ACCT early exit

[Laettner]

I have absolutely zero problem losing Wed or Thurs, no need to make a run in ACCT & tire our six players legs out even more. The real games start on 3/17.

With tourney in DC there is absolutely no buzz for games, half the teams in conference didn't sell out ticket allotments. Hopefully Brooklyn will bring more buzz next year.

 

[TWARedRaider01]

I 100% agree, I said the same thing last year. I wasn't at all upset about the ND loss in the tourney, if anything it gave us more rest.

 

[DukeDenver]

I say we zone up, play the bench more and shoot threes. If we win, we win. If we lose, we rest and gameplan. Let's go Duke!

 

[pisgah101]

I want to win

 

[BOOGIEMAN1914]

I want to win

DITTO

 

[nets on nets on nets]

WE MUST BEAT NOTRE DAME. We are 1-4 in our last 5 against them. I WANT TO DESTROY THEM.

 

[Crank_it_loud]

Duke goes down to ND. Something about this ND team is like Kryptonite for Duke. Colson will play like an AA against Duke and go 20 and 10. Hope I am wrong!

 

[dukedevilz]

I hate to bring the "would you rather" game, but it seems appropriate in the context of the ACC Tournament. Would you rather beat ND and advance to the Semifinals and then lose to Carolina again, or would prefer to lose to Notre Dame in the Quarterfinals? Granted we'd have to win on Wednesday first, but let's assume we win on Wednesday.

 

[nets on nets on nets]

I hate to bring the "would you rather" game, but it seems appropriate in the context of the ACC Tournament. Would you rather beat ND and advance to the Semifinals and then lose to Carolina again, or would prefer to lose to Notre Dame in the Quarterfinals? Granted we'd have to win on Wednesday first, but let's assume we win on Wednesday.

Beat ND and lose to NC, everyday of the week.

 

[pisgah101]

If we beat ND I think we beat UNC

 

[dukiejay]

I'd rather beat ND and UNC. Consolation prizes do nothing for me. The ACCT can be a very good barometer for young teams putting it together at the right time. That said, I'm not ready to look past State or Wake right now. This Duke team can't afford to overlook anybody.

 

[AlanInNJ]

Call me selfish, but I want to win both tournaments. Is that realistic??? No, but as a fan I always want Duke to win. For the ACCT I would love to beat Wake, and then beat ND to get to UNC. I would love to see what kinds of adjustments Coach K would make on the third game against UNC. How would he counter the rebounding of UNC?

For the NCAAT you just never know what will happen. Sure it seems like a long shot, but I really feel that if we can get thru the first weekend we will have some time to prepare for the S16. I guarantee that IF we get to the S16 there is not a team in the country who wants to meet us there. Who knows? If we string a few good shooting games together anything could happen.

Go Duke.

Alan

 

[dbav]

I would like to see a good run. We've had seasons before where we wanted an early exit from the conference tournament and if I recall it has not worked out for us in the past. I think that it is possible the guys can get rusty after a long layoff like that.

Personally, I would like to see a good run. If we were able to win the conference tournament, there would be close to a week before the next game. Also, it appears obvious that K's scheduling was made for this type of situation. We played a lot of Saturday/Monday or Sunday/Tuesday games to get the kids ready for it.

I don't know why, but I feel like we've always done better in the NCAA tournament when we had a good showing in the ACC tournament first.

 

[GAAP_rivals]

If we beat ND I think we beat UNC

Playing for a 3rd consecutive day?

 

[hpnole]

Beat ND and lose to NC, everyday of the week.

not me, I never want to lose to the Tarholes . I don't know or have to listen to anyone from ND. High Point is full of Tarhole fans.

 

[pisgah101]

Playing for a 3rd consecutive day?

Deff. No layoff means no rust. I don't buy into the "tired legs" crap these guys are world class athletes that have been training and conditioning since Aug as a team and the ones that aren't freshmen since they arrived on campus. I guarantee you a normal practice takes more out of you than a 40 minute game with a halftime and multiple breaks

 

[dukiejay]

It's more the mental aspects in a tournament like this than the physical. It's about preparation and discipline. That said, with young teams that's sometime a difficult road block to overcome.

