Duke Remains America's Favorite College Basketball Team

Kentucky Moves Up to Number Two While UNC Drops to Number Three

For fourth year, Connecticut Huskies are favorite women's college basketball team

NEW YORK, March 29, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- They may not be playing in the Final Four this weekend, but for the third year in a row, the Duke Blue Devils are America's Favorite College Basketball team. The overall number one seed for this year's NCAA Men's College Basketball tournament, Kentucky, is number two on the list up from number 4 last year. This is the highest Kentucky has been since 2004 when they were tied for second place. And, last year's number two, North Carolina dropped one spot to number three this year.

Rounding out the top five favorite college basketball teams are two teams who are both returning to the list after absences of a few years and who are tied for the fourth spot: Michigan--who hasn't been on the list since they were tied for number 8 in 2007--and Michigan State, who returns to the list after having been number 10 in 2003. While all five started in the tournament, only one of the top 5 favorite college basketball teams has a chance at becoming this year's national champion - Kentucky.

These are some of the results of The Harris Poll of 2,451 adults surveyed online between March 12 and 19, 2012 by Harris Interactive.

Looking at the remaining 5 teams in the top ten, again only one has a shot at becoming national champion. Down one spot from last year, at number 6 is Syracuse and making their debut at number 7 is Missouri. Two teams tied for the number 8 spot - Connecticut, who returns to the list after a one year absence and Texas who was number 9 last year. And, rounding out the top ten, dropping from number 3 last year is Ohio State who will be playing this weekend in the Final Four.

Four teams dropped off the favorite college basketball team top ten this year: Wisconsin, who was number 6; Illinois, who was number 7; Pittsburgh who was number 8; and, Iowa who was number 10.

Women's College Basketball

While Connecticut remains America's Favorite Women's College Basketball team again this year, there is a new number two as Baylor jumps up from number four last year. Dropping down one spot to number three is Tennessee and returning to the list at number 4 after a six year absence is Notre Dame. Also returning to the list, but after a 2 year absence is Maryland who is back in at number 5. North Carolina moves down one spot this year to number 6 while Kentucky goes from a tie at number 7 to holding that spot alone this year. Duke drops down two spots from number 6 last year to number 8 this year. Rounding out the top ten are two who are returning to the top ten after a one year absence - Texas at number 9 and Purdue at number 10.

Dropping off the women's top ten are Wisconsin (was number 3), Iowa (tied for number 7), Stanford (tied for number 7), and Michigan State (number 10).

So What?

College sports are big business and for 3 weeks every March, the focus is all on basketball. The term "Madness" applies as number 2 seeds fall in early rounds and number 14 seeds move on and everyone looks for which team will be this year's Cinderella. Among all adults, one-quarter (25%) follow men's college basketball and one in ten (9%) follow women's college basketball. But, as brackets are discussed and some companies see a spike in sick days during the first two days of the tourney, it seems like a lot more people may follow college basketball this time of the year.

        TABLE 1

        FAVORITE MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL TEAM: RANK ORDER

        "Which is your favorite men's college basketball team?"

        Base: Follow college basketball

                             1993  1995  1996  1997  1998  2003  2004  2005  2006

        Duke                 1     2     2     3     2     1     1     1     1

        Kentucky             5     1     1     1     1     5     =2    4     *

        North Carolina (UNC) 2     3     7     2     3     7     =2    3     2

        Michigan             4     8     3     4     *     2     *     *     *

        Michigan State       *     8     *     *     =6    10    *     *     *

        Syracuse             *     *     *     *     *     *     *     =7    6

        Missouri             *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

        Connecticut          *     *     *     *     =6    *     =7    5     5

        Texas                *     *     *     *     *     *     *     9     7

        Ohio State           8     9     =4    *     *     *     *     *     4

"STILL FOREVER'S TEAM- DUKE BASKETBALL- 1978

THE TEAM AND PEOPLE, THAT STARTED THE RESURRECTION OF DUKE BASKETBALL TO IT'S CURRENT SUCCESS.

Tudor: For Krzyzewski, No. 903 will be just as sweet as first win 

BY CAULTON TUDOR - staff columnist 
Staff writer
13 November 2011
The News & Observer

DURHAM
 
Saturday’s win over Presbyterian was No. 902 for Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, but that total includes the five seasons he spent at Army.
 
At Duke, Krzyzewski has 829 wins, the first of which was an uneven 67-49 grinder against Stetson.
 
That game occurred on Nov. 30, 1980, and it’s safe to assume no one in the Cameron Indoor Stadium could have imagined the incredible success that would ensue. Krzyzewski didn’t.
 
“Those first three seasons we won only 38 games,” he said after the 96-55 rout of the Blue Hose. “We’ve had seasons when we won almost that many.”
 
