Duke

#26
#26
Rudy123 said:
Duke can lose the game against us. Belmont lost to Duke by 1 point a couple of years ago. Also, from what I hear, Butler played Duke close last year. I was in Iraq and wasn't able to see the game.
So, a well disciplined team can beat Duke or at least play them close.
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And...?
 
#27
#27
Just can't see us hanging with Duke, it's like a nightmare match up for us, but i guess anything could happen. However, focus should be on Michigan
 
#28
#28
How in the world can most of you people give UT a 1 / 1,000,000 chance to beat Duke? The Blue Devils would obviously be favored but they aren't so great that it's an impossible task. Nobody is giving Melvin Goins any credit at all. I think he's stronger and more physical than Nolan Smith. Smith is a better player but Melvin has showed that he can stick with some of the best. I'm willing to bet Duke doesn't want to play UT in the 2nd round of the tourney. We are long, athletic, and the type of team that could cause Duke to shoot cold from beyond the arc (a common problem they've had in all of their losses). Also, St Johns has done showed if you get real physical with Duke, they tank.

I'm guessing Bruce will really REALLY be preaching perimeter defense. As long as we defend the 3 and make Michigan take contested shots, we shut them down. They are weak in the paint, slower, and smaller than us. We should be able to dominate the boards, get in the paint when we want, and really boost this teams confidence going into the matchup with Duke. IMO, the best 9 seed scenario we could get.
 
#29
#29
Rudy, not sure how the Duke-Belmont game a couple years ago has anything to do with this years Duke team. Butler also beat 4-5 ranked teams in the tournament alone last year before they played Duke. They were an extremely good and underrated team and DESERVED to be in the national championship game. I was amazed at how well coached they were and a fundamentally sound basketball team.

Shaun, I am willing to bet Duke would love to play Tennessee in the second round. If and it's a huge IF the Vols get past Michigan, which I don't think we will, the Vols haven't one 2 straight games in over 5 weeks. Tennessee may be able to play against Duke defensively but it won't matter because we will dribble the ball off our legs, throw it out of bounds and get stripped so many times Duke's fast breaks will create all the points they need for a comfortable lead. Has this team demonstrated any offensive skill set in the halfcourt offense? Has Scotty Hopson shown he can play against defenses with solid forwards that can guard him? Did you see how Singler shutdown H. Barnes 2/3 times they played? Singler will be guarding Hopson.

Also, Pittsburgh is the most overrated team in the country and the best 9 seed scenario we could get. Guess you didn't watch them lose in the first round of the Big East tournament while Duke literally ripped apart every team they played, including their archrival by 17 points in the final game. Pittsburgh will be out by the Elite 8 despite their easy bracket.
 
#30
#30
We could beat Duke if they go 3-30 from 3, but it's hard to shoot that low % when your defender leaves you to go to la la land for a couple of seconds.
 
#33
#33
atxvol2010 said:
Shaun, I am willing to bet Duke would love to play Tennessee in the second round. If and it's a huge IF the Vols get past Michigan, which I don't think we will, the Vols haven't one 2 straight games in over 5 weeks. Tennessee may be able to play against Duke defensively but it won't matter because we will dribble the ball off our legs, throw it out of bounds and get stripped so many times Duke's fast breaks will create all the points they need for a comfortable lead. Has this team demonstrated any offensive skill set in the halfcourt offense? Has Scotty Hopson shown he can play against defenses with solid forwards that can guard him? Did you see how Singler shutdown H. Barnes 2/3 times they played? Singler will be guarding Hopson.

Also, Pittsburgh is the most overrated team in the country and the best 9 seed scenario we could get. Guess you didn't watch them lose in the first round of the Big East tournament while Duke literally ripped apart every team they played, including their archrival by 17 points in the final game. Pittsburgh will be out by the Elite 8 despite their easy bracket.
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Sorry I just don't agree with this. Ohio State is the most talented team in the country IMO. Kansas is even more of a nightmare matchup than Duke is and no possible way Pitt lets UT beat them twice in the same year. Duke is our best choice IMO. And Yeah. I did watch Pitt lose in the "Second" round of the Big East tournament to a team that litterally caught fire and won 5 games in 5 days behind a record setting performance by, who I think is the NPOY, Kemba Walker.

As far as our Offense matching up with Dukes defense, it really doesn't but did our offense really match up with Pitts defense? You could say UT got hot that game and Scotty went off but this team will be up for a match with Duke which doesn't come close to Pitts defense. I didn't take anything away from Duke. They are a great team who is well coached an disciplined but I have a litle more faith in UT than a lot of other people do I guess. I watched all three UNC/Duke games and thought Singler did an excellent job on Harrison Barnes but I think Scotty is more athletic than that kid. He might not have better handles but when he's on, he'd be tougher to guard than Barnes IMO. Brian Williams and Tobias could bang with the Plumlee twins but if UT didnt push the tempo, I think Duke would have a significant advantage. Duke is obviously the better team but some people think UT couldn't even play on the same court of Duke. I'd love for everyone to eat crow!
I don't understand why so many people put that much stock into Michigan. They better pray they shoot 70% behind the arc because there is no possible chance they beat Tennessee Friday unless shots are falling behind the arc. Pearl has been pretty darn good on the scouting report and addressing opponents main strengths and I see no difference here. Stop the 3 and blowout Michigan. No way they can rebound with us or keep us out of the paint, no matter how many guys they put in there. Brian and Tobias will eat these kids up on the boards.
 
