FINAL THOUGHTS3 Stars
1) Singler, Scheyer, Smith - The Big 3 for Duke combined for 63 points. It was simply a masterclass performance.
2) Bob Huggins - The compassion shown for his injured superstar was as real as sports gets.
3) Da'Sean Butler - A tragic end to his WV career, but he has a lot to be proud of during his time in Morgantown.
Final Thoughts - Well, that was about what we expected. A game that was dominated by Duke. But, at least we didn't get the greatness of high and mighty Duke jammed down our throats. CBS did a great job keeping the adoration to a minimum during the game broadcast. I hope that Monday's broadcast will be short of the hyperbole that we'll hear ad nauseum over the next two days. I sure as heck didn't have Butler and Duke in the finals. It's the fitting end to one of the maddest Marches we've seen in a long time. Thanks for joining us for our Final 4 live blog. Bye for now...
2nd Half
*OK, let's cut through the crap and give a couple thoughts on the title game before our Monday pick, here's how Butler might be able to beat the Dukies...
1) Butler will be a huge underdog... but don't be surprised to see a close game. Butler will have to play a slow it up style because Duke doesn't have the capability to get out and run.
2) Duke will most likely crush Butler on the offensive glass. It's going to take a masterclass of boxing out to stay competitive on the boards. No 2nd chance points for Duke.
3) Butler's going to have to match Duke shot for shot - Duke shot 52% in the Semis... Butler 30%. If that happens Monday it'll be a replay of last year.
Final Score - Duke 78 WVU 57
2:07 - That's never stopped Duke from running up the score... 75-57
2:40 - Duke up 15 and we've now entered Gar-Bage time. Bleh.
3:39 - We had to wait 21 seconds for Clark to refer to it as a David v Goliath matchup.
*Seriously though, I hope race isn't a factor in the pregame hype. Both teams have more white dudes than we're accustomed to seeing on the national stage, but that doesn't and shouldn't have anything to do with the game, the analysis, or anything else. Of course, I'll expect all of the typical stereotypes to be thrown out there in the prelude to the title game.
As much as I (and 85% of sports fans) dislike Duke, give them credit for getting to the finals by having Smith, Scheyer, and Singler play career-best bball. Similarly, Butler is playing the best team ball of the tournament and has beat Syracuse, Kansas State, and Michigan State on the way to the Finals.
4:00 - This is the WVU team I expected to see against UK. Announcers are right that this is Duke's best game of the tourney by far. Time to hit the exits in Indy and watch the sports world drool over the Great White Hope against the Great White Hype! Butler vs Duke! Monday night!
5:50 - Scheyer to the hoop. He has no moves. He looks like he's going in slow motion. But, he finds a way to get to the basket and get lay-ins. There's no physical explanation for his success. This is why we hate Duke. They cheat by using Flubber.
*Interesting to see the Twitter world talk about the Huggins/Butler scene. Established media types saying it's one of the most touching scenes they've ever seen. Rest of the world talking about awkward closeness and intimacy. I guess I'll lean towards the former... although the sophomoric college side of me goes with the latter. Come on, I'm out of school. That was an awesome player/coach moment.
*Duke's Big 3 now 19/37, 10/18 3PT, and 55 pts combined. That's the story of the game right now.
7:07 - Huggy with a timeout down 15. Smith now has 19 for the game. Maybe we can get UConn's women's team out here to try and beat the Dukies.
8:12 - Butler being carted to the back. Looks like a bad ending for one of WVU's finest.
8:59 - Good Lord. Duke is not this good. 63-48. I'm officially in denial... Butler now on the floor writhing in pain. Replay shows what could be a bad left knee injury. Huggins is now on the loor consoling Butler in what could be a touching scene if he wasn't so awkwardly close to his face. This looks bad. At this point you hope it doesn't affect his future career in the NBA.
10:06 - You want to know the best way to play bad defense? A) Allow easy shots from the perimeter. B) When said shots are missed, allow offensive rebounds and second chances to the opposition. WVU is executing this plan perfectly.
