Tough loss, not was I was expecting.....well at least not the last 5 mins. Duke's last three losses (UNC, TT, Houston) all have a common theme; a double digit second half lead squandered. Yes, I am aware all three games had different circumstances, but the outcome was the same, single possession losses where we had control of the game.
In general, I like that this squad seems pretty grounded, even keeled. Emotions don't flare. But IMHO we are lacking the killer instinct, the consistency to put teams away in the second half, that one player to be tougher than the rest when things get tight.
Clearly this team has some vulnerabilities; weak guard play, inconsistent shooting, lack of depth in the front court, etc. Still we are 20-2, atop the ACC, and still in the hunt for a 1 seed. A single possession loss to a top 15 ranked team on the road isn't a big deal. The fact that it was against UNC makes it sting a little, but big picture, Duke is in a good position to control our own destiny. Let's finish the regular season strong and take it to UNC in Durham!
After that, it's tourney time. Win and advance!