This reminds me a lot of 1991. Wisconsin Played the part of Duke. Duke had been beaten by UNLV the year before and wanted another shot at them. They got that shot and took out an undefeated UNLV team that people were saying was in the conversation for greatest all-time. Same thing with Wisconsin and Kentucky. It's going to be very difficult for Ryan to bring his boys back down off of their emotional high to play again tomorrow. They celebrated last night like they had won the title. Coach K had the same task with Duke in 1991.
On the other side, Coach K has a tough job in front of him too. His players surely had been expecting Kentucky and there is invariably going to be a mental letdown because it's Wisconsin. Not that they will take them lightly but because it's not Kentucky and because they already have gone up to Wisconsin and beaten them this year, comfort will naturally be a little higher.
It's going to be a great matchup. I think the fact that the Wisconsin big men like to play outside will help Duke. It worked against Kentucky because it pulled their big men out and they didn't have the foot speed to keep Wisconsin in front of them and caused them to switch all game and had then out of position for rebounding. Duke can keep Kaminski and Decker I front of them and make it more difficult. On the other end, they will use their quickness to force Wisconsin into a lot of scramble and help situations and create a lot of open looks from three point range and a good number of one on one chances for Okafor.
I like Duke 76-69.
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The real horses of the year (1986-2020)
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