Stephen A. Smith weighs whether Duke, North Carolina NCAA Tournament collapse was worse
On3 • • sports
Key Points:
- Duke and North Carolina both lost after blowing 19-point leads in the NCAA Tournament, with UNC falling to 11-seed VCU in the first round and Duke losing to 2-seed UConn in the Elite Eight.
- Stephen A. Smith stated North Carolina's loss was worse, highlighting that UNC fired head coach Hubert Davis following the upset, while Duke’s coach Jon Scheyer remains in position.
- Smith emphasized the difference in quality of opponents, noting that losing to UConn, a recent two-time national champion, carries less stigma than losing to VCU, a team with a weaker Quad 1 record.
- Duke’s loss was dramatic, with a last-second three-pointer by UConn sealing their victory, marking the second consecutive season Duke lost after surrendering a significant lead late in the tournament.
- Despite the emotional impact on Duke fans, Smith believes North Carolina’s defeat had more severe consequences due to the coaching change and the unexpected nature of the upset.
