Horns of a Dilemma: Duke vs. MSU
Here is a not impossible hypothetical: We have just punched our ticket to the Final Four and now have to sit and watch Duke play MSU. Who do we root for, other than for a meteor to strike the arena?
Alternate scenario: We don't make it to the Final Four. Who do we root for between Duke and MSU?
I think there might be a difference as to who we would root for it we have to play the winner vs. us not being in.
March 21st, 2019 at 10:34 AM ^
You mean Villanova
March 21st, 2019 at 10:36 AM ^
Actually I do have Villanova in the FF but losing to UK. I just don't think much of their region. Virginia is just unimpressive to me and they have been for all of the last five years they have been hyped.
March 21st, 2019 at 10:59 AM ^
Pretty crazy stat:
The eventual winners of Virginia's region the last five years have been #11 seed Loyola in 2018, #7 South Carolina in 2017, #10 Syracuse in 2016, #7 Michigan State in 2015, and #7 UConn in 2014.
March 21st, 2019 at 11:13 AM ^
I'm with you on point one. I don't care much for Sparty and I really don't mind the modern-day Duke players or their nerdy fans, but I think Coach K represents the worst of the U.S. and is basically Satan. So, I'd take Sparty.
March 21st, 2019 at 10:25 AM ^
Duke either way.
No benefit to playing MSU a 4th time. We win, great but we still have to deal with MSU slaps and we are 1-3 vs. them this year. Lose... I don't even want to think about it.
Playing Duke might be a tougher game, but it would be the first game all year where the pressure wasn't on us. When we played Villanova and UNC with little to no pressure, we were excellent. I could see something similar happening as no one would expect us to win, so we'd play loose.
If we're out, why the hell would we want MSU to win? I don't like Duke either but no alums from Duke are in Michigan and we don't have to hear about them other than on ESPN.
March 21st, 2019 at 10:32 AM ^
I get the alum statement, but my wife is a Duke alum right here in the mitten, as is two of her colleagues in her firm. They are sprinkled all over the state, but yes nothing like state.
March 21st, 2019 at 10:27 AM ^
Fuck Duke.
But let me finish.
SUPER FUCK MSU
March 21st, 2019 at 10:29 AM ^
My heart cannot take another McQuaid three. Id root for the blue devils in both scenarios.
March 21st, 2019 at 10:32 AM ^
I am not singling you out, but I have had enough of this mindset from our fans. Matt McPoyle careered against Michigan in the Big Ten title game. It was a great moment for the kid but that is not an accurate representation of the threat that he poses.
Bring on State and their neck beards. If we seem them in the Final Four they are going down, hard.
March 21st, 2019 at 10:57 AM ^
Upvoted for accurate nickname of neckbeards to describe McQuaid/Poyle.
That is not a style thing, right? He has goiters or something, no? I refuse to believe anyone does that on purpose. It's like a mirkin for your lower head.
Oh if it is a real thing I should not be joking about it. I just thought he was growing hair on his neck. MSU is a weird place, man. I thought it was just "a look."
March 21st, 2019 at 10:41 AM ^
I do have concerns about MSU. They remind me of our 2013 team where all the parts fit together around an A+ point guard. Meanwhile Uber talented teams like 2013 Kansas or this years Duke team may have hidden flaws. I wouldn’t be shocked to see MSU beat them. Not sure who I’d prefer. Duke may not prepare well if they start to feel invincible, but you know damn well Sparty knows UM inside and out
March 21st, 2019 at 10:44 AM ^
Duke. No question. I wouldn’t cheer for MSU even if someone had a gun to my head. I would tell them to just go ahead and pull the trigger.
March 21st, 2019 at 10:44 AM ^
Virginia Tech is winning that region...so no hypothetical to worry about
March 21st, 2019 at 10:48 AM ^
Hoping this is tongue and cheek, but you do know that Va Tech hasn't won more than one tourney game since 1967...?
March 21st, 2019 at 10:50 AM ^
Duke doesn’t bother me half as much as those assholes do. I hope Sharty loses in regulation today and then in triple overtime, if that’s even possible.
March 21st, 2019 at 10:52 AM ^
Virginia Tech?
Just no.
March 21st, 2019 at 10:56 AM ^
Never root for Sparty in anything. My hatred for Duke is less than my hatred for MSU. Go Duke!
March 21st, 2019 at 11:22 AM ^
This is EXACTLY my view. I dislike Duke, but I despise Sparty.
Also, watching Zion is kind of fun.
March 21st, 2019 at 10:56 AM ^
I would rather play Duke without a doubt. Duke is great, but MSU just has our number this year.