11:14 - Ironically, if anything, the refs are keeping West Virginia in this game. Eh, whatever. I'll give up on the Duke hate for the year. I've still got a Saints Super Bowl to celebrate and not even a Duke title can ruin that.
11:44 - A Class B technical? I knew I should have brought my NCAA rulebook to watch the game!
11:44 - HOLY CRAP! A technical foul called on Duke for one of the Plumlees hanging on the rim... Smith holds his private parts as our pops comments, "He must have got hit in the nuts." That's the highlight of this game thus far.
12:11 - Nolan Smith is showin the scouts something tonight. Nice drive to the bucket to go to the line. He looks like he could be a combo guard off the bench in the Association. WVU in trouble down 12 and now turning the ball over consistently.
13:00 - Nolan Smith. Is. A. Knock down. Shooter. Someone mail this telegram to the guy in the sweatsuit standing on the sidelines.
14:11 - Right on cue CBS. The Dookies haven't shot a free throw yet tonight. They're living on the outside game. *Mental note - already dreaming of scenarios where Butler wins Monday night including Celtic Pride-esque kidnapping scheme* It's a movie people, take it easy.
14:42 - "Zoubs" finally called for an over the back foul. Unfortunately, no ref conspiracies tonight. There's always Monday Duke-hating universe!
*Here's a good piece from the NY Daily News that is pro-Gus. 49-40 Duke. Hey, I'm trying to cope with an eventual Duke title, bear with me.
*The best I could find is a Facebook group. 17 members?!?! You can do better sports fans and Facebook!!
16:09 - Tell me again why you would leave Nolan Smith standing wide open at the 3 point line? Maybe after 8 3 point makes Huggy will want to guard him.
16:35 - Good drive from Butler to try and get in rhythm offensively. Is it just me or has the crowd and atmosphere seemed dead all night? Nantz and Kellogg's drab commentary hasn't helped matters. I feel like I'm watching a midseason game instead of a national semifinal. Is there a Gus Johnson petition out there somewhere to bring him to the Final 4??
17:30 - Smith hits an important 3 to keep WVU within single digits. The Neer's defense has been losing guys all night, they'll need to keep Duke at or below 40% this half to have some hope.
18:38 - That was one of the more awkward loose ball scrambles I can remember seeing. Much like the 1st game, this seems much larger than an 8 point lead for the Dookies.
19:30 - Does anyone notice the weird design on the back of Duke's uniforms? Can't make it out what it is but saw kinda a similar thing with UK. Good sign with Mazzula finding the first bucket of the half.
20:00 - WVU has to do 3 things - 1) Get Da'Sean Butler in the offense 2) Play perimeter defense 3) Start searching for good tickets for Monday's game
1st Half
END OF HALF - Well, the Neers don't make a dent in the score after Smith goes to the bench. Lucky to be down only 8 at the half 39-31. We'll be back for the home stretch after halftime!
:55 - Duke shooting well tonight (55% and 7/14 from 3), but here's more fodder for conspiracy theorists. Duke played in the regional with the huge dome, has inherit advantage. (Shhh, don't say anything about WVU playing in the Carrier Dome)
1:30 - Poor positioning on the defensive glass from the Neers. Missed chances to end the first half with some mo it looks like.
2:30 - My bet is that the Dick Enberg Tribute won't include his epic WVU/UK pregame botchfest from last weekend. Nolan Smith with 3 fouls (what is Coach K thinking???) and WVU can cut into the lead.
3:20 - WVU discovering they can attack the basket. Guys falling all over the place. Mazzula is lying on the floor as Smith waltzes to the hoop. Boos reign down as fans rush towards the court! Hey, I'm trying to channel my inner Bill Walton. Anything to survive a Duke blowout.
4:00 - Thank goodness "banana cut" has entered are basketball lingo. Finally Clark Kellogg has awakened!
4:27 - Duke now shooting the lights out. Maybe they'll waste all their baskets tonight? I may boycott TV for a month if Duke wins this national title. At least they'll be 32 more teams in next year's tournament.
