#9 Duke (19-4) at #5 North Carolina (20-3)

• reclegend22

  

  It is absolutely wild to think that Duke even had a chance to win this game at the end. The Blue Devils were done. I am still in utter disbelief as to where Carolina's lead went. Austin Rivers should be arrested for larceny. Incredible. There are no words for it.
  
  Say what you want about Coach K's philosophy regarding the three-ball, but he's been trusting in it for a long time and has collected a lot of wins as a result. It's often a live or die situation, which can be dreadfully scary in March; yet, when they're falling, it's just beautiful to watch. Albeit with a much more talented cast of All-NBA caliber talent, Duke used a similar "all-in" offensive strategy heading into Chapel Hill in 2001 and shot the Tar Heels right out of the building, hitting 14 threes on 38 tries.
• ironman02

  I'll chill out when I'm good and ready to chill out. I'm giving an honest assessment of MY team and where I think their season is headed after a devastating loss to their biggest rival. I clearly stated that I hope things turn out well, but I don't have a good feeling about it.
  
  Strickland and McDonald are gone for the season, which hurts depth and defense (Strickland). McAdoo and Hairston are underachieving and Stilman White and Justin Watts are never gonna see meaningful time.
  
  The team doesn't play defense for a full game...ever. They don't maintain focus for a full game...ever. The pieces are there to be better than this, but it hasn't happened. Like I said, I hope it does.
  
  Basically it boils down to this. A national championship contender doesn't choke away a 10 point lead in the final two minutes of the game with countless mental errors and failed execution...at home...against their biggest rival.
• cats gone wild

  So, in the last 76 meetings combined, Duke has 2 points more than UNC. Crazy stat, that its that close.
• reclegend22

  

  swamisez wrote:This team and that 2006 aren't all that different. This team has a go to player though, 2006 had Josh McRoberts. Ugh

  That 2006 team also had J.J. Redick. He was pretty good, too, I think. You mean 2008? I think the comparison is pretty apt, especially when comparing both of those teams' trips to Chapel Hill, as you alluded to. Duke shot 13-of-29 from three in '08 at UNC, getting 6-of-9 deep balls from Greg Paulus, while this year's edition got 6-of-10 triples from Austin Rivers and shot 14-for-36 as a team.
  
  The 36 attempted threes are, I believe, just two shy of the all-time Duke school single-game record of 38, which were launched in rapid-fire pace at the Dean E. Smith Center in Duke's 95 to 81 victory over the Heels in 2001.
• hoops23

  

  I think I'd love to see Austin Rivers in a Cavs uni running in the backcourt with Kyrie Irving.
• SportsAndLady

  

  
• SportsAndLady

  

  lol
  
  
• Heelz

  

  Wow how does that even happen? 7 footer guarding a guy much smaller on the perimeter with both hands down...wtf?
• ernest_t_bass

  

  This thread is boring without dum cc.
• vball10set

  up by 10 with a little over 2 minutes to go, at home, and lose? lol--unfuckingbelievable
• swamisez

  

  Forgive me, it was the 2008 game at the Dean Dome I was thinking of. Paulus went 6-8 from 3 and Duke went 13-29 from deep that day.
  
  Apologies.
• georgemc80

  hoops23;1080675 wrote:I think I'd love to see Austin Rivers in a Cavs uni running in the backcourt with Kyrie Irving.

  
  That's what I wanted to see this year...only in a Duke uniform.
  
  
  
  BTW, I loved Stuart Scott after the game (had to be tough on him) "Duke went all Adele....Rolling in the Deep"
• Iliketurtles

  

  georgemc80;1080759 wrote:That's what I wanted to see this year...only in a Duke uniform.
  
  
  
  BTW, I loved Stuart Scott after the game (had to be tough on him) "Duke went all Adele....Rolling in the Deep"

  Agreed could you imagine what this Duke team would be doing if it still had Irving would be simply amazing to watch. And I didn't know Stuart Scott could still be a little funny.
  

  chicago510;1080575 wrote:Better comeback Duke fans... this or miracle minute vs Maryland?

  For me it would take something in the NCAA tournament to be better than the miracle minute but that's mostly due to the fact I was at that game.
• Prescott

  Agreed could you imagine what this Duke team would be doing if it still had Irving would be simply amazing to watch.

