***DUKE VS UTAH SWEET SIXTEEN OFFICIAL GAMEDAY THREAD***

[krzyzewskiville]

Finally - gameday is here! Is it odd that's it's always an honor for me to start these gameday threads - especially NCAA Tournament gameday threads?

I really like this matchup with Utah. It doesn't have a "quality" inside
the AP top 10 this year outside of an OT victory over Wichita State
clear back in early December. Not to mention it dropped 4 of 7 heading
into the NCAA tournament with losses over Oregon (2) and Washington.

That said, they've got a couple of nice NCAA tournament wins to this point and they certainly aren't a laugher - every game is given its due respect at this point.

To the game...According to Vegas Duke is -6 but I think if we can contain Delon Wright, we win by double-digits. The Poeltl kid is big but Jah should eat his lunch on the block and if
Utah brings the double-team, it's really going to come down to Tyus,
Quinn and Matt hitting perimeter shots. The way we're playing right now,
I like our chances in this game.

Game is slated for an 9:45pm est start and will air on CBS. The winner earns a shot to compete for the south region championship and a spot in the coveted Final Four in Indy. Doesn't that sound glorious? I think I can take a shot what happened the last time the Final Four was in Indy...Hmmm...

Anyway, gotta win today first!

Duke 76

Utah 67

GO DUKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DiehardDukeFan4Life]

The good thing about the NCAAT is that after playing 2 games in 2 days the team has 5 days to rest and prepare for the next round. The bad thing about the NCAAT is that we as fans have to wait 5 days between the round of 64/32 games and Sweet 16/Elite 8 games then have to wait another 6 days between the Sweet 16/Elite 8 games and the Final Four/Championship game weekend. This is still the best time of year and I'm looking forward to hopefully having a busy and fun weekend next weekend with watching the Final Four (especially if Duke is still playing) on Saturday then watching Wrestlemania 31 on Sunday and then the Championship game (especially if Duke is still playing) on Monday.

Duke 79
Utah 70

 

[OldasdirtDevil]

I look for a tough game, but it would be nice if we jumped on them like we did SDSU. Go Blue Devils!!!

Duke 73
Utah 69

OFC

 

[madrussian]

should be fun. looking for winslow to have a good one tonite. plus would love to see tyus make some perimiter shots.

go duke!

 

[CRAZIE4LIFE]

I have really enjoyed this team. I love these kids. I don't care what the score is, just win. Let's Go Devils

 

[dbav]

GIVE 'EM HELL DUKE!

 

[Dukesince90]

Just win baby, just win!
Duke 78
Utah 70

 

[Laettner]

14+ hours til tipoff & the gameday butterflies have arrived. Let's go Blue Devils.

 

[Heyman25]

Utah is just another team in Duke's way to number five. The boys are ready and will take care of business.

OFC

Duke 78
Utah 69

 

[spike05rk]

Duke 81
bad guys 72

 

[Crank_it_loud]

Duke 73
Utah 70

 

[kailman]

we play well and we win

 

[GTHC_ GTH!]

Sweet 16's haven't been kind to Duke for the past 15 years. I'm a bit nervous because we are young. If our guys can come out focused and without nerves, we should win based on talent alone. Utah will probably play at their best because that's what teams do against Duke. The important thing for Duke is start fast. Get a lead early. Hit some shots. And make Utah have to play uphill from the get go. I felt like that was important in the SDSu game and Duke did that. Do the same here.


Duke 73

Utah 65

 

[CatcherForLife6]

Couple of different things that will decide the fate of the game. Obviously we can't solely rely on Jah (see ND game in ACC Tourney), like others have stated it's going to come down to Quinn, Matt and Tyus knocking down open looks. I think if Winslow comes to play like he did against SDSU then the pressure would be off the three guards to knock down open looks. I worry about Wright as our guard defense sometimes is lacking.

If we continue to play with that chip on our shoulder and play like we want to take this thing down, this could be an easy win but not as easy as the first two rounds. I am extremely nervous for the game but I think it's because I truly enjoy watching these kids play. When they are playing like they can they are so fun to watch.

Ultimately I think we win and continue our journey.

Duke 78
Utah 72

This post was edited on 3/27 9:41 AM by CatcherForLife6

 

[crazyduke3]

Typically in history for us recently in the NCAAT, we've been responsible for turning somebody into a national name ( Derrick Williams, C.J. MCollum, Glenn Davis) when they go insane on us or something. Delon Wright could be next.....




my bracket has Utah but..... I like this team right now and so I think Duke will get it done.

 

[Showenuff]

We face a good team tonight. But, we are better. I'm not going to sit here and dig up bad crap that happened in the past. This team is different. I think we win. I keep telling myself all season long we are basically just a team of freshmen , but it appears nobody told them, because they continue to kick ass when the spotlights are on. And the spotlight is on big time now. Duke by 10 . LET'S GO DEVILS !!!!!!

 

[skysdad]

Duke 76
Utah 68 OFC

 

[dukiejay]

Utah has balance --- and what I mean by that is they're good offensively and defensively. They haven't played the toughest schedule in the world, but they've played some pretty good teams. They're a legit top 20 team and we must play well to win.

Something about our team says focus. A lot of time with freshmen teams they get complacent....I don't see it with this bunch. Jahlil, Tyus and Justise aren't your normal freshmen.

Duke 80
Utah 73

 

[dbav]

I'm really hoping for a fast start for us to set the tone and provide some added confidence. I absolutely do not think confidence is an issue with this team, but sometimes a good start can make that confidence swell even more.

