Duke Finally Gets a Break

After years of having calls go against them, the Duke Blue Devils were finally on the receiving end of favorable calls Thursday night. In case you missed it, Thursday night a timekeeper error gave the Blue Devils 4.4 seconds to score instead of the probably 2.9 or less they should have had. And Duke won the game with 0.1 seconds remaining in the game. On Friday, the ACC admitted that an error had been made and the error gave Duke a better chance of scoring and winning the game, which had been tied 66-66 at that point.

"The league acknowledges that a timing error was made in not starting the game clock at the correct time."

Some people are recalling an incident that occurred one year ago when a similarly awful officiating mistake in Duke's favor -- also at home -- helped the Blue Devils escape another upset loss. Last year officials botched a physical confrontation between Duke's Shelden Williams and Florida State's Alexander Johnson, calling a double-technical when it seemed clear that only Williams deserved one. The technical doubled as a personal foul, and was Johnson's fifth. He had been having a career game -- 13 points and 11 rebounds in just 14 minutes -- but was fouled out with almost 9½ minutes left. The game went to overtime, with Duke winning 97-96. The officiating crew from that Florida State debacle was suspended one game for "the incorrect assessment and handling of the dead-ball technical foul situation," which did Florida State exactly zero good. The Seminoles ended up being one of the last teams left out of the 2006 NCAA Tournament.

But, hey, that has nothing to do with Thursday night. And nevermind the constant critics who say Krzyzewski spends more time working the refs than coaching his team. And nevermind the consistent criticism of officials following nearly every close game at Cameron Indoor. It's all coincidence. If you don't believe me, ask ESPN or Dick Vitale. I'm sure they will be more than happy to defend Duke and Krzyzewski and the ACC. They can do no wrong.


And, as far as the Clemson game, Duke deserved to win. If you don't believe me, ask Coach K...here's what he said: "Our team deserved to win this game. We out-rebounded them 40-24, but we just couldn't make a basket. On the last play they took away the play we called, but Jon stepped up and made a play." So, see, it was fair regardless because Duke DESERVED to win.

Lastly, even if clock management was correct and the game went into overtime, Duke would have won. If you don't believe me, ask Coach K.