BasketBall Information

Duke Basketball Tickets - Are We Seeing A Swoon Or A Permanent Downturn?
Duke basketball tickets have long been some of the most difficult basketball tickets to find in the United States. The program has been almost a gold standard by which all other programs are measured, and that includes not only their on-court success but also their sterling reputation as student athletes. No one questions the fact that Duke runs a clean and successful program under the legendary stewardship of Mike Krzyzewski.

However, the 2006-07 season has been a disappointment for the Blue Devils, and that was never more apparent than in their recent loss to arch-rival North Carolina. The Blue Devils played extremely hard and extremely well, but still could not overcome the talent and ability of the Tar Heels. Below we’ll examine whether this season is an indication of things to come or merely a minor blip on their radar by examining a few specific issues.

Youth

Although youth is becoming somewhat of an antiquated problem in college basketball as more and more stars leave early for the NBA, Duke is an extremely young team. The Blue Devils’ rotation features only one junior and no seniors who average more than one minute in playing time per game, and none of their starters are averaging more than 14 points per game. Simply put, the Blue Devils are still learning how to win, and that can only come with time.

Athleticism

Duke may not only lack experience, but several experts have noted the Blue Devils’ overall lack of pure athleticism on the floor at any given time. This was on display in a prevalent way against North Carolina, as Duke was on fire early and stormed to a big lead. However, they simply could not hold on as the Tar Heels sent waves of athletes to the hoop and attacked the floor and Duke’s defense mercilessly. Duke just could not handle that pressure on either end of the floor, and what looked to be a potential upset wound up being an extremely bitter loss, leaving those lucky enough to score Duke basketball tickets for this classic rivalry game disappointed.

Luckily, Duke has a couple of factors working in its favor. First, their biggest “star” is their coach, and he’s taken under-talented teams to overachieving levels several times in the past, and there isn’t any doubt that he can do so again. Secondly, Duke does still sit with a record of 18-6, which means that barring a total collapse, they’ll still be able to get into the NCAA Tournament, where anything can happen in a single-elimination format.

Overall, Duke has had a few tough years during Krzyzewski’s time in Durham, and they’ve always bounced back. Basically, Duke basketball tickets are still worth the effort to obtain, as this is a program that won’t stay down for long.

Written by Jay Nault, sponsored by www.stubhub.com/ . StubHub sells Duke basketball tickets, sports tickets, concert tickets, theater tickets and more to just about any event in the world.

Unc Basketball Tickets - See A Living Dynasty Add To Its Legacy
By Jay Nault
UNC basketball tickets are cherished by college basketball fans both in North Carolina and around the world, as the Tar Heels have a winning tradition that’s nearly unmatched in college basketball. When someone even mentions the phrase “college hoops,” North Carolina is one of the first teams people often think of, and that’s not going to change any time soon. Below we’ll take a look at the Tar Heels’ prospects for the upcoming season, and it looks like they could be adding to their legend come spring of 2007.

Key Returnees

The Tar Heels are loaded. There’s no other way to say it, and teams will find this out first-hand throughout the season. There’s no substitute for pure talent, and UNC has it in droves. This talent starts with Tyler Hansbrough, thought by many to be the best big man in the country. Not only is he blessed with a ton of natural gifts, but Hansbrough also makes a habit of outworking opponents both on the court and off of it. He’ll be the key on a very talented team.

Other returnees include Wes Miller, Danny Green, Bobby Frasor and late addition Mike Copeland, all of whom enjoyed solid seasons last year. However, their biggest challenge will be holding off the superstar freshman class that will challenge for minutes.

Additions

UNC basketball tickets will be in even higher demand this season, as UNC has added what many experts believe to be the most star-studded recruiting class in history, surpassing even the “Fab Five” from Michigan. The class includes point guard Ty Lawson and shooting guard Wayne Ellington, both of whom were rated as the best players in the nation at their position by recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons.

The class also features big men such as 6-9 forwards Brandan Wright and Alex Stepheson and 6-8 center Deon Thompson. These highly-skilled players, also high school All Americans, will supply more ammunition down low and help Hansbrough dominate the paint.

Challenges

The only real challenges facing the Tar Heels this year are the rugged ACC, led by Duke and Maryland, and this conference tests every team, no matter how talented. However, the Tar Heels have a top-notch coach, and Roy Williams will guide the youngsters through the rigors of the ACC season.

The biggest, challenge, however, will be how Williams deals with an embarrassment of riches in regards to his roster. Many scouting services state that UNC has 13 players who could start for any program in the country, so Williams will have to find that balance between keeping everyone involved and happy so chemistry is protected and figuring out roles for all of these great players. Chemistry and role definition are two vital parts of any championship team, and Williams will need to handle that early in the season.

Overall, there’s no reason to think that UNC won’t be in the Final Four this year, and no one would be surprised to see them cut down the nets. If you want to watch this Tar Heels team add to the UNC legacy, get your UNC basketball tickets today.

Written by Jay Nault, sponsored by www.stubhub.com . StubHub sells UNC Basketball tickets, sports tickets, concert tickets, theater tickets and more to just about any event in the world.