Make the Duke love make sense

[silentsaregolden2.0]

All the pundits I have seen act like Duke is one of, if not, the favorites to win it all. Why? Seriously. They are not that impressive offensively, and their defensive rating is so high because they are destroying their cupcakes. Their first 2 games, they averaged 98, and in the 9 games since they are averaging 74. Against their currently ranked opponents, they have given up 78, 77 and 75.

It must be the Flagg factor, because I am not seeing an overly impressive team.

 

[ukcatz12]

their defensive rating is so high because they are destroying their cupcakes

Advanced metrics adjust for opponents. So on Kenpom when they're second in defensive efficiency, that means after adjusting the stats for their cupcakes they're the second best in the country. They have a top 12 offense and defense. They beat an elite team in Auburn and their two losses are by a combined eight points to two top 10 teams.

I know we all hate Duke here, but if you look at it objectively you must admit they're a great team.

 

[michaeluk26]

Bro it's always been terrible, but this year it's egregiously bad. It's non stop, over the top shit this year.

 

[UK90]

I know we all hate Duke here, but if you look at it objectively you must admit they're a great team.

Great? That’s one of the more overly-generous uses of that word I’ve seen.

No, we absolutely do not have to “admit” that yet. They are good, a ton of talent, easily capable of winning it all. But nobody should be calling them great before they’ve actually done anything great.