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Tuesday, March 13Committee didn't do Duke any favors
By Andy Katz
ESPN.com
Duke looked like the strongest No. 1 seed after its dismantling of North Carolina Sunday in the ACC tournament, but the selection committee didn't do it any favors by loading its bracket. Kentucky and UCLA are dangerous teams that could upset the Blue Devils along the way to the Final Four. Duke's likely matchup before UCLA is Missouri. The Tigers got Kareem Rush back for the Big 12 tournament and should be able to get by Georgia, which isn't playing as well right now. Duke and Missouri are similar guard-heavy teams, but the Blue Devils are simply better in what would be an interesting disciple matchup between the student Quin Snyder and the professor Mike Krzyzewski. UCLA should reach the Sweet 16 by getting past Ohio State if Jason Kapono can be a hot hand. The Bruins have the inside strength in Dan Gadzuric to upset the Blue Devils, but it would take a tremendous game by Earl Watson to handle Jason Williams and Chris Duhon at the point. The bottom half of the bracket is set up for Kentucky with Iowa a potential upset victim to sharp-shooting Creighton in the first round. The Wildcats will likely run into Boston College in the Sweet Sixteen, assuming USC folds against either Oklahoma State or the Eagles. But Kentucky probably has too much size for the Eagles. If this plays out that way, then the committee would have set up a Duke-Kentucky rematch in Philadelphia -- site of the Christian Laettner dramatic game-winning shot in 1992. Duke might not need heroics again to get to the Final Four, especially if Carlos Boozer and Williams are healthy by the Elite Eight. Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.
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Katz: Selections make sense NCAA seeds set: Duke, Stanford, Illinois, Michigan State | ||
