GREENVILLE, SC – MARCH 19: Luke Kennard #5 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts on the bench in the second half against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2017 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
NCAABBy Fred Segal on

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…

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…

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…

The the Blue Devils were given a 2-seed in the East region…

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…

https://twitter.com/lavontedavid54/status/843209658999492608

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.

View all posts by Fred Segal