The boys definitely played with a sense of pride for that Duke jersey in Blacksburg. Where the Blue Devils have perhaps lacked most this season is in their ability to simply get after it, and play with that sheer intensity and, dare I say, arrogance that has made the best Coach K teams throughout the years so damn good. The turning point of the game, in my view, was the yearly donnybrook that Va Tech's players tried to initiate against Duke under their own basket midway through the first half, acting a complete fool and temporarily forgetting they were at a basketball game and not an alley. Andre Dawkins wasn't taking no shit from nobody, and, after forcing a Hokie turnover, he drilled a 22-footer and let Cassell Coliseum know exactly what had just happened. He was T'd, of course, but not before galvanizing his teammates and setting the fucking tone.

Tonight, Duke played Duke basketball for the first time this season, for a full 40 minutes. We have one more to secure in Cameron against Miami on Sunday before traveling to the netherworld to take on the Heels. I want these next two badly.

I was so impressed and proud with the way Duke came out and performed last night. They will need that some intensity and passion throughout the rest of the season. I loved what I saw last night and I'm really hoping that this performance will carry over the rest of the year. A win at Chapel Hill would be so lovely right about now!

birddog23;1074302 wrote:I was so impressed and proud with the way Duke came out and performed last night. They will need that some intensity and passion throughout the rest of the season. I loved what I saw last night and I'm really hoping that this performance will carry over the rest of the year. A win at Chapel Hill would be so lovely right about now!

Out of curiosity, are you related to a poster with the username ccrunner609? If not, are you a student of his? Again, there's a lot of similarity between the way you two post, so I thought I'd ask.

vball10set;1074336 wrote:Out of curiosity, are you related to a poster with the username ccrunner609? If not, are you a student of his? Again, there's a lot of similarity between the way you two post, so I thought I'd ask.

Ip check!!!!!

reclegend22;1073927 wrote:
We have one more to secure in Cameron against Miami on Sunday before traveling to the netherworld to take on the Heels. I want these next two badly.

Wednesday can't get here soon enough. Bring it, Dukies!

ironman02 wrote:Wednesday can't get here soon enough. Bring it, Dukies!

I am so with you, iron. As soon as the Miami tune-up ends tomorrow afternoon, I plan on drinking endless Mountain Dews and not sleeping until the game starts. I am hyped primo. Unfortunately, if I did that, I'd be dead by early Tuesday.

I'm more stirred for this year than most for some reason, I think perhaps because the game is so important for Duke, in that the Blue Devils have been so inconsistently good and bad that I really don't have a feel for how they will do in March. My initial reaction right now is another early exit, but the energy they played with in Blacksburg coupled with their 19-3 record against the No. 1 SOS in the nation gives me hope. Carolina will be the gold standard game, and will really reveal what this year's Duke edition is made of.

As hard as I have been on Seth Curry lately, I also know that if he doesn't get out of his ongoing swoon from behind the arc and begin making consistent shots, we have no chance in Chapel Hill. I am really hoping that Curry can hit three or four long balls today against Miami. It might be just enough to propel him into another fantastic game against Duke's archenemy Wednesday night. As you will recall, last year, Curry hung 22 on the Heels, including a spectacular 17-point second half flurry that helped bring Duke back from down 14 at the break.

Looks like Duke shoulda been worried and prepared for Miami before thinking about UNC. They are currently down 14 to Miami, @ Duke! wow!

Duke isn't looking past Miami, this team simply does not know how to compete.

Crazy, hard to say this as a Duke fan, but is true. They will come out hard in the second half because Coach K is going to threaten their lives. The question will be whether they are talented enough to get defensive stops. Duke went 4 minutes without getting bucket there. Not a genius to know why, Curry, Rivers, Dawkins, Kelly, Plumlee on the floor and not a one of them is a distributor. Go figure they were firing off errant 18 foot jump shots. Really want to see Thornton and Cook getting more time, but I guess this is what K thinks will win. He knows more basketball than I, but good lord when there is no point guard out there the are a mediocre basketball team.

Side note, I don't blame any student for not wanting to go to the game today. There is not a single inspiring thing about this basketball team.

vball10set;1074336 wrote:Out of curiosity, are you related to a poster with the username ccrunner609? If not, are you a student of his? Again, there's a lot of similarity between the way you two post, so I thought I'd ask.

No and no.

Wow, not off to a good start in 2nd half. 48-32 Miami!!

Quinn cook gets pt duke goes on a run. It ain't rocket science

Don't know who is gonna take this one now. Duke has expended a great deal of energy to get back in it. Miami has to dig deep to finish.

Cook having himself quite an OT...wow.

Devils lost this game in the first half. Gotta learn how to form the intensity at the start. Shouldn't be a problem Wednesday. Hopefully the team learns a lesson today and I hope Quinn cook continues to get time. Duke doesn't stay in the game without him. I'll take the turnovers, he will learn but has to play.

LOL @ Duke. They will be lucky to make the sweet 16. This team is not good, they just play an easy schedule.

I'm just curious how does one become a Duke fan?

ccrunner609;1076186 wrote:When you grow up it is common to become attached to the teams that are good during that time. Its what you see on TV. Like me I grew up watching Duke play and win. I like their style of play and the players that K recruits.

Read: Bandwagon

robj55;1076172 wrote:I'm just curious how does one become a Duke fan?

You wait til they have a successful season, then just hop right on.

ccrunner609;1076186 wrote:When you grow up it is common to become attached to the teams that are good during that time. Its what you see on TV. Like me I grew up watching Duke play and win. I like their style of play and the players that K recruits.

Is it because their players are mostly white?

robj55 wrote:Is it because their players are mostly white?

It most definitely is. I am a diehard Duke fan, as loyal as they come, but I secretly cheer harder for the anglo-saxons. Don't tell anybody this, but when one of the "darks" makes a good shot or cool pass, I only politely clap. Inside, however, I am thinking how wonderful he would look dangling from a joshua tree.

As for reality, it will be us against the world on Wednesday. I welcome it. Duke has played some of its best basketball over the years with an edge. This year's team doesn't naturally have it; it has to be manufactured for them. Perhaps the loss today will do that. Just like in 2008 when Greg Paulus was our team leader and Carolina an imposing machine of athleticism and superior talent with which we couldn't possibly hang, we will be heading into Chapel Hill with no more than a puncher's chance. We won that night. Let's see what happens.

reclegend22;1076237 wrote:It most definitely is. I am a diehard Duke fan, as loyal as they come, but I secretly cheer harder for the anglo-saxons. Don't tell anybody this, but when one of the "darks" makes a good shot or cool pass, I only politely clap. Inside, however, I am thinking how wonderful he would look dangling from a joshua tree.

As for reality, it will be us against the world on Wednesday. I welcome it. Duke has played some of its best basketball over the years with an edge. This year's team doesn't naturally have it; it has to be manufactured for them. Perhaps the loss today will do that. Just like in 2008 when Greg Paulus was our team leader and Carolina an imposing machine of athleticism and superior talent with which we couldn't possibly hang, we will be heading into Chapel Hill with no more than a puncher's chance. We won that night. Let's see what happens.

lol

ccrunner609;1076206 wrote:Yeah since 1984...fuck off.

Ok you admitted that you have no familial, geographic or alumni ties. You just picked them because they are perennially good. Don't hate on the truth.

Miami is clearly better than Duke.

Man, those "Miami tune-ups"...they are bitches, aren't they?