Cheering for Duke or WVA? And why?

Submitted by Dan Man on
I think this match up poses some interesting issues for a Michigan fan. For me, before the RichRod hire, I'd certainly be pulling for WVA (because they're the underdog, not a perennial power, at a recruiting disadvantage, etc.). Plus, for a long time I hated Duke, although I recently started questioning that sentiment (because they run a clean program, play solid team basketball, eschew 1 and dones - some admirable qualities for a school in my opinion). Also, until this year, it had been a while since they've been the powerhouse they used to be. Anyway, I think I've downgraded my Duke "hate" to "dislike." Then, there is the RichRod thing. Should we as a fan base be obligated to dislike a fan base that HATES us so much? Normally, I'd say no, but I think the way the school dragged our coach through the mud deserves some animosity. So, after my internal debate, I feel that I dislike both schools about equally and I'll just be hoping for an entertaining game. Beyond that, the only team that I'd be happy to see cutting down the nets next week is Butler. I know I'm not the only one hoping for that. Anyway, will you be cheering for Duke or WVA and why?
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NCAA tournament

BLUEOkie

March 31st, 2010 at 9:29 AM ^

Duke and of course Butler. I have Duke in two brackets. If Duke and Butler win I'll be guaranteed 3rd in a pool of about 300 that pays $800 for 3rd and about $2700 for 1st. I don't think I can get any higher than 3rd though. My other if Duke wins I'll get $150 but if West Virginia wins my wife will win.

Joined: 01/02/2010

MGoPoints: 699

jtmc33

March 31st, 2010 at 10:08 AM ^

WVU. My wife (who picked her own bracket) is in 4th place of 80 brackets and will finish 1st if WVU wins the whole thing, and finish Tied for 1st if WVU loses in the final. Without the financial motivation... tough call. I guess I'd go with the underdog. Go WVU.

Joined: 04/15/2009

MGoPoints: 10091

MGoShoe

March 31st, 2010 at 10:15 AM ^

...the only valid reason to root for anyone other than Butler is because you stand to win money in your tourney pool. However, if you can only win your pool if MSU advances, you are required to drop out of your pool now. Doesn't matter how much is riding on the result. Since your potential win is based on your great hunches about Sparty's run, you will have forfeited your U-M fandom card if you don't sacrifice your winnings. Just sayin'.

Joined: 04/23/2009

MGoPoints: 20734

dakotapalm

March 31st, 2010 at 10:30 AM ^

Ever since the officials handed Duke the 2001 tournament on a silver platter (that title game in which SI said Jay Williams was surfing on the back of Jason Gardner before Gardner was called for a foul), my hate for Duke has burned with the intensity of a thousand suns. Honestly, I don't wish that Ohio State looses every game, I'd just like them to lose to us- and probably a bowl game, if they beat us. I hope that Duke looses every game in which they play including intersquad scrimmages, exhibitions, and "friendlies" against NCCU.

Joined: 07/15/2008

MGoPoints: 2395

Maizeforlife

March 31st, 2010 at 10:46 AM ^

I hope that Ohio State loses every game in every sport every time. I understand the whole "Rooting for the Big Ten" thing but I just can't ever bring myself to hope for their success. The animosity I have for OSU is something that I will never be able to fully explain or get over.

Joined: 03/03/2010

MGoPoints: 2480

KidA2112

March 31st, 2010 at 10:34 AM ^

I grew up in Ohio and went to basketball camp every summer in a real small country town called Sherodsville, OH. Bob Huggins dad, Charlie was the head coach of a HS team and he is thought of as one of the best HS coaches in Ohio HS history. Bob was at Walsh College at the time and his brothers were also there. I knew all 4 of them and they always pretty nice guys. I've always rooted for Huggins and I would have taken him at Michigan in a second.

Joined: 10/18/2008

MGoPoints: -22

Search4Meaning

March 31st, 2010 at 11:07 AM ^

Let's see... my choices are: SOB little step brother down the road that hates us (MSU), OR Dick (self explanatory) Vitale pissing all over himself for years about Duke, OR West Virginia - SOB little red headed step brother with no teeth that hates us because we stole the only two things worth anything in the whole state, OR Butler - too small to care about and just so happy to be there! Hmmmm. That's a toughy! Yeah, I'll vote for the meteor too...

