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00:00When we get to Duke, Alabama now, this is the later game tonight, you'll still be in
00:05bed before midnight, so don't worry, it won't be too too late for you here, not these, you
00:09know, 10-30 starts, Eastern time or anything like that.
00:12Is this game going to live up to the hype from a scoring perspective?
00:16Are we going to get another game that gives us 175 plus points?
00:20Well, I won't be in bed and obviously, you know, Ben and I will be doing game two tonight.
00:27Leave it to the NCAA to put the East Regional last, but the West Regional first.
00:34A 3 p.m. start and an almost 9 p.m. start, but then when you talk about Cooper Flag,
00:39you understand there's levels to this.
00:41This is why the Duke game is the night game, and like I said, Ben and I will be on tonight,
00:46Joe and Kevin will be on for the first game.
00:49But when you look at this game, I'm going to pump my brakes on a couple of things.
00:54I don't think the overall points are going to be there.
00:57Now that guy's points are going to be there, and that's Cooper Flag.
01:0224 and F seems like an insane number.
01:04Here's my question to everyone.
01:07It's a game that Alabama plays no defense.
01:09Who the hell is guarding this kid?
01:12Like who's guarding him?
01:14The amount of action they put him in.
01:17This is where I think Alabama gets themselves into trouble because of this guy and his ability
01:21to create and score a three-level score, right?
01:25In the post, pull-up game, deep three, pick and roll.
01:29You can use him as a screener and pop him out.
01:32Great facilitator.
01:33Can get steals, get out of transition.
01:36Cooper does everything.
01:37My actual favorite player in the game is Cooper Flag over 24 and a half points.
01:41I think he approaches 30, and that is going to go inside with the other side.
01:46If there's someone that's going to guard him, it's probably going to be Grant Nelson, and
01:51that's not good for Alabama.
01:53This is someone that can get into foul trouble, and then if you're Nate Owens, what do you do?
01:58Do you sit Grant Nelson in spots?
01:59Do you move Grant Nelson to the five?
02:01That's where Duke can take advantage on the offensive boards.
02:04I also like Grant Nelson.
02:05I think it's 11 and a half.
02:06Under 10 and a half, 11 and a half points, shop around and see if you can find that 11
02:10and a half.
02:11But in regards to the game, I like Duke minus points.
02:13I think this will be a pull-away at some point, and I think it goes under, and here's why.
02:19As great as Duke is offensively, they're one of the slowest teams in the country.
02:26They're going to make them defend, because Duke knows at any point, they're going to
02:32get their shot off, and if you're a team like Alabama, the most frustrating thing to do
02:37as a game plan is to go try and score quick.
02:40You know, 12, 14 seconds to get in their offense quickly.
02:43You don't score, Duke can run it up, but then they can get to a half-court game,
02:48and their offensive flow and how many guys can score is too much.
02:51I think the game actually goes under the total.
02:54I'm on board with the under, and I've been saying it the entire show.
02:57I think Alabama's, for as fast as they play, they're number one in the country in pace.
03:01They actually want to limit the possessions from Duke.
03:03Like, they don't want to give a great offense more chances to score and try and keep up with them.
03:08I don't think that's how Alabama keeps as close end-door wins, so I do like the under as well.
03:13Would this lead you to an Alabama team total that's sitting at 83 and a half?
03:16Would you be interested in that under if you think, Duke, because their defense is amazing.
03:20Do you think they keep Alabama in check?
03:23Yeah, I think their defense is amazing.
03:25I think the only reason, and here's the thing.
03:27Not only is their defense amazing, Tom, and if you people want to take,
03:30if they'd rather just go one side, like whether you don't want to take a full-total ticket team,
03:35take the two-total under 83 and a half.
03:37That's a great point, because Duke is going to slow that game down,
03:41and they're going to make you defend.
03:43They have equal defenders.
03:44Brown is back.
03:45Flag is back, obviously.
03:46Two best perimeter defenders.
03:48And here's the thing, guys, and I've seen this all the time as a coach.
03:51When you go 50% from three, the next game,
03:56them shots do not fall.
03:59They go under 83 and a half.