Duke lost to Maryland last night. This is the beginning of the end for the Blue Devils as their favorable scheduling is over. They didn't play a true road game from February 2004 until January 13th 2005. The ACC tournament, NCAA tournament, Davidson, Valparasio, and Oklahoma games were all on neutral courts.

Duke's toughest game this season (until last night) was probably at NCSU where they won by 12. They played NCSU, Miami, and FSU on the road in late January, but none of those teams are particularly imposing. With a 15-0 record people were comparing this win streak to the Duke 1986 and 1992 teams. Both those teams were undefeated at midseason, both got the national championship game.

Now the schedule cranks up a notch. After the loss at home to Maryland, Duke must play Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, and North Carolina twice each. They must also visit Maryland. With relatively shallow talent (three very good players, but only four more ACC caliber players), Duke could well lose all seven of those games.


If the season ended today, Virginia coach Pete Gillen would be fired. No one has any idea who would be the likely candidate to replace him. The dark horse candidate is Marc Iavaroni. He apparently just missed out on becoming the Milwaukee Bucks' head coach last year. He's a UVa graduate, but nobody knows how interested he would be in the head coaching position there.