Duke vs. Alabama: Will the Game Meet Expectations?

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00:00When we get to Duke, Alabama now, this is the later game tonight, you'll still be in

00:05bed before midnight, so don't worry, it won't be too too late for you here, not these, you

00:09know, 10-30 starts, Eastern time or anything like that.

00:12Is this game going to live up to the hype from a scoring perspective?

00:16Are we going to get another game that gives us 175 plus points?

00:20Well, I won't be in bed and obviously, you know, Ben and I will be doing game two tonight.

00:27Leave it to the NCAA to put the East Regional last, but the West Regional first.

00:34A 3 p.m. start and an almost 9 p.m. start, but then when you talk about Cooper Flag,

00:39you understand there's levels to this.

00:41This is why the Duke game is the night game, and like I said, Ben and I will be on tonight,

00:46Joe and Kevin will be on for the first game.

00:49But when you look at this game, I'm going to pump my brakes on a couple of things.

00:54I don't think the overall points are going to be there.

00:57Now that guy's points are going to be there, and that's Cooper Flag.

01:0224 and F seems like an insane number.

01:04Here's my question to everyone.

01:07It's a game that Alabama plays no defense.

01:09Who the hell is guarding this kid?

01:12Like who's guarding him?

01:14The amount of action they put him in.

01:17This is where I think Alabama gets themselves into trouble because of this guy and his ability

01:21to create and score a three-level score, right?

01:25In the post, pull-up game, deep three, pick and roll.

01:29You can use him as a screener and pop him out.

01:32Great facilitator.

01:33Can get steals, get out of transition.

01:36Cooper does everything.

01:37My actual favorite player in the game is Cooper Flag over 24 and a half points.

01:41I think he approaches 30, and that is going to go inside with the other side.

01:46If there's someone that's going to guard him, it's probably going to be Grant Nelson, and

01:51that's not good for Alabama.

01:53This is someone that can get into foul trouble, and then if you're Nate Owens, what do you do?

01:58Do you sit Grant Nelson in spots?

01:59Do you move Grant Nelson to the five?

02:01That's where Duke can take advantage on the offensive boards.

02:04I also like Grant Nelson.

02:05I think it's 11 and a half.

02:06Under 10 and a half, 11 and a half points, shop around and see if you can find that 11

02:10and a half.

02:11But in regards to the game, I like Duke minus points.

02:13I think this will be a pull-away at some point, and I think it goes under, and here's why.

02:19As great as Duke is offensively, they're one of the slowest teams in the country.

02:26They're going to make them defend, because Duke knows at any point, they're going to

02:32get their shot off, and if you're a team like Alabama, the most frustrating thing to do

02:37as a game plan is to go try and score quick.

02:40You know, 12, 14 seconds to get in their offense quickly.

02:43You don't score, Duke can run it up, but then they can get to a half-court game,

02:48and their offensive flow and how many guys can score is too much.

02:51I think the game actually goes under the total.

02:54I'm on board with the under, and I've been saying it the entire show.

02:57I think Alabama's, for as fast as they play, they're number one in the country in pace.

03:01They actually want to limit the possessions from Duke.

03:03Like, they don't want to give a great offense more chances to score and try and keep up with them.

03:08I don't think that's how Alabama keeps as close end-door wins, so I do like the under as well.

03:13Would this lead you to an Alabama team total that's sitting at 83 and a half?

03:16Would you be interested in that under if you think, Duke, because their defense is amazing.

03:20Do you think they keep Alabama in check?

03:23Yeah, I think their defense is amazing.

03:25I think the only reason, and here's the thing.

03:27Not only is their defense amazing, Tom, and if you people want to take,

03:30if they'd rather just go one side, like whether you don't want to take a full-total ticket team,

03:35take the two-total under 83 and a half.

03:37That's a great point, because Duke is going to slow that game down,

03:41and they're going to make you defend.

03:43They have equal defenders.

03:44Brown is back.

03:45Flag is back, obviously.

03:46Two best perimeter defenders.

03:48And here's the thing, guys, and I've seen this all the time as a coach.

03:51When you go 50% from three, the next game,

03:56them shots do not fall.

03:59They go under 83 and a half.

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