Yes, they are less experienced. Yes, Kaminsky is the best player in the nation and he's on the other team. Yes, Wisconsin now has Traevon Jackson finally healthy (11 ppg last year, 8.5 this year, 25 vs Duke in Dec). And yes, Wisconsin just beat the best team in the nation. But.......
Duke is 5-0 ATS in this tourney. They just beat Michigan State by 20 even though they only hit 2 of 10 treys. That shows they are not one-dimensional. They can beat you inside, outside, on defense, on offense. They are holding opponents to 55 ppg in this tourney. They basically spotted Mich State 8 points right out the gate and then destroyed them. This is the same MSU team that Wisconsin struggled with on both occasions, including an OT escape in Feb.
Duke beat Wisconsin in Madison in December. Everyone says that game doesn't mean anything now. The coaches say that because they have to. The media says that because they want you to be interested in tonight's game. Whatever. THAT GAME MEANS SOMETHING. It means that Duke, with three freshman starters, rolled into Madison and pushed Kaminsky, Dekker and Jackson around. Got in their faces, and hung a 63% FG shooting night in their lap in front of a packed house screaming for Duke to lose. They can rely on that tonight as a reminder of what they are capable of.
When Duke is at the top of their game, they can beat a team like Notre Dame 90-60, which they did earlier this year. They can go to a #6 ranked Lousiville and win by 11. Okafor is 6'11. Plumlee is 7'0, Winslow is 6'6. Duke matches up well here. They proved that against Gonzaga, Michigan State and Virginia (all physically elite teams). And....against Wisconsin. CHEESEHEADS, YOU DON'T GET MY BACKING IF YOU'VE ALREADY LOST TO THE TEAM YOU'RE PLAYING.
Finally, if anyone wants to fade Coach K in this spot, be my guest.....
DUKE +1