Duke in NCAAs

[bgs06758]

What is everyone’s gut on how they do? Is this another 2nd/3rd round loss for K or will they go Elite / Final 4. A lot will depend on their draw but this team has been tough to figure out. Sometimes they remind me of last years team or 2014 team and sometimes they remind me of the 2015 team

 

[LetsGoDuke301]

I like this team better now than I did just two weeks ago. But I am still nervous about playing teams that make a lot of threes. All it takes is for one team to shoot lights out and it's over.

Guard play will be everything.Duke usually has long tournament runs when they have legit bigs. So if Allen plays strong and Duvall is under control, I think a FF is the least we should expect.


*disclaimer* That is not a prediction more than it is what should be expected with this much talent.

 

[ChiTownSean]

Championship hopes for sure. Agree with Duvall being key and then running into a hot shooting team but that part can apply to every contender.

 

[RR30]

I'd say this team is closer to 2016 than 2015. Tyus Jones is miles better than Duval at point and they don't have a series) a guy as versatile as Winslow. That being said they are still the most talented team in the country and have 2-3 of the top 20 players in the country.

 

[bgs06758]

I'd say this team is closer to 2016 than 2015. Tyus Jones is miles better than Duval at point and they don't have a series) a guy as versatile as Winslow. That being said they are still the most talented team in the country and have 2-3 of the top 20 players in the country.

I wasn’t talking personnel wise just based on their record, and the way they’ve grinded out a bunch of tough victories

 

[JimboBBN]

The field isn't a strong one, so they have that going for them. Should be a Final Four team.

 

[bignish]

I'd say this team is closer to 2016 than 2015. Tyus Jones is miles better than Duval at point and they don't have a series) a guy as versatile as Winslow. That being said they are still the most talented team in the country and have 2-3 of the top 20 players in the country.

We started Matt Jones, a freshman Luke Kennard, Brandon Ingram and an undersized Amile Jefferson/Marshall Plumlee in 2016.

You're saying this team with Bagley, Carter and Trent reminds you of of that team? RollLaugh

 

[bgs06758]

I'd say this team is closer to 2016 than 2015. Tyus Jones is miles better than Duval at point and they don't have a series) a guy as versatile as Winslow. That being said they are still the most talented team in the country and have 2-3 of the top 20 players in the country.

We started Matt Jones, a freshman Luke Kennard, Brandon Ingram and an undersized Amile Jefferson/Marshall Plumlee in 2016.

You're saying this team with Bagley, Carter and Trent reminds you of of that team? RollLaugh

Jefferson didn’t even play after December IIRC

 

[RR30]

We started Matt Jones, a freshman Luke Kennard, Brandon Ingram and an undersized Amile Jefferson/Marshall Plumlee in 2016.

You're saying this team with Bagley, Carter and Trent reminds you of of that team? RollLaugh

Sorry I meant last year. Fat fingers and all that. There is no perfect like for like comparison with this Duke team. Carter and Bagley are the best two bigs K has had since Brand? But the guard play is still lacking and you've become a zone only team on the defensive end.

 

[Montana81]

If they get a 1 seed they'll be in the final four. Anything less than a 1 seed and I think their ceiling is an E8. JMO.

 

[Quavarius]

Sorry I meant last year. Fat fingers and all that. There is no perfect like for like comparison with this Duke team. Carter and Bagley are the best two bigs K has had since Brand? But the guard play is still lacking and you've become a zone only team on the defensive end.

Some people seem to forget K went to zone in 2015. Not as much as this season, but 2015 was a zone team as well.

 

[Quavarius]

If they get a 1 seed they'll be in the final four. Anything less than a 1 seed and I think their ceiling is an E8. JMO.

I'm still unsure if I prefer the 1-seed out west or the 2-seed in the East. I still don't know which one I'd prefer at this time.

 

[RR30]

Some people seem to forget K went to zone in 2015. Not as much as this season, but 2015 was a zone team as well.

Duke plays zone as much as Syracuse does at this point. 2015 wasn't nearly that much. I don't think you have someone like Winslow on this team either. He was extremely versatile on the defensive end.

 

[Quavarius]

Duke plays zone as much as Syracuse does at this point. 2015 wasn't nearly that much. I don't think you have someone like Winslow on this team either. He was extremely versatile on the defensive end.

Yes, more than 2015. But some think this is the first time Duke has played zone this much. Heck, lots of teams are playing more zone now. Zone is THIS team's best defense.

 

[Dattier]

There have been too many stumbles this season for me to really, truly, deeply confident in our FF chances. It seems more likely to me that we'll get surprised in the 2nd round or Sweet 16. We certainly have the ability to win it all, but guard play isn't our strength, and that tends to be the most important thing in March.

 

[Tar Heel Gone Duck]

Since big guys can win it for you in the FF, ie, shooters have a hard time in domes, if they get to the FF, they could win it. At the same time, with all those yungin's, they could easily get picked off along the way.

 

[Montana81]

I'm still unsure if I prefer the 1-seed out west or the 2-seed in the East. I still don't know which one I'd prefer at this time.

You guys haven't been to a final four without a 1 seed in nearly a quarter century. I'd want the one seed.

 

[LetsGoDuke301]

You guys haven't been to a final four without a 1 seed in nearly a quarter century. I'd want the one seed.

Never been to the Final Four out of the west bracket.

 

[Montana81]

Never been to the Final Four out of the west bracket.

Touchè

 

[Quavarius]

Touchè

I think I'll take the 2-seed. We did win it all as a 2 in '91

 

[UNC71-00]

The field isn't a strong one, so they have that going for them. Should be a Final Four team.

Anything less than a national championship would be an underachievement.

 

[JimboBBN]

Anything less than a national championship would be an underachievement.

Not sure I would go that far. I dont even think they’re the best team in the country. But for pressure’s sake I will agree

 

[Bigblueforever]

I think this year National championship is wide open for 10 to 12 Teams.

 

[mrchmadness23]

Anything less than a national championship would be an underachievement.

That's every year though.