Duke -6.5

[Wonky]

What am I missing here? This is just pure hype. I think Bama is going to overwhelm them. I’m actually going with Bama outright at +250. Knueppel is a defensive liability in this game. Let Flagg get his… I don’t think Duke can keep Bama out of the lane.

 

[BlueTick2]

What am I missing here? This is just pure hype. I think Bama is going to overwhelm them. I’m actually going with Bama outright at +250. Knueppel is a defensive liability in this game. Let Flagg get his… I don’t think Duke can keep Bama out of the lane.

Agree

 

[ukcatz12]

Duke is one of the most elite teams of the last decade. If Bama didn't go on a literal historical shooting performance they would have been in trouble against BYU.

It's anyone's game, but I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest to see Duke win by double digits. This is also kind of a semi-home game for Duke because there are a shit ton of Duke fans in the NYC metro area.

 

[wardlow]

If bama shoots like that again watch out. Hopefully they knock duke out

 

[JonathanW]

Duke is very good defensively, at least much better than Alabama is.
Duke also shoots it quite well (everybody not named Cooper made 67% of their shots last night for Duke).
As good as Flagg is, I think James and Proctor is the key for them. James goes wherever he wants, just too strong.

I expect this game to be in the high 80's though. And hope Alabama doesn't come back down to reality.

 

[Fitch44]

Duke is elite but they just gave up 93 to Zona and Zona made it interesting the last 7 minutes when I think Duke looked a bit gassed.
Could go either way but hoping lime hell bama is hot again and swarms puke on D with their athleticism

Like that they have 4 guys who can give Flagg different looks.

 

[FLawLesS_NoLe]

What am I missing here? This is just pure hype. I think Bama is going to overwhelm them. I’m actually going with Bama outright at +250. Knueppel is a defensive liability in this game. Let Flagg get his… I don’t think Duke can keep Bama out of the lane.

Knueppel a defensive liability? Have you seen the ENTIRE Alabama team defense? That's a liability.

 

[Wonky]

Duke is very good defensively, at least much better than Alabama is.
Duke also shoots it quite well (everybody not named Cooper made 67% of their shots last night for Duke).
As good as Flagg is, I think James and Proctor is the key for them. James goes wherever he wants, just too strong.

I expect this game to be in the high 80's though. And hope Alabama doesn't come back down to reality.

I just don’t think Duke has played anybody with guards the caliber of Bama’s. I feel like this is the game that exposes their weak schedule. I won’t lose any sleep over being wrong, as I dislike both teams.

 

[Wonky]

Knueppel a defensive liability? Have you seen the ENTIRE Alabama team defense? That's a liability.

I agree but their O is so good. I think Dukes defensive numbers are inflated playing in a crap league.

 

[BlueSince92]

Bama will have to come out fairly hot and stay that way. They don’t need to be on fire but if they get bogged down, trying to chip away on the interior because their shots aren’t falling they will not survive going toe to toe with Duke in the half court.

As long as they are hitting at a reasonable rate I think they take care of Duke excluding any heavy ref crap. Which ain’t so easy to exclude.

 

[KYCAT78]

What am I missing here? This is just pure hype. I think Bama is going to overwhelm them. I’m actually going with Bama outright at +250. Knueppel is a defensive liability in this game. Let Flagg get his… I don’t think Duke can keep Bama out of the lane.

If Bama is hitting their 3's Bama wins.

 

[cathouse]

What am I missing here? This is just pure hype. I think Bama is going to overwhelm them. I’m actually going with Bama outright at +250. Knueppel is a defensive liability in this game. Let Flagg get his… I don’t think Duke can keep Bama out of the lane.

What are you missing???

 

[precipitance]

Duke is one of the most elite teams of the last decade. If Bama didn't go on a literal historical shooting performance they would have been in trouble against BYU.

It's anyone's game, but I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest to see Duke win by double digits. This is also kind of a semi-home game for Duke because there are a shit ton of Duke fans in the NYC metro area.

" there are a shit ton of Duke fans in the NYC metro area." Some of them run jewelry stores.

