2010 March Madness: Duke is ready for Arkansas-Pine Bluff

2010 March Madness: #1 South Region seed Duke will meet Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the NCAA first-round.

AP, Gerry Broome

 

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March Madness approaches

The NCAA Tournament got started on Tuesday night as play-in game winner the #16 Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions (18-15) earned the right to meet the #1 Duke Blue Devils (29-5) on Friday as it easily beat Big South representative the Winthrop Eagles 61-44 in Dayton, OH.  The Golden Lions will travel to Jacksonville, FL to face the #1 South region seed in its first-ever trip to 'the dance' as representatives of the  Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).  The Blue Devils travel to Jacksonville and the NCAA postseason for the 34th time in its history.

Duke Blue Devils vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions- Friday, March 19, 7:25 pm

Blue Devils fans can take some time preparing for Friday's game by reading the 'Championship March' tournament guide to study up on the team's current starters and storied history in the NCAA Tournament.  The Blue Devils have reached the Final Four 14 times, won the National Championship three times (1991, 1992, 2001), and possess the best NCAA Tournament winning percentage (.746, 88-30). Arkansas-Pine Bluff has a tall order to fill in facing such a powerful team and as a team that lost its first 11 games of the season many will wonder how close this first-round match-up will be.

When comparing statistics on paper, Duke scores 78 points per game while Arkansas-Pine Bluff averages 64 points per game. When it comes to shooting and defense the Blue Devils narrowly edge out the Golden Lions with a field-goal percentage of 44 percent compared to 41 percent while both teams are even in terms of steals per game (6.9 vs 6.8).  Though the numbers are stacked against them in win percentage (85% vs. 53%), what can't be predicted on paper is the heart with which these Golden Lions will play with against the Blue Devils.

Upon careful analysis of Arkansas-Pine Bluff's first 11 games (all losses) one will notice the quality of opponents the team chose to play was not an easy road to travel as the Golden Lions faced Michigan, Oklahoma State, Georgia Tech, Missouri, Kansas State, and Oregon - all in a row.  Such an experience obviously helped the squad in SWAC play to become the conference champions.  How this team puts it all together in the postseason will depend on its leaders Terrance Calvin (10.4 ppg), Savalance Townsend (10.2 ppg), and Labaron Weathers (9.9 ppg).

Will an upset result? 

The numbers and the history are stacked against a #16 seed like Arkansas-Pine Bluff to beat a team like Duke who will take nothing for granted.  Even though the Blue Devils have only lost five games this season, the losses they have suffered has enabled them to adjust and peak at the right time. With a leader like Coach K and the depth of experience that it possesses in playing gritty basketball expect the Blue Devils to make appropriate adjustments even against the most tenacious opponent.

Click here for complete Examiner coverage of the NCAA Tournament.