2010 Final Four: How the Duke Blue Devils Proved Everyone Wrong

Duke did it. Despite what everyone said, Duke is heading to the championship game.

They proved everyone wrong, and do you want to know why?

Every single thing went well for them. The four key factors were accomplished.

Offensive rebounding? Check. 

Scoring with the three stars? Check.

Barely any turnovers? Check.

Defense? Check. 

Brian Zoubek took over. He was a man among boys in the paint. The Mountaineers couldn't stop him. That gave Duke second chances, which resulted in some big threes by Jon Scheyer, Nolan Smith, and Kyle Singler. 

Then there were the famous three—the three stars that took the game into their own hands.

It's easy to say Jon Scheyer had the game of his career. He had a jaw-dropping 23 points. But he's not the only one, folks. Yep, there are two more that pulled off a stunning show in Indianapolis: Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler—the two others in the terrific trio.

Smith had a respectable 19 points along with six assists, being a facilitator as well. He would attack the hoop, finishing like a pro, and would hit some momentum-boosting threes.

Last but definitely not least, the one and only Kyle Singler, who had a great 21 points against the Mountaineers.

Without these three key stars, Duke would have been heading home to North Carolina empty-handed.

When you're a coach, you always tell your team to not have turnovers. That's exactly what Coach K told his Blue Devils before the game and throughout the whole season.

Well, they listened. They had five turnovers. Not just in the first half. No. In the whole game. A mere five. Now that's what I call a fundamental team—a team that's unselfish enough to give the ball up without even putting the ball on the floor. That's chemistry. That's a championship-winning team.

Do you know how a team can prevent another team from scoring more than 60 points in a game?

Simple. It's all in the D.

That's the last factor that really overtook the Mountaineers. Duke started pressing WVU around two minutes into the game. They couldn't take it. They weren't ready for it. It was a risky move, but look where it got them—the championship game.

If Duke wants to cut down the net in Indianapolis, they know what they need to do. Accomplish the four factors—the four factors that kept them going throughout the whole tournament, and the four factors that will lead them to a National Championship.