UConn vs Duke (Elite 8)

[ec33]

When No. 1 seed Duke and No. 2 seed UConn square off Sunday in the Elite Eight, it will be a battle between "the two best college basketball programs on the men's side in the last 30 years," according to Huskies coach Dan Hurley.

Is he right?

It depends on the criteria, but if you're basing it exclusively off national championships and draw the line back a little longer than just 30 years, Hurley is spot on. Going back to Duke's first national championship in 1991 and drawing a line until present day, the two programs have combined for 11 titles.

Dan Hurley says UConn and Duke are 'the two best' programs of the past 30 years: Is he right?

Sunday's Elite Eight showdown between Duke and UConn is a battle of college basketball royalty

www.cbssports.com

This article made me appreciate just how many Final Fours UConn has been to in the UConn title era (1999-to-present) compared to the "Blue Bloods." UConn is right there with them with a win tomorrow. Shut down a different argument the proud-to-be-also-rans like to throw out to exclude UConn from their "club."

 

[upstater]

Patrick Ngongba

I read they never play Brown and Ngongba together because of spacing.

 

[RuffRuff]

 

[caw]

I’d bet he plays a few. Prep like he will but hope he won’t.

 

[Flipside]

 

[Greedo]

Kenny just said he thinks UConn’s experience will prevail.

 

[Horatio]

UConn vs Duke eve. The weight of who we’re playing just hit me. It’s almost like the game needs to be played on Monday because of the history and rivalry. This one is different. Different bragging rights. Different history.

 

[housekeys]

Our defense, rebounding and limiting their second chances, and limiting their points from the FT line, is enough to win this game. Our offense may or may not show up, but as they say, "defense....".

 

[connVA]

As I noted in another thread, I’ll be watching this game in Tampa on the anniversary of March 29, 1999. I’m disappointed that the Rays aren’t home or else I would have gotten a ticket and watched it on my phone at Tropicana Field for maximum good juju.

 

[psilotic]

Keep digging Duke...

not sure if this is analogous but know a gonzaga fan who despises uconn the way we (i think) despise duke. we may not think of zags as a rival but we GD sure respect them and im certain if we played them tomorrow Dan Hurley & Co. would be overflowing with praise for Few & Co. six nattys not good enough for ya Isiah? hopefully after today your delta tau chi nickname is “Buzz”

 

[Lafayette]

I’m in Central Florida in a town of 28K and we don’t have the golf cart apps as you do but golf carts are all over. Places like Winn Dixie have narrower parking spots reserved for golf carts which crack me up. My insurance more than doubled when I moved from CT mainly due to my wife.

Greetings from Ormond Beach!

 

[JungleLobo]

not sure if this is analogous but know a gonzaga fan who despises uconn the way we (i think) despise duke. we may not think of zags as a rival but we GD sure respect them and im certain if we played them tomorrow Dan Hurley & Co. would be overflowing with praise for Few & Co. six nattys not good enough for ya Isiah? hopefully after today your delta tau chi nickname is “Buzz”

UConn has bullied some very good Gonzaga squads and taken their tourney units.

Maybe the Huskies think the Zags are in the B1G.

Cha-Ching.

 

[RuffRuff]

Interesting take on the Duke board. This win will mean a lot to Hurley. You can bet he's putting his foot on the gas motivationally.

 

[pj]

Regardless, if we have to overcome an injury to our PG AND the refs, we are toast. Hope I'm wrong. It feels more like 1990 than 1999.

Why would an injury to the refs hurt us? Not arguing for inflicting one, just thinking it would affect both teams equally.

 

[Skiblets]

Just hope our guys are awake for the early tip time 😂

 

[jibsey]

not sure if this is analogous but know a gonzaga fan who despises uconn the way we (i think) despise duke. we may not think of zags as a rival but we GD sure respect them and im certain if we played them tomorrow Dan Hurley & Co. would be overflowing with praise for Few & Co. six nattys not good enough for ya Isiah? hopefully after today your delta tau chi nickname is “Buzz”

I guess it’s hard to imagine us being hated the way Duke is by us.

 

[RuffRuff]

I guess it’s hard to imagine us being hated the way Duke is by us.

Talk to a San Diego St fan.

 

[Marat]

Something people not really talking about is how will the Duke players perform on short rest after dealing with SJU pressure physically and mentally. I think this will be a factor today

 

[RuffRuff]

Something people not really talking about is how will the Duke players perform on short rest after dealing with SJU pressure physically and mentally. I think this will be a factor today

It's a massive pivot in unique styles on two day rest.

 

[BFieldHusky]

It's a massive pivot in unique styles on two day rest.

If Foster and big Pat are struggling physically today, it really shifts the advantage to us. Brown and Boozer will struggle to guard Tarris. Hes too big for both of them.

 

[Tenspro2002]

I had a dream that we lost by 1, but the final score was 158-157, so take that with a grain of salt.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Just hope our guys are awake for the early tip time 😂

It's an 11:05pm CEST tip off. Some of us have traveled 1/3 of the way around the world to make sure UConn has a late tip off.

 

[Giddyup5]

Another point for the good guys.

Duke has played in about 3-4 close games all year. They have not had many possessions of must makes or must stops. How many pressure free throws have they made?

We’ve played in 13-14 close games.

Keep this close with 4 minutes left. They WILL play tight.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Another point for the good guys.

Duke has played in about 3-4 close games all year. They have not had many possessions of must makes or must stops. How many pressure free throws have they made?

We’ve played in 13-14 close games.

Keep this close with 4 minutes left. They WILL play tight.

Kind of funny how far we've come as a program, coach, and fanbase, that "Hurley can't win a close game" never came into the discussion down the stretch against MSU.

 

[Woof]

Kind of funny how far we've come as a program, coach, and fanbase, that "Hurley can't win a close game" never came into the discussion down the stretch against MSU.

Simple explanation. Show me. If you show me then I believe.

 

[jibsey]

I’m strangely calm now. Doesn’t mean I will be later but the best team will take this and we have to abide by it. They’re going to give it everything they’ve got, of course. Just don’t want bad reffing to be a factor. That’s all I’m asking for. Already proud of this team.

 

[businesslawyer]

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

That just made me spit up my tea laughing. I’ve always assumed you have to be in the top 4 of Browns before you can be considered elite. LOL.

 

[Sgt.Peps6x]

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.

5th best Brown defensively or overall? 😂

 

[blkknight1]

I think this a game where we can play loose. The pressure is on duke and scheyer. They are the ones that is trying to break through. They are the one seed they have the national player of the year. Most people are going to be picking them.

The guy from Duke talked about team connectivity. Well I gotta say this team is more more connected. I think think that Silas being hurt has kind of forced him to focus even more on his defense he knows that his offense is not there because of the injury so in the minutes he plays he gives everything he has on defense. In turn Malachi has stepped up to pick up that slack.

Solo in the last game playing harder on defense than we have seen him play and that’s because his teammates and coaches have been there to pick him up through his shooting struggles. When you know the guys have your back like that you look for ways to help them out. His shots are falling I’m gonna play harder on defense then. I also think that him concentrating more on that defensive end will help with the offense. Since he will be thinking less about the offensive end.

This team is all about connection. Whether they are hurting/injured or slumping they are said well if one area working in gonna help the team in other ways.

 

[JB75]

A Little different feeling in the air this morning fellas. Let’s go!!!! Dream matchup is set !!!