Duke Blue Devils NCAAB Tournament Preview 2008

Can Duke justify its NCAAB Odds in 2008?

After a disappointing 2007 season, the Duke Blue Devils look for a return to prominence in 2008. Duke finished 2007 ranked sixth in the ACC and were eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, losing to Virginia Commonwealth 77-79.

Duke’s standards for success are higher than most. Before 2007, the Mike Kryzewski led Blue Devils were on a ten year run winning at least one of the ACC regular season title and the ACC tournament title. Duke had also reached the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament nine straight seasons.

High standards indeed.

The young Duke team from 2007 entered the 2008 campaign with more experience and greater expectations and did not disappoint. Duke has spent most of 2008 atop the ACC standings. Duke had big wins at Maryland and at Chapel Hill and will enter the NCAA tournament as a number one seed.

Duke’s one weakness is their size. Duke’s frontcourt of Lance Thomas and Kyle Singler, both listed at 6’8”, 220 lbs, are considered small by most people’s standards and found themselves dominated by bigger teams at times this season. As expected, Kryzewski found ways to adjust and would counter by throwing out four guards and shooting from the outside. When Duke is shooting the ball well, they are very hard to beat.

Duke enters the Tournament with an eye on the prize. You can be sure that odds on a return to the Sweet Sixteen are very good. But if a team with a big frontcourt can dictate play and interrupt Duke’s rhythm, an upset is possible.