UConn vs Duke (Elite 8)

[iluvedwards]

Feels like one of those games where it starts reminding you of Rashad Anderson, Roscoe Smith, and Shabazz Napier. If it gets even a little weird, that probably leans UConn. Winner goes to the Final Four, which is when things usually get very on-brand.

 

[RuffRuff]

Who is on Reed in this scenario?

Brown and PN just about split the 5 minutes.
I'd have to think when it's Brown/Boozer, they defend Tarris with Boozer and let Brown chase AK. When PN comes in, they let PN defend Tarris and let Boozer chase AK (or even have a kid like Sarr do it). Duke has a ton of options defensively. Less so offensively. We'll need everyone to show up on this one to win.

One thing I know is we have to rebound in this one.

 

[Husk1esB2B]

Uconn need to play to their ceiling for 35 minutes

Then we win by 20 I guess

 

[Tenspro2002]

It remains really bizarre how we haven't encountered Duke in the Tournament since 2004.

We have 5 Final Fours and 4 championships in that span, and they have a few of their own.

I think the closest was 2011, when Duke lost to Arizona, who we then beat in the Elite 8.

 

[CL82]

You would make a terrible cheerleader.

Meh, we have a chance.​

 

[UCann]

And then they said that UConn relies so heavily on Reed and Karaban. I hate to tell them that Duke relies more heavily on 1 player. If the Huskies can slow down Boozer I like our chances.

Ross on Boozer I think is the way.

 

[aceboon]

Not sure why posters are referencing Purdue/Edey and replicating that gameplan, Boozer is a completely different player than Edey and is utilized differently. He's not a "just dump it into the post" guy.

 

[bendm]

Why can't Brown chase Karaban around? He's an athletic player.

Koehler couldn’t so MSU had to go small and put Carr on him instead. Don’t tell me Koehler isn’t athletic he’s a better ball player than brown

Not sure why posters are referencing Purdue/Edey and replicating that gameplan, Boozer is a completely different player than Edey and is utilized differently. He's not a "just dump it into the post" guy.

We also don’t have a Clingan equivalent that’s a perfect defensive matchup and can guard him one on one

 

[UCMBBFan]

Shock the world!

 

[RuffRuff]

Koehler couldn’t so MSU had to go small and put Carr on him instead. Don’t tell me Koehler isn’t athletic he’s a better ball player than brown

We also don’t have a Clingan equivalent to guard him one on one

I think you have a really bad read on Brown, he's an elite defender.

 

[uconnfan68]

Ross on Boozer I think is the way.

Only on the little one.

 

[homunculus]

UConn was the #1 overall seed, had the best odds going into the tournament, and were 7 point favorites going into the title game.

Sure. Plenty of people (maybe not here) still picked Purdue because Edey was unstoppable. Which was the bigger point, but thanks for pointing that out.

 

[bendm]

I think you have a really bad read on Brown, he's an elite defender.

I think you can stop glazing him he’s not Ron artest.

 

[tzznandrew]

Sure. Plenty of people (maybe not here) still picked Purdue because Edey was unstoppable. Which was the bigger point, but thanks for pointing that out.

Most people—not just here—didn't pick Purdue. Otherwise UConn wouldn't have been 7 point favorites, or favorites going into the tournament. They were #1 in KenPom. They were picked by over 25% of all people who filled out brackets. Purdue was number 4 at a little over 7%. More people picked Carolina than Purdue.

UConn fans have their weird thing where we always want to be the underdogs even when we're the Death Star.

EDIT: to be clear, I agree with most of the rest of your post. But I actually think it matters that Hurley won it both as an underdog, and then replaced 3/5 starters and won it again as a favorite.

 

[RuffRuff]

I think you can stop glazing him he’s not Ron artest

He was defensive player of the year in the ACC, lol. Get a clue and circle back. Hysterical.

 

[bendm]

He was defensive player of the year in the ACC, lol. Get a clue and circle back. Hysterical.

he’s a backup undersized C barely averaging 20mpg for his career. I’m taking Karaban or Reed regardless of who he’s guarding.

The only matchup that really worries me on either side of the ball is who guards cam. I could also see Sarr smothering Mullins and/or Ball but they aren’t one on one players anyways

 

[jorge34]

The Jonnie’s gave Duke everything they could handle and more……despite their top 4 guards shooting 7-28, only grabbing 3 rebounds and handing out 7 assists.

Duke is terrific but beatable.

We have been waiting all year for UConn to hit another level in their play, and while the glimpses are there, the inconsistency remains……

Duke is gonna bring it out of them, and it starts in the backcourt

 

[tzznandrew]

I think you have a really bad read on Brown, he's an elite defender.

