We would say we’re sorry, but …

THE GAME EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT

Please make the room stop spinning
#2 Duke 71, #15 Belmont 70 (West)

[clears throat] Excuse us for just a moment. [walks into hallway, curses, destroys furniture, punches wall, kicks dog, returns] OK, much better.

Now, imagine what that would have been like had Duke lost. We didn’t see the game (poorly timed obligations this week have me working very, very late each night away from a computer), and that’s probably for the best. By all regards, Duke didn’t play poorly – just at a pedestrian pace. Meanwhile, Belmont played like a team that wasn’t afraid of Duke (and needn’t be, because it’s a game after all) and knew it needed to play the game of its life (and went out and did just that). A small part of us is disappointed the Bruins didn’t pull of the upset. A very small part.

Post-game, the MSM seemed to trip over themselves in a race to decide who could write the most poignant “But what does this MEAN for Duke???” piece. Ugh. These are the times when it is useful that these folks are paid to write articles that create emotional reactions (and thus forwards and page views), not necessarily articles that make a lick of damn sense. So, to them I say – Belmont played a great game, Duke played a ‘meh’ game, Duke barely won. This happens to some team in the tournament every g*ddamn year. Don’t oversell it just because it’s Duke.

TWO OTHER STORYLINES JUST FOR KICKS

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