Posted by: Matt Mikhail |
Date: 3/18/2013 12:42:10 PM |
Hey Guys - First time poster, long time reader... I just want to say I am not quite as negative about this team as the majority of posters seem to be... We still have three seniors (I know, they get disinterested in actually leading frequently), a stud freshman who arguably just played his best game of the year (too bad TT stole 10+ minutes from him), and a very good point guard who has plenty of fight. That said, the Elite 8 would still be a big time accomplishment for this team. A first round loss to Albany would shock me (this team knows better, just got a wake up call from the Twerps, and will be well-rested...). Also being from Cincinnati, I have watched UC play several times this year and they are pathetic, even we could hold them under 50 points. Creighton also doesn't scare me. McDermott is a great player but he hasn't had anyone with his size and mobility guard him all year. Unfortunately, MSU is a terrible matchup for us... I'd be stunned if we beat them and I'm already fearing an Arizona like blow out. Especially with the rebounding problems and lack of interior toughness this team has
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Posted by: Mark Buckner |
Date: 3/18/2013 9:33:15 AM |
I think Al White summed it all up nicely.
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Posted by: Al White |
Date: 3/18/2013 12:13:13 AM |
This could be the wackiest NCAA seeding job ever. Amazingly enough, the biggest hosees were the Tools. And no, UVa and Twerps, you didn't get hosed. Surprise, beating Duke in your PSBAD is not all it takes. Winning most of your games against the many weak entries in this year's ACC was also required. Given the Devils' miserable post-season performances the last two years, we can't gripe about getting a tough #3 seed. The Spetnaz needed to protect the bracket in case we, you know, lose to a 15-seed or something comical like that. Sure, we deserved a less tough #1 than Lewaville, but we have to win three games for that to matter and they aren't all that good. Anyway, we even beat those guys way back when we were really playing well in November. If the Devils don't plan on playing any defense or doing any rebounding, they are not going to make it to the Regional. K, puhleez limit TT's minutes to about 12 per game and play Murphy and Jefferson. This is no time for doghouses. And remind Kelly he is 6-11 and needs to pull down at least five boards per half.
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Posted by: Dave |
Date: 3/17/2013 11:15:16 PM |
C'mon Fats, if Duke doesn't play a big team, or a quick team, or a team that can rebound, or a tough team, or a team that can shoot, or a team that can drive the ball, Duke should make it out of that bracket no problem.
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Posted by: Dave |
Date: 3/17/2013 11:15:16 PM |
C'mon Fats, if Duke doesn't play a big team, or a quick team, or a team that can rebound, or a tough team, or a team that can shoot, or a team that can drive the ball, Duke should make it out of that bracket no problem.
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Posted by: Fats "Lazer" Durston |
Date: 3/17/2013 6:26:52 PM |
Guess the Duke-gets-the-easiest-bracket conspiracy theorists are gonna have a hard time explaining this one...
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Posted by: Mark Buckner |
Date: 3/17/2013 3:12:13 PM |
At least the Holes lost...
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Posted by: Mark Buckner |
Date: 3/17/2013 12:18:25 PM |
Is anyone else tired of ESPN showcasing Jay Bias' lack of respect for anyone or anything not named Jay Bias?
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Posted by: Tom |
Date: 3/16/2013 11:57:27 AM |
This is really inexplicable to me. They look like world beaters for three straight games and then lay this huge egg against MD? Our teams since 2010 have been so f'ing soft. Totally agree on Tyler Thornton, and will add my disgruntlement with Hairston. I do a little victory dance every time those two foul out. Anyone else tired of the obligatory wide-open 15 footer jumper from Hairston that he has never once made?