  Both need the ball in their hands to realize their full potential. Look what happened to Nolan Smith when Irving returned after his injury.He disappeared.
• swamisez

  

  Irving and Rivers on the same team would be awesome to watch, but agree with Prescott here. That would be feast or famine. I know Andre Dawkins would love it, he wouldn't be guarded at any point in the season.
• reclegend22

  

  Last night's come from behind victory in Chapel Hill brought me by far the greatest pleasure, basically due to the fact that it hit me like an aneurysm. I am in still in a state of confusion as to what went down and who actually won. (Not sure if that gives Carolina fans any solace or not. Likely not.)
  
  The most impressive comeback in Duke history, however, because of the stage of importance, has to be the 22-point mountain the Blue Devils climbed against Maryland in the 2001 NCAA Final Four. Maryland should probably have back-to-back titles. That's still the greatest comeback in Final Four history.
• chicago510

  

  reclegend22;1080911 wrote: The most impressive comeback in Duke history, however, because of the stage of importance, has to be the 22-point mountain the Blue Devils climbed against Maryland in the 2001 NCAA Final Four. Maryland should probably have back-to-back titles. That's still the greatest comeback in Final Four history.

  Forgot about that one. Still think the miracle minute was more improbable...that FF game was definitely more important and satisfying I'm sure.
• reclegend22

  

  chicago510 wrote:Forgot about that one. Still think the miracle minute was more improbable...

  Agreed. Proving that point, I actually turned that game off and began to play NCAA Final Four 2000, I am ashamed to say. But flipped back just in time to see the final game-tying basket in regulation. I still hate myself a little bit. But I was younger then. Needless to say, I've never turned off another game since.
  
  I am certain that many a fan woke up this morning and contemplated suicide for turning their televisions off yesterday evening. I'd be willing to bet thousands upon thousands did once the spread reached 14. What an incredible finish.
• Mulva

  

  hoops23;1080675 wrote:I think I'd love to see Austin Rivers in a Cavs uni running in the backcourt with Kyrie Irving.

  Do. Not. Want.
• Heretic

  

  reclegend22;1081118 wrote:Agreed. Proving that point, I actually turned that game off and began to play NCAA Final Four 2000, I am ashamed to say. But flipped back just in time to see the final game-tying basket in regulation. I still hate myself a little bit. But I was younger then. Needless to say, I've never turned off another game since.
  
  I am certain that many a fan woke up this morning and contemplated suicide for turning their televisions off yesterday evening. I'd be willing to bet thousands upon thousands did once the spread reached 14. What an incredible finish.

  I didn't turn it off, but I stopped paying attention for awhile. Game was going just how I predicted it on this thread. Close game for 20, then UNC pulled away to win by 14. Except I stopped really watching it while they were in that 11-12 point lead and looked back later to see Duke had just won. Whoops on me!
• Ironman92

  

  That Final 4 game....just like this game.....I stopped watching (also the last Steelers/Browns playoff game) and came back very late in each game just to check.
• DeyDurkie5

  

  ccrunner609;1081483 wrote:Most of these posts are funny but this one is plain stupid a trolling. Duke is a better team, deeper players and surely has a better coach. UNC was lucky to be in the game. Their perimeter D is a fucking joke.

  well you got 25% of that post right..about gym teacher status, well done buddy!
• chicago510

  

  ccrunner609;1081483 wrote:Most of these posts are funny but this one is plain stupid a trolling. Duke is a better team, deeper players and surely has a better coach. UNC was lucky to be in the game. Their perimeter D is a fucking joke.

  Trolling? I admitted I was wrong. Duke is deeper but no way in hell do they have superior talent. Duke shot the lights out and UNC shat themselves to let Duke back in.
• hoops23

  

  Mulva;1081165 wrote:Do. Not. Want.

  If Austin is best available, I'd absolutely love to have him. I see a lot of pro potential in his game. some analyst mentioned they saw a lot of DWade in his game and I agree, except Austin has a much better shot. He's a little over 6'4'' and Kyire is a bit over 6'3"...
  
  Then we could go after a C like Hibbert in FA.
• chicago510

  

  hoops23;1081492 wrote:If Austin is best available, I'd absolutely love to have him. I see a lot of pro potential in his game. some analyst mentioned they saw a lot of DWade in his game and I agree, except Austin has a much better shot. He's a little over 6'4'' and Kyire is a bit over 6'3"...
  
  Then we could go after a C like Hibbert in FA.

  I don't think you want a SG that can't play off the ball to go with your scoring PG.