Bracketology IS important!!!

[PatrickYates]

@FearTheBeard

A+ in creativity.
Level headed fan is arguing that we’re the best team in the nation? Lol - I don’t think anyone on this board thinks we aren’t.

Agreed. But people are acting as though we are unbeatable if healthy. Gonzaga proved differently. A 100% Duke team had to shoot nearly twice its season average from 3 to beat UVA (on the road, I'll admit).
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I'd rather have the best possible Seed in the NCAAT, in the east regional. If we can get to the FF, I'll like our chances.

 

[BeerPoisoning]

Every fanbase does things like this when it comes to an early loss because if they believe their team is much better later in the season they don't care about an early season loss. It happened but so what. It's not that we're unbeatable. It's that we have the best team and should win if we play up to our ability. It's basketball. Make or miss game. This is why you have so many upsets in basketball as opposed to football. We won't get an easy path to the title regardless. 1 seed doesn't matter. We would end up having to play a good 2-seed any to get to the final four so who cares. We bring our A-game and we beat everyone. I'm almost positive we are one of maybe 2 teams in the country that can go in Charlottesville and win. By double digits at that. So that's why I could care less about a seed. Just get us there. Hell being an underdog puts a chip on their shoulder. That might be best for these young kids

I do think we are a better team now vs then, but I also think Gonzaga could probably say the same about themselves. So that theory debunks. I normally don’t consider losses as flukes but the 1st half and first 5 minutes of 2nd they were shooting like 70% overall, and we weren’t playing bad defense. Felt like they made everything even against strong contests. They were normal the final 15 minutes and we overcame a double digit deficit with a chance (or 5) to win. But I will say that if I choose to use the fluke logic, I also need to apply it to wins. 23 point comeback on the road to a ranked team won’t happen twice either.

I get that 1 and 2 seeds play each other regardless but the group of 3 seeds have a couple contenders, while the 4’s are way less of a threat. It takes 6 games to win, it won’t be easy no matter what region or seed we place, but I like the idea of potentially having an easier path. No sense in handicapping ourselves.

Agreed. But people are acting as though we are unbeatable if healthy. Gonzaga proved differently. A 100% Duke team had to shoot nearly twice its season average from 3 to beat UVA (on the road, I'll admit).
.
I'd rather have the best possible Seed in the NCAAT, in the east regional. If we can get to the FF, I'll like our chances.

Good post, I agree. Every team is on upset alert after the first weekend. Bring your best effort or go home. I like our chances period but a #1 seed in the East would make me happy.

 

[retiredsoldier]

Every fanbase does things like this when it comes to an early loss because if they believe their team is much better later in the season they don't care about an early season loss. It happened but so what. It's not that we're unbeatable. It's that we have the best team and should win if we play up to our ability. It's basketball. Make or miss game. This is why you have so many upsets in basketball as opposed to football. We won't get an easy path to the title regardless. 1 seed doesn't matter. We would end up having to play a good 2-seed any to get to the final four so who cares. We bring our A-game and we beat everyone. I'm almost positive we are one of maybe 2 teams in the country that can go in Charlottesville and win. By double digits at that. So that's why I could care less about a seed. Just get us there. Hell being an underdog puts a chip on their shoulder. That might be best for these young kids

Awesome post. I totally agree with everything you said. I haven't and never will care about the seed and location. Reminds me of RR and their ignorant claim that Duke was handed the 2010 and 2015 title because they lost before getting a chance to play Duke. Regardless of any teams seed, or any location, I'll take a healthy Duke team all day. And by thinking this way, doesn't mean they are bulletproof.

 

[retiredsoldier]

Come on now... Really?
We have the best team in the nation but you’re acting like we’re bulletproof. Nobody is bulletproof and winning 6 straight games against everyone’s best effort isn’t a cakewalk. If you want to cast a vote for 1/2 being the same, you’re entitled to that. But noting that you wouldn’t care if they were a play-in game is just ignorant.

Aside from the seeding standpoint - Don’t you think that finishing strong in the regular season and ACC is valuable in terms of building confidence and going into tournament playing our best basketball? “Come out flat and see what happens” leads to telling me that you think it’s valuable.

I wasn't going to respond to this post but think I need to. First I didn't mention anywhere in my post about Duke being bulletproof. Read the post! I don't need you or anybody else telling me what im acting like. Second, you may want to refrain from telling me what I'm entitled too, or what ever I think, which is my thoughts on a situation, is ignorant. I've never said anybodys thoughts are dumb, ignorant or what another grown human is entitled too. If we don't get along on here that fine, but what I'm not going to do is allow you or anybody else to talk down to what I post by saying it's ignorant. Just because people have a difference of opinion, the comments should show a little more respect of just that.