Duke and Lance Thomas cleared of wrongdoing in jewelry case by the NCAA

Former Duke forward Lance Thomas, who purchased almost $100,000 worth of jewelry during the Blue Devils championship season in 2010 was cleared of all wrongdoing, along with the university, by the NCAA on Tuesday.

www.nbcsports.com

 

[TOMCATS1990]

I like Florida and Alabama to advance to the Final 4. Bama needs to shoot the ball well and overcome 8 against 5.

 

[AzubuikeandFitch]

What am I missing here? This is just pure hype. I think Bama is going to overwhelm them. I’m actually going with Bama outright at +250. Knueppel is a defensive liability in this game. Let Flagg get his… I don’t think Duke can keep Bama out of the lane.

Bama doesn't go in lane when shooting 3's every possession and Duke actually plays defense.

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

Duke being favored is correct imo. It took Arizona playing the game of their lives not to get blown out. I hate Duke as much as anyone on the board but I can’t see how anyone is objectively watching them and thinking they are mid. Here’s to hoping Alabama pulls it off but Vegas won’t have Duke favored because they prefer blue over maroon.

 

[ace on the river]

I hate Duke and will be rooting for Bama. But Duke will win. Bama is actually going to play a team that defends, and they defend well.

 

[Seth_C]

If both teams play well anyone with any sense knows Alabama will win. Well, that and the refs being even remotely fair. The betting line is probably based on the knowledge that the officiating will not allow Alabama to even pretend to play defense and Duke will spend the entire game at the free throw line.

 

[coriolanus92]

What are you missig???

View embedded media

Unreal last night how the refs called a F1 on Arizona for hooking and pulling a Duke player down, and 30 SECONDS LATER Duke did the same thing--only the refs decided it wasn't an F1. Unreal.

 

[Smashcat]

Hope I’m wrong but I expect Bama to be flat as a pancake after lights out shooting last night.

 

[TheDude73]

Bama is going to run them out of the gym. They won't hit 25 threes again, but I'd not be surprised if they hit 12 or slightly more.

I don't really like either team, but at this point it will be sweetness to see Puke go down and the Final Four full of SEC teams (assuming we or UT makes it past Houston/Purdont).

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

Unreal last night how the refs called a F1 on Arizona for hooking and pulling a Duke player down, and 30 SECONDS LATER Duke did the same thing--only the refs decided it wasn't an F1. Unreal.

Agreed. That was absolutely a travesty.

 

[ukfan1622]

I'll root for 'bama aka "any Duke opponent but the cheats" but, and I hate to say it, I don't think Duke or Flagg are overrated and I think 'bama will have to shoot the lights out for a second straight game to win..

 

[jedwar]

Duke has a tendancy to get really gassed at the end of games. They've done that a few times this year. Us and Clemson come to mind. I think it will be interesting to see if Bama can wear them out.

 

[Aike]

I would have it closer to -3.

Duke is better, mostly because Bama can be careless with the basketball. A hot Bama is capable of blitzing anyone though, even Duke.

I’m certainly not ready to tag Duke as an all-time team though. Maybe if they prove it out and win the title.

But as of now, they have 3 losses and played in an historically weak ACC. Not prepared to entertain revisionist woulda coulda shoulda chatter from the Seth Davis/Jay Bilas crowd if they end the season with 4 losses.

Seth Davis last night on set, “I think we all agree that playing their best, Duke is the best team.”

No one said anything. I don’t agree, personally. I would argue that Florida at their best is the best team right now, with Auburn and Alabama making a case, along with Duke.

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

Duke has a tendancy to get really gassed at the end of games. They've done that a few times this year. Us and Clemson come to mind. I think it will be interesting to see if Bama can wear them out.

I’m hoping Alabama full court presses from the tip at least with token pressure to get into their legs. Nothing would make me happier than Maluach and Cooper going into cramp mode all second half

 

[runt#69]

Hope I’m wrong but I expect Bama to be flat as a pancake after lights out shooting last night.

I'm hoping and praying sears gets to out flop the way past dUKe....

We got to get them the hell out still.

Roll tide screw puke

Somebody please beat dUKe and get them out of the conversation for gods sakes.

Lord I feel a rant coming.....

At least CCC choked in classic fashion , a fine ending to such drama. I'm glad we've moved on.....

But we gotta get the blue devils out by any means at this point.