5:04 - Nolan Smith gets his 58th 2nd chance 3 pointer in the last 2 games. 34-24.
5:42 - Duke now out to a 10 pt lead after back2back 3's by Singler and Smith. Pray for Butler.
6:16 - WVU needs Butler in the offense. As that ball went out of bounds you could see the fear in Row 1 with the raised court. Yipes.
6:56 - Mazzula changes jerseys. Ripped, blood, same thing. Nantz not exactly on his A game tonight. Someone tell him the most watched golf tourney in the history of the universe is right around the corner.
6:56 - WVU now 3/4 from downtown. But, they still find themselves trailing. Scheyer and Singler are getting way too many easy paths to the basket. WVU has to start playing some Big East defense here.
8:34 - Give it to Singler, if he's going to shoot like Kobe Bryant, Duke is hard to beat. Those are terrible shots and WVU has to bet that they won't fall all night. 23-18.
9:04 - WVU shooting over 50% from the field and getting thoroughly outplayed so far. Not a good sign.
*This is the article I've been looking for. The best, and most systematic case against rooting for Duke now and forever from SBNation. Give it a read at halftime or after the game. Duke 21 WVU 16.
10:15 - And another timeout. Gotta say, I'm disappointed in Special K thus far. I think his "Allen Wrench" quote from Game 1 might have self-retired his goofy euphemisms.
10:41 - Great to see Huggy Bear dressed up for this big game. Finally WVU makes a 3 with Jones. 18-14.
11:03 - Duke's doing a better job getting to the rim. They lead by 4. WVU has got to play some better interior defense. Crap. And now Singler is catching fire. Make it 18-11.
12:46 - Add another reason to the list, their players sound like Clark Kellogg. Lance Thomas wants to "pursue the pumpkin" and I want to pursue the mute button.
13:05 - That was a strange shot from Smith. Much like Game #1, Butler has to realize he is the best player on the floor and take the game over for the Neers.
13:30 -
*Here's one look from the Chicago Sun-Times about Coach K as "annoyingly arrogant."
*Hearing Clark Kellogg refer to "Zoubs"
Oh, and Duke is up 11-9
16:20 - And now the teams trade 3's. Scores tied at 7. I think both teams enjoy the physical, slower tempo. Duke will have a much harder time on the offensive glass than against Baylor.
17:40 - Both teams on the board. WVU having a block party the opening 2 minutes and Ebanks gives them a 4-2 lead.
18:54 - Butler way off with his first 3. Coach K must be gaining so many fans with that stool on the far sidelines. I'll try and find some good Duke-hating links at the first commercial.
19:49 - 11 seconds in and the first call goes Duke's way. This blog might not last long tonight.
20:00 - The key early will be WVU's outside shooting. If they drain it from international waters in any similarity like they did against UK, it will bode well. We'll underway and the Neers win the tap.
PREGAME
*Duke's video package makes you just love them even more, right?
*I'm still waiting for UK to come out on the court for this game, and so is my bracket.
*Give Huggy credit - he knows that he has to battle Duke on the inside. Don't underestimate the Saints-like quality with this Mountaineer team. They're playing for an entire state and plan on taking the trophy on tour if they win.
*Good. A look inside the Butler locker room. Coach Stevens is smart enough to tell his team they'll shoot better on Monday. I hope he said that with a straight face. Butler now commences into some sort of clapping song. The dork factor of this team is skyrocketing exponentially.
*OK, I have no idea who this guy is, or what this movie is, all I know is I don't want to see it. Great, now we have to be subjected to The NCAA National Semifinal Show presented by CapitalOne. Ugh.
Game 1 has just concluded, I'm going to go recharge the batteries and we'll be back for the tip of Mountaineers vs Blue Devils. Country Bumpkins vs Intellectual Elites. Huggy Bear vs Coach K. It's All Relative vs Cameron Crazies. Jerry West vs Jay Bilas. John Denver vs whoever has written a song about Durham, NC. A live blog of West Virginia vs Duke coming up next!
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