Don't Look Now

But this year's Duke team is well on their way to a fourth national title (as predicted by this guy a few short months ago).

For the first time in a long, long time, The Blue Devils entered the season without a ton of hype. Expectations were rather low and while they were certainly expected to finish in the top 3 in the ACC, nobody (except me) thought they would be the 3rd best team in the nation at the end of January. Everybody called them too young, too inexperienced, too short, too slow, too white, too whatever.

Well here we are, basking in the glow of a Maryland defeat (the same Maryland that edged Final Four favorite UNC). For Duke, it was their second road win in 5 days and their seventh straight win since the tough road loss to Pittsburgh back in December. Tonight's win was especially refreshing given that they had to play from behind in a hostile environment. They also had to play without Lance Thomas, Greg Paulus and Kyle Singler due to early foul trouble.

Once again, Demarcus Nelson put the Devils on his back and carried them down the stretch. Its no coincidence that Nelson was named as a mid-season candidate for the Naismith and Wooden POY awards prior to the game.

Say what you want about their chances come March but this team will definitely be a tough out for whomever is unfortunate enough to draw them.