Duke Goes Down to South Carolina

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

Wow....South Carolina took it to Duke in the second half and held them off in the last few minutes. Duke's defense was surprisingly poor and ineffective, and they missed a lot of jumpers as well. Plus, the Gamecocks really cashed in at the FT line.

 

[TopSecretBoiler]

how do they lose these games? so much talent...beginning of the end for coach k. the dynasty will end soon.

 

[SIBoiler2]

Don't lose sight of the FACT that the ACC was the most special conference in he country this year. Much like the refusal of the media to accept the new president I expect ESPN to carry a fantasy Final Four with all teams from the ACC.

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

how do they lose these games? so much talent...beginning of the end for coach k. the dynasty will end soon.

I don't know....not enough consistency. Maybe the ACC tournament took more out of them. It's the conundrum of a one-and-done tournament. One bad night/half, and you're out. A lot of turnovers, too. That's playing with fire, and tonight, they got burned.

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

Don't lose sight of the FACT that the ACC was the most special conference in he country this year. Much like the refusal of the media to accept the new president I expect ESPN to carry a fantasy Final Four with all teams from the ACC.

If the Razorbacks had played with some poise down the stretch, this would have been a historic bloodbath for the mighty ACC.

 

[Boiler Wolf]

Yes, SEC teams have looked surprisingly good. Big 10, Big 12, SEC, PAC 12 all have 3 in the Sweet 16. Big East 2, ACC and WCC 1.

 

[BoilerGal74]

So how do the Talking Heads explain this one away...? Or do they simply ignore the issue? Can't wait to listen to the pundits in the morning......

 

[lbodel]

I don't know....not enough consistency. Maybe the ACC tournament took more out of them. It's the conundrum of a one-and-done tournament. One bad night/half, and you're out. A lot of turnovers, too. That's playing with fire, and tonight, they got burned.

Duke got a lot of hype after a great ACC Tournament run, but they had lost 3 of their last 4 going into that tournament. There were a lot of excuses for their play throughout the year, but the fact of the matter is they were inconsistent, especially on the road.

I did think it was kind of a joke that SC got to play in Greenville, but the NCAA practically schedules Duke home games every first/second round game every year in North Carolina, so don't really feel bad for them.

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

Duke got a lot of hype after a great ACC Tournament run, but they had lost 3 of their last 4 going into that tournament. There were a lot of excuses for their play throughout the year, but the fact of the matter is they were inconsistent, especially on the road.

I did think it was kind of a joke that SC got to play in Greenville, but the NCAA practically schedules Duke home games every first/second round game every year in North Carolina, so don't really feel bad for them.

Don't forget Greenville was a replacement site for Greensboro, the original host site. Duke and North Carolina have been major benefactors of the pod-system site seeding, IMO, so yeah.....can't really shed any tears for this year's placement.

 

[lbodel]

Don't forget Greenville was a replacement site for Greensboro, the original host site. Duke and North Carolina have been major benefactors of the pod-system site seeding, IMO, so yeah.....can't really shed any tears for this year's placement.

I understand the pod system to a degree, but the fact that there is a NC site nearly every single year is a joke. For example, the "Midwest" location varies from Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky - it's not stuck in one of those places. Quite frankly, even going up to DC would still be a strong advantage for NC. Not sure if anywhere in VA is suitable - Richmond is becoming more attractive and there are plans to build an arena there. Would love to see a rotation between NC/Richmond/DC.

I will also add the regional sites are random. This year and next year, the Midwest Regional is in Kansas City and Omaha. Which those are the midwest for sure, but a bit obscure.

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

I understand the pod system to a degree, but the fact that there is a NC site nearly every single year is a joke. For example, the "Midwest" location varies from Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky - it's not stuck in one of those places. Quite frankly, even going up to DC would still be a strong advantage for NC. Not sure if anywhere in VA is suitable - Richmond is becoming more attractive and there are plans to build an arena there. Would love to see a rotation between NC/Richmond/DC.

It would be difficult for me to agree more with you on this one. Maybe use New York, Boston, and Florida more, as well. Interestingly, I haven't heard anything about the decision for 2018 because guess where one of the opening sites is tentatively scheduled......wait for it.....yes.....Charlotte.

 

[BoilerAndy]

So how do the Talking Heads explain this one away...? Or do they simply ignore the issue? Can't wait to listen to the pundits in the morning......

After the game ended, the announcers said that "Duke was clearly the better team, but..." and then made excuses.

I watched the game. The better team won.

 

[BoilerGal74]

After the game ended, the announcers said that "Duke was clearly the better team, but..." and then made excuses.

I watched the game. The better team won.

I actually had picked South Carolina to win that one....My bracket for the Sweet 16 is actually at 90%...alrhough i had several misses getting to that point....lol!!!

 

[Dryfly88]

I would argue that no single team has benefited more from the pod system than Duke. Now they know how other teams have felt having to come to NC to play them in the tournament.

Completely agree with Tex and Ibodel that sites need to be moved around more. Plenty of options that don't put the games in Duke and UNC backyard every year.

 

[Bethboilerfan]

Don't lose sight of the FACT that the ACC was the most special conference in he country this year. Much like the refusal of the media to accept the new president I expect ESPN to carry a fantasy Final Four with all teams from the ACC.

Apparently the bracket I completed was for the "Fantasy Final Four" as it appears not to fit the actual tournament at all. Wonder if anyone will buy that excuse?

 

[SIBoiler2]

Duke got a lot of hype after a great ACC Tournament run, but they had lost 3 of their last 4 going into that tournament. There were a lot of excuses for their play throughout the year, but the fact of the matter is they were inconsistent, especially on the road.

I did think it was kind of a joke that SC got to play in Greenville, but the NCAA practically schedules Duke home games every first/second round game every year in North Carolina, so don't really feel bad for them.

No more of a joke than Kansas playing in Kansas City.

 

[TopSecretBoiler]

Apparently the bracket I completed was for the "Fantasy Final Four" as it appears not to fit the actual tournament at all. Wonder if anyone will buy that excuse?

alternative final four

 

[lbodel]

No more of a joke than Kansas playing in Kansas City.

They have been very kind to Kansas as well.

Last year, Des Moines, St. Louis and Oklahoma City hosted first rounds - all less than 4 hours to Lawrence, but close to the Kansas border or home to a large number of KU fans/alumni.

This year, Tulsa hosted first round and KC the regional.

Next year, Wichita hosts the first round and Omaha the regional.

That being said, I'm not sure how competitive it is to bid. There doesn't seem to be much hosting in Texas, for example - not sure if they don't try much or what.

Also, obviously Purdue is a bit more centrally located among bigger cities, but if we were a #1 seed, we would have had St. Louis as the closest option (not that close) last year, Indianapolis this year, and Detroit next year. So 2 of the 3 would have been very friendly.