This tewam will not see a final four

[dukiejay]

Originally posted by Crank_it_loud:
Lol at the OP.

That being said, I don't see this team getting past the Sweet 16 (Elite 8 if everyone is somewhat healthy). The D isn't there, unless k wants to go zone in near entirety, something that won't happen. I've been wrong plenty before though, so who knows.

I personally see Arizona cutting the nets down (or UK if AZ gets knocked off).

I think our team has proven zone isn't the only answer. It's part of it, though. We have to continue mixing things like we did against UNC last weekend.

And Arizona is good....but they don't shoot it. It's so hard to win in college basketball with a continued and sustained outside game.

But I agree about the Elite Eight right now. It's hard to envision us going farther than that if we play with the same first half intensity we did last night. The only saving grace, IMO, is we know this team has nuts. So that's what I'm hanging my hat on.

 

[Crank_it_loud]

QC, I agree and I'm behind this team. They fight hard and don't quit, but the D is mediocre and I just can't be too confident they'll go far. The 10 and 11 teams I could see going all-the-way, but this one it's hard with The D.....

I also think Jah is hurt more than we know. He was slow last night, and that's scary considering the points he scored.

 

[Crank_it_loud]

Good post DJ. Zona does struggle shooting, but they're big and athletic. I honestly feel they'd beat UK if they play. They match up very well. That Ashley kid is a beast at the 4.

 

[kailman]

My lord what is wrong with some of you. We have played great. Do you think that we won the ACC tourney all the years that we made the final four? Go look. Give me a break. And we've won many tourney and not sniffed the final four. The reactions to a loss by some of the people on this site are ridiculous. Get a clue. And saying K did a terrible job preparing and getting this team ready to play is ludicrous . Yeah it was K's fault that Winslow and others played like high school players last night in the first half. Some of these posts are just stupid.

 

[JCColsCane]

Originally posted by DFerryFan:
What is a "tewam"? Is that kinda like a wigwam?

DFerry, good one (lmao)! That's so rich!
On a serious note, anyone that thinks that Duke cannot get to the Final Four and or win the NCAA Championship, just has not been paying attention. That can be said about any team in the Country. There is so much parity and so many really good BB teams out there, we forget how tough it is. These days, if you can get to the Elite 8, you have had a great season!
If Duke can get to the Elite 8, personally, I really like our chances from there!
Getting out of the Sweet 16 is very hard, and we now have a stigma to overcome because of recent early outs.
Enjoy the ride boys, the fun is about to begin!! And remember, if we get to the Elite 8, fasten your seatbelts!
Go Duke!!


JC-OFC

 

[QC Dukie]

Amen Kail. Some of these posts are just plain ignorant. I need to stay away from the board after a loss.

OFC

 

[Crank_it_loud]

Question - am I being included in "ignorant" for having a conservative outlook that goes well beyond last night?

 

[kailman]

No crank you had a good solid post. The D is iffy for sure. But as we know everyone has a weakness. Even the immortal UK. Very good and deep team but I can think of five UK teams that are better. Other than their D I think their biggest strength is depth. When guys are off they can replace them easier than any other team. Which is huge. But they are beatable for sure. Just like we are.lol. It's just that we know this and maybe UK doesn't.

 

[Crank_it_loud]

Thx Kail appreciate it. This is the first Duke team that I've seen in a while where I get glimpses of an unstoppable team, but then they drag like they did the first 20+ minutes of last night.

 

[bleediteveryday30]

Focus, focus, focus, FOCUS!!!!! That is what is needed in order to win. Preparation, intensity, drive, determination, etc. All of that comes from focusing. I think us not playing in the championship today knowing that we could/should have been there if all we had done was come out focused with great intensity from the start. I think late in the game we forced things a little bit, but overall that last 16 minutes was focused. The light came on, but it was too late. This team can win six straight against anybody. But, we have to come out focused from the tip and until the final horn sounds.

 

[FearTheBeard]

Originally posted by ridgewaydevil:
Oakfor is to much of a libality at the foul line. How can you possibly keep him in the game late. He has absolutely no confidence at the line. Brey had ND ready K an Duke the exact opposite.This is a horrible loss. Again Jefferson an Oakfor are just big libalitys at the end of a tight game. Brey did a brillant job tonight.Cograts to him an the fighting Irish.They came in an just flat took it.

FFS!

 

[Showenuff]

Well, if you believe we can make it to the final 8, how in the hell can you not give THIS team a chance to win the next game? We just ran off 12 amazing games in a row, all we need is 6 this time. Be an individual . Be different. Have a little faith in your team. We are preparing to go on another run. If these freshmen catch fire, somebody's gonna get burned.

 

[LetsGoDuke301]

The sky is falling! The sky is falling!

 

[Tim1515]

This makes me laugh. We have no idea what will happen in March but this game is not an insight to what will come.

We do not have an emotional team. Amile is...Jah occasionally but Tyus and Winslow are Always calm. When we win everyone says how cool and collected we are...when we lose, our players don't care.

ND played defense like Duke...pressure the ball and every screen...our players didn't react well and we shot bad. We lost and yet a few foul shots late and we have a chance to win.

 

[K-oach Q]

I believe this team still has potential to win the NC. We played a very bad twenty minutes last night. What concerns me a bit is this teams ability to play down to the competition. We've proven we can beat anybody this year with our wins.

I do believe however this is a big tournament for Coach K. He's chosen this path of OAD the past several years. I don't want to hear execuses that we are to young anymore....he should be able to get this team past the first weekend of NCAA play. This is an insanely talented group and should make a run. If we don't get into the second weekend I think it's fair to question If coach lost his fastball.

 

[DiehardDukeFan4Life]

I'm finding it hard to take a person's post seriously when they make numerous spelling errors in the thread title and throughout their post. We had ONE bad game after winning 12 straight games. It's not the end of the season and this team will learn from last night and will be better. This team can still accomplish a lot this season and is very capable of winning 6 straight to bring home title #5.

 

[The Right Blue]

That's the first time I've really seen Duke pushed off the 3 point line. Have to respond better next time by taking them off the dribble. Tyus and Quinn are capable of that. Last night, neither played anywhere close to their capabilities.

 

[kailman]

Last night Quinn played at times like he did last year. He forced shots and many of those shots were not even close. Maybe like some one said he was ill. But he just did not resemble the all American he looked like THE ENTIRE YEAR. We will make a run. I have confidence in them. They've had a great year and I expect it to continue.

 

[Crank_it_loud]

You're right if they catch fire they will be near unstoppable, but if they go cold, they'll go home.

 

[ridgewaydevil]

Tired thats BS. Look what the holes are doing. This will be there 4th straight game tonight. Hopefully they come out like duke did.