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Posted by: El Guapito |
Date: 3/16/2013 12:25:58 AM |
I was at the game tonight in Greensboro. Sadly, had the best seats I ever have had at the tournament, but got a good up close glimpse of what the cameras do not show. Tons of miscues between Kelly and the remainder of the team. A number of times Mason had to tell him to move and rotate, as did Cook and at least 2 of the TT turnovers were failures of Kelly to break towards the pass (of course, the other failures was the typical TT doing his best "Ollie" from Hoosiers impersonation...dribbling the ball off his foot, shooting free throws underhand, etc). The piviotal point in the game was the recalled charge by Plumlee when the one official overruled the other, struck the Plumlee basket and called a charge rather than a foul against the Twerps. All the fight that Duke had come up with was gone at that time. Matt is correct. We will be a 2 seed. Likely in the West or the South, where the 1st game is in Lexington, KY, against someone like Belmont, etc. There is simply no fight in this team. They won their championship with the last 3 wins of the season. At least my buddy that went to State will get good use of my seats.
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Posted by: blueflame |
Date: 3/15/2013 10:27:46 PM |
Here we go... again. Was Duke ever as good this year as the polls & media seemed to project? I don't think so. Apparently, we still live and die by the 3. Yep, #2 seed somewhere... and another first round tank to some who's-a-whatsie. Next year... 5 guys firing 3's ...again, with no inside game. but hey, we got Parker for 1 year. Woo-woo!!
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 9:24:46 PM |
Oh, wait, it just occurred to me why Amile hasn't played at all since Kelly came back. He's already announced to the staff that he's transferring, just like Gbinije.
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 9:16:40 PM |
Mark, my pleasure. Yeah, Coach K's twilight years are kind of sad. Thank goodness we have that fluke title from 2010 in there, or we would actually be almost irrelevant nationally. Haven't sniffed the Final Four since 2004, 2010 excluded, and are a good best not to do so this season either. In fact, someone correct me, but we've been past the Sweet Sixteen twice in nine seasons, with two first-round exits in there and a second-rounder too.
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Posted by: Fats "Lazer" Durston |
Date: 3/15/2013 9:16:23 PM |
Thanks for the laughs, folks, funnier even than the name Pee-Shawn.
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Posted by: Mark Buckner |
Date: 3/15/2013 9:10:50 PM |
Thanks for having us over tonight Matt. I'm bypassing the Rivals page and their blind allegiance to sacred cows.
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Posted by: Fats "Lazer" Durston |
Date: 3/15/2013 9:08:10 PM |
Put in J-Will!!!
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Posted by: Dave |
Date: 3/15/2013 9:08:07 PM |
Well, now my weekend is free at least.
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Posted by: Mark Buckner |
Date: 3/15/2013 9:07:43 PM |
I've been overly negative tonight over kids. That's wrong. However, Coach K is a grown man that was outcoached again. I know, I know...4 titles and the smartest guy in the room.
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 9:05:46 PM |
Bye, Duke! Thanks for showing up.
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 9:05:28 PM |
Bootsy!
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 9:04:42 PM |
Great shot, Tyler!!!!!!!11111 #justshootme #whois thisyearsLehigh
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 9:03:52 PM |
Good point, Dave. I frequently don't. Is this Sean Woods on the color? I like him. He's containing Bullethead, who's pleasuring himself, of course.
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Posted by: Mark Buckner |
Date: 3/15/2013 9:02:59 PM |
Plumlee loses the ball outta bounds then let's his man dunk it in his face. POTY! (Apologies for the constant negativity. I'll ease off.)
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 9:02:57 PM |
Just some of the worst defense I've ever seen. We look like a grade school team!! Oh, now 3-20 from three. I love how we can never, ever adjust in a game where the triples aren't falling. What did Krzyzewski do back before the three was invented?
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Posted by: Dave |
Date: 3/15/2013 9:02:21 PM |
Matt, it's important to keep Amile for later. You wouldn't understand Ks plan.
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 8:57:48 PM |
Right, Dave. We ALWAYS contain those guys, but just in case, we recruited Amile Jefferson to assist in that department. So we're covered.
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Posted by: Dave |
Date: 3/15/2013 8:56:35 PM |
What were the odds that a 6'6'' slasher would give us trouble? That's never happened before. Oh wait......
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 8:54:41 PM |
Here's the run.
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Posted by: Mark Buckner |
Date: 3/15/2013 8:52:32 PM |
Please educate me? Am I wrong in thinking only Rasheed can get his shot off over his defender? Am I wrong in thinking Maryland was purposely going to whomever Plumlee was guarding around the 8-12 minute mark? The ineffective double teams? I know Coach K has four titles, but....
