Elite 8: (1) Duke vs. (3) Baylor

• Non

  

  LaceDarius, Tweety, Ekpe and the rest of the gang from Waco will take aim at top-seeded Duke.
  
  As Brent Musburger would say
  
  "This one should be a dandy."
• Prescott

  The committee got what they wanted---duke playing for a Final Four spot. It's up to the dukies now.
  
  I would like to thank the dukies.I had the dukies and gave 7. $500.00 in my pocket.
• sportswizuhrd

  Baylor is pretty much playing a home game.
  
  Baylor by 4.
• DeyDurkie5

  

  ccrunner609 wrote: Duke saw a good defensive team tonight in Purdue and lit them up for 45 points in the 2nd half.
  
  I will take Duke by 10.

  of course you will, you are a homer...
  
  As for the game, I see either a Duke blowout or a close game with Baylor winning
• Non

  

  
  
  
  
• Red_Skin_Pride

  

  I'll go with recent history and take Baylor. This is the type of team Duke has struggled with since '01: fast, athletic, depth, and well coached. Throw in the fact that their coach was on the staff as part of one of the biggest upsets in tournament history (Valpo over Ole Miss in 1998) and he will have them ready to play. I don't think Baylor will be intimidated by Duke, playing the likes of Kansas, K-State, Texas (before the wheels came off) and A&M this year. I know Duke is miles away from an opponent like St. Mary's, but again, Baylor matches up very very well with Duke. If they don't help Duke beat them, they have what it takes to beat them. They need to force the tempo and force Duke to defend for an entire game, and their athleticism will allow them to do that. I see it being very, very close (this is the best team Duke has had in a while, and love him or hate him, K is a very very good coach), but I see Baylor making a key stop and some key free throws down the stretch in a 1 or 2 point game.
• killer_ewok

  

  I've always had a ton of respect for Coach K. Plus, reclegend22 is one of the most knowledgeable and personable posters on this forum. Good luck to Duke in this game.
• ironman02

  Red_Skin_Pride wrote: I'll go with recent history and take Baylor. This is the type of team Duke has struggled with since '01: fast, athletic, depth, and well coached. Throw in the fact that their coach was on the staff as part of one of the biggest upsets in tournament history (Valpo over Ole Miss in 1998) and he will have them ready to play. I don't think Baylor will be intimidated by Duke, playing the likes of Kansas, K-State, Texas (before the wheels came off) and A&M this year. I know Duke is miles away from an opponent like St. Mary's, but again, Baylor matches up very very well with Duke. If they don't help Duke beat them, they have what it takes to beat them. They need to force the tempo and force Duke to defend for an entire game, and their athleticism will allow them to do that. I see it being very, very close (this is the best team Duke has had in a while, and love him or hate him, K is a very very good coach), but I see Baylor making a key stop and some key free throws down the stretch in a 1 or 2 point game.

  That's a great post. I agree that Baylor's athleticism will most likely give Duke problems. This is the game that determines if Duke has really gotten over the hump. Will they deliver and make it to the Final Four, or will they fall victim to a talented and athletic team that is hot at the right time again? I know I'll be rooting for Baylor, but I wouldn't be surprised if either team won the game.
• ironman02

  Purdue may be a better defensive team than Baylor (not sure if the stats support that, but that's the impression I get), but Baylor can score the basketball. I never thought for a second that Purdue had enough offense to beat Duke, especially without Hummel. Baylor will play a more uptempo game and try to utilize its athleticism, in my opinion. Because of the ability to get some easy baskets in transition, I think Baylor has a much better chance to win than Purdue did. That said, Duke is a very good team with one of the best coaches in basketball. They'll be prepared, and will likely execute a gameplan to near perfection.
• Prescott

  I thought Purdue was athletic and liked a fast tempo game and played lockdown D.

  Have you watched Purdue play?The Bouilers aren't overly athletic and they don't play fast tempo, especially since losing Hummel. Scoring 60 points in a game has been a struggle for Purdue since Hummel was injured.They scored 44 in a loss to Michigan State and 42 in a loss to Minnesota. They needed OT to eclipse the 60 point mark in the win over A&M.
  
  As for athleticism, Purdue was average before Hummel's injury and they are average after Hummel's injury.
• georgemc80

  Ok, I just woke up and have to comment, being as I was in Reliant Stadium for both games yesterday.
  
  1. This is more than a home game for Baylor. The crowd is 90% Baylor, including a very large student section(kudos to whatever group made that happen) Take a normal Baylor home game and draw that out to what will be at least 65000 on Sunday.
  
  2. With that in mind, the South wasn't as easy as everyone expected.
  
  3. Reliant Stadium is one the best venues in the NFL, but it doesn't translate into a basketball arena. The shooting last night from all four teams showed that. I think Purdue had 5 airballs in the first half.
  
  4. If Duke makes it to the final four through Houston, they will have earned it without degradation.
  
  
  I still think Duke wins, because they are the better team, but I will not be shocked to see Baylor use the crowd to ride an emotional high to Indy.
  
  As much as I would hate to see a Duke loss, Baylor is an amazing story on how they were on life support as a program a few years ago....great job Coach Drew.
• swamisez

  

  Seth Davis has said it since day one of the tournament, that Baylor is the worst matchup for Duke.
  I would tend to agree here. They can run, they have the size to matchup against Duke and they have guards who can create one on one.
  
  Duke must impose its will on Baylor if they are going to win. It will be very hard for Duke to dictate tempo and style against a team in an elite 8 game in a building that is a near home game.
  
  I fear this game will be much like Duke UConn 99. After playing a really tough grind out game against Michigan State in the semis, Duke didn't have the energy or will to finish off UConn. The huskies breezed past Ohio State and were more than refreshed for the title game. I think Purdue took alot out of Duke, and come late second half Baylor will stretch a 4-5 point lead out and end our season.
  
