The rules are pure and simple, score will be based on total number of correct picks, no seeding multipliers, no bonuses, just picks.  Below you will find the brackets filled out by the boys (Andy, Luke and Owen), we will update the scores as reach round is completed, so keep coming back to see how things shape up.

Andy’s Bracket

Luke’s Bracket

Owen’s Bracket

Since winning the National Championship last year, all I’ve heard from people is how much they hate Duke, how much Duke is over-rated, how people are sick of hearing about Duke, how much people hate Coach K, blah blah blah.  But in reality, is there anything to hate about Duke?

Let’s take a look at some facts:

Coaching

– Mike Krzyzewski has been coaching Duke Basketball for 30 years. (For current active coaches, he is only second to Jim Boeheim of Syracuse).

– Coach K is 4th on the list of all time winning coaches, 1st in the last 10 years. 888 wins 281 loses.

– Loyalty:  In all 30 years, Coach K has been offered numerous jobs in the NBA for high profile teams and top dollar. In all cases, Coach K has declined NBA jobs to stay loyal to Duke.

– Tapped to restore United States pride for USA Olympic basketball after a dismal and embarrassing performance with a bunch of “know it all individuals” from the NBA. (Coaching and earning a Gold medal in 2008 with the Redeem Team).

– Pure Class:  When is the last time Coach K has made the news about NCAA violations, scandal or any other bad press?

– Coach K Has led Duke Basketball to 26 tournament appearances. Probably would have been 27 and 27 in a row if he didn’t have back surgery in 1995 and had to leave the team.

Team

– 26 total NCAA tournament appearances

– 14 final four appearances

– 4 National Titles

– 9 players of the year, 11 if you count all the years (Jason Williams and J.J. Redick have won this honor twice)

– 11 ACC player of the year, 13 if you count all the years (Danny Ferry and J.J. Redick have won this honor twice)

– 18 ACC Championships

– 71 players drafted into the NBA

– 89 percent graduation rate (players leaving early for NBA counts towards this ratio, school has a 97% graduation rate)

– 55 All Americans

– 14 Academic All Americans

So let me get this straight, people hate Duke Basketball because they win, have a loyal coach, have a strong history of class and discipline in academics and athletics, as well as develop phenomenal/well-rounded individuals when they leave college (when is the last time a Duke basketball player in the NBA has gotten arrested)?  This makes absolute sense…. *cue sarcasm*

I understand that there is an “elitist” mentality when it comes to Duke, but can you blame them?  Duke only expects the best from their athletes, coaches and students; is that so wrong?  (I blame Christian Laetnner for this reputation, but everyone deserves a gimme, great winning shot though).  Also, let’s be real, North Carolina is Tar Heel country; there are obviously more Tar Heel fans than Duke fans and they loathe each other.  Weird coincidence, but do you ever hear any hatred towards Roy Williams?

So go ahead, hate Duke, encourage the scandal, the shady coaching/recruiting, the academic mediocrity; discourage excellence, loyalty and class– That’s America for you, Land of Frauds, Home of the Bullshit.

— Matt Nguyen (aka Nuge)

Disagree?  Email me at matt@fansmanship.com

Around four years ago, a group of friends (myself included) embarked on a journey that would change our lives and loyalty to our country forever.  There were four of us, pumped up from the summer after seeing the Men’s National Team play China in a friendly in San Jose, CA.  I remember the game vividly, the four hour drive down to The Home Depot Center in Carson from San Luis Obispo, the peer pressure of painting my face red, white and blue, and the energy from the stadium as we ran from the parking lot to the stadium; it was unreal.  I remember all 4 of us cheering our hearts out in the midst of the opposing fans and US “fans” who were telling us to sit down.  After the US won their game, I realized that we were a part of something much bigger, it wasn’t just a soccer game, it was a movement.

Fast forward four years later to January 22, 2011; our crew has grown from four to more than 30 of us traveling from all over California to unite for just a few hours in the name of soccer and the United States of America.  Some would deem this game against Chile as “not worth” watching.  No players from the World Cup team were on the roster for the game against Chile, as a matter of fact, most of the players have never seen play at the international level, with seven players earning their first caps.  It’s like going out of your way to watch the Laker’s D-league team play; it’s just not worth it.  But to us, it was more than a soccer game, it is a movement and a way of life.  And it’s not just 30 of us that are a part of this revolution, we are a part of something larger and unified.  In attendance were over 18,000 fans, and hundreds packed out The American Outlaws (The US National Team Supporter Club) section.  People from all over country (yes, the country) came in to see the US “D-League” team play.  The energy was off the charts and I never thought I could hug so many strangers when Teal Bunbury scored the equalizer goal on a penalty kick.  You see, it’s more than just showing up to see your favorite player play, like you fickle Laker fans who don’t know a thing about basketball and have named your kid, dog and car after Kobe Bryant.  It’s about supporting the team as a whole, each other and this country.

It’s amazing to think back and see how one game impacted our lives.  For the game against Chile, it was a first live game for some of our friends, and when they smiled and said that this definitely won’t be their last, they didn’t need to explain, I understood completely.  So for you all who think soccer is dead in the US, think again.

The revolution has just begun.

Cheers,

Nuge

matt@fansmanship.com