Get 'em ready
One note about last week's loss by Duke in the Sweet 16 ...
Mike Krzyzewski told a CBS reporter after Duke's 62-54 loss to LSU that he didn't think his team "ever completely adjusted to the physicality" of the game.
Which, it seemed to me, was code for the refs didn't call the fouls the way our guys in the ACC would have.
I mean, what else could that statement have meant? Particularly given that he repeated himself later in the interview.
The Dukies were called for 18 fouls on the night; LSU was whistled for 16. It was basically even until Duke had to resort to fouling late to extend the game.
The Blue Devils benefitted from generous officiating in 2005-2006 - going to the charity stripe 300 more times than their opponents and being called for 141 less fouls.
Perhaps the Atlantic Coast Conference could have helped Duke adjust to the physicality of the NCAA tournament by calling things a little more down the middle in the regular season.
Just a thought.
- Chris Graham