Originally posted by beerman2619
Say Duke had come stumbling out of the gate this year, and lost to both K-State and Michigan State, while UNC had managed to win against Minnesota and Georgia Tech. And say Duke managed to eek out some miraculous last second wins when their opponents choked. (maybe in games @ Miami, @UVA, and @ Clemson for instance)
And say Duke split the season series with UNC and managed to win the ACC Regular season because of it, being they didn't have to play @ VTech or @ Maryland, and hit a last second buzzer beater to beat FSU who was missing their best player. In that scenario, UNC would be sitting with a 28-4 record with a chance to win the ACC title, and might possibly have won the regular season title ahead of Duke if not for some minor miracles and the unbalanced schedule as a result of conference expansion. You're saying you would be openly supporting UNC DIDN'T get a #1 seed under those circumstances?
As ICEMAN would say, "Ah-hem, BULLSHIT."
Yes, Duke's non-conf wins have turned out to be a bit more lackluster as the season has wore on, but both K-State and Michigan State have dealt with serious losses of personnel that have affected those teams since early in the season. Since K-State got healthy they've been on a tear, with wins against Kansas, Missouri, and @ Texas.
And while UNC has "dominated Duke for three halves" of basketball, so what? Clemson dominated UNC for 3 1/2 halves of basketball with an 0-3 record to show for it. Miami dominated UNC for a few halves of basketball and went 0-2. Halves don't matter, finishes do. And what matters is who finishes tomorrow. If Duke beats UNC they should get a number one seed. And I would say the same for UNC if they win tomorrow.
You're right that the ACC has had a down year. And it's in no small part because early in the season some of the ACC's better teams didn't hold up their end of the bargain outside of the conference, and lost to very beatable teams like Vanderbilt, Minnesota, and Illinois, meaning the ACC was saddled with the "down year" rap from the beginning of the season. Perhaps had the ACC team won in those games, the conference would have a better RPI, and as a result, the ACC regular season champion wouldn't even have to worry about winning tomorrow to be considered a #1 seed.

what Michigan st is that a big win? This team is so overrated by so many people it amazes me. Carolina has dominated Duke for 3 halves of basketball. I do think Duke will beat them tomorrow but the acc just isn't that tough this season. Duke should not be a number one regardless.