Are you sure you want to delete this post?
Supposedly 3 of the top 5 NBA draft picks for 2019 will be coming from Duke. They are ranked #1 overall in the tournament seedings, and when Zion and their team was fully healthy, they only lost one or two games all year. Even with Zion sidelined for a few games, they still went 29-5 and won their conf champ.
So, gotta say, they HAVE to win this tournament. Otherwise their season is a failure.
It won't effect any of the draft I don't think. But think about it, if at least 3 of their starters get drafted, this will not be the same team by any stretch next year. AND if you have 3 of the best players in all of college ball (arguably) how does anyone compete against that??
Mike Krzyzewski did a wonderful job accruing this talent and making it all work. He stacked the deck. Now he has to deliver. It's really win it all or bust to me. Think there's any chance that's not true of this team?
All that said... I don't think they will. Hard as that seems to imagine with all that talent, it's still a coaching and team effort, and its called March Madness for a reason.
Made the prediction earlier, but I'll say again, I think they fall in the Elite 8 to Michigan State. Seems like a trendy pick, but I agree with the logic. Kinda hope I get proven wrong though.