#36
#36
i love this match up! though we haven't played good basketball since early december, that team that beat Pitt is still in there somewhere and it's time that they break out. Scotty and Toby have something to prove and this is the perfect stage to do it on. we play our best basketball when all odds are stacked against us (Kansas 09, Ohio State 09, Vila 10, Pitt 10). watch out Duke! UT is going to find that missing link and take care of business
 
#37
#37
Of course we can beat Duke. We beat them at our 2003 Homecoming game. Ohhh...this is a basketball thread. Nevermind. Not a chance. In reality, though, it could happen. One of us could win that $170 million in tonights drawing, too.
 
#39
#39
manfromtn said:
Of course we can beat Duke. We beat them at our 2003 Homecoming game. Ohhh...this is a basketball thread. Nevermind. Not a chance. In reality, though, it could happen. One of us could win that $170 million in tonights drawing, too.
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Just so you know, the odds are astronomically and exponentially better that we beat Duke than the odds of anyone winning the mega lotter
 
#40
#40
berryvol said:
I know a few have said something around these lines but does any one else think the duke game is very winnable. The michigan game is kinda different. We have proven to play down to opponents that we should beat by 30 and get beat. We also have a history of beating teams that records say we sshouldnt. Every time Duke has been beaten this year it was by a team they shouldnt have been and yes im including unc in that list. Duke also has a history of not playing well early in the tourney. In 08' belmont alsmost beat them as a 16 seed. We once again have a history of upseting teams in the tourney (OSU last year). If williams can play well late just like last year and tatum gets watever is on his mind off and play good basketball along with scotty and tobias playing well i think we could be set up for another tourney run. Scotty has to get out of his rut though he hasnt played well lately and its hurt us. Watching the games from last year today on my dvr made me realize that the biggest difference between this year and last years team is this 1) they got the ball inside last year (thank you j p prince) and 2) the role players knew thier roll. Josh bone and steven pearl come into games this year and make plays. Last year bone shot when open and played solid d. Pearl would take up space and play tough d. This year bone takes crazy shots and minimal d and pearl drives and missies. If they fix these i think we will be good.
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IF Tennessee manages to make it past Michigan, then Duke will give them the worst beating that they've received on the basketball court in quite a while. A lot of you guys have been talking smack all season about how bad the ACC is this year. Well, IF (and it's a big IF) UT gets past Michigan, it will be shutup time.
 
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#41
#41
volplaya8 said:
dont think we have much chance...arena will be all duke fans
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Actually, that's not true. There will be more Carolina fans there than anything, and they will be pulling against Duke. I would assume that UT will have some fans there too. As a result, it could be a pro-UT crowd despite the fact that the game will be played in North Carolina. It won't make any difference though.
 
#42
#42
manfromtn said:
Of course we can beat Duke. We beat them at our 2003 Homecoming game. Ohhh...this is a basketball thread. Nevermind. Not a chance. In reality, though, it could happen. One of us could win that $170 million in tonights drawing, too.
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Nice analogy because the odds of winning are relatively similar.
 
#43
#43
shortgameVol said:
Just so you know, the odds are astronomically and exponentially better that we beat Duke than the odds of anyone winning the mega lotter
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Actually, the odds of someone winning the lottery are pretty good. The odds of someone on here winning it are pretty low. And, yes, I do know Tennessee has a better chance of beating Duke. Thats why they call it March Madness. I, however, just don't see it happening this time. My faith hasn't exactly been bolstered by our performance the last half of this season, you understand. Thus ny analogy.
 
#44
#44
I don't have as much concern about the team getting up and staying focused for Duke. The seem to play better against OOC "name" teams, Pitt, Nova, OSU, Texas, etc. It's not a good mindset for the entire season, but it can help here.
 
#45
#45
calban said:
You never know about this team.
They could beat the Celtics on a given day and lose to Indianapolis the next.
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I don't know why people keep saying this, when it hasn't been true for 3 months.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#46
#46
Guys UNC fans aren't going to stay at this game like they usually do because Tennnessee will be out of it by halftime and UNC fans don't really like Tennessee either, especially how a lot of them were treated at the Music City Bowl disaster. UNC fans know Tennessee does not have a shot in hell at beating Duke. There will be no crow to eat during this game, Duke found their spark in the ACC tournament and now Kyrie is back as Duke's backup point guard.
 
#47
#47
Well IF we do beat Michigan. We will not get trounced I predict no more than 8 points. Book IT!!
 
#48
#48
A program that has more final 4 appearances than we have tournament appearances should not be any reason to worry about playing them.
 
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