MD/Duke Predictions

[Todd-O]

24 hrs away from the big showdown. Sole possession of 1st place is on the line for Duke. It's a revenge game for the Terps. Fans detest each other. Its on Maryland's home court.

This is a big one.

I watched Duke play a very weak UVA team the other night... Duke looked like they were firing on all cylinders at times. Singler and Scheyer both dropped in 20 pts. Zoubek did not play especially well.

We all know what happened in Blacksburg on Saturday.

This has all the makings of a huge clash.

I want to pick the Terps to win (can a win in this situation really be called an upset?) in a close one. So I will. I just have a feeling that the Terps will start off flat and then catch fire, much as they have all season. I'm looking for a big game from Hayes at the point (his play in Cameron was pitiful) and some big points off the bench from Tucker and Bowie.

MD wins 74-71.

[Mackus]

MD 82 Duke 74

I think we avenge the loss at Cameron. I don't think Duke gets the unlikely hero in this one like they did in Zoubek the first time around (although if someone does, its gonna be Nolan Smith, not that he's an incredibly unlikely hero), and I like our odds at home. Scheyer or Singler could easily go off, but if they just have typically solid games and nobody else steps up big, I think we'll get enough of a contribution from our secondary guys to help out Greivis.

[YardBirds13]

I'll pick Duke in a very similar game to the one last year at Comcast. Close game most of the way, but Duke pulls away in the last 3 or so minutes.

Wouldn't shock me if the Terps won, but I think they are a tad bit overrated by a lot of Terps fans right now.

I'll definitely be rooting for you guys though.

[Todd-O]

Zoubek did blow-up last time...his height was a huge problem. Hopefully they'll have a way to keep that from happening again. They can't afford to let another duke player have an uncharacteristically good game... that is for sure!

And... YardBird... I think you might be right about the "overrating" by fans. They are definitely a solid team, but lack in some areas (overall quickness... and experience in the center) that can lead to a big exposure by better opponents. That being said, one of the charms of this team is that they have not only gotten better as the season has gone on... but they have risen to the occasion in some tight games. It's hard to know what is smoke and mirrors and what is legit... I guess we'll find out more tomorrow.

[beaner]

Maryland is legit, I've been saying it all year, and it will come to fruition over the next few weeks.

Maryland 85

Duke 70

[Floater]

Duke hits their fair share of threes but this time we rebound better and Vasquez puts on a show that no one will ever forget, solidifying himself as one of the greatest Terps of All Time.

86-79 Terps

[Mackus]

Zoubek did blow-up last time...his height was a huge problem. Hopefully they'll have a way to keep that from happening again. They can't afford to let another duke player have an uncharacteristically good game... that is for sure!

And... YardBird... I think you might be right about the "overrating" by fans. They are definitely a solid team, but lack in some areas (overall quickness... and experience in the center) that can lead to a big exposure by better opponents. That being said, one of the charms of this team is that they have not only gotten better as the season has gone on... but they have risen to the occasion in some tight games. It's hard to know what is smoke and mirrors and what is legit... I guess we'll find out more tomorrow.

Duke doesn't scare me as much on the glass, which is our biggest weakness. Unless they get a huge unexpected performance from Zoubek or one of the Plumlee's, we likely won't get killed on the glass.

The way this team has performed in close games is what really makes me think we'll pull this one out. We lost in OT at Wake, but I can't think of any other close game we've lost and we've pulled out quite a few (including making some close games into fairly comfortable wins by pulling away late).

[DanS]

In a perfect word, Hayes and Mosley start off hot and Vasquez doesn't feel like he has to force the action. This opens up Vasquez later, and he goes off, which opens up Williams and Milbourne. The crowd is going nuts, Duke gets rattled and goes cold. Maryland puts the game away with a few minutes to go, and the crowd chants - "Not our rivals".

MD - 78

Duke - 71

[Sports Guy]

Duke doesn't scare me as much on the glass, which is our biggest weakness. Unless they get a huge unexpected performance from Zoubek or one of the Plumlee's, we likely won't get killed on the glass.

The way this team has performed in close games is what really makes me think we'll pull this one out. We lost in OT at Wake, but I can't think of any other close game we've lost and we've pulled out quite a few (including making some close games into fairly comfortable wins by pulling away late).

they lead the conference in rebound margin and offensive rebounds and dominated MD on the boards in the first game...If you aren't worried about them, you must not be worried about anyone.

Rebounding is probably the key to the game.

I think MD will win a close game BUT I look for 2 things:

1) Rebounding

2) Will MD tire down the stretch?

[Satyr3206]

Probably a close game. I think GW tries to get Dukes big men in foul trouble by going inside. We'll see if it works.

MD 73 Duke 70

[Mashed Potatoes]

The refs will play a large role in this game. If they call Zoubek on his over the back offensive rebounds we should be OK. If they let them play on the boards we could be in trouble.

I don't care about the score I just want to win!

[Hooded Viper]

I love this MD team and they are obviously going to be jazzed as will the crowd for senior night. I can certainly see MD winning but I just have a feeling Duke wins with the ACC Championship on the line. I will be there tonight and rooting for my Alma Matter!

Duke is up there with the Steelers, Yankees and Red Sox for me!

Come on Terps!!

[ShaneDawg85]

Why not, go for as much drama and emotion as possible:

Maryland 79

Duke 78

[Pedro Cerrano]

How does everyone here think our guards match up with theirs?

[Mackus]

they lead the conference in rebound margin and offensive rebounds and dominated MD on the boards in the first game...If you aren't worried about them, you must not be worried about anyone.

Some teams concern me rebounding-wise, but not Duke tonight. I still think Duke suffers from a perpetual lack of toughness, and I'm just not all the worried about them killing us on the glass. We're still not a particularly good rebounding team, so Duke may out-rebound us, but I don't see that being the thing that would swing the game in Duke's favor.