Joined: 01/06/2010

MGoPoints: 3175

befuggled

March 31st, 2010 at 11:28 AM ^

Think about it for a moment. Annoying Team #1 wins the NCAA tournament, their fan base gloats for a while, we move on. Annoying Team #1 and Annoying Team #2 are killed by a meteor? We'd never hear the end of it. In addition to non-stop coverage of the accident, and endless stories about how heroic they are as they rebuild their basketball programs, we'd probably get a made-for-TV movie, a mini-series and a feature film with the Stars du Jour in the next 5-10 years. And every broadcaster in every sport would be obligated to mention the damn teams killed by meteors for the next twenty years. No thank you, I'll root for, uh, somebody to win it.

Joined: 07/01/2008

MGoPoints: 10030

jamiemac

March 31st, 2010 at 11:37 AM ^

If we're cheering for underdogs, then we should cheer for State, considering Butler is a 1-point favorite. That said, I am all about Butler this weekend. I had them both times this past weekend. BIG in the KSU game. Both those teams are better than MSU. They win. I'd prefer WVA over Duke. But, I dont really care. I'm not sure I am up for either winning.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 8446

Yinka Double Dare

March 31st, 2010 at 12:15 PM ^

It's very weird that all three other teams derive their offensive strength out of hitting the offensive glass hard, while Butler is among the best at preventing that. If Butler continues to keep their opponents off the glass the way they did to Syracuse and especially K-State, they've got a great shot at cutting down the nets on Monday night, because MSU and WVU's offenses will stall without that component, and Duke's very reliant on the boards plus the 3-ball which could easily go cold against Butler's D.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 9780

jamiemac

March 31st, 2010 at 1:29 PM ^

I dont know what impressed me more last week Butler's defensive rebounding against Syracuse or the way Nored and Veasley shut down the KSU guards two days later. If Butler plays their A game, Michigan State will suffer the same fate as the Orange and Wildcats. This team is very very good.....and just about all of them are coming back for next year

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 8446

The Beard of L…

March 31st, 2010 at 1:08 PM ^

Bracket Champions that come out the weekend of the Final Four to tell us how well they've done with their picks. AMAZIN' how many guys "have a great shot to win it all after picking Butler, WVU, Duke, and Tennessee" and announce it the weekend of the championship. I'm in a pool with about 45 other people and only TWO people picked TWO of the FF teams. Those being Duke and MSU.

Joined: 03/27/2010

MGoPoints: 47

M-Wolverine

March 31st, 2010 at 10:19 PM ^

My pool of over 20 has one guy who had 3, and 2 who had 2. But it's not that odd if you had Duke or W. Virginia winning it all or going to the title game they could still have a good shot, especially since just about everyone's champ from the other side of the bracket are all gone. The other difference is that there are pools which allow you to put as many brackets in as you want to pay for, so you can take more flyer picks. I don't allow that in mine, because it becomes about odds and money, rather than have a rooting interest for each game ("well, I have Butler in one pool, but UTEP in another...").

Joined: 10/04/2009

MGoPoints: 42190

M-Wolverine

March 31st, 2010 at 10:24 PM ^

...for the meteor. But in fairness to the question, i'll begrudgingly root for WV. I've hated Duke since they were getting all the calls when they were our biggest nemesis back in the day. Can't root for them...unless they play MSU. WV, I don't really want their fans to have something to gloat about, I think Huggins is a weasel, and we'll get all the "they did better without Beilein" snark. But at least some will say it was Beilein's players that got them there; which I don't 100% buy, but I'll run with it.

Joined: 10/04/2009

MGoPoints: 42190

VictorsValiant09

March 31st, 2010 at 10:35 PM ^

I hope MSU loses everything everywhere. I just watched that report The Associated Press did with Izzo. In their basketball offices, they have a stand of sorts which reads: "Reserved for Future National Championship." What arrogance. I can't wait until the day when MSU basketball slides into mediocrity like they have for most of their existence.

Joined: 04/05/2009

MGoPoints: 561