
The Sons of Doofus were in town - along with their respective (and occasionally respectful) girlfriends. Jason graciously hosted a Final Four party. Somewhere along the line, a bunch of us were certain that the game was a 2:00. We were wrong. The game was to start at 6:00.
Everyone else found other adventures to occupy themselves. I finished off a handful of snacks, grabbed the best viewing seat, which I claimed as the pater familias, and took a nap.
The gang reassembled. Jason served up some beverages, the remaining seats were claimed and we settled in for some Final Four action.
Trice hits another three! The throng was electric. State was out to an early 14-6 lead! High five, hooting and hollering, we were in rare form.
And then reality set in.
Duke responded by moving out the defense to disrupt the Spartan half court offense. More impactful, they started driving to the rim, slicing the Spartan defense. By the half, an eight point deficit was now an 11 point lead. It felt worse than that.
Everyone else found other adventures to occupy themselves. I finished off a handful of snacks, grabbed the best viewing seat, which I claimed as the pater familias, and took a nap.
The gang reassembled. Jason served up some beverages, the remaining seats were claimed and we settled in for some Final Four action.
Trice hits another three! The throng was electric. State was out to an early 14-6 lead! High five, hooting and hollering, we were in rare form.
And then reality set in.
Duke responded by moving out the defense to disrupt the Spartan half court offense. More impactful, they started driving to the rim, slicing the Spartan defense. By the half, an eight point deficit was now an 11 point lead. It felt worse than that.

State had been on a magical ride. By paying attention to detail and playing with intensity they had gone from a bubble team to the Final Four. During huddles, they would end with a shout of “Indy!” It was their goal and they had reached it. And it was to be their downfall.
Duke wanted more than a trip to Indy. They wanted a championship. State was happy just to be here. Duke felt they deserved it and even more.
The pundits are talking about how Duke can roll out McDonald All Americans, the change in strategy, Coach K’s dominance over Izzo and even how the tight whistles cost State. All true, but, perhaps most important, was the difference in intensity level. Duke wanted it more. State was satisfied with being invited.
Duke never let up. State would have a couple surges and we thought, maybe, just maybe they could cut the lead to single digits. And then Duke would drive to the rim and the lead would get back to an insurmountable level.
Duke wanted more than a trip to Indy. They wanted a championship. State was happy just to be here. Duke felt they deserved it and even more.
The pundits are talking about how Duke can roll out McDonald All Americans, the change in strategy, Coach K’s dominance over Izzo and even how the tight whistles cost State. All true, but, perhaps most important, was the difference in intensity level. Duke wanted it more. State was satisfied with being invited.
Duke never let up. State would have a couple surges and we thought, maybe, just maybe they could cut the lead to single digits. And then Duke would drive to the rim and the lead would get back to an insurmountable level.

Duke ended up winning by 20. They have more talent but not that much more. State was smacked in the mouth and just took it. They didn’t amp it up to another level. Indy was good enough. State had reached their goal and went home.
After the game, the Spartans said all the right things about the devastation and the desire to return next year. The talent level will be improved and they have a decent shot. But unless they want it more they won’t get any further.
Johnny E’s Badger’s want more though. In a much better game they downed the cocky Kentucky Wildcats. KY’s bravado and sense of destiny was doomed by the unconventional Badger offense. The win offered a bit of relief from a brutal first game.
After all the angst texts were done for the night, Woz had an uplifting one. Turns out that he had taken both Duke and Wisconsin to win it all back during the 2014 GO JUMBO trip. He wins no matter what but since Wiscy is 10/1 and Duke only 8/1 my guess is he will be backing the Big Ten tonight. GO BUCKY!
Remember – the 2015 GO JUMBO trip is Nov 7th at the Westgate Restort
After the game, the Spartans said all the right things about the devastation and the desire to return next year. The talent level will be improved and they have a decent shot. But unless they want it more they won’t get any further.
Johnny E’s Badger’s want more though. In a much better game they downed the cocky Kentucky Wildcats. KY’s bravado and sense of destiny was doomed by the unconventional Badger offense. The win offered a bit of relief from a brutal first game.
After all the angst texts were done for the night, Woz had an uplifting one. Turns out that he had taken both Duke and Wisconsin to win it all back during the 2014 GO JUMBO trip. He wins no matter what but since Wiscy is 10/1 and Duke only 8/1 my guess is he will be backing the Big Ten tonight. GO BUCKY!
Remember – the 2015 GO JUMBO trip is Nov 7th at the Westgate Restort