 

[HuffyJB]

Jah will likely see consistent double teams from guys with size. He has handled as much all year, and he has to once again. The other guys must make them pay, particularly Justise who had a terrific two games in Charlotte. He is getting a lot of time at the 4, and I think the doubles will be post-to-post, meaning he is the one who is doubled off of.

Duke - 74

Utah - 68

 

[DukeSky85]

Living in Utah Ive been wanting to see this matchup all year long. Ive been getting a lot of crap at work today and been dishing it back. I woke up this morning feeling good about this one. I think we come out fired up and on all cylinders. That being said:

Duke: 74
Utah: 60

Can someone photoshop a Ute being stabbed by the blue devil or something like that?

 

[The Right Blue]

I hate this game and I think its BS that Utah is a 5 seed. A team that is in the top 10 for a good part of the year should not be a 5 seed. I'd have much rather played G-Town (4 seed).

Duke is much more athletic, and much more skilled. Utah is very big and has two NBA players. Both teams have great coaches (albeit no one is comparable to K). I hate this match-up for Duke. Having said that, we, as fans, have not seen the very best from Tyus Jones since before the ACC Tournament. He needs to be Superman again tonight and I think he will.

Duke 74
Utah 72

God Willing

 

[Skeelow22]

Duke covers the spread.

Duke 77
Utah 64

 

[bleediteveryday30]

Not picking a score in this one, just want the win. Having said that, this one has me so nervous. Notre Dame is as close to this team in talent and make up as we have seen this season and Utah is bigger! I think their defense and offense has ranked in the top 20 all year, or something like that. They shoot the three extremely well and they have Wright who is a beast at the point. I am really worried about this one, but I am also excited for the opportunity at another win and another game came Sunday. I think this will be a dogfight and we are going to have our hands more than full. Like someone else said, I am looking for Tyus to step it up offensively tonight. We have to come out talking on D and passing the ball well. Hopefully, we make more 3's than they do and our big's do the work inside. I believe this team can win the whole thing. But, tonight we are facing a hungry animal and we have to be sharp, intense, focused, prepared, and ready for a fight. We have to continue to be hungry ourselves and keep the intensity from the last two games going. We can do this fellas! One game at a time! LET'S GO DUKE!!!!!

 

[OldasdirtDevil]

Originally posted by DukeSky85:

Living in Utah Ive been wanting to see this matchup all year long. Ive been getting a lot of crap at work today and been dishing it back. I woke up this morning feeling good about this one. I think we come out fired up and on all cylinders. That being said:

Duke: 74
Utah: 60

Can someone photoshop a Ute being stabbed by the blue devil or something like that?

Let's stick it to 'em, Devils!

OFC

 

[DukeDenver]

Duke 59
Utah 57

 

[JCColsCane]

I'm probably sounding like a broken record, but I am saying the same thing I have been saying, if we Focus for 40 minutes, talk on defense, switch, and help, we will be fine and I like Duke to win by double digits.
Hopefully we keep Wright to just an average game, and not let him do a Paige on us. No disrespect to Utah, but Duke is not Georgetown.
Go Duke!!


JC-OFC

 

[JohnstonCDevil]

Duke by a dozen! Looking for Justise to have a big game. GO DUKE!!!

OFC

 

[Wojoman]

we are obviously the better team but you just don't know in the tourney. I really hope we can make it to the Elite 8. I'm always so nervous for these games.

Its gonna be close. I hope we can come out loose and ready to play.

 

[DukeSky85]

That's perfect Dirt!

 

[LetsGoDuke301]

Duke 87

Utah 69

 

[dukehokie]

I look for a quick start with a lull in the middle and a nice finish. Like a nice merlot. Duke on top I've been saying it since the draw. 25 from Jah, 17 from Justise and 15 from Quinn would be 57 points. The rest of the guys will fill in the rest. I bet Grayson and Amile make some nice contributions. Grayson supposedly had his best practice since prior to the Wake game.

Duke - 79
Utah - 67

 

[Willcampbell]

Can't predict a score. Just praying for a W. Pretty confident we'll be facing the Zags, and I definitely want to kick their a....s.
Message to Few: go someplace where they play someone.
OFC

 

[Neners]

I'm not kidding, I opened my eyes this morning and the very first thing I thought was, "God, please let us play well tonight." I won't predict a score because I know nothing about Utah's team. Just win and dance on.

 

[Showenuff]

ESPN is playing this Poetl kid up as chomping at the bit to play Okafor. I hope Oak is pumped !

 

[DukeDenver]

Originally posted by Showenuff:
ESPN is playing this Poetl kid up as chomping at the bit to play Okafor. I hope Oak is pumped !

He averaged 9 points and 6.7 boards this season. He shoots 45% from the FT line. He's had a few decent games in the tourney, but Okafor will own his ace.

 

[jnastasi]

I hope our guards are ready to defend or it could be a long night. Having seen Utah a few times play Arizona, they have solid guard play led by Delon Wright. They can shoot just as good as us and they play much better defense. I'm worried.

 

[Crank_it_loud]

So Duke is 7-2 against top 25 while Utah is 1-3? Is that right? It has to be a typo because, from what I'm reading, Duke is playing the equivalent to the Cleveland Cavaliers.....lol

 

[FearTheBeard]

Duke 78
Utah 69

 

[shicashicu]

Man, am I nervous!? That's every game for me, but the stomach has a few more butterflies when a bad shooting night or a stretch with a lack of intensity of any length ends the season.

I hate when they hype an underdog or David v Goliath matchup with big bad Duke as Goliath and Utah as David in this performance. It always seems to fire up and motivate our opponent.

I just want Winslow and the rest of the guys play hard, aggressive and intense as we can and set that tone from the first second. No prediction, just please please play like your capable Devils!!