Duke Post Game Thread

[businesslawyer]

I would consider going, but I've only been to one - 2009. I can never go again, obviously. The mojo demands it

I hear you. Was in Syracuse when we lost to Maryland in ‘02 and in DC when we lost to Mason in ‘06. I toyed with driving down to DC yesterday, but my older son would have found a way to close the Jersey Turnpike to keep me from being in the building for a regional final ever again.

But on the other side of the mojo, I was a the disappointing Big East final a few weeks ago (feels like years ago). The other Big East finals I went to — 04, 11 and 24 — all had something in common at the end of them. The jury is still out on that.

 

[Dove]

Murphys Cromwell (formerly Rookies where myself and a few BYers started this championship journey in 1999):




Great set up by the cameraman perfection!

1999 was a great night there!!! I have a picture of Mr Toad somewhere.

 

[DRBackup]

What’s crazy about that in hindsight is that our poor “long-suffering” fanbase really only suffered for 9 years. It wasn’t like we were the Cubs. And 1990 was a magic carpet ride that fell a little short, and we weren’t all that good again until 1994 (an 11 seed and a 9 seed and an NIT year in between), so it was really like we suffered for 5.

It was still crazy that we were on the doorstep in 1990 and it took almost a decade to get there. Well worth the wait!!! We were all paying our dues by sitting through the Laettner shot, Donyell's missed FTs, losing to UCLA in CA, Florida in Florida, then Ricky Moore's shoulder and the flu for the game against UNC again in Carolina. We as a fanbase earned our stripes in that decade, for sure.

 

[HuskyNan]

 

[nelsonmuntz]

UConn lost to Creighton and Marquette, and didn’t play one of its best games of the season yesterday.

Big East > ACC

 

[WhereistheDove?]

In fairness to Scheyer, his last two tournament losses have been two of the hugest chokes in history. And he did it back to back.

But, yeah, this is no Matt Doherty situation.

He’s going to feel quite a bit of heat off this one. This, Houston, and NC State is quite the stretch of choking in the tournament with the pure talent advantage he’s had. IMO the margin of error before Duke fans really start after him is getting thinner.

 

[DRBackup]

Both were epic, though this one was for a trip to the Final-4.

The Shot came after UConn gave up a big lead in the Sweet-16 and our first on the big national stage. This one capped off a comeback from a large deficit vaulting us into -4.

Both were amazing in their own right. I'm happy I've been alive to witness both.

The fact that "The Shot" was part of the Dream Season is a huge reason it has endured as such a classic memory

 

[ctbro1999]

Pure cinema

 

[DRBackup]

Coach at about 42 second mark thought he was gonna get a T for a headbutt

Absolute best part of this ? You can read Mom Hurley's lips - "holy fluffin' shrimp"

 

[Phil]

It will surprise exactly no one that SportsCenter had a heavy dose of UConn. Long opening segment, a mid show segment on the three game-winning threes in E8 or later games, and the least surprising announcement of the year — Mullins shot was the number one entry in the top 10.

 

[Scoe]

I literally slept for half an hour and I'm not tired one bit it's amazing what winning can do to your body especially in that fashion.

I'm still speechless, this still doesn't seem real. In real time I was saying to myself did that just happen, I literally choose not to move until the final buzzer.

 

[Puppy Love]

It’s the basketball gods having a laugh…no other explanation.

 

[Hurlees4hed]

All year it felt like this team just hasn't started clicking yet. We did in that second half. Amazing coaching by the staff. If the players ride this confidence and can start hitting 3s, we've got a real shot down the stretch here. We are on the right side of the bracket.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

Today’s forecast in Connecticut

 

[DRBackup]

Does anyone know how Boozer got his black eye?

Reibe hit him with a flying forearm

 

[CL82]

Later Rothstein was talking about how the four of the watching the shot together was something that they were always going to remember. I can't remember who, but somebody joked about visiting Rothstein in a nursing home and him saying remember the time Braylon Mullins hit that three to beat Duke and go to the final four?

 

[upstater]

I agree with Scheyer on burning the clock with passing. If we had gotten the quick foul, there would still be 8+ seconds left. He also risks a tie up by having a guard hold the ball especially against the baseline. UConn had the possession arrow. Those first two passes burned a lot of time. If Boozer got that ball over Demary, the game would have been over, Demary just made a great play..