Get them and get after them, Bama', you can beat these blue devils!

 

[Kuhldaddy]

Duke is one of the most elite teams of the last decade. If Bama didn't go on a literal historical shooting performance they would have been in trouble against BYU.

It's anyone's game, but I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest to see Duke win by double digits. This is also kind of a semi-home game for Duke because there are a shit ton of Duke fans in the NYC metro area.

Take away 8 threes from Bama and they still would have beat BYU

 

[SemperFiCat]

Bama won't be scared of Duke. And I haven't seen it mentioned, but if you guys recall, it wasn't too long ago that people were questioning Scheyer as a coach, before Flagg came along to carry all the weight. Scheyer may be called on to win a game. I don't know if he can be that 6th man Duke may need in a fight.

 

[ManitouDan]

Duke is one of the most elite teams of the last decade. If Bama didn't go on a literal historical shooting performance they would have been in trouble against BYU.

It's anyone's game, but I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest to see Duke win by double digits. This is also kind of a semi-home game for Duke because there are a shit ton of Duke fans in the NYC metro area.

You the same troll that said Cal and band of merry misfits was going to walk into the FF with about 6 min to go last night ??? ( YOU WERE NOT , my apologies )

 

[FilsonCat]

I think Duke matches up pretty well with Bama, probably about as well as anyone aside from Florida. It is going to be a track meet most likely. I don't see either team slowing the tempo down.

 

[ukfan1622]

Take away 8 threes from Bama and they still would have beat BYU

Yeah, if they hit 17 threes against Duke they'll have a good chance.

 

[ManitouDan]

Duke bench is questionable IMO , Duke has a good on ball defender in Mr Big Mouth Sion James , but other than that I think they struggle .. question is whether Bama decides to D up or not . And if the refs flat out screw Bama .. LOL like everyone doesnt know that coming . Duke put up elite numbers against total shit comp in league play . We shall see if that hurts them

 

[ukcatz12]

You the same troll that said Cal and band of merry misfits was going to walk into the FF with about 6 min to go last night ??? ( YOU WERE NOT , my apologies )

No that wasn't me lol.

 

[ukcatz12]

Take away 8 threes from Bama and they still would have beat BYU

If you take away 8 threes from Bama the game would have played out completely differently because the momentum and game pressures wouldn't have been the same.

The Duke Bama game will be a great game. Both teams are elite. It's just getting old that this board has been twisting themselves into pretzels to trying to convince themselves that Duke isn't actually a great team this year because of their schedule, or ESPN hype, or whatever other reason. Duke could lose in the title game and people would use it as an example of them being overrated.

 

[TOMCATS1990]

Oats is the better Coach between the 2 think he knows what it will take to win

 

[Ron Mehico]

Duke is one of the most elite teams of the last decade. If Bama didn't go on a literal historical shooting performance they would have been in trouble against BYU.

lol WTF? “If bama didn’t play well they might’ve lost!!” 😂 Cmon man good grief. I personally have Bama winning this game in my bracket. Certainly wouldn’t be surprised with a Duke win but I think -6.5 is a lot

 

[Cawood86]

Everybody already knows how this game will go. Bama shoots poorly. Flagg lives at the FT line. I ain't even considering Bama wins.

 

[Jacket4]

the problem with Duke, they can win in multiple ways. There’s no stopping Flagg, you can slow him down but the kid is playing at a different level. When he leaves the game, their offense often gets better has the other players seemingly step up for the short time he is gone. Kon, Proctor, Sion, Evans and their two bigs are all threats on the offensive end.

Bama has the offense to keep the game close and even build a lead but their defense will allow Duke to control the game in the end imo.

 

[Untouchables22]

Duke is very good BUT they aren’t clutch….they have lost most of the close game they were in this year. Also Flagg and Maluach are such a matchup nightmare that they just overwhelm most teams. BUT Bama has both Dioubate and Reid to throw at Flagg in addition to Nelson and Stevenson. Omoruyi will hold his own against Maluach. I think it comes down to: Proctor and Knueppel against Sears and Holloway. And Caleb Love just showed that while Duke has elite lane/rim protection they don’t have great perimeter defense. Very close but give me Bama. Duke falters in all the close games there aren’t inexplicable lane violations.