 

[cajenkins56]

I don't post often but I want us to win the ACC Tournament. I have been a Duke fan for years and I am finally getting to go the the ACCT. Excited is the word for me today. This team is tough and seeing them play 4 days in a row would be awesome. Go Duke!

 

[nets on nets on nets]

This is a random thought but how badly did the 2013 ACC Quarterfinals loss to Maryland stink.
Remember, we were a projected 1 seed. That loss knocked us down to a 2 seed, and we were put in Louisvilles bracket (We were ranked the best 2 seed, but due to "regionalizing," we got stuck in Indy) Louisville was an AWFUL matchup for us and we lost by 20. I thought Louisville was the only team we could not beat, there press overwhelmed us.
But what if we beat Maryland, get a 1 seed, and allow someone else to knock out Loserville.....................

 

[BluePhil]

Win!

 

[K-oach Q]

We don't have enough bodies to make a run from Wednesday to Saturday.

We will lose early (1 maybe 2) games and be done.

 

[HuffyJB]

This is a random thought but how badly did the 2013 ACC Quarterfinals loss to Maryland stink.
Remember, we were a projected 1 seed. That loss knocked us down to a 2 seed, and we were put in Louisvilles bracket (We were ranked the best 2 seed, but due to "regionalizing," we got stuck in Indy) Louisville was an AWFUL matchup for us and we lost by 20. I thought Louisville was the only team we could not beat, there press overwhelmed us.
But what if we beat Maryland, get a 1 seed, and allow someone else to knock out Loserville.....................

I know that under that scenario the hookers of Louisville would have had more free time...

 

[skysdad]

I want to play UNC again this year but it wouldn't break my heart if UNC never makes it to that point. OFC

 

[LetsGoDuke301]

Personally, I would be upset if we lost early. I get upset anytime we lose. I would much rather go all in for the ACC championship and then let the rest work itself out. I don't want to see a Miami, a Virginia, a Norte Dame win this thing and I sure as hell don't want to see a uNC win it. I want to see Duke win it. It's been long enough and it would mean a lot to this particular team to get one under their belt. The silver lining of them getting more rest can wait until after they give it their all for an ACCT title.

 

[dukiejay]

This is a random thought but how badly did the 2013 ACC Quarterfinals loss to Maryland stink.
Remember, we were a projected 1 seed. That loss knocked us down to a 2 seed, and we were put in Louisvilles bracket (We were ranked the best 2 seed, but due to "regionalizing," we got stuck in Indy) Louisville was an AWFUL matchup for us and we lost by 20. I thought Louisville was the only team we could not beat, there press overwhelmed us.
But what if we beat Maryland, get a 1 seed, and allow someone else to knock out Loserville.....................

That Maryland loss still stings, and it definitely knocked us off the 1-line. And we could have beaten Louisville --- we actually did in Atlantis that season --- but we weren't beating them on that day. They were damn good. Remarkably, that's the only time Coach K has lost in the Elite Eight. Everyone wrap their head around that for a second.

 

[LetsGoDuke301]

Remarkably, that's the only time Coach K has lost in the Elite Eight. Everyone wrap their head around that for a second.

Oh Dukiejay. I know I deserve a punch in the throat for bringing this up. But 1998 vs Kentucky. I don't live in the same house now. But I always wonder if those holes are still in the wall.

 

[HuffyJB]

Remarkably, that's the only time Coach K has lost in the Elite Eight. Everyone wrap their head around that for a second.

One of two - UK came from behind to beat Duke in the Elite 8 in 1998 on the way to Tubby's championship.

 

[LetsGoDuke301]

Totally beat you to it @HuffyJB

 

[HuffyJB]

Totally beat you to it @HuffyJB

Haha, you were quicker on the draw, you got me!

 

[pisgah101]

We were a leg break not happening away from win the ship that year. Pitino got them guys pumped and they played above what they would have

 

[DiehardDukeFan4Life]

I get the idea of wanting the team to not have tired legs going into the NCAAT but I think making a run in the ACCT could be beneficial in preparing for the NCAAT but by losing early in the ACCT the team could be cold/rusty from such a long break before the NCAAT

 

[Dukesince90]

Hell, you try to win them all! That's why you play the game. I don't buy the crap about saving your legs, we need the rest. These are young kids that recover quickly. I like playing and staying sharp and crisp. We will have at least 4 days to rest before the Big Dance.

