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.

 

[uky8unc5]

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.

Brother, by your definition, nobody is Great. So I'll concede your point.

But they defeated Auburn, who 'looks' great.
They have the best player (Freshman who is improving)
They have the "favor" of intangibles (officiating, media fluffing their egos, etc.)
They had us down 9 at halftime on a neutral floor.

 

[Aike]

They are good. No conspiracy this year. They are also beatable, as we have shown.

 

[uky8unc5]

They are good. No conspiracy this year. They are also beatable, as we have shown.

I am a gambling man, so I know that "Vegas odds" does not mean "Who the Bookies believe will win the Title".

But today...Vegas Top Ten:

+700 - Auburn
+900 - Dook
+1300 - Tennessee
+1400 - Houston
+1600 - UConn
+1600 - Zags
+1600 - Bama
+1600 - Iowa State
+1800 - Kansas
+2100 - Kentucky

 

[LineSkiCat14]

IDK, struggling to put up 25 in a half against George Mason should have really tanked their metrics. Granted George Mason isn't terrible.. there in the range of Lipscomb and WKU (teams we played).. But 25 in a half and 68 to finish the game against a team int he penpom 80's.. I don't know how that DOESN'T hurt the metrics

 

[Runnin'Ramel]

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.

It's Flagg.

They don't play a single ranked team - as of now - the rest of the SEASON. My word. Their seed will be inflated, per usual, and people will overlook the fact that their resume is soft.

 

[Creed Bratton]

Cooper Flagg is only........

 

[uky8unc5]

IDK, struggling to put up 25 in a half against George Mason should have really tanked their metrics. Granted George Mason isn't terrible.. there in the range of Lipscomb and WKU (teams we played).. But 25 in a half and 68 to finish the game against a team int he penpom 80's.. I don't know how that DOESN'T hurt the metrics

I hear you. I'm not high on Dook myself (to win Title).
But the ACC is soft. And they might run the table in Jan/Feb (or close to it).
I'm betting they will be a 1 going into the Tournament.

 

[uky8unc5]

It's Flagg.

They don't play a single ranked team - as of now - the rest of the SEASON. My word. Their seed will be inflated, per usual, and people will overlook the fact that their resume is soft.

That's what I was saying in my last post.
Dook will reach the Elite 8 almost by default.

 

[Creed Bratton]

That's what I was saying in my last post.
Dook will reach the Elite 8 almost by default.

When the committee lets them play in NC for their first 4 games almost every year it makes it an easier road. Imagine if we got to play in Louisville and Nashville the first 2 weekends every year.

 

[katwest]

Well, the media has always been in on Duke in basketball since Krybaby was coach, just like Notre Dame in football. That is why I hate both schools with a passion. They get help with recruiting because of all the media slobber, always have.

 

[CrimsonCats]

IDK, struggling to put up 25 in a half against George Mason should have really tanked their metrics. Granted George Mason isn't terrible.. there in the range of Lipscomb and WKU (teams we played).. But 25 in a half and 68 to finish the game against a team int he penpom 80's.. I don't know how that DOESN'T hurt the metrics

I admittedly didn’t watch that game, so I don’t know, but it depends somewhat on the pace of the game. Points per game is not a consideration for any of the advanced metrics. If one or both teams were holding the ball for a really long time, and Duke was still scoring on a high number of their possessions in a low possession game, it theoretically wouldn’t hurt them.

 

[CRZ4UK]

The ACC is soft but does that help them???
One problem I believe the SEC has now with winning a championship is the physicality. The officials allow almost a rock fight between teams. Several coaches actually teach fouling 5 times a possession so they can’t call them all.
When the tournament rolls around, the officials don’t allow that. We complain Duke gets all the calls. Maybe SEC teams are just used to those fouls not being called.
Tennessee, South Carolina and A&M will all get into foul trouble in the tournament and be bounced.
Our league needs to be adjusted or the tournament officiating needs to adjust or the SEC will continue to struggle winning it.

 

[Mike-D]

I know good to great teams when I see 'em. I've watched Duke a few times this year, and I don't understand the hype other than some of the talented Freshman. 2018-19 Duke kills this Duke team.

 

[Chief Paducah]

The ACC is soft but does that help them???
One problem I believe the SEC has now with winning a championship is the physicality. The officials allow almost a rock fight between teams. Several coaches actually teach fouling 5 times a possession so they can’t call them all.
When the tournament rolls around, the officials don’t allow that. We complain Duke gets all the calls. Maybe SEC teams are just used to those fouls not being called.
Tennessee, South Carolina and A&M will all get into foul trouble in the tournament and be bounced.
Our league needs to be adjusted or the tournament officiating needs to adjust or the SEC will continue to struggle winning it.

I have said this for years. SEC officiating has killed their teams for years. The gang banging isn't allowed nearly as much in the tourney and things that go uncalled in conference play, gets called in the tourney. If the SEC is a bust again in this tournament with this many good teams, that needs a good hard look going into next season.