pass, finished at the buzzer and we held on for the win - there would be some concern that we played a low-major that closely, but we’d likely still be ranked #1, and I’m going to go out on a limb and say the spread for tonight’s game at MSU would be closer (we currently sit at +6.5). One turnover and runout, has flipped the college basketball world on Duke’s head. So remember, keep it in perspective. It’s early December and this year, it really is true that no single team is looking like a clear-cut favorite.
On to tonight. I’m not really sure what to think of this Spartan team. It’s become pretty typical of Michigan State to get overrated to start the season, lose a couple games, gel as the season moves into January and come out in March looking like roses and a national title contender. It seems like it happens to them often - and this year has gone down that same road.
If it wasn’t for a couple of crappy no-calls against Seton Hall, MSU could just as easily be 4-3. Instead, they enter tonight’s game 5-2 and like I stated earlier, a -6.5 favorite to beat Duke tonight at the Breslin Center; which is notoriously difficult on road teams.
Duke is 18-2 all time in the Big 10/ACC challenge, (including 4-0 all time against MSU) its only losses coming in 2011 at Ohio State and 2009 at Wisconsin. Thanks he last time these two faced off in the Breslin Center in 2003, #6 Duke thumped #5 MSU 72-50; not that it has any bearing on tonight’s game — just a side note (cause I’m still an SID at heart).
On the flip side, the Spartans are 8-11 all time in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge (and did I mention 0-4 against Duke). The Blue Devils, by a large margin, have the best record of any team in either conference - just another example of Coach K’s dominance.
All of this has some bearing on tonight’s game because clearly Coach K prepares his team for this annual battle better than any other coach. Any time the GOAT is on your bench, you’ve got a leg up on your opponent.
We all know, however, for Duke to get a win tonight, the defense is going to have to keep Sparty out of the paint and do a much better job on the offensive glass. That, and trying to shut down one of the toughest PG’s in the country in Cassius Winston will be difficult - but I have a good feeling about this one.
We’ll be short Stanley who has been a huge part of our success to start the year (but thank goodness early indications are it isn’t season ending), but for some reason I’ve got a good feeling about tonight. Tip is slated to begin at 9:30pm est and will air on ESPN.
Duke 77
Michigan State 75
GO DUKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ve made this assertion before with a friend of mine, many times, and he agrees, it’s funny how these things work. Had Matt (can I call him Matt?) caught that pass, finished at the buzzer and we held on for the win - there would be some concern that we played a low-major that closely, but we’d likely still be ranked #1, and I’m going to go out on a limb and say the spread for tonight’s game at MSU would be closer (we currently sit at +6.5). One turnover and runout, has flipped the college basketball world on Duke’s head. So remember, keep it in perspective. It’s early December and this year, it really is true that no single team is looking like a clear-cut favorite.
On to tonight. I’m not really sure what to think of this Spartan team. It’s become pretty typical of Michigan State to get overrated to start the season, lose a couple games, gel as the season moves into January and come out in March looking like roses and a national title contender. It seems like it happens to them often - and this year has gone down that same road.
If it wasn’t for a couple of crappy no-calls against Seton Hall, MSU could just as easily be 4-3. Instead, they enter tonight’s game 5-2 and like I stated earlier, a -6.5 favorite to beat Duke tonight at the Breslin Center; which is notoriously difficult on road teams.
Duke is 18-2 all time in the Big 10/ACC challenge, (including 4-0 all time against MSU) its only losses coming in 2011 at Ohio State and 2009 at Wisconsin. Thanks he last time these two faced off in the Breslin Center in 2003, #6 Duke thumped #5 MSU 72-50; not that it has any bearing on tonight’s game — just a side note (cause I’m still an SID at heart).
On the flip side, the Spartans are 8-11 all time in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge (and did I mention 0-4 against Duke). The Blue Devils, by a large margin, have the best record of any team in either conference - just another example of Coach K’s dominance.
All of this has some bearing on tonight’s game because clearly Coach K prepares his team for this annual battle better than any other coach. Any time the GOAT is on your bench, you’ve got a leg up on your opponent.
We all know, however, for Duke to get a win tonight, the defense is going to have to keep Sparty out of the paint and do a much better job on the offensive glass. That, and trying to shut down one of the toughest PG’s in the country in Cassius Winston will be difficult - but I have a good feeling about this one.
We’ll be short Stanley who has been a huge part of our success to start the year (but thank goodness early indications are it isn’t season ending), but for some reason I’ve got a good feeling about tonight. Tip is slated to begin at 9:30pm est and will air on ESPN.
Duke 77
Michigan State 75
GO DUKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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