Sorry, America. They are good again. They are really so good weather.
It is news that half of the country will hate. But it's true. Duke goes to the last four for the 18th time in school history and they may just have a team that is able to win everything. Again.
Faced with the challenge of an Alabama team that shot the 3-ball better in one competition than any team in March Madness History, the Blue Devils never followed a 85-65 victory to book their journey to San Antonio.
But not compliments for the night's rest on the shoulders of the talented first -year student Cooper Flagg, who received much attention from the Crimson Tide defense.
While he led 16 points, Colleague -first year Knueppel could have 21 points. In the meantime, Mark Sears – the hero of Alabama of two nights ago – saw a shell out of himself in the midst of a stifling wall of Duke defenders.
So now Duke is up for the Texas Sun. But the heat of the desert will not be the only thing that awaits them as the pressure of winning a potential sixth title on them.
Duke goes back to the last four outside the back of first -year students, such as Tyrese Proctor (5) and Cooper Flagg (2)
Duke first -year guard. Knueppel was at the forefront with 21 points on the evening
Duke head coach Jon Scheyer goes to his very first last four to lead the program
Of course, they preferred, but Duke's primary objective that took the night was delaying the fastest offense in the country.
Alabama plays like no other in the nation at a pace. It is a pace so fast and so overwhelming that they can usually drop the defense off the road.
That is not the case this year, as it was for the last four team of last year that scored quickly but was missing on the other side. The Karmozijnrode tide this year was much better regulated to defend their own net and were top-30 in defensive efficiency.
Only one problem: the Duke team they played is the best attack in the nation that happens to have a top five defense.
So yes, this Alabama team has just established the NCAA tournament record for the most attempt at 3-Pointers and most made 3-Pointers in a single match in their dismantling of Byu on Thursday.
But immediately after that match ended, Duke hit the floor and dropped 100 own points in a matchup against a wrongly matched Arizona team.
The Blue Devils came out of the gates and did exactly what they had to do: play intense on-ball defense in which every momentum was killed that the tide would have pushed. On the other hand, they led with no less than 13 in the first half.
Sears, the Alabama hero on Thursday evening, was slow of the leap and eventually got enough first half of the bench minutes because he could not find his shooting shape to get ten 3-Pointers only two days ago.
Alabama head coach Nate Oats calls on a play against Duke in the Elite Eight
Alabama hoped for a strong game of the hero on Thursday, senior Guard Mark Sears
Duke's main objective that took the night, an incredibly fast bama attack was delayed
There was a moment when the momentum started to swing Alabama's way in the first half. After having done a 7-0 run to reduce the shortage to six points, the tide began to roll. But an immediate turnover on incoming substances led to a triple Van Duke's Caleb Foster to make a nine points lead that they took at rest.
Alabama's 3-point attack has previously stimulated the game. In the first half of tonight it sinks them on a clip of 5-out-19.
When the game approached the halfway point of the second half, Alabama continued to pack – try to find an opening, a run, something, everything to keep their mars dreams alive.
They had help from the fact that Flagg had difficulty starting the second frame. He was out of the field after 0-out-5.
But the supporting cast of fellow first -year students stepped up: Kon Knueppel and Big Man Kaman Maluach. While Knueppel was able to end the defense with lay-ins and Maluach was open in the paint for lobs and dragged into boards.
Add the well -completed game of Junior Guard Tyrese Proctor and Duke in a machine as always.
Alabama needed a revival of their best player, but Sears did not deliver. Against 8:00, the man who hit ten 3-Pointers stood on a shooting line of 2-or-9 shooting line on Thursday. He ended the night
Even the defense of Sears did not work. He guarded flagg around 7:30 Mark, he has harassed the New England inhabitant that he lost his dribble … Only for Flagg to find it again and set up a shot that he struck.
It would be unfair to say: “That is exactly how the night went,” but it is just as true as the statement 'Duke is unlikely talented'.
Mark Sears from Alabama struggled powerfully off the floor a poor 2-of-12
Duke 7-foot First-year Center Kaman Maluach Dunks the ball against Alabama
Duke Junior Guard Tyrese Proctor regulates a shot in the Elite Eight against Alabama
Duke first -year guard could Knueppel try to save a wandering pass during the first half
None of the freshmen seemed inexperienced. Towards the end of the night, Knueppel had 21, Maluach dropped 14 points and nine rebounds, and guard Tyrese Proctor managed a neat stat line of 17 points, five rebounds, two assists.
And of course there was flagg. Since 2000, only three players have won the first -year student and have led their teams to National titles: Carmelo Anthony in Syracuse in 2003, Anthony Davis in Kentucky in 2012, and most recently, Jahlil Okafor in 2015 with – who uses – Duke.
Flagg is positioned to join them now. Of course it wasn't his best evening tonight. He shot the ball badly and Alabama's Grant Nelson had his number for a majority of the procedure.
But with the attention to him, the rest of the team could thrive. Alabama helped the defense on the defense and faced room for other blue devils across the floor.
The tide pursued spirits. Soon the spirits overwhelmed them and they could not keep up. The promise that the team kept in returning Sears and Nelson from the last four team last year faded into a whisper when the majority of Duke -Voice gave their joy in the Prudential Center.
But don't fear Alabama fans. While a karmozijnrode pattern was proclaimed behind the media bank 'football season starts soon'.
That is not comforting to coach Nate Oats. It is also not explained for Sears and Nelson, who are running from a university floor for the last time.
The success of Flagg led to over -defense from Alabama, where the floor was opened for his teammates
It is a night that Alabama gives basketball fans – like this Youngin ' – Agony for the time being
More to follow.