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 8:50:44 PM |
Every #15 seed is eagerly studying Duke tape right now.
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 8:49:53 PM |
Game over. We'll make a run to lose only by 5-6, but lock this one down. Two seed NCAAs, here we come!
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 8:49:18 PM |
Just embarrassing.
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Posted by: Dave |
Date: 3/15/2013 8:48:29 PM |
7 mins left and we're already hangdogging.
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Posted by: Dave |
Date: 3/15/2013 8:47:41 PM |
Tyler: just stop.
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 8:46:08 PM |
"An Under Armour directive?" I love it, ClemsonGuest. By the way, why the British spelling of "armor"? Is that what the company really calls itself? I refuse to buy anything by them due to the MDCP connection, so I don't know. Nike for me all the way, although surprisingly I don't hurt my foot once a year.
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Posted by: Mark Buckner |
Date: 3/15/2013 8:40:37 PM |
The double teaming underneath is doing us wonders...(sarcasm).
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Posted by: ClemsonGuest |
Date: 3/15/2013 8:39:16 PM |
At first I thought some MaDCaPs were wearing shoes with a different color on the instep-side as on the outside, so it just looks like their shoes don't match. But no, at least two Turtles are definitely wearing mismatched non-pairs. An Under Armour directive? At least their above-the-shin uniforms aren't as horrible as yesterday's outfits from Cincinnati, Baylor or Notre Dame. Maybe I'm just looking for excuses for Duke's too-frequent defensive lapses.
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Posted by: Mark Buckner |
Date: 3/15/2013 8:35:08 PM |
Plumlee...damn..he doesn't even contest shots! Thornton isn't getting the ball to Curry coming off the screen for the 3, instead electin to go down to Plumlee? Why is TT even in the game?
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Posted by: Dave |
Date: 3/15/2013 8:29:40 PM |
There is never a good reason to be playing tight man d 40 feet from the basket.
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Posted by: Mark Buckner |
Date: 3/15/2013 8:29:34 PM |
Another double team with our big man 28 feet from the goal.
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Posted by: Mark Buckner |
Date: 3/15/2013 8:27:01 PM |
Plumlee let hat kid shoot that in his face.
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Posted by: Mark Buckner |
Date: 3/15/2013 8:25:14 PM |
I hate losing to Maryland.
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 8:11:20 PM |
We're going to be really well-rested for that first-rounder.
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 8:09:11 PM |
I love how Chase Rewards or whatever hired a guy whose head is as wide as an ulna, who cannot simulate playing a guitar if his life depended on it, and who cannot sing to do the whole "Everybody get, everybody get" garbage. Must have been one hell of an audition!
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 8:07:24 PM |
Dave, I think Mason is actually Tommy Smothers. Does he ever collect an offensive board? I'm referring to Mason here. I know that Tommy pulled down the occasional scoreside bound in his day.
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Posted by: Fats "Lazer" Durston |
Date: 3/15/2013 8:03:34 PM |
Yeah, it didn't look possible to do without breaking his ankle, but my feed is blurry so I couldn't say for sure.
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Posted by: Dave |
Date: 3/15/2013 8:02:39 PM |
As between the brothers Plumlee, Mason is definitely Larry, not Curly. Marshall is Shemp.
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:53:48 PM |
Fats: Not arguing, but how does a guy hold a pivot when his entire front body is touching the ground? Should be a travel immediately. They let this go in loose ball situations all the time, of course, but if a guy already has possession of the ball, then falls while holding the ball, it should be a travel.
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Posted by: Fats "Lazer" Durston |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:53:24 PM |
There was definitely a Keystone switch on the last defensive sequence. I think I also heard Mason go "nyuk, nyuk, nyuk."
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:52:40 PM |
Great half. I don't know why, but I'm sure that attempting to shut down the one guy who provided half of their offense would be a bad idea.
