Our past two games...

[diehardDUKIEnKY]

Sooo I went to the game last night -still on cloud 9 - and after high fiving every Duke fan I passed on the way out while asking them each “Who run it?” - I had this little nugget of a thought...

Where does the magnitude of what our last two games were in their totality rank in your history as a Diehard Duke fan (excluding any tournaments pre, post, and regular season)?

Saturday we scored 81 points on the road against Virginia (the most points scored there in a DECADE) and beat the number 3 team in the country while leading the entire game literally from tip to buzzer! A game btw in which we were the underdogs (they must not have heard Quinn Cook!). Now let us flash forward to Tuesday night in Louisville, KY when we are being slaughtered by the #16 team in the country- down by as many as 23 points with less than nine and a half minutes to go, again, ON THE ROAD! We end up doing what few people outside of us diehard Duke fans thought we could do and end up winning the game - all with our once in a generation player on the floor for the final ten minutes with FOUR FOULS. Doing so while essentially playing small ball with J-Gold even guarding the final shot - a group of five that hadn’t played ANY meaningful minutes together for the entire season up until that moment.

So all of the above was what had me pondering and thinking, when taking all of the above (and soooo much more I didn’t include) into consideration where does this two game stretch rank in your lifetime as a Diehard Duke fan???

Really looking forward to yalls feedback for this two game stretch and any others that come to mind which you find comparable.

Let’s Go Duke and as always GO TO HELL CAROLINA, GO TO HELL!!!

 

[OldasdirtDevil]

I think it's hard to rank these games in historical context while we're basking in the glow of such an emotional high. But...it's pretty impressive anyway you cut it.

OFC

 

[Canadian Dukie]

Very impressive 2 games,beating a very good Virginia team at home,then a historic comeback at Louisville ,,but for me March/April is when games go to the top of my list.

 

[Thinkpositivepc2]

These two games meant so much more for the future. Duke is starting to hit its stride with 7 games left in the regular season. We've been battle tested on and off the court this year... and so far we are 22-2 with only losses to a team that shot LIGHTS out (still had a chance to win) and a game without two pivotal players that were basically game time changes (not planned).

So if anything, this stretch ranks at the top of the list because it is starting to show that this team puts up another National Championship Banner.

 

[LetsGoDukies]

I've never experienced such a swing of emotions over the course of 2 games. Super high to super low to super high again! It was crazy!

 

[Smythe13]

Good query by the OP and thoughts by everyone to this point. My thought is how do they come out Saturday against NC State and each game after that. Where are they mentally. Did they wake up to find they are the eyes of the world and need to be focused from the start? This 6 game stretch is preparation for the ACC and NCAA tourney. They are improving and keep coming together.

 

[diehardDUKIEnKY]

Greatly appreciate all the feedback and I am waiting with baited breath to see what we look like on Saturday!!!

 

[df64]

What effect does the comeback have on this team ? Does it give a sense of overconfidence that leads to less inspired play at times with the thought that they can just flip the switch whenever they need to and dig out of whatever hole they dug? Lets hope not. Does it teach a positive lesson in that if they dont come to play every time out they can get blown out- even by a team that is not as good ss them? Hope so. That plus never give up and fight to the end.

 

[BeerPoisoning]

I know this answer I’m about to give kind of stretches the question because it’s not solely about Duke - but since it resulted in a national championship, it’s my favorite.

2015 final four. Deserving and happy to be there but absolutely mortified of playing Kentucky. As a Duke fan I feel stupid about admitting that but let’s be real, UK was insanely stacked and undefeated. I live in Indiana, my mom is from Lexington and half of my family lives there. I’m surrounded by UK fans based on my location and family tree. I’d rather Duke be knocked out before the title game than actually lose to UK in the championship. Duke / MSU play the first game. Never a doubt, Duke wins. I was head over heels ecstatic but I also felt like I could throw up at the same time because no way Wisconsin was beating Kentucky. Hold my beer. When that Harrison twin missed the 3pointer with 7 seconds left and Wisconsin rebounded it up 4 points, I knew it was over. I’ve never emotionally gotten so much into watching a team that isn’t Duke. National championship game! Duke and Wisconsin. Tied after the first half. Koenig comes out with a chip on his shoulder and drops 10 points himself the first 6 minutes into the 2nd half, along with the other scoring on both sides we’re in a 9 point deficit. We’re cold, Wisconsin has momentum. Coach K calls a timeout and Grayson enters the game. Immediately hits a 3, gets a steal and lays in a +1 in a matter of literally 30 seconds. The game is neck and neck up until about 2 minutes left and Duke gets a 5 point lead, Tyus virtually seals the deal with his 3 pointer to push the lead to 8 with just over a minute remaining and Duke wins their 5th title. Of course the victory would have been even SWEETER if Duke were the ones to stop Kentucky’s perfect season at the last game. Could of happened! But I know one thing, I did not want to experience the agony of that defeat, which could of also happened.

Anyway - I’m glad you had fun at the Duke / Louisville game. Guess what? I was there too!!!!!!!!!! I’ve been to 14 Duke games in my life. I know that’s not an impressive amount or anything, but not bad for a 27 year old who isn’t rich living in Indiana. I’ve been to Cameron once, I usually see Duke when they come up around my area (if I can afford it.) and I have to say of the 14 games I’ve been to — This one was EASILY my favorite. When L’Ville hit that 3 to go up 23 points I looked over at my girlfriend and told her it was over. Duke knocked it to 14 points with about 6 1/2 minutes left and I said, “well this is kind of crazy but I say to have a miracle of hope they need to cut the lead to 8 by the 4 minute mark.” Sure enough, right at the 4 minute mark Cam hit 2 FTs to cut the lead to 7. Duke had momentum. I said, “We’re about to get our money’s worth out of these tickets.” Just what a game, man!!!

 

[hart2chesson]

Really there was so much HISTORY packed into those two games....For instance;

When's the last time a Bennett coached UVA TEAM TRAILED START TO FINISH AT HOME???

I think it was like the first time one of his UVA teams GAVE UP that many points at home???

The Louisville game of course is OFF THE CHARTS w/various records in terms of comebacks....

Obviously these two stand out, but would mean SO MUCH MORE if we cut em down 1st Monday nite in April!

OFC