Of the 4 potential matchups within the males’s NCAA nationwide championship sport, two are rematches of regular-season contests: Auburn-Duke and Auburn-Houston.
Main credit score to Auburn for enjoying the schedule it did, in search of out the Cougars in Houston and beating Iowa State, North Carolina and Memphis within the Maui Invitational. A visit to Duke was scheduled for the Tigers the week after Maui as a part of the SEC/ACC Problem.
In case your desire is to keep away from rematches in favor of a pairing we haven’t seen but, I don’t blame you. However after that contest in early December, I consider essentially the most fascinating title sport matchup could be Auburn-Duke, Spherical 2.
Duke defeated Auburn 84-78 that evening in Durham, and till Feb. 8, it was the one blemish on Auburn’s report because it constructed a fame as the very best group within the nation.
In case you missed that sport, it’s Exhibit A for why informal sports activities followers ought to begin watching faculty basketball lengthy earlier than the third week of March.
Auburn performed an unbelievable sport within the face of the Cameron Crazies, ending with extra 3-pointers, rebounds and assists than Duke. The Tigers led for a lot of the first 13 minutes earlier than Duke steadily climbed into the lead and held them at bay.
In a particularly well-played sport the place the groups mixed for simply 12 turnovers, Duke pressured Auburn to overlook seven straight pictures down the stretch. And Cooper Flagg, in simply his eighth faculty sport, bought the very best of Auburn star Johni Broome within the battle of participant of the 12 months candidates.
Flagg completed with 22 factors, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, three steals, two blocks and 0 turnovers, whereas Broome had a 20-point, 12-rebound evening however fouled out. As CBS Sports activities famous on the time, Auburn tried six completely different defenders on Flagg—and the freshman phenom scored a bucket on all of them.
That’s why a rematch could possibly be so fascinating. Bruce Pearl most likely doesn’t get sufficient credit score for his teaching. How would possibly he attempt to cowl Flagg this time? Duke is affected by 3-point marksmen prepared to fireside should you attempt to double one man.
In return, can Duke’s strict protection comprise Broome, Chad Baker-Mazara, Miles Kelly and Tahaad Pettiford? The person matchups at each ends are mouthwatering.
“That was a heck of a two hours proper there,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer chuckled after beating Auburn. “I assumed it was a big-time faculty basketball sport. We felt like coming in, Auburn’s pretty much as good as anyone. I believe they confirmed that tonight, their shot-making, their physicality, their depth.”
Auburn first should get previous Florida within the semifinals—yet one more rematch after the Gators received the one assembly throughout SEC play, 90-81. It’ll be a terrific watch in its personal proper, as Florida pushed its manner into the dialog with the Blue Devils and Tigers for the very best groups within the nation by profitable the SEC championship.
However I hope Duke and Auburn run it again. An electrical nationwide title sport might await Monday evening.