NCAA tournament

[Robert]

Anyone watching it? I used to like Duke a lot, especially in the 80s and most of the 90s. Then about 2000 or so, I started not liking them so much because they "always" win. I think I see why they "always" win. They are very talented, yes. Coack K is very good, yes. But I think the secret to their success is that the refs are not as willing to call a 5th foul on a Dukie as on an opponent of theirs. In this game, I saw some things that look a lot like un-called fouls committed by Duke players and petty fouls on LSU players. Example... Duke just got called for a foul. It looked to me like a Duke player w/4 fouls did the fouling. It was called on another Dukie... his 2nd. On the other hand, LSU's biggest player got a 4th foul on what the announcers themselves called a ticky-tack foul. The refs would NEVER do that to Duke. It's like Duke is supposed to win. I don't think the refs are on the take, but I do think there is some kind of benefit of the doubt thing that goes Duke's way very consistently. It's too much of a coincidence to be happening year after year.

I would like to see statistics... how many fouls committed by Duke vs committed by opponents. I find it hard to believe that Duke actually fouls less. I do find it easier to believe that fouls are called on Duke less. There's a difference. I bet I can find 5 non-called fouls by Duke players this game. Those 5 fouls do two things... put the opponent in foul trouble (causing good players to sit out) and it puts points on the board for Duke. 5 fouls = 1 or 2 opponents fouling out, plus 10 points on the board. Take away those 5 fouls, Duke loses this game and several others. Duke becomes a regular team and the mystique is gone. There is too much Duke love in the media for that to happen.

My opinion. I could be wrong.

[murphy]

I was born in the Bluegrass State so my team is the Kentucky Wildcats (out of it again this year). I like Duke too, they always have a great team and Coack K is beyond doubt a coaching genius.

[Bob P]

I am very much into the tournament Robert. My old College stomping grounds (Boston College) is still alive in both the mens and womens tourneys. The women knoocked off a #1 seed already!
I hear ya about Duke. You either love them or hate them. Can you guess which category I fall into??? I think your opinion about the fouls on Duke probably warrants some merit. You certainly aren't the only one to mention it that I have heard. I guess the 'good' teams get those calls, but unfortunately, at the risk of another team trying it's best to compete against the 5 players on the floor, and the other 2 or 3 in the striped shirts. Not good odds.