 

[WI#1Dukie22]

We don't have enough bodies to make a run from Wednesday to Saturday.

We will lose early (1 maybe 2) games and be done.

How one could say such stupid sh$t is amazing, but then to speak in matter of fact terms. Your Fing special!!!

I heard UNC has a great swim team message board.....

We don't have enough bodies to be favored for a run, and I'm not sure a run would be best long term wise... That said I haven't seen enough of ANYTHING to count ANYTHING out, but then again I'm a Duke basketball fan

 

[K-oach Q]

How one could say such stupid sh$t is amazing, but then to speak in matter of fact terms. Your Fing special!!!

I heard UNC has a great swim team message board.....

We don't have enough bodies to be favored for a run, and I'm not sure a run would be best long term wise... That said I haven't seen enough of ANYTHING to count ANYTHING out, but then again I'm a Duke basketball fan

Actually UNC has continually underperformed for a decade under Deselm...Braydon Holloway and NC State rule ACC Swimming and message boards...so you heard wrong.

 

[WI#1Dukie22]

Thanks for that.... I was curious

 

[Laettner]

This is a random thought but how badly did the 2013 ACC Quarterfinals loss to Maryland stink.
Remember, we were a projected 1 seed. That loss knocked us down to a 2 seed, and we were put in Louisvilles bracket (We were ranked the best 2 seed, but due to "regionalizing," we got stuck in Indy) Louisville was an AWFUL matchup for us and we lost by 20. I thought Louisville was the only team we could not beat, there press overwhelmed us.
But what if we beat Maryland, get a 1 seed, and allow someone else to knock out Loserville.....................

This loss almost put me in mental hospital, blew a chance at FF.

 

[dukiejay]

Oh Dukiejay. I know I deserve a punch in the throat for bringing this up. But 1998 vs Kentucky. I don't live in the same house now. But I always wonder if those holes are still in the wall.

Good catch. I've mentally blocked that one out.

That night we had our fantasy baseball draft. My buddies knew I would be a little late because of the game. Well, up 17 with about 10 minutes left I decided it was safe to leave my house. Listened in the car and heard the lead slipping away. Watched the last two minutes at his house and proceeded to have the worst fantasy baseball team I've ever had. I was sick to my stomach the entire draft.

 

[dukedevilz]

UConn took the Big East Title a couple years ago by winning on five consecutive days - including four games against ranked opponents. Anything can happen. I always feel a little better about this team knowing that Grayson Allen will be going 100% full-throttle attack mode.

 

[HeLooks2MuchLikeDave]

Look, I think we all want Duke to have a glorious 4-day run to an ACC title. But I think some people are overlooking how difficult that is with 6 players (assuming no more injuries), a hobbled Matt Jones, and 5mpg from Jeter. Coach K isn't going to suddenly going to expand the bench, nor should he. We have all seen how difficult these Monday games have been (we are 1-2 in conference on Monday), and that is with 50-54 hours rest. It's unrealistic to think a young team with virtually no bench can win 4 days in a row against this competition. You saw in the Pitt game what mental fatigue can do. I've been saying this for weeks so people don't jump off a cliff when we lose on Wednesday or Thursday. We are much better positioned to make a run in the NCAAT than the ACCT.

 

[dukiejay]

Look, I think we all want Duke to have a glorious 4-day run to an ACC title. But I think some people are overlooking how difficult that is with 6 players (assuming no more injuries), a hobbled Matt Jones, and 5mpg from Jeter. Coach K isn't going to suddenly going to expand the bench, nor should he. We have all seen how difficult these Monday games have been (we are 1-2 in conference on Monday), and that is with 50-54 hours rest. It's unrealistic to think a young team with virtually no bench can win 4 days in a row against this competition. You saw in the Pitt game what mental fatigue can do. I've been saying this for weeks so people don't jump off a cliff when we lose on Wednesday or Thursday. We are much better positioned to make a run in the NCAAT than the ACCT.

It's hard to argue any of those points. Winning two or three is going to be a tall order, let alone winning four. That said, this team has proven that they're mentally tough. I'll hold out hope, but if I'm betting I tend to side with you in regards to us winning the ACCT.