A chaotic all-time Saturday of juggernaut upsets was Duke’s win

Duke wins when everyone else fails. Go figure.

With but a few weeks to go before the NCAA Tournament begins, there’s still a lot to sort out on the men’s side of college basketball. For one, none of the No. 1 seeds have been definitively locked in.

On one of the last regular-season — and supposedly normal — Saturdays of the regular season, none of the consensus best teams made much of a good case for top bracket protections. And by best, I mean six of the top-seven in the top-25 rankings, who all played on the road. Huh, let me check the calendar. Oh, it’s still February? That’s weird. Are we sure the tournament didn’t start yet? (Holds hand to earpiece at muffled yelling.)

I’m being told that’s still a few weeks away. I apologize for the confusion.

First, there was No. 6 Kentucky in conference rival Arkansas’s house.

Down go the Wildcats.

Next, No. 5 Kansas wanted to set the tone in conference rival Baylor’s house.

Down go the Jayhawks.

Then there was No. 4 Purdue and probable No. 1 overall pick Jaden Ivey on the road in East Lansing against Michigan State. Purdue almost sent it to overtime but c’mon, there’s no need to pretend: You know how this goes.

Down go the Boilermakers.

No. 3 Auburn thought better of itself after its best season in decades while on the road in Knoxville, right? Right?

Wrong. Rocky top we go to Upset Land.

There was no way No. 2 Arizona would continue this fail parade and lose to a 10-point underdog like Colorado. No chance. That wouldn’t make sense.

Welcome to Way Too Early March.

Down go the (other) Wildcats.

Of course, this Gonzaga still had something to say. Almighty Gonzaga, fresh off a run to the National Championship Game last year, surely they would not fall on the road, too. Well, the thing is:

Now, Dear Reader, you might be thinking (that is, if your head isn’t spinning at February Madness), who would stand to benefit from such chaos? Who could possibly take advantage of a late February Saturday where all top-six teams–and seven in the top-10, the most-ever in one day–in the rankings lost? Anyone visiting Western New York and Syracuse?

In the voice of the legendary Jim Ross: Bah Gawd, that’s Duke’s music!

Down go — no wait, sorry, I’m off script.

Go figure that on a regular season Saturday that felt like a tournament Saturday to end them all, it’s Mike Krzyzewski’s bunch that’s sitting pretty. But then again, what else would you expect from the Blue Devils?

Every top ranked team above No. 7 Duke loses, while they win. Someone’s pulling some strings for Coach K in his swan song. They have to be. Maybe a hex? They’re the only reasonable explanations. Duke was a consensus +1300 to win the title — fittingly, seventh-best — before Saturday’s chaotic proceedings. Let’s just say those will rise and change quickly.

It’s not as if you’ll find Duke complaining. As usual, they’re already prepared for March.

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