The same thing almost happened on one of the previous inbounds when the ball went to Ngonba and Ngongba turns to toss it back to a ball handler, which would have surely been a 10 second violation. Ross inexplicably laid off Ngongba and let him bring the ball to the front court but Scheyer had to surely see what happened and he had to realize that , especially coming off St John’s, they were rickety back there when it came to getting nearly trapped

 

[RuffRuff]

One major check on the Uconn end that was a key to this one - Evan's was basically shut down.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

The lack of self awareness is hilarious:

 

[REB1094]

I’m still trying to figure out what happened down the stretch

Silas Demary is playing on 1 ankle and hasn’t hit a three since Georgetown in the BET. Hits two back to back. Then gets UP to deflect the last pass

Solo Ball, in the coldest stretch of his life, challenges Cam Boozer 1 on 1 at the rim. And1.

1 minute left down 4. Karaban is 1-9 and 0-5 from three. Launches a DEEP three. Game is over if he misses. Money.

Freshman Braylon Mullins is 0-4 from three. Confidently steps into a 30 footer. Game.

INSANE

 

[Magic32]

 

[Edward Sargent]

I just rewatched the shot for the 40th time. 3 Duke players handled the ball on the last possession. So why are they blaming the last guy Boozer? Any one of them just holds it to go to the line. Poor coaching and he needs to own that not the players.

He did.

Everything that happened there was brilliant. I've no idea why Scheyer wanted the ball pushed up court, but he did and his team tried. Silas's defense, Braylon grabbing it and getting it to Alex and then both of them being absolutely dead calm in the next two seconds. Braylon likely expects Alex to shoot but he still steps in to be available. Alex seeing Boozer and realizing that any shot will be heavily contested passes it back out.

Game was as slow for them there as it might have been in the opening minute.

Our D was perfect. Expect the pass to the middle so put both Braylon and Silas on him and leaving two Duckies wide open for the pass. Lil Boozer made the heady, ballsy Freshman mistake!

 

[Stinger92860]

I knew it as soon as it released from his hands.it is like he has better arch on his shot further out.

I knew it had a chance which is what caused me to jump out of my seat, but when it went I was astonished. I’ve been a UConn fan since the 70’s. They have given me so much enjoyment over the years. Obviously peaks and valleys, but no matter the coach, or the players, they always rise up. IMO we are playing with house money now.

 

[Enrique]

It is ironic that UConn was the team with a 19 point lead over Michigan State in the previous game. While that huge lead melted away in the 2nd have with MSU even taking a brief lead, UConn was able to stabilize in pull themselves together to force the win. Every UConn game in the tournament has been exciting and memorable.

 

[10TOES]

Decided to buy a ticket last minute and make the drive down from Brooklyn with the wife. The whole game we had Duke fans chirping. An obnoxious Duke Dad did have the wherewithal to say to the loud Duke fan next to him at half time, “it’s not over yet, this is UConn and they will make a run. We’ve lost these before”. After Silas missed his first free throw the loud fan was screaming “turn the music off this game is over”. I turned back to him and said “thank you for saying that”. Post Mullins shot I’m pumping my UConn jersey screaming “Turn the music off! Turn the music off”. The guy couldn’t have been nicer, I’m not sure if it was shock but he asked to take a selfie after the game to remember the moment. Life’s too short, take the chance to experience something special, I almost watched this game from my basement.

 

[Mr. French]

Can anyone explain Hurley head to head with Roger Ayres ? He had a serious face but it didn’t SEEM confrontational because I’d imagine that’s a dangerous move lol I am just confused at what happened.

 

[Excalibur]

Pure cinema

I love the contrast as the camera pans from the UConn side with everyone’s arms up in triumph, to the Duke side, which is a sea of surrender cobras.

 

[UCTitleTown]

I also want to take credit for the win. Down 19 pts. I realized I wasn't wearing the unwashed UConn sweatshirt I'd worn throughout the tournament so far, and quickly put it on. The result?.... 😆 Scheyer failed to give me any credit in his post-game comments too.

 

[alexd]

Murphys Cromwell (formerly Rookies where myself and a few BYers started this championship journey in 1999):




Great set up by the cameraman perfection!

Not sure if the guy front and center was praying but whatever it was, thanks.

 

[DRBackup]

Funny how we react to different things- many posters mentioned tearing up right at the moment of Mullin's kill-shot. I'll confess this one got me. In this mercenary age of college sports these scenes make the love of the institution and its culture palpable. Oh wait it was just dust in my eye...

Same