March 21st, 2019 at 10:59 AM ^
I think it's pretty obvious; you root for Duke to trounce Sparty, because fuck Sparty.
March 21st, 2019 at 11:01 AM ^
I think Teske might be the best post player, center, that Zion will have seen this year. But he'd get into early foul trouble and would end up being a non-factor (if not an outright liability). The calls in favor of Duke in such a game would be unbearably similar to MSU at Breslin. I think M would be better served against MSU via officiating, and would just hope they continue playing in the last 10 minutes. Three times this season, M had a lead (or was close) at the 10 minute mark, and MSU won.
To me, the difference was that MSU knew they could win, and M tried was just trying to hang on. If that happens again during the Tunamelt...
March 21st, 2019 at 11:07 AM ^
I think Teske might be the best post player, center, that Zion will have seen this year.
Teske wouldn't check Zion. Duke has a 6'11" guy that Teske would draw. Michigan would have to put... Matthews(?) on Zion or something. It's not a good match up with Duke having three 6'7" guys plus their Center.
March 21st, 2019 at 11:25 AM ^
Here's the thing: Duke is a terrible match-up for just about everyone. Nobody has the size and skill that Duke does this year. This is why they are picked to win by just about everyone. That said, every single year, teams lose games that they have no business losing. Assuming that we can advance to the FF, our hope is that Duke somehow beats themselves by having an off game.
March 21st, 2019 at 11:34 AM ^
Yeah, the hope would be that Jones, Reddish, Barrett, and Zion decide to shoot 30 3s for shits and giggles instead of just dunk on everyone for 40 minutes.
Since none of them are outside shooters, you start to imagine Poole trying to cut off a drive from RJ Barrett or Cam Reddish and that... doesn't go well in my brain. Similarly for Iggy on (probably) Zion. He did well against Paschal earlier this year against Nova, but Zion is a whole other animal in the paint.
Even Simpson, who gives up 2-3 inches on Jones. If you can somehow turn them away in the paint, things can go badly for them quickly.
March 21st, 2019 at 11:38 AM ^
I have not been impressed by Duke's defensive discipline this year. Syracuse can't hit the broad side of a barn and scored 95 points on them. Zion would get his against Michigan but I think Michigan would have transition opportunities and open shots. There is no way to really "neutralize" a guy like Williamson, but people are going way overboard with Duke invincibility. I don't think they have shown to be an all time great college team to this point and I don't think they will win it all.
March 21st, 2019 at 11:01 AM ^
I think Teske might be the best post player, center, that Zion will have seen this year. But he'd get into early foul trouble and would end up being a non-factor (if not an outright liability). The calls in favor of Duke in such a game would be unbearably similar to MSU at Breslin. I think M would be better served against MSU via officiating, and would just hope they continue playing in the last 10 minutes. Three times this season, M had a lead (or was close) at the 10 minute mark, and MSU won.
To me, the difference was that MSU knew they could win, and M tried was just trying to hang on. If that happens again during the Tunamelt...
March 21st, 2019 at 11:05 AM ^
I truly believe that MSU is the best team in the country, but I just can't pick them to win it all, on principle.
So I thought back to '89 and took us over them in the Final Four.
But I also feel like UVA winning it all would be the perfect rejoinder to last year's historic upset.
Decisions, decisions!!
March 21st, 2019 at 11:05 AM ^
100% committed to the meteor.
March 21st, 2019 at 11:13 AM ^
K is 11-1 against our favorite yard gnome. Results from previous seasons aren't predictive for this year and all that, but I think we all know what would happen. Again.
March 21st, 2019 at 11:27 AM ^
Duke is a match up problem.
DeLaurier (or however you spell it) is 6'11" so he draws Teske.
That leaves Barrett, Reddish, and Zion (all 6'7") on Iggy, Matthews, and Poole.
Tre Jones is 6'2" on Simpson.
Their first 3 off the bench are 6'6", 6'7", and 6'11".
Duke can't shoot from 3 to save their lives with the exception of O'Connell, but that is a rather large line up full of guys who are Matthews level of athleticism. Imagine the 2nd MSU game where Tillman had like 6 blocks. Duke has 3 of those guys.
I'm not terribly impressed by Coach K this year. He has the 3 best athletes on the court every single night and they basically do whatever they want. They've just bullied teams but also decided to shoot 30 3s in a game and run themselves out of the gym. I don't know how much defensive fundamentals matter when the guy you're guarding has 2 inches on you and a foot of vertical leap though.