  The Duke haters will be out in force, and I will be disappointed but I know this was a great season. Brought much joy to my house. Got to see the Devils in person 12 times this year, would have loved to have seen them in Indy, but Duke will be in a final four in a few years I imagine.
  
  Here's hoping Kyle Singler, Jon Scheyer, and Nolan Smith dig deep within themselves and gut their way to Indy.
• Prescott

  4. If Duke makes it to the final four through Houston, they will have earned it without degradation

  .
  
  That is certainly a matter of opinion. The region was designedt for duke to win.Purdue was a shell of of a team without Hummel and still won two games. Villanova should have lost in the first round as a #2 seed. St. Mary's wins two games and is down 46-17 at the half.Weak, weak, weak!!!
  
  You have your opinion and others have theirs.
• Cleveland Buck

  

  This and the UK/WVU game are the only regional finals I got right. I've got Baylor moving on.
• georgemc80

  Well it is my educated opinion that Baylor has the ability to beat any team in the nation in this setting. This is why I was so hoping the Aggies would win so they stadium wouldn't be all one school. Being as I am the only one in this discussion who has witnessed the environment..my opinion might carry more weight.
  
  But by all means put forward your agenda as the antifan....
• Prescott

  my opinion might carry more weight.

  It would in regards to the Duke-vs-Baylor game. It doesn't in regards to the bracket advantage duke enjoyed
• Prescott

  If they were a shell of a team they wouldnt of won 2 tournament games. St. Mary's beat a good Villinova team that played in the almighty Big East they must not of been that weak.

  
  
  How Purdue could win two games after scoring 11 first half points against Minnesota?? The teams they beat were not very good.Weak region!!!
  
  There was a reason Nova lost 5 of 7 down the stretch. Their schedule was back loaded. There is no way they deserved a #2 seed , especially in a region with the 3rd or 4th #1 seed.Weak region!!!
• mattinctown

  Just waiting to see what you would say if Duke should happen to win the title. "Oh, Kentucky is full of freshman, they were a weak #1 seed...." "Oh, West Virginia lost their point guard, weak #2 seed." "Kansas State lost to Kansas three times, weak #2 seed." No matter what Duke does, who they play, who they beat, you will still find a way to criticize them.
  
  My personal favorite is the one about Duke only having one player win an NBA title. What the fuck does that have to do with ANYTHING? First of all, and I'm not sure if you knew this, but Duke actually doesn't control what teams draft ex-Duke players, and Coach K doesn't coach these players once they get in the NBA. Duke could beat Baylor by 30 tomorrow and you will find a way to bitch and moan about how their region was easy. They could beat Kentucky by 30 and you would find a way to bitch and moan about Kentucky. They could win the title this year, and you will find a way to bitch and moan about how "easy" the tournament was this year.
  
  Funny how you always bash Duke yet seem to bet on them and win money from it. Now you're bashing Villanova because their schedule was backloaded, lame.
  
  "The region was designed for Duke to win" Total bullshit. 90% of the crowd will be supporting Baylor tomorrow, but I'm sure if Duke wins, Baylor will end up being a "weak #3 seed." If the top teams are so weak, why is this and the East the only regions where the seeds somewhat held to form?
  
  This forum will implode if Duke wins the title, but even that won't shut you up. If Duke happens to lose tomorrow, you will be the first one on here saying they were overrated.
• sportswizuhrd

  First time ever that the same schools are meeting each other in Men's and Women's Elite 8.
• Cleveland Buck

  

  Well, if Baylor wins tomorrow then I got the right side of my bracket exactly right (WVU over UK, Baylor over Duke), and the other side exactly wrong.
• Terry_Tate

  

  Cleveland Buck wrote: Well, if Baylor wins tomorrow then I got the right side of my bracket exactly right (WVU over UK, Baylor over Duke), and the other side exactly wrong.

  Ditto for me. And I think it might seal the deal for me in one pool I'm in, though it's a fairly small one.
• swamisez

  

  Ken Pomeroy lists Duke has having a 72% chance at victory tomorrow vs. Baylor (seems wayyyy to high)
  Also, of the remaining teams in the tournament the log5 predictor says:
  Chances of winning the national title.
  Duke 40.3, WV 23.7, Butler17.8, Baylor 8.3, Mich St. 5.3, Tenn 4.6
  
  Man I hope math is on the side of the Dukies.
• ts1227

  

  ccrunner609 wrote: Maybe Duke is just that good.

  They may be, but the selection committee didn't exactly give them a chance to prove it anywhere along the line.
• Prescott

  My personal favorite is the one about Duke only having one player win an NBA titl

  e
  
  I never posted anything about duke's players in the nba or how many championships they have.You got the wrong guy on that one.

  "The region was designed for Duke to win" Total bullshit. 90% of the crowd will be supporting Baylor tomorrow, but I'm sure if Duke wins, Baylor will end up being a "weak #3 seed." If the top teams are so weak, why is this and the East the only regions where the seeds somewhat held to form?
  
  This forum will implode if Duke wins the title, but even that won't shut you up. If Duke happens to lose tomorrow, you will be the first one on here saying they were overrated.

  This is where you are wrong. I think Baylor does present a challenge. I just don't think Purdue without Hummel or a Nova team that lost 5 of 7 because their schedule was back loaded deserved the seed they got and duke benefited.
  
  I also think duke is good enough to win the title and they didn't need the help they got from the committee.This year's field is much weaker than any year in recent memory , which opened the door for teams like Butler and means duke has as good a chance as anyone to claim the tournament title.
  
  BTW, you have to admit the Purdue bet was an easy one to make.
• DeyDurkie5

  

  Baylor on a shot with little time left, and duke comes down for the miss