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Posted by: Dave |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:50:33 PM |
No idea what duke is doing on d. People seem to be randomly following people
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Posted by: Fats "Lazer" Durston |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:49:00 PM |
If the pivot foot is held, it's not a travel.
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:46:31 PM |
Why do first halves hate Duke?
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Posted by: Dave |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:42:29 PM |
Not in the brand new ACC it isnt
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Posted by: Fats "Lazer" Durston |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:42:00 PM |
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:41:51 PM |
If a dude takes a ball to the ground, isn't that an automatic travel?
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Posted by: Fats "Lazer" Durston |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:40:13 PM |
Finally, play against the d's weakness.
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Posted by: Mark Buckner |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:37:38 PM |
Mason is a step slower reacting to the opposing offense, and it seems to be getting worse. Any idea if he's fatigued, pouting, what?
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Posted by: Fats "Lazer" Durston |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:36:20 PM |
Has Maryland scored on every possession except their turnovers? Oh wait, no I remember one miss being rebounded by Duke.
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Posted by: Fats "Lazer" Durston |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:35:15 PM |
Ugh.
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:35:14 PM |
Great defense on Dez Wells! Did the Duke scouts know he was on the team, or . . . ?
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:34:41 PM |
Mason . . . just pitiful. Completely ineffective unless he gets the ball 2-3 feet from the rim.
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:33:59 PM |
Aaaaand it's a blowout again. Sad.
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Posted by: Dave |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:33:56 PM |
Mason: instinctual!
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Posted by: Dave |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:33:04 PM |
Nevermind
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:31:45 PM |
Well, Rasheed came to play, which is highly good news. He's bringing it defensively, too. Okay, they're not going to miss from outside, so extend the defense.
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Posted by: Dave |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:30:44 PM |
Suliamon looks much better off the dribble then Cook so far.
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Posted by: Mark Buckner |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:27:03 PM |
...but UNC has no problems with the Terps?
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Posted by: Dave |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:25:33 PM |
Terrible possession by cook on that iso
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:25:06 PM |
Bad flop by Kelly. Why can't we handle a fast pace? It's the only way they can win, but why does it flummox us so much?
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:22:18 PM |
scraping back in it . . .
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:21:38 PM |
Yes, there's no point in pressing without a trap. Good play by Duke there.
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Posted by: Dave |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:20:53 PM |
Lucky to catch that moving screen. Defense was lost.
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Posted by: Dave |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:18:23 PM |
So, this is our parting gift to MD?
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:16:06 PM |
No motion in the motion offense. Ryan Kelly pitching a lounge chair at the arc. Quinn with an airball.
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:14:54 PM |
Wow! This game's actually close to over, the way the two teams look. Awesome prep, Duke!
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:13:31 PM |
Mason playing poorly.
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Posted by: Matt |
Date: 3/15/2013 7:12:20 PM |
And we're off! Or MDCP is, anyway. Duke spotted just leaving the hotel.
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Posted by: Serious G |
Date: 3/15/2013 6:26:04 PM |
Nice post Matt! May the Devils run the Terps out of the building tonight. Hopefully the (almost) week off will not show much rust. I really want to see them work UM over tonight.
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Posted by: T. Randall Taylor |
Date: 3/15/2013 4:09:40 PM |
I'm pretty sure the Coliseum is owned by the city of Greensboro. Why it has not caved to the allure of corporate sponsorship is beyond me.
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Posted by: Fats "Lazer" Durston |
Date: 3/15/2013 2:28:30 PM |
Ell-o-ell at Faust gag. That is all. No wait, I want to be Dr., too.
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Posted by: Mark Buckner |
Date: 3/15/2013 12:25:18 PM |
Good job Matt. This piece covered the bases: the consequences of corporate power, Duke's place in conference alignment, the problem of Jay Bias' media stardom, and the need to send Maryland packing with shame. 'Jay Bias'...apologies to Len Bias for any unintended connection.
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Posted by: SanFranSoxFan |
Date: 3/15/2013 12:03:58 PM |
Nice preview. Good to see the link to it in dukeupdate.com. Almost like you're back, Matt. Would be nice to see a "payback" game today from Raven and company.
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