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Message: [QUOTE="RF2044, post: 2545592, member: 40"] The first game at Cameron was ugly, and got away from us late in the second half. Duke is playing really well, they are overflowing with NBA talent, and they are a heavy favorite for Friday night. Beating them will be an uphill battle. BUT, there's a reason why they play the games. I doubt that anybody expected Texas A&M to whip #2 seed UNCheat by 20 last Sunday, Nevada to erase a 22 point second half deficit with only 8 minutes left to stun #2 seeded Cincinnati, or for that matter for us to take apart an MSU team that statistically was one of the top offenses in college basketball. Obviously, the most likely outcome is that our run comes to an end this next game. But here are three factors that might work in our favor for Friday: [LIST] [*][B][COLOR=#ff8000]Brissett and Dolezaj won't be playing Duke for the first time[/COLOR][/B]-- our starting forwards, both freshmen, looked like deer in the headlights in the game at Cameron. Brissett--who's been a steady contributor all season long, was held to 6 points and 2 rebouds; Marek was held to 4 /3. Was it playing against Duke? Were they intimidated by the atmosphere? Both of them have been playing well offensively the entire NCAA tournament, and likely won't be as awestruck as they appeared to be the first time they faced Duke. The moment might have been a little too big for them back in February, but it won't be this time around. [/LIST] [LIST] [*][B][COLOR=#ff8000]The crowd [/COLOR][/B]-- Duke fans are annoying, and their antics @ Cameron can be distracting, especially when the wheels begin to fall off for the opponent. In the first game, we kept the game close until their talent got the better of us, giving their dopey fans cause for celebration as they stretched out their lead over the last part of the game. How much of an impact did that have in game 1? Hard to say, but it certainly didn't help our cause. On Friday, I'd have to believe that the majority of the crowd will be pulling for us. Other than the Duke fans, I'd expect both the Kansas / Clemson fanbases to be on our side, as well as the majority of casual fans in the arena, given how anti-Duke animus abounds. If the game is close in the second half, I'd expect the crowd to be HEAVILY behind us, as opposed to working against us. Which dove tails into factor #3... [/LIST] [LIST] [*][B][COLOR=#ff8000]Duke is talented... but also inexperienced[/COLOR][/B]-- as talented and coveted by the NBA as the Duke frosh are, they are still frosh. What will happen if they find themselves in a dog fight late in the game, facing season ending elimination? It's funny how arseholes have a tendency to tighten up when the game's on the line, and you're not playing from comfortably ahead, where making an execution mistake isn't amplified. Grayson Allen is experienced, but nobody else on that squad is -- so who knows how their inexperienced players will react? Despite having superior talent, will they tighten up like Michigan State did? [/LIST] I qualify all of the above by acknowledging that upsetting them is unlikely, but it sure isn't impossible. Anything can happen in a single elimination game. Our kids believe that they can win -- and I expect them to rise to the occasion on a national stage. Why not us? [B][SIZE=6][COLOR=#ff8000]Let's Go Orange!!![/COLOR][/SIZE][/B] [/QUOTE]

Verification: What is a Syracuse fan's favorite color?