NCAA Bracket 2012 Predictions: 5 Reasons Duke Will Win the Championship

The Duke Blue Devils are consistently a tough tournament team, and that won’t change this season with the Blue Devils playing very well heading into the Big Dance. Duke has a tough road ahead in their tournament bracket with UConn, UNLV and Kentucky all in the way of a title.

Despite the tough path, Duke will win the championship, and here are five reasons why.

Three Point Shooting

The Duke Blue Devils are a tough team from outside the three point arc. They may rely too heavily on the three-point shot, but they have enough good shooters that they rarely have an off day.

With the spread out offensive scheme that Duke employs it is tough for teams to stop the three point consistency. If the Blue Devils do draw a lot of attention to the outside of the perimeter, it allows for their underrated big men to have a field day in the paint. 

The Plumlee Brothers

Duke has a dangerous rebounding tandem in the Plumlee brothers. The Plumlees are also very dangerous and underrated offensively.

If the Duke perimeter shooting game gets shut down, the Blue Devils will bounce inside and get the ball to one of the Plumlee brothers. They may not be household names now, but let the tournament run its course.

These guys are ballers and will be a huge help for the Blue Devils as they push for the title. 

Proven Coaching

Talented coaching is a key to every successful championship squad. Consistent, legendary coaching is a major plus.

Mike Krzyzewski has been with the Blue Devils for 31 seasons and has consistently challenged for championships. In his time at Duke he has won four national titles, 12 regular season ACC titles and 13 ACC tournament titles.

Krzyzewski knows how to win and get the most out of his players. With his leadership, the Blue Devils will find consistency throughout the tournament and likely push to the championship. 

Defense Covers Lack of Speed

The Duke squad is not the most fleet footed in the tournament. They are technically sound and meticulous on the court, earning their wins with consistency instead of flash.

The Duke defense attempts to allow its perimeter players the freedom to attack, as their inside men have a good shot at blocking most shots from opponents. The Duke defense has to play aggressive man coverage to succeed.

If Duke can play strong man defense and push the battle inside, they will be able to come out of the tournament on top.

Too Many Offensive Options

Duke likes to spread the ball around, and they have a host of players that are dangerous on the perimeter so teams can’t simply key on one man and hope to ride to victory.

If the opponent attempts to play aggressively and force Duke off of the three point arc, they're perfectly capable of driving the ball to the basket.

Duke has a wealth of options available, with the biggest threat coming from perimeter shooting. Having so many options will keep opponents guessing consistently and will allow for Duke to take over the tournament.

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