Torvik has Brown as the 446th best defender (by DRTG), and the fifth best Brown.

He has Kohler as the 33rd.

Games matter, but this is one space where your love for Duke has perhaps blinded you.

 

[HuskiesFourLife]

Mashburn is something else man, says Duke hasn't had a tournament game where they put 2 halves together and says it will happen against UConn, then says UConn should be nervous. He's had a bug up his ass about UConn all year on Turner's coverage, Hurley even chided him for it after the Villanova win.

He’s a hater, super annoying. We will shut him up

 

[RuffRuff]

Torvik has Brown as the 446th best defender (by DRTG), and the fifth best Brown.

He has Kohler as the 33rd.

Games matter, but this is one space where your love for Duke has perhaps blinded you.

He's a 6'9" super switchable and athletic forward, 14th best defender on EvanMIya, ACC DPOY, was all ACC defense with Cuse. Totally different players. These views, I swear. Now I'm being called a Duke fan.

 

[Kowalski]

If Reed and Karaban stay out of foul trouble, I think UConn will beat Duke. Karaban and Tarris are the senior leader that’ll make the difference against the freshmen led Duke. Tarris has been has the most dominant post scorer & rebounder in the tourney and I expect the good outside shooting from last night to carry over. Looks like UConn’s is just hitting their stride now. Schemer may try to mix in some zone, which worked for them against St John’s, but UConn has more weapons against the zone.

 

[bendm]

These views, I swear. Now I'm a Duke fan.

Idk Maybe try posting about why or how UConn can win (like a normal UConn fan) instead of posting about how good UM and Zona and Duke are and why we’ll probably lose to them. Seasons almost over but it’s not too late.

 

[navery12]

He's a 6'9" super switchable and athletic forward, 14th best defender on EvanMIya, ACC DPOY, was all ACC defense with Cuse. Totally different players. These views, I swear. Now I'm a Duke fan.

Maybe not a Duke fan, but certainly not a UConn fan. You've spent 5 months on a UConn board explaining why our team actually sucks and will lose to every other top team

 

[tzznandrew]

He's a 6'9" super switchable and athletic forward, 14th best defender on EvanMIya, ACC DPOY, was all ACC defense with Cuse. Totally different players. These views, I swear. Now I'm a Duke fan.

I'm not saying that Brown isn't a good defender. He clearly is. So was Kohler, who was ranked very highly on defense as well. I do think Brown's DPOY is more a reward for a Duke team that went 17-1 in the conference and won the conference by two games. I'm not convinced that such an award should got to someone who plays so few minutes.

He did a great job against St. John's. But he's largely doing what he does in 20 minutes a game. Can he keep it up chasing players around screens all game? And what happens when he sits? He also can't stretch the floor at all (16% from 3) and is largely an offensive liability.

 

[78AlwaysHappy]

A throwback…

 

[Inyatkin]

Maybe not a Duke fan, but certainly not a UConn fan. You've spent 5 months on a UConn board explaining why our team actually sucks and will lose to every other top team

He’s just sparkin convo and fillin us up with facts, like the fact that UConn and its players are bad. You know, UConn fan stuff

 

[brihman]

The Jonnie’s gave Duke everything they could handle and more……despite their top 4 guards shooting 7-28, only grabbing 3 rebounds and handing out 7 assists.

Duke is terrific but beatable.

We have been waiting all year for UConn to hit another level in their play, and while the glimpses are there, the inconsistency remains……

Duke is gonna bring it out of them, and it starts in the backcourt

Duke has been floating a tiny bit under the radar too, especially since Siena. Feels like Illinois has more hype and pressure now.

 

[tzznandrew]

He’s just sparkin convo and fillin us up with facts, like the fact that UConn and its players are bad. You know, UConn fan stuff

Annoyingly, Duke is good and very well might win this game. They are the favorite for a reason.

But reading his posts, you'd never know they were in a dog fight with Siena, or Florida State, that they were down 10 to St. John's in the second half just last game.

 

[Lafayette]

I have faith in our matchups.

Let Boozer get his but we need Evans shut down and off the 3 line.

Reed will likely foul 3-4 times and Reibe same but Ngonba hits worse FT than Reed.

AK can guard Brown and Demary is limited.

But…Duke does not have wonderful ball handlers..Silas, Malachi, Braylon, Jayden are gonna get steals so hope we full court them some.

 

[Inyatkin]

Annoyingly, Duke is good and very well might win this game. They are the favorite for a reason.

But reading his posts, you'd never know they were in a dog fight with Siena, or Florida State, that they were down 10 to St. John's in the second half just last game.

No doubt, they’re good. So are we. Shouldn’t be too much for a UConn fan to acknowledge as much