 

[LouisiAaron]

Agreed. But people are acting as though we are unbeatable if healthy. Gonzaga proved differently. A 100% Duke team had to shoot nearly twice its season average from 3 to beat UVA (on the road, I'll admit).
.
I'd rather have the best possible Seed in the NCAAT, in the east regional. If we can get to the FF, I'll like our chances.

A 100% Duke does what it has to do to get wins. In our big road games, we have shot the ball very well from the perimeter. Hell in all of our biggest games away from home we have shot the ball very well. That's not a fluke if it keeps happening. Even against Va Tech, we shot 50% from the field. Just had a bad defensive night. I don't know why some of you keep accusing people of saying we're unbeatable. We're saying if we play to our best and give our best effort then the chances of someone beating us is slim. It could happen but I wouldn't bet my money on it

 

[LouisiAaron]

I do think we are a better team now vs then, but I also think Gonzaga could probably say the same about themselves. So that theory debunks. I normally don’t consider losses as flukes but the 1st half and first 5 minutes of 2nd they were shooting like 70% overall, and we weren’t playing bad defense. Felt like they made everything even against strong contests. They were normal the final 15 minutes and we overcame a double digit deficit with a chance (or 5) to win. But I will say that if I choose to use the fluke logic, I also need to apply it to wins. 23 point comeback on the road to a ranked team won’t happen twice either.

I get that 1 and 2 seeds play each other regardless but the group of 3 seeds have a couple contenders, while the 4’s are way less of a threat. It takes 6 games to win, it won’t be easy no matter what region or seed we place, but I like the idea of potentially having an easier path. No sense in handicapping ourselves.

I'm sure Gonzaga will say that as well. But like I said I don't care what seed we are in. It'll be a better story if we make it through the gaunlet. I bet the players aren't looking for an easy path. We want to beat the best and earn it the hard way

 

[LouisiAaron]

No such thing as an easy path. 16 seeds aren't what they used to be. And just when you think it's easy a 7 seed can get hot and wipe u out

 

[BeerPoisoning]

I wasn't going to respond to this post but think I need to. First I didn't mention anywhere in my post about Duke being bulletproof. Read the post! I don't need you or anybody else telling me what im acting like. Second, you may want to refrain from telling me what I'm entitled too, or what ever I think, which is my thoughts on a situation, is ignorant. I've never said anybodys thoughts are dumb, ignorant or what another grown human is entitled too. If we don't get along on here that fine, but what I'm not going to do is allow you or anybody else to talk down to what I post by saying it's ignorant. Just because people have a difference of opinion, the comments should show a little more respect of just that.

I know that you didn’t use the exact word, but I do know that you love these guys / want them to win. Suggesting you’d be ok with the most improbable odds against them as a play-in naturally leads me the idea that you find them bulletproof. I’m not trying to play semantics, but being entitled to your opinion literally means nobody has the right to stop you from thinking and expressing whatever you want. I wasn’t being snide and I’m not sure how you took that one negatively. It’s a common phrase man.

We have had some not so heart-warming conversations on here but I’d like to think that the one positive thing you can say about me is that I’ve been respectful to you. Might have smarted off a couple times (as you also have) but I’ve never attacked or disrespected you. I don’t want to offend you and I will sincerely apologize if you feel disrespected. But, I do think that saying “they can play in the play-in game for all I care” is silly. (I’ll change my word choice) — Maybe you were making it purposely dramatic to cement your opinion that seeding doesn’t matter. But if you honestly wouldn’t be cussing under your breath at that one, we are more much more different than I imagined.

 

[retiredsoldier]

I know that you didn’t use the exact word, but I do know that you love these guys / want them to win. Suggesting you’d be ok with the most improbable odds against them as a play-in naturally leads me the idea that you find them bulletproof. I’m not trying to play semantics, but being entitled to your opinion literally means nobody has the right to stop you from thinking and expressing whatever you want. I wasn’t being snide and I’m not sure how you took that one negatively. It’s a common phrase man.

We have had some not so heart-warming conversations on here but I’d like to think that the one positive thing you can say about me is that I’ve been respectful to you. Might have smarted off a couple times (as you also have) but I’ve never attacked or disrespected you. I don’t want to offend you and I will sincerely apologize if you feel disrespected. But, I do think that saying “they can play in the play-in game for all I care” is silly. (I’ll change my word choice) — Maybe you were making it purposely dramatic to cement your opinion that seeding doesn’t matter. But if you honestly wouldn’t be cussing under your breath at that one, we are more much more different than I imagined.

