After Purdue’s loss, that region became wide open and I said this yesterday, and still believe it.
Why do I think tomorrow’s Duke/Tennessee winner will be in the Final 4?
— Jeff or Jeffrey Fann (@TalkinACCSports) March 18, 2023
Tennessee has been an erratic, but a high ceiling team all year. They beat Kansas by 14, knocked off Alabama, and defeated several other NCAA tournament-caliber teams. It was always going to be a battle for Duke to get by them. When Duke post-player Mark Mitchell wasn’t available, the question would be how would Duke match up with the Vols inside physicality.
The answer was they couldn’t, and when guard Jeremy Roach picked up his 4th foul and the Duke had to play zone to protect him, Tennessee knocked a number of open jumpers down.
I don’t have any problem with anything Duke fundamentally did. They were a young team of skilled and talented players and Tennessee had grown men out there. Santiago Vescovi who controlled the game action for Tennessee is a senior guard. The young Duke team just couldn’t handle the physicality.
I expect to see Tennessee in the Final 4 now.
Jon Scheyer in his first year at Duke went 27-10 and won the ACC. There was tremendous pressure on him following Coach K, but I think he did just fine. Duke didn’t lose today because he was out-coached. They lost because Tennessee was simply better more physical and tougher.
He’ll learn from this game, and I think Duke will be fine. They have a great class coming in. I hope a couple of Duke players return that should and this will be a top 10 next year. Tyrese Proctor showed what he is capable of in the 2nd half. If say he and Jeremy Roach returned, that would give the Blue Devils a dynamic experienced backcourt.
Today though, sometimes you just tip your cap to the other team.
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