NYCDolFan wrote:I think Dook will likely finish with 6 or 7 losses before the NCAA Tourney and will fall to at least a #4 Seed.
Let's see...four games left in the regular season and they could lose in the ACC tournament.
Wednesday at Georgia Tech...they beat them by 17 in Cameron on the 5th but that was without Elder. Considering Duke's struggles on the road, I'd say this is a possible loss.
Saturday at St. John's...at 9-14, the Johnnies aren't an upset candidate and they've got Syracuse earlier in the week. Sure Duke dropped that game at VaTech but how likely would have a second bad loss in two weeks? I'd chalk this up as a win.
Next Thursday vs. Miami...the Canes are a bubble team with a 6-7 record in the ACC and needing a big win to get into the tournament. Beating Duke in Cameron would help but they dropped the earlier meeting with the Devils at home 92-83. It will be the last home game of the season for Duke and the last home game for Ewing...I don't see them losing on Senior Day.
Next Sunday at North Carolina...okay, this one's probably going to be a loss but Roy Williams isn't exactly beating Coach K on a regular basis. If the Heels drop a another ACC game before this one, it matchup could be for the regular season title. The Heels still have to go to N.C. State and Maryland this week...two potential trap games for them. North Carolina hasn't lost in the Dean Dome this year and they'll be favored to win this game for sure.
The ACC tournament, you can only lose once and on a neutral site and considering Duke's track record in this tournament...who says they can't win it?
To review, I see atleast one loss with the Carolina, the GaTech game will be tricky and potentially they could get bounced in their conference tournament. If they only lose the game at Carolina and finish with 5 losses in conference and finish third, that still gives them a solid resume but not the usually Duke dominance in conference. They lost a lot of talent from last year and Coach K has done one of his best coaching jobs with what he's got. We'll see what happens in the next three weeks. If they win out, they possibly a #1 and if they lose 2 or 3 games, they're probably looking at a #4 seed. With how much balance there in college hoops this year, I can see champion coming out of anywhere from a #1 seed down to a #5 seed...I would give most teams a puncher's chance in March.