The Duke Blue Devils became the second ACC team and fourth Southeastern team to make the 2011 NCAA Tournament’s Sweet Sixteen, topping the Michigan Wolverines 73-71. Earlier in the day, the North Carolina Tar Heels made it in by beating the Washington Huskies, and yesterday Kentucky and Florida punched tickets of their own.
So much for that down-year-for-the-ACC thing, especially with FSU still up.
Michigan closed to one point with about a minute left after trailing by double digits. Nolan Smith led Duke with 24 points, as Kyle Singler contributed 13 points and eight rebounds and Kyrie Irving added 11 — with all but two of those coming on free throws. #eyebrowarch
Duke will get either Arizona or Texas in the West region. That matchup will be decided shortly and played on Thursday in Anaheim, where the Blue Devils will be unlikely to find officiating as kind as today’s Charlotte crew was. Come on now, you know I ain’t lying.
For more on this game, Duke fans should join Duke Basketball Report, and Michigan fans should visit Maize N Brew and SB Nation Detroit.