Duke Blue Devils
2009-10 Record: 33–5 (13–3 ACC)
Head Coach: Mike Krzyzewski (11th Final Four)
Projected Starters:
G – Jon Scheyer (18.2 ppg, 4.8 apg, 3.6 rpg, 88.2 FT%)
G – Nolan Smith (17.4 ppg, 2.9 apg, 2.8 rpg)
F – Kyle Singler (17.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg)
F – Lance Thomas (4.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg)
C – Brian Zoubek (5.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 63.2 FG%)
Road to the Final Four:
Elite Eight – Baylor (78–71)
Sweet 16 – Purdue (70–57)
Second Round – California (68–53)
First Round – Arkansas Pine Bluff (73–44)
Will win the national title if… the Blue Devils continue to outrebound their opponents (157-to-108), hit free throws down the stretch and get production from their Big Three — Jon Scheyer, Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith. Coach K has already cut down the nets three times during his career (1991, ’92 and 2001), so Duke should have the edge on the sidelines.
Will lose to West Virginia on Saturday if… Scheyer struggles like he did during the first weekend of the Big Dance, averaging 10 points on a combined 5-of-18 shooting from the field and 4-of-13 from 3-point range in wins over Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Cal. The senior sharpshooter will be the key to Duke’s success or failure as it attempts to win it all.
South Region Recap
Best Team: Duke
Biggest Upset: Saint Mary’s over Villanova
Most Surprising Team: Saint Mary’s
Most Disappointing Team: Villanova
Best Player: Omar Samhan, Saint Mary’s
The senior big man averaged 25.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, lifting Gaels to first Sweet 16 in program’s 102-year history.
Honorable Mention: Nolan Smith, Duke; Brian Zoubek, Duke; Jon Scheyer, Duke; LaceDarius Dunn, Baylor; Ekpe Udoh, Baylor; Jerome Randle, Cal; Bryan Davis, Texas A&M
Best Game: Villanova 73, Robert Morris 70 (ot), First Round
After a “minor teaching point” from Nova coach Jay Wright, the Wildcats needed a few bounces and whistles to avoid becoming the fifth No. 2 seed in history to lose to a No. 15 seed.
Most Disappointing Game: Baylor 72, Saint Mary’s 49, Sweet 16
The Gaels were blowing away the competition before meeting the Bears, who dominated in front of a home-state Texas crowd at Reliant Stadium in Houston.
