It's not so much I think there were "____" better teams, Vito. I just think Coach K gets 110% out of his teams. And, I think that's rare. Can I name several teams that I think are better than Duke? On any given night.......I think there are several. Duke; UNC; UK; KS; (___); get the other team's best EVERY night. It kills me to see a team like MD beat Duke on a January Sunday,......and lose the next night to Bethune-Cookman. You don't ever see the teams listed above do that. To me, that's what separates K from a LOT of other coaches. He knows how to prepare his team for this scenario. Big time effort, every time you touch the floor. I don't see anyone else doing this year in and year out. And, make no mistake, Duke gets this treatment (everyone's best) EVERY SINGLE SEASON. There are no "off" years at Duke, where teams who beat them don't think they beat "Duke" (mighty or not). So....do I personally think they had top 5 talent? With Irving - Yes. Do I think they had the best team in the country? No. They had weaknesses that were exposed all season. Do I think K got the most out of this team? It's not what Duke fans have grown to expect. But heck....who else expects a final four EVERY YEAR? Duke fans are spoiled. REALLY spoiled.
I guess I don't understand. Are we talking top 5 on paper, or top 5 in what actually counts...the games played? Would the Patriots not be considered a top 5 team in the NFL because they get the most out of their players? No way they are a top 5 team on paper.
Who cares Duke is sitting at home with the rest of the losers I would have been cheering for Duke if I had them in my final 4.
I think its the lack of "star" players this year. You can look at a team and think they aren't that good when comparing them to college teams in years past. Its just not what we are used to seeing. If you compare them to how other teams have played this year, they measure up pretty well. Kyrie Irving could very well be the number one pick in this year's draft. A freshman who didn't play for 3 months this season. He's very good, don't get me wrong, but there was a serious lack of top level talent this year. I think that proves it.
Dang. I went to bed last night and didn't watch the second set of games. Shake up in brackett city while I slept. LOL
My guess is.... the way everything is shaking up....and the way they're playing.... UNC wins it all in a cake walk. They're the best team playing right now. If they play anywhere close to how they did last night no one will stay with them.
Everyone said that about OSU until they faced UK defense. Our top 4 offensive players ALL had off nights scoring in the single digits and we STILL beat the number 1 seed who was playing like an NBA team entering the game. (Yes Jeff, I used we for your satisfaction) UNC may win, but tomorrow should be an amazing game. If anyone has had a cakewalk to the finals, it would be Kansas. Playing a 16, 9, 12, 11, and 8 seed to reach the final game...has that ever even happened before? That would be one sweet draw as a KU fan.
I think Kentucky is the best team remaining. I've said it all along since the brackets came out that they are NOT a 4 seed. They are rolling right now. Won their conferece tournament, knock of the #1 team in the tourney........ UNC has their hands full today. I think Kentucky will handle them. Carolina simply isn't as good as they appear. I've been seeing the same recurring trend over and over and it's going to catch up with them when they run into a top team (ex: Duke in acc championship). They turn it over way too much, can NOT defend the perimeter and give up too many second chance opportunities. Every game...... same deal. Good teams just won't let them get away with it. But I'm satisfied either way with the season. They've gone a lot farther than I thought they would have.
Guys, it's good to see that you have been busy screwing your bracketts up. I have monitored you from afar and let me tell you that your sub-par performances were not only expected, but anticipated. Being nearly flawless with the ability to see it unfold in my minds eye well before the ink hits the paper does promote a difinate advantage. Nonetheless, it is what it is and I can only hope you will not well up with bitterness but embrace, caress, and absorb. Best of luck, and well wishes. BottomCatMeowMeow
This VCU team is shaping up to be a pretty good March Madness story. All the experts said they shouldn't even be in the tournament. They had to play a play in game and now they're up 7 on Kansas half way through the first half. That would be quite a story... "Shouldn't be in and go to the Final Four" Probably won't happen.... but right now they're playing Giant Killer. The took out Georgetown, Perdue, Florida State etc. It's a grazy game for sure. They lost 11 games in the regular season. LOL
