On the surface, this #15-#2 match-up appears more like a David vs. Goliath fight than a quality basketball game. After all, the Duke Blue Devils are college basketball’s royalty, having 32 NCAA Tournament appearances, 14 Final Fours, and 3 National Championships. Their coach, Mike Krzyzewski is so good that seldom a college basketball fan misspells his name. Coach K holds a record 68 NCAA Tournament victories and 802 overall wins which ranks first amongst active coaches.
On the other hand, Belmont is making its third NCAA Tournament appearance after losing by 34 and 25 in its previous two. Yet, by digging a little deeper, this could be a much more competitive game than what the experts are predicting. Duke is not the same Duke of the past decade; they are vulnerable down low without an imposing big man. They also do not have a college superstar as in the past. Both of these factors, are good news to the upset-minded Belmont Bruins. The Bruins, also who severely lack size, are not nervous in the least bit this year against a team they match up relatively favorably with. This year is unlike the past two appearances where the uber-talented UCLA Bruins pounded them and the gigantic trees of Georgetown squashed them. Also, don’t forget Belmont coach Rick Byrd has won 541 career games which is 16th amongst active coaches. His coaching staff has also been together for eight years – tied for the longest in the NCAA with – Coach K and his staff.
Expect – at the very least – to witness one of the most exciting games of the first round. There will be a plethora of three point shots raining down as Belmont and Duke are fourth and ninth respectively in made treys per game. The key for the Bruins is to make at least 10 and hope for upwards of 15 while stymieing the Blue Devils to around just five or so made treys.
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