After the NC State and Miami games, I never thought there was a chance Duke would be in the title game but less with a shot at winning it. I thought it was foregone conclusion that UK would win it all. When the brackets came out, I thought Utah was going to be the team to beat Duke because of how awesome of a team they are. Somehow, Duke won. I thought if they got past Utah, they had a shot at getting to the title game but certainly never expected it.
But seriously, to see Duke beat an incredible Michigan State team is something I still can't believe. They're such a well coached team and Branden Dawson is a monster. I thought Valentine was going to go for 40 the way he was shooting early in the game. Fortunately Michigan St missed shots they normally make and Duke was super lucky to advance. Izzo is such a master in March that I'm still stunned Duke actually beat them, his teams are always so freaking good.
It's weird thinking Duke has a chance (albeit small) at winning a title on Monday. I can't help but think Wisconsin is a team of destiny. They've got so many amazing players and a team that can shoot better than anyone Duke has faced all season. To see them win that game tonight was remarkable. Despite the earlier result in the season, Wisconsin should be favored in this one. They've got the best player in the country in Kaminsky and the best perimeter player in the country in Dekker (sorry DeAngelo Russell, Dekker's a monster). I can only hope that Wisconsin has an awful shooting game or they're going to be champions. They're so damn good and they make everything if you leave them open.
Hats off to Kentucky on a remarkable season. I'm still genuinely shocked that they aren't in the title game on Monday. Ever since their key guys announced they were coming back, I've thought they were going to win the title and go undefeated. Two games away from it, unbelievably impressive. As a Duke fan, I'm just happy not to have to go up against that insane defensive team and will pray that Wisconsin has their worst shooting game of the season to have a chance.
I haven't been this pleasantly surprised about a Duke run since 2010, I never thought their defense would show up, it hadn't all year until the tournament started. Hopefully they can bring it for one more game and can withstand the shooting gods that are Kaminsky, Dekker, Hayes, Koenig, Gasser, Dukan, and Jackson. Everything after Utah has been gravy, a win over Wisconsin would probably kill me from excitement/unexpectedness.