Reality sets in.....

[WI#1Dukie22]

I was fortunate enough to make the trip to Indy and watch something incredibly special the past few days!! Not sure how much more special it can get. I hope to get sometime to reflect, sooooo much to share. Just wanted to share a quick dose of reality that probably hasn't hit us all yet.

This incredible ride is over, this was one of these special rides. For me, the most special one yet. Myself and others have said it for a while now.... They just had "it"..... They had all of "it".

This was the season my first born son was old enough to watch with me, old enough to learn the players and old enough to follow along with all my crazy rituals ( most of them anyways ). Tonight he wanted to do all these things we do to "prepare" for the next big game. He knows all the players (from watching the CTC player intros hundreds of times and mocking their dance moves.... It's truly great) and now I must explain who will be gone and why........ It all hit me tonight, even the most perfect ending can be a hard ending!!!

Damn it's been a GREAT YEAR but damn I'm gonna miss this bunch of warriors!!!

Greatest season this 31 year old has been around for

Thank you Duke

 

[dukiejay]

Pretty incredible year. My four-year-old has become obsessed with Tyus this season. And it's going to be hard explaining to her he doesn't play at Duke anymore. Tonight, for example, she wanted to sleep in her Tyus shirt and of course dad allowed it.

Just a special group....and it sucks knowing we don't get anymore games with all of them together.

 

[bluedevilfan42]

Glaf to know I'm not the only one fighting depression over the end of this team. So much excitement last night followed by reality today.

 

[DiehardDukeFan4Life]

For me the reality that Quinn is graduating and we won't get to see him play again at Duke has set in but honestly as far as Jah, Justise and Tyus I'm remaining optimistic that they'll shock everyone and decide to come back next year until they announce it and it becomes official that they won't be back next season. Some might think I'm crazy and setting myself up for a huge disappointment and letdown. Since Kyrie Irving I've been optimistic that our "1&dones" until they announced and made it official except for 1 player and that 1 player that I knew from day 1 that he was going to be gone after 1 season even before he joined the team was Austin Rivers. Unfortunately I've batted a big fat ZERO with my optimism of our "1&dones" returning up until now, so I'm hoping that I'm finally right with at least 1 of them.

 

[Laettner]

It hit me this morning that the season is over but sure glad the DVR is full with tourney games. Watching my kids re-enact the title game on our backyard hoop last nite was a treat. Certainly a magical ride that will provide good memories for a lifetime.

This was the first season where all three of my kids(9,7,5) understood the game and taking them to the tourney/open practice in Charlotte was my personal highlight.

 

[dadecodevil]

I flew home from Indy yesterday, got home at midnight, and watched the final as soon as I got home. What a magical ride. I will hold out hope that Tyus goes the Chris Paul route and comes back for a sophomore year.

 

[mo.st.dukie]

Yes, a lot of joy because of the final results, a lot of sadness because it's all over.

I will say, if those three came back to school they would be a sports cultural phenomenon, the kind of thing that 30 for 30's are made about. It's not going to happen and obviously they are already Duke legends but they would have to have NBA careers like MJ and Lebron to equal that kind of pop culture status.

This post was edited on 4/8 1:15 PM by mo.st.dukie

 

[denniden]

I am kind of glad the season is over, mainly because of how it ended. My nerves were SHOT from this tournament. I can't remember them ever being this bad. What a ride though. It won't soon be forgot how truly special this team was to us Duke fans. Sure there were OADs on the team, but think about how they all bought in and allowed Q. Cook to lead them. Coach K called this his favorite season to coach. To me that says an awful lot.

 

[JCColsCane]

I have not given a single thought to who is leaving, coming back, how much I will miss them, or what is next! I am "still in the moment", still realizing what a fantastic year this has been, what a great group of young men they are, what incredible joy they have given me throughout the year, and how proud I am to be a Duke fan!
Maybe in a day or two I will wake up, but I am sure going to enjoy this one for a little longer.
Go Duke!!


JC-OFC

 

[Laettner]

Originally posted by denniden:
I am kind of glad the season is over, mainly because of how it ended. My nerves were SHOT from this tournament. I can't remember them ever being this bad. What a ride though. It won't soon be forgot how truly special this team was to us Duke fans. Sure there were OADs on the team, but think about how they all bought in and allowed Q. Cook to lead them. Coach K called this his favorite season to coach. To me that says an awful lot.

Agree, I was no fun to be around this month. Went out to dinner with a couple the night before Gonzaga & could not sit still nor hold a conversation as my mind kept drifting to the Regional Final.