🏀 KuBuckets Archive

They had to make sure Duke made it to the final weekend -

!dukesautobahn.jpg ↗

We were in Lunardi's South region until we let ISU come back and beat us.

I really try not to get into the NCAA this, NCAA that type of thing. But over the years, I'm sure influenced by media types, it appears that Duke and UNC get favorable paths.

I actually read an article yesterday that proclaimed Dukes incredibly tough road to Indy, I think it was Seth Davis who argued this path was fraught with peril:

Rd 1, a gimmee with N. Florida or RMU (Robert Mason?)

rd 2 SD State or St. Johns SD State can be a tough team we all know here, but that was a year ago, I think they've dropped off. (didn't we used to have someone over on KUSports who was a big SD state fan as well? I forget who it was)

rd 3 Utah, GTown or the 12/13 seeds

Rd 4 Gonzaga, ISU, or other lesser teams.

Gonzaga a 2 seed? I doubt they'll survive that long. I'm kind of tired of Gonzaga. They're a major wannabe that gets seeded highly every year and well, almost became a historical footnote when they barely beat Southern as a 1 seed. This year same thing. Gonzaga, if they played in a major conference would be a 4 or 5 seed because they'd have more than a few losses. ISU, if the seeds work out will run them out of the gym.

ISU-Duke will be Dukes toughest test in that region. I think ISU could've been a 2 and us a 3. In fact it's too bad it didn't happen because maybe we'd have an easier path to the final 4.

The thing I'm hoping for with Duke is since their last championship against Butler (why o why couldn't that half court shot gone in?!!) they have not been very impressive teams in the tourney. So I'm looking for another early flameout, certainly not 1st round, but maybe SD State or Utah?

@wissoxfan83

If Duke and Gonzaga make it to the Elite 8, I will take Gonzaga over Duke.

@wissoxfan83 unc sure had a tough road playing KU!!!

@JayHawkFanToo

Really? I saw Gonzaga a couple of times including their loss at home against BYU. Just wasn't that impressed.

@wissoxfan83

I have seen them several time and I am impressed. They have height, bulk and good skill players; a pretty complete team that is well coached.

@JayHawkFanToo Naaaaaah, Duke over Gonzaga. Duke is actually from a tough conference. Gonzaga's conference is second tier compared to the ACC. Plus, Gonzaga doesnt have a duo like Jones and Okafor.

@JayHawkFanToo Again, weak conference, makes them look better than they are.

I thought the Zags looked better early on in the season.

Their SOS was only 73. Still don't know why they deserve a RPI of 8.

I put them in that "Wichita State" area of judgment... except the Zags are a 2 and the Shocks are a 7.

Seems like the Shocks should be a 4 and the Zags maybe a 3.

@Lulufulu

Gonzaga might be in weak conference but look at their non-con schedule, other than a very close OT loss at Arizona, they did not lose another game until a fluke conference loss to BYU; I watched most of both games as well as others and in a way they remind me of Wisconsin, a solid team with no obvious weaknesses and lots of strengths.

@drgnslayr DOOK...DOOK....DOOK...

Duke. The only one seed to win neither their conference regular season or tourney title... 'Nuff said

I have the Nuns of Ramada Inn in the Elite 8.

@drgnslayr

Maybe Marshmellow Lane?

Or Easy Street?

:-)

@jaybate-1.0 "Autobahn" wasn't bad. No need to elaborate!

This makes me think about what I will do if there is a Kentucky vs Duke final. I shouldn't even post some of my horrible thoughts if this comes to pass.

@REHawk

Autobahn it is, coach!

@joeloveshawks

At least in that match up I won't mind if Kentucky thrashes their opponent.

Did anyone in here see the 30 for 30: "I hate Laettner!"?

Any Jayhawk kick a guy in the guts, he's get 10-20 in Sing-Sing. Just a technical?

That show encapsulates why everyone not Duke hates Duke.

The show should have been called, "I hate Duke!"

Lots of Duke haters out there and not without some reason. As to seeding, they actually had a resume that would warrant a #1 in a lot of years, just not this year. Didn't win conference or tourney, not in the top 4 of BPI or RPI, and clearly had the worst loss(es) of any of the putative #1 seeds (esp. a 16 pt loss at home to a team that didn't make the field).

What the committee undoubtedly used to rationalize the very favorable treatment is the fact that they probably have the single best or two best wins of the year - a win AT Wisconsin and a win AT UVA. Indeed, they do have several very good conference and non-conference wins on the road (also UNC, Louisville, and SJU).

Again, overall resume might warrant a #1 in most years, but not way they should have gotten it over Arizona (I don't like either team). And, no question that - on paper - they got the easiest path to the FF - plus on the opposite side of the bracket from UK.

@DCHawker

No question that Duke has the easiest path to the Final 4...

@chalkaholic I just wanted to point out that your name is fantastic.