Haven't posted in a long while and after tonight I felt the urge to. As fans we are often caught up in the lofty expectations of our storied program. We get hyped for players, teams, and the aspirations of winning a national championship. Each year I try to temper my expectations because I end up just feeling lost in March when it doesn't work out. Allen's shot rolling out last year will haunt me until the day I die. Hell, I can remember balling my eyes out on championship game night when we lost to UCONN in '99. It's unrealistic to think we can win every year. But I can remember all of the times we came oh so dang close. That said, this team was the first time since probably '04 that I thought we could finish 17-1 in conference play and 38-2 with a title win. I had that feeling in '99 too. All this talent and the GOAT was just too much for me not to get hyped up.
The fact that we've had two freak injuries at home early on in games just astounds me. I don't even have the words to truly describe what tonight has been like. To be so excited for this game and knowing this team had a chance to really blow the doors off of the tarholes tonight only to see it ripped away absolutely took air out of my sails and I am certain everyone else's on this board as well. Bilas said we looked, "shell shocked", and I think that is an apt description of what we saw from this team tonight. They fought. But it was just too much to overcome. CIS was different after Zion went down. Hell, even Ole Roy knows it was a different game without Zion. He said as much in his press conference.
Now, Coach K has said it is a mild knee sprain. Let's hope the MRI gives us even better news tomorrow and Zion is back healthy with his brothers in no time. Until then, this team will regroup with the help of Coach K and his staff. There is fight in this group. They will rise to the challenge and fight. I still believe in this team and I still believe in Coach K. These kids will not give up. I don't know if we can win a national championship without Zion. That said, I will support the hell out of these dang kids either way. All of my prayers are with Zion and his family right now. And with the brotherhood. Let's hope we get good news tomorrow and keep fighting fellow Dukies!
The fact that we've had two freak injuries at home early on in games just astounds me. I don't even have the words to truly describe what tonight has been like. To be so excited for this game and knowing this team had a chance to really blow the doors off of the tarholes tonight only to see it ripped away absolutely took air out of my sails and I am certain everyone else's on this board as well. Bilas said we looked, "shell shocked", and I think that is an apt description of what we saw from this team tonight. They fought. But it was just too much to overcome. CIS was different after Zion went down. Hell, even Ole Roy knows it was a different game without Zion. He said as much in his press conference.
Now, Coach K has said it is a mild knee sprain. Let's hope the MRI gives us even better news tomorrow and Zion is back healthy with his brothers in no time. Until then, this team will regroup with the help of Coach K and his staff. There is fight in this group. They will rise to the challenge and fight. I still believe in this team and I still believe in Coach K. These kids will not give up. I don't know if we can win a national championship without Zion. That said, I will support the hell out of these dang kids either way. All of my prayers are with Zion and his family right now. And with the brotherhood. Let's hope we get good news tomorrow and keep fighting fellow Dukies!
