Mass Destruction: #1 Duke 97 - #2 Texas 66

box score

I attended the #1 Duke Blue Devils vs. #2 Texas Longhorns basketball game yesterday at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. Secret Peter and I had good seats and were treated to a fireworks display. Thanks to AcousticCharlie for hooking me up with tickets. It was nice to see some of my old Duke buddies again.

Heading into the game, I was honestly expecting Duke to lose in a classic, wire-to-wire game, and I was dead wrong.

The team proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are the most talented team in the country by crushing a well-rounded Texas squad. J.J. Redick was on fire, torching the Longhorns to the tune of a career-high 41 points. Shelden Williams poured in his usual 20+ points and 10+ rebounds, to go along with 5 blocked shots.

Texas coach Rick Barnes embarrased himself and his program by making his team play tough and dirty for all 40 minutes, even after the outcome was beyond a shadow of a doubt. It's ridiculous to watch a talented team get blown away early, only to watch the lead balloon because they keep asking for more, playing hard until the end and ending up looking like fools. I respect the effort, but not the kamikaze attitude.

There was one stretch were Redick scored 14 points by himself, matching the Texas team point total in the same period.

So far Duke looks pretty solid, but the rest of the brutal ACC schedule should humble this team in a hurry.

a decent story from the NY Post about how Duke Basketball and Notre Dame Football are similar (I've been saying this for years)