We good man. Some of the rough starts usually ends up being some of the best endings. You alright with me man. Heck I may even get a chance to meet you and buy you a soda since I don't drink lol.

 

[BeerPoisoning]

We good man. Some of the rough starts usually ends up being some of the best endings. You alright with me man. Heck I may even get a chance to meet you and buy you a soda since I don't drink lol.

The sun is rising in the West, pigs are flying and water is running up-hill

I figured we’d either randomly exchange smart remarks with each other every few weeks or kick the BS to the side. Glad it’s the 2nd one.

Make it a Dr Pepper, throw some cherries in it for decoration. This calls for celebration.

 

[PatrickYates]

A 100% Duke does what it has to do to get wins. In our big road games, we have shot the ball very well from the perimeter. Hell in all of our biggest games away from home we have shot the ball very well. That's not a fluke if it keeps happening. Even against Va Tech, we shot 50% from the field. Just had a bad defensive night. I don't know why some of you keep accusing people of saying we're unbeatable. We're saying if we play to our best and give our best effort then the chances of someone beating us is slim. It could happen but I wouldn't bet my money on it

Fine. You aren't saying we are unbeatable. But you all are significantly overestimating how hard it would be to beat a healthy Duke team. There are 5+ teams that can play well enough to beat Duke if we are healthy and play fairly well. Folks are acting like it would take a miracle to beat us, and that is also assuming that we have a bad game collectively.

 

[Alaskan_Assassin_21]

I agree with the argument: health over seeding. But this is a 3 week Tournament. Chances are eventually someone will get a bump or bruise and that is precisely when you want seeding to fall in your advantage. Or heck role players revert back to their season long inconsistent output.

And ultimately only 1 single school will raise the NCAA trophy. You fight for every available trophy along the way. So in a hypothetical I would play a 75% healthy Zion in an ACCCG and risk him for the ensuing Tournament.

 

[LouisiAaron]

Fine. You aren't saying we are unbeatable. But you all are significantly overestimating how hard it would be to beat a healthy Duke team. There are 5+ teams that can play well enough to beat Duke if we are healthy and play fairly well. Folks are acting like it would take a miracle to beat us, and that is also assuming that we have a bad game collectively.

It would take the other team we’re playing A-game to beat us. No one will beat us at full strength with a B-game. That’s not happening

 

[DukeRulesBasketball]

Right now, Lunardi has Duke #1 seed in the south region with Michigan State as our 2 seed, which isn’t bad but the first weekend games would be in Columbia SC where there are a lot of UNC fans. Then the sweet sixteen and elite games would be in Louisville and I wonder what fan base would show up to the yum center to give us a nice warm welcome

 

[retiredsoldier]

Right now, Lunardi has Duke #1 seed in the south region with Michigan State as our 2 seed, which isn’t bad but the first weekend games would be in Columbia SC where there are a lot of UNC fans. Then the sweet sixteen and elite games would be in Louisville and I wonder what fan base would show up to the yum center to give us a nice warm welcome

Redemption tour with a "you remember us" appearance sprinkled in.

 

[dukegrad02]

Right now, Lunardi has Duke #1 seed in the south region with Michigan State as our 2 seed, which isn’t bad but the first weekend games would be in Columbia SC where there are a lot of UNC fans. Then the sweet sixteen and elite games would be in Louisville and I wonder what fan base would show up to the yum center to give us a nice warm welcome

I would be fine with that draw. I only see #1 seed in the South being bad if Kentucky is the #2.

 

[LouisiAaron]

I would be fine with that draw. I only see #1 seed in the South being bad if Kentucky is the #2.

Still isn’t bad. First game of the season was pretty much a UK home game and we stomped them. Plus they lost to LSU at home. Not worried about UK at all. They don’t match up well with us

 

[christophero]

I agree that seeding doesn't matter as much as getting Zion back before the ACC tournament so he can be 100 percent before the big dance. I can live with us being a 2 seed with a healthy Zion, even if we're the 2 seed out west. I think the UNC game determines if we're a one or a two.

 

[jeans15]

Carolina’s title run in 17 was a frickin’ cakewalk!!!

I understand that THOSE kinds of easy paths don’t happen lol. I said I want an easier path!

How was beating Kentucky, Oregon , Gonzaga a cakewalk.....If not Oregon, Kansas.

That team just got a lot of breaks.

Which you need to win a championship.