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TheRealVille · Mar 29, 2025

2330859 said:
Just to be clear, using UK as a point of reference would be a mistake, evidenced by their performance last night where they lost to a team that only shot 26% from 3. Despite their height advantage, the Cats were out-rebounded by 10. Tennessee is a good team, but not to be confused by either of the #1 seeds.

My confidence in Duke defensively is not just their height and length, but the combination of athleticism that makes shooting the 3 a lot more challenging. Make no mistake, I appreciate Alabama is very good, and I have been consistent in acknowledging that Auburn, Alabama and Florida were each capable of winning the NC, but discounting Duke’s superior talent because of the less than challenging competition in the ACC is a mistake. Those true freshman have improved significantly over this year.

Not a mistake, just an opinion. I don't see this superior talent of Duke. Alabama has as much and they have plenty of size themselves. Only Sears and Holloway are sleight but they are fast as they are great shooters.

Remember 2013 with Siva and Smith? I remember experts saying the same thing about Louisville against Duke that tournament.

I think any mistake is those who throw out Alabama's schedule and how playing all those great teams has prepared them for right now. They are playing their best basketball.

Duke, on the other hand has mostly had it easy. The Arizona game should be a big red flag for Duke fans because Arizona is no Alabama. Now I'm not saying Duke can't win. They may be the best team, but this notion they are some super all time team is frankly, silly.

Bardman · Mar 29, 2025

Agree 100%. Said the same last night. It just made no sense. Data should have told them where Forbes was in regards to tiring, etc. He struck out a ton of guys. He also got hit hard at times. Going into that inning they should have had at least two guys ready to go. They are sooooo slow at getting guys warmed up and ready to pitch. Then, you put Schwietzer into a pile of shit. Then end up pulling him (little early IMO) for Wyatt. Then, inexplicably, they pull Wyatt for Biven. WHY???? Biven just doesn’t appear to have it this year. Maybe just start him for our mid-week games and see if you can get a couple of innings out of him.

2330859 · Mar 29, 2025

TheRealVille said:
A totally disagree with this, but I've been wrong before.

I think what you're missing is the Titanic difference in the teams being tested. Duke gave up 93 points to Arizona and it took Flagg 30 points to win. That's the best team they have faced in over 3 months. The adversity has been slim for the Dookies.

Alabama on the other hand, you know who they have been playing? Auburn. Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ole Miss.

All five still playing.

UK's last loss was by 30 points to Alabama and UK is not a small team.

For me, Alabama is going to go straight at Duke and make them try to keep up. Duke will be making the more adjustments in this game, but unless Alabama suddenly goes cold, I see the Tide moving on.

Just to be clear, using UK as a point of reference would be a mistake, evidenced by their performance last night where they lost to a team that only shot 26% from 3. Despite their height advantage, the Cats were out-rebounded by 10. Tennessee is a good team, but not to be confused by either of the #1 seeds.

My confidence in Duke defensively is not just their height and length, but the combination of athleticism that makes shooting the 3 a lot more challenging. Make no mistake, I appreciate Alabama is very good, and I have been consistent in acknowledging that Auburn, Alabama and Florida were each capable of winning the NC, but discounting Duke’s superior talent because of the less than challenging competition in the ACC is a mistake. Those true freshman have improved significantly over this year.

Thecycle27 · Mar 29, 2025

UT coming after McNeely tells me he is legit because Barnes isn’t taking a guy that can’t defend. That would be a great start.

Wooley who knows but Alabama is probably the favorite.

Interesting the feeling is the portal guys in this cycle will pull the trigger faster. I assume that means the market is more stable. I think the guys that waited last year ended up making bank but maybe ended up at places they didn’t want to be at.

You know what the portal has done, fans get over losses almost immediately looking at the portal. UK site has a longer thread about their portal addition than their loss.

Thecycle27 · Mar 29, 2025

Here is why I like Duke in this matchup. Florida handled Alabama because of their defense and guards. Duke is statistically better than Florida defensively. They are also as good offensively.

Who do you trust to get a stop late in a game Duke or Alabama? I can see Alabama coming out hot then Duke reeling them back in.

It is actually a bad match up for Alabama. MSU, Texas Tech, UT, or Houston are all better matchups for Alabama. I do agree if they get by Duke they are playing for the title.

2330859 · Mar 29, 2025

What was Mac and Williams thinking in the top of the 6th? After a most impressive performance for 5 innings by Forbes, and leading 9-2, anyone paying attention to this game knew that Forbes was spent after giving up the lead-off single, the wild pitch and 4 pitch walk. The game was well in hand before waiting to bring in relief with the bases loaded and no one out. Sorry, but that lack of recognition by the coaching staff sends a horrible message to the players, and gave California all the confidence they needed to get back in the game.

In fairness, the Cards came up big offensively in the bottom of the 9th to tie the game, and ultimately get the game winning run, but only after having appeared to “snatch defeat from the jaws of victory”. I can only imagine how the players must have felt when witnessing our staff’s failure to respond in a timely manner when it has become evident that our pitcher’s have lost control.

If Dan or Roger think they did Forbes any favor by leaving him in, particularly after the wild pitch and 4 pitch walk …….. they did nothing of the kind.

Thecycle27 · Mar 29, 2025

Tenn just locked UK up it looked like what they did to Louisville. I trust them more than Houston.

The SEC top teams are stupid good. It could be an all SEC Final Four. I think it will end up that way. Duke is the one team built to handle the different styles. Every top team hit with their portal and freshman.

Next year will be interesting.

LeFors4Ever · Mar 29, 2025