As the Sweet 16 begins tonight, let us not forget that Duke no longer in the tournament. The Blue Devils were ousted in the second round of the NCAA Tournament by South Carolina 88-81 Sunday night in Greenville. While it certainly was a joy for many to see Duke eliminated in the first weekend, it was also a shock to some. This Duke squad was highly touted from day one, and after suffering through some injuries, and a seven game absence of its Head Coach, Mike Krzyzewski, it closed the season with a bang by winning the four games in a row and the ACC Tournament championship. They were trending upward, and becoming a popular title pick.
Now, Duke is gone, and many brackets are busted, and predictions have been matured to wrong. Let’s go through some of the carnage…
BEGINNING OF THE SEASON
After Duke’s first game Rob Dauster from NBC Sports’ College Basketball Talk was ready to crown em…
Just give them the damn title already. https://t.co/14Imh7Z8PN
— Rob Dauster (@RobDauster) November 16, 2016
Then, in December…
https://twitter.com/espncbb/status/806573944832720896
AFTER ACC TOURNMENT CHAMPIONSHIP
Duke rolled through the ACC tournament, winning four games in four days to win the championship, including a win over rival North Carolina in the semifinals. Afterwards, people were convinced that the Blue Devils were prime contenders for a title…
Wow. #Duke looks like the best team in college basketball now. Gotta love #March.
— Mike Gillespie (@MikeAGillespie) March 12, 2017
https://twitter.com/sethamandel/status/840782489509588992
https://twitter.com/kylesports757/status/840773661229494273
SELECTION SUNDAY
Before the seeds were announced, confidence was oozing out of Durham…
That feeling when it's Selection Sunday and you have the automatic bid out of the most stacked conference in years 🔵😈 pic.twitter.com/TphMUH9p69
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) March 12, 2017
The the Blue Devils were given a 2-seed in the East region…
Duke is walking to the final 4
— Michael McGarry (@ACPressMcGarry) March 12, 2017
Said it last night, will say it again today and all week leading up to Thursday: Duke will win the national title.
— Nick Kostos (@TheKostos) March 12, 2017
Duke/Nova will be awesome in the Elite 8. And Duke will win.
— Nick Kostos (@TheKostos) March 12, 2017
Duke is the NCAA tournament’s new team to beat. https://t.co/7SSR4dutyv
— WSJ Sports (@WSJSports) March 12, 2017
.@TomOatesWSJ: Look for Duke to win NCAA title https://t.co/xPdJTbbj32
— Wisconsin State Journal (@WiStateJournal) March 15, 2017
Duke easily into Final 4.
— Writing Illini (@WritingIlliniFS) March 12, 2017
Duke won't even be tested before facing Nova.
— Kevin Steimle (@kevsteimle) March 12, 2017
Duke comes out EASYYYY
— PROBLEM (@ProblemWright) March 12, 2017
https://twitter.com/AndyGlockner/status/841040254517821440
AFTER VILLANOVA LOSS
On Saturday afternoon, the 1-seed in the East, Villanova, was upset by Wisconsin. According to many, the result eliminated Duke’s only competition in its regional bracket…
Duke’s path to the Final Four looks ridiculously clear with Villanova’s loss. https://t.co/T7ivac3qV4
— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) March 19, 2017
It's like my grandfather used to always say, "May your road to success be as easy as Duke's road to the Final Four."
— Jon Acuff (@JonAcuff) March 18, 2017
Another final 4 for Duke..got a little easier
— Karl Ravech (@karlravechespn) March 18, 2017
Duke's road to Final Four just got a whole lot easier.
— Reid Forgrave (@ReidForgrave) March 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/lavontedavid54/status/843209658999492608
Duke's road to the Final Four just got easier
— Nick Kostos (@TheKostos) March 18, 2017
Love you Badgers, clearing the road for Duke 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
— Dave Briggs (@davebriggstv) March 18, 2017
Duke has the easiest path to a title. UCLA, Kentucky, Kansas and North Carolina are going to beat up on each other #MarchMadness
— Tyler Dragon (@TheTylerDragon) March 18, 2017
And Duke now has the easiest path to the Final Four.
— Jeremy Schneider (@J_Schneider) March 18, 2017
You guys Duke is going to win the NCAA tournament, don't shoot the messenger
— Charlotte Wilder (@TheWilderThings) March 18, 2017
Looked good at the time. Until next year, Blue Devils.
About Fred Segal
Fred Segal, 35, grew up in the Miami, Florida area and currently lives in Coral Springs, Florida, with his wife and two children. He is currently an attorney practicing in West Palm Beach, Florida, at the law firm Broad and Cassel. Fred is a graduate of the University of Florida and is a rabid, borderline unhealthy, supporter of the Florida Gators.