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The internet doesn't need much encouraging to pile on Duke whenever something bad happens to the Blue Devils basketball team, but Saturday night, for one of the few times in the history of the internet, there was a complete consensus about what happened in the men's Final Four against Houston.
Duke choked.
This is purely a statement of fact now. Duke held a 14-point lead in the second half and lost.
The Blue Devils were up nine points with three minutes left in regulation and cruising to a national championship appearance. Then they were up seven points with 86 seconds left and cruising to a national championship appearance. And then they lost, 70-67, and are now no longer competing for a national championship.
Over the final 86 seconds, Duke committed two fouls and one turnover while missing a layup, a free throw and a jumper.
You can call this loss many things: Gutting, shocking, absurd, haunting — but you will first and foremost think of it as an epic choke. Years from now, when someone says, "Hey, remember that time Duke choked in the NCAA tournament?" You will not have to wonder if this person is asking about Duke's NCAA tournament loss to Lehigh in 2012, or Duke's NCAA tournament loss to Mercer in 2014 or Duke's NCAA tournament loss to Providence in 1997.
You will think of Duke's Final Four loss to Houston on Saturday night — and, of course, that White Lotus meme. That's how shocking this was. You just witnessed (or caught up on) one of the great March Madness moments in NCAA tournament history.
Yeah, Duke choked.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: March Madness fans agree: Duke choked in its Final Four loss
Continue reading...
Duke choked.
This is purely a statement of fact now. Duke held a 14-point lead in the second half and lost.
The Blue Devils were up nine points with three minutes left in regulation and cruising to a national championship appearance. Then they were up seven points with 86 seconds left and cruising to a national championship appearance. And then they lost, 70-67, and are now no longer competing for a national championship.
Over the final 86 seconds, Duke committed two fouls and one turnover while missing a layup, a free throw and a jumper.
You can call this loss many things: Gutting, shocking, absurd, haunting — but you will first and foremost think of it as an epic choke. Years from now, when someone says, "Hey, remember that time Duke choked in the NCAA tournament?" You will not have to wonder if this person is asking about Duke's NCAA tournament loss to Lehigh in 2012, or Duke's NCAA tournament loss to Mercer in 2014 or Duke's NCAA tournament loss to Providence in 1997.
You will think of Duke's Final Four loss to Houston on Saturday night — and, of course, that White Lotus meme. That's how shocking this was. You just witnessed (or caught up on) one of the great March Madness moments in NCAA tournament history.
Yeah, Duke choked.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: March Madness fans agree: Duke choked in its Final Four loss
Continue reading...