MSU we know what they are and how they operate. Stopping them is a different story, but I can't imagine they leave McQuaid open 20 times at the 3 point line again and would HOPE they coach a close out between now and then. Where Winston has hurt Michigan the most this year isn't necessarily making baskets so much as getting around the P&R and finding Tillman, Goins, and McQuaid for open looks. I'd be fine with him having to finish over Matthews 15 times a game to win rather than kick to a wide open 3 point shooter.
March 21st, 2019 at 11:30 AM ^
MSU won't make it out of this weekend, so none of this matters.
March 21st, 2019 at 11:31 AM ^
We’re not making the FF. Duke will beat MSU by double digits, which is fine with me.
March 21st, 2019 at 11:31 AM ^
This is a no brainer. Why would I want Michigan state to make it to the final 4?? Play duke and lose would be the end of a great season in my mind
March 21st, 2019 at 11:33 AM ^
Duke. I want MSU to lose opening round. You should never cheer MSU. Ever. Never hope that they are in the finals instead of some other team. Fuck state. As Garrison says, fuck them until their soul leaves their body.
March 21st, 2019 at 11:41 AM ^
If your answer is MSU, then I assume you're the type of person who enjoys smashing your own foot with a sledgehammer. MSU would 150% beat Michigan again, and it would be beyond infuriating. Take the loss to Duke and enjoy the Final Four berth.
March 21st, 2019 at 11:53 AM ^
Duke in all of these scenarios. We play MSU again next season I'll wait for that one.
March 21st, 2019 at 11:55 AM ^
UM will play later in the day than Duke vs MSU since they will be playing in Anaheim. So no way your first scenario comes true.
March 21st, 2019 at 12:01 PM ^
This is an easy choice for me. Duke. And here's why:
I don't hate Duke as much as other people on this board. Sure, I don't like them. But they really don't bother me. I hate MSU, and minus injuries, I want nothing but the worst to befall their program. Let's be honest: if they beat Duke, they're going all the way. And the thought of losing to them for a FOURTH time in a row would be the equivalent of getting hung, drawn and quartered. I just think, for whatever reason, MSU is a bad matchup for Michigan this year. Just like we were a bad matchup for MSU last year. I don't think we're going to all of a sudden "get it right" against them the fourth time around. The data suggests that a fourth matchup would end the same way.
Duke, I can handle losing to. Because I look at them and see at least three guys who will be starting in the NBA next year as lottery picks. My expectations going into a game against them would be minimal, and I'd get over losing to them pretty quickly. They just look like they're destined to win it all this year, and they're the one team in America that I sit there and say unless they collectively have a really bad night, I don't think Michigan can compete with them man-to-man.
If its MSU....and we lose to them four times....after they take down Duke's arguably most talented team of all time....I'd have to put down college sports for a while. It's just knowing that OSU is controlling the Big Ten in football for the foreseeable future, and then MSU resurging to take over the Big Ten in basketball for the foreseeable future. It'd be every Michigan fan's worst nightmare.
March 21st, 2019 at 12:08 PM ^
Does Duke have some random white guy that will drop 30+ points on us in the final? If not then Duke.
MSU has a weird group of guys that seem to give us trouble this year. Don't want to see them again this year even if it was for a win.
Does Duke have some random white guy that will drop 30+ points on us in the final?
They have O'Connell who is their only good 3 point shooter and if last weekend is any indication, we'd let him have 20 3PA for no reason...
March 21st, 2019 at 12:08 PM ^
Easy - Duke. I don't have strong feelings about them, really. Sparty? Well...
March 21st, 2019 at 12:08 PM ^
Duke
March 21st, 2019 at 12:21 PM ^
Beat Montana
March 21st, 2019 at 12:55 PM ^
I'd rather play MSU. While we're 0-3 against them this season, I feel like UM is far better equipped to beat MSU than Duke. We have also showed three times that we can beat MSU. UM just decided to suck in the second half of each game and allow MSU to go on ridiculous runs. We have no one whatsoever who can guard Zion. Duke has a ridiculous amount of talent, which is par for the course.
Mathews or livers could guard Zion
Duke. I root for Duke. I want us to get the chance to play them in the semifinal. Plus I want to see MSU lose and hear the whinging. Plus that's what would happen.
No dilemma here - DUUUUUUUKE!!!
Either way rooting for Duke. Duke we might be able to beat (I wouldn't pick it but they're an unknown). I don't want to deal with Sparty again. And while yes, beating Sparty for a trip to the finals would feel incredibly sweet, losing to them to put them in the finals would create a football BPONE-esque misery.
Plus, beating the golden child Zion to head to the finals would be real satisfying.