With all of America holding its collective breath, UCF’s BJ Taylor and Aubrey Dawkins both came inches away from upsetting the number one overall seed and reminding us all why we love March.
Both potential game-winning attempts would have undoubtedly been the highlight of the ‘One Shining Moment’ montage, but that’s beside the point.
The UCF Knights crumbled down the stretch, gagging away a program-defining win, and more importantly, robbing America of the upset they so desperately craved.
Sure, it’s water under the bridge and I’m crying over spilled milk, but it’s worth noting how UCF should have ended Duke’s season and inked its name in March Madness history with one of the biggest upsets of all-time.
1. DON’T GET FANCY; FORGET THE ALLEY-OOP; STICK TO THE FUNDAMENTALS.
With the Knights up four points and 1:55 to play, UCF’s Dayon Griffin led a break and saw an open Aubrey Dawkins cutting towards the basket on a two-on-one. Rather than convert the fast-break opportunity, Griffin went for the jugular by attempting a lob pass for the emphatic finish, but Dawkins lost the ball on the way up. Just make a layup! And of course, in the most Duke fashion ever, the Blue Devils quickly capitalized with a Cam Reddish 3. It was a five-point swing in favor of Duke.
2. REBOUND
This one is the least of the detrimental mistakes UCF made down the stretch, because let’s face it, offensive rebounds happen, but imagine if UCF could have snagged the rebound after Zion’s first missed three-point attempt with 33 seconds to go. Instead, Duke’s Javin DeLaurier secured the game-saving rebound and dished it right back to Zion, and we all know what happened next…
3. Let Zion score the two, DO NOT FOUL HIM
This one hurts my heart because I love Tacko Fall as much as the next guy, but when Zion Williamson drove to the basket with Duke down three and 14 seconds left, Tacko committed a stupid foul allotting Zion a 3-point opportunity. You must let him score and avoid the foul. In doing so, UCF could have inbounded the ball, taken time off the clock, and forced Duke to foul. Of course, it’s hypothetical, but playing the odds of UCF making free throws down the stretch and preserving the three-point lead is much better than what ultimately played out.
4. BOX OUT!
Everyone’s been to a game where the obnoxious, jean-short wearing volunteer coach screams BOX OUT at the top of his lungs every time a shot goes up, but UCF could have used that reminder on Zion’s missed free throw attempt. Sure, the Duke haters will say R.J. Barrett pushed off to achieve position for the offensive rebound, but at that junction of the game, no referee is making that call. Buck up, box out, and get the freakin’ rebound!
5. Pray a Little Harder?
Last but certainly not least, in the waning moments of the contest, UCF’s Aubrey Dawkins, the coach's son and undoubtedly UCF’s MVP had a put-back attempt that simply should have fallen for the win. The basketball gods just weren't ready for Duke to bow out of the tournament this early, there is no other explanation for how Dawkins’ put back attempt did not go down. I’m sure he’ll be replaying that moment for years and years, but it just wasn’t meant to be.
Is there something to be said about giving almighty Duke a scare? Sure. Even being in the position to beat Duke in this classic David vs. Goliath matchup is something, but I for one am still fired up about what could have been. UCF made critical errors down the stretch and only have themselves to blame.
America needed this upset, and UCF was prime and ready to deliver, but just could not find a way to finish.
As if we needed another reason to hate Duke, the Blue Devils snatching victory from the jaws of defeat and escaping Sunday’s contest is just another chapter to the long novel of why we hate the Blue Devils, and to add insult to injury, UCF could (and should) have gotten the job done for all of America.