All Sports Discussion

Everyone knows this college basketball season has been unlike others with neither North Carolina nor Duke ranked. Stranger than that is to think of North Carolina and Duke as Cinderella stories in the upcoming ACC and NCAA tournaments. Teams mounting a roll with upsets are Cinderella stories. North Carolina and Duke will need to defeat …

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Everyone knows by now Duke and North Carolina aren’t playing for an ACC title or No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. They’re still clinging to hopes for an NCAA bid. But it doesn’t seem to impact the intensity of the game. It didn’t matter the first time around, even though much was made of …

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Oh, how the Cameron Crazies would have let Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim have it. COVID-19 fan restrictions not only offered respite from Boeheim coaching to counter Duke fans, he also was spared 40 minutes of vocal chants. Never mind that some of the Crazies may have been among those on social media criticizing Jalen Johnson …

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It’s late February. That means Duke and North Carolina should be peaking for the final stretch leading to the post-season. Except this year it’s about playing their best basketball to earn a bid – not at a No. 1 seed. Duke (10-8, 8-6 ACC) celebrated like it had won an ACC Tournament or NCAA regional …

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Duke basketball players often say they came to Durham to play for the best coach in America. Mike Krzyzewski sometimes makes it look easy, rotating one McDonald’s All-American player into the lineup after another on their way to the NBA. The only difference between now, with Vernon Carey and Cassius Stanley’s one-and-done NBA draft picks …

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“Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” — Duke basketball (with apologies to Mark Twain). By Tom Shanahan A week ago, college basketball gave up Duke for dead following a third straight defeat that included a second in a row allowing 90 points. Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski sounded resigned to their 24-year NCAA …

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The strangest of basketball seasons, thrown off kilter by the COVID-19 pandemic, just got a little stranger. Duke freshman Jalen Johnson announced Monday he’s declaring for the NBA draft. Duke’s NCAA Tournament chances were already in jeopardy, but now he’s coach’s Mike Krzyzewski’s latest one-and-done without playing games in February or March. “I appreciate everything …

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When Duke loses, a cloud hangs over the Blue Devils failing to extend their streak of 24 straight NCAA Tournaments. A Duke win replaces the cloud with expectations. It’s enough pressure for a team to start pressing and show up on game day forcing inexplicable plays trying to do too much. But for all of …

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Duke’s basketball roster lacks a Christian Laettner or Grayson Allen. Not even a J.J. Redick. In other words, there are no villains to dislike. Duke has plenty of jealous college basketball enemies for winning five national titles and advancing to 12 Final Fours under coach Mike Krzyzewski. Fans and media are also quick to jump …

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By TOM SHANAHAN Any other year — well, at least in the past 61 — North Carolina’s 91-87 win over Duke Saturday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium would have been crowned an instant classic. It’s replay schedule on cable would be tweeted out. UNC freshman guard Caleb Love would be mentioned in the pantheon of …

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Duke is Mike Krzyzewski winning five NCAA titles and 1,091 games. Duke is annual 5-star and 4-star talent stocking the roster. That usually doesn’t add up to the Blue Devils impressively winning two in a row followed by a sudden thud. But that was Duke in Monday night’s 77-75 loss at Miami. And this was …

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