But that first season actually went a little smoother than some Krzyzewski doubters had predicted.
 

Thanks to Kenny Dennard, Gene Banks and Tom Emma, the original Coach K Devils won their share (17-13, 6-8 ACC), knocked off No. 13 Maryland in mid-season and then stunned No. 10 North Carolina in the last regular-season game. They lost close to Maryland in the ACC Tournament, but landed an NIT bid and won a couple of times before being stopped at Purdue.
 
Krzyzewski recalled Saturday that he got the job after three interviews and accepted without knowing what he would get paid.
 
“I wasn’t worried about that, I just knew I wanted the job,” he said.
 
But after his second and third Duke teams went a combined 21-34 (7-21 ACC), the magic almost ended before it had a chance to take root.
 
A determined posse of Duke fans did their best to force then-athletic director Tom Butters into making a change. Butters stood firm. The coach’s fourth Duke team then went 24-10 and the seemingly endless run of championships took flight.
 
“Thank goodness for President (Terry) Sanford and Tom Butters and those who saw fit to have faith in me. I’ll always remember that,” Krzyzewski said.
 
The chance to pass Bob Knight on the all-time win list will come Tuesday against Michigan State in New York.
 
Just as he did before the game against Belmont on Friday and then Presbyterian less than 24 hours later, Krzyzewski will be “antsy” on game day and battle butterflies as tip time nears.
 
“I’ve had that feeling before every game I’ve ever coached,” he said. “I think when you start losing it then it’s probably a good time to say ‘See ya.’”
 
Krzyzewski isn’t losing interest or energy.
 
He was off the bench and yelling Saturday on the game-opening jump-ball when the official’s toss was at least three feet wide of the center circle.
 
“That’s just coach. He’s all in for every game,” guard Andre Dawkins said. “He coached just as hard tonight as he will when we play Michigan State. That’s what makes him what he is.”
 

GENE BANKS VS RALPH SAMPSON





"The Dunk"  




Duke vs Virginia

View the Greatest Dunk In Duke History

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTUprxXigeo&feature=share

www.youtube.com

Jim Spanarkel-
The Captain of The Ship- "RESURRECTION".
It takes a true strong leader to lead men (young men) in a conference that was, and is still, known as the best in the NCAA. But James "Sparks" Spanarkel was that one leader, that gave one of the youngest teams in NCAA tournament history, the guidance.

"Jimmy was such an impact player with his intellect and court awareness, that I was truly fortunate to have such a person and player, as a teammate. He allowed me to be free and be who I was, with all the pageantry and hoopla of my coming to Duke. But he also knew when to be stern and commanding, settling me down at the right time, when we played. I have only one answer to a question, that has been risen...He should have his number retired". Why? Because his contribution weighed in every aspect of Duke basketball and it's history, tradition and help bring the program back ....to prominence.

                             Where is Jim Spanarkel?



Global Wealth Management

COUNTRY CLUB PLAZA
WEST 115 CENTURY RD
PARAMUS, NJ 07652

Phone: (866) 8474450
Email: James Spanarkel

Directions to Branch

PROFESSIONAL STAFF

Jim Spanarkel	(201) 967-4817	Wealth Management Advisor	Senior Vice President - Investments
Tony Browne	(201) 967-4887	Intl Wealth Management Advisor	Senior Vice President - Investments
Frank Granizo	(201) 967-2736	Senior Financial Advisor	Vice President
JoAnn Valle	(201) 967-3712	Financial Services Associate	Officer
Ricka Conner	(201) 967-3716	Reg Senior Client Associate
Lauren DiMaulo	(201) 967-2754	Client Associate

                                              
                                              PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Jim Spanarkel, CIMA, CIMC, joined Merrill Lynch in 1984. Jim, graduate of Duke University, specializes in working with institutions. He is one of approximately 50 national Merrill Lynch financial advisors accredited as a Merrill Lynch Institutional Consulting Group Consultant. Jim is a member of NJHFMA. Jim is also a Certified Financial Planner™ certificant, a designation awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. Prior to Merrill Lynch, Jim played 5 years of basketball in the NBA. He is also currently a basketball broadcaster.

SPORTS
 
Christian Laettner to coach 'Villains' against former Kentucky basketball stars 

By Kyle Tucker | The Courier-Journal 
5 October 2011
The Courier-Journal Louisville, KY

Christian Laettner, arguably the most hated man in University of Kentucky basketball history, is coming to Rupp Arena to coach a group of "villains" against a team of famous Wildcats alumni on Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m.
 
Former UK player Jeff Sheppard, who now owns an apparel company and is involved in sports marketing with Wazoo Sports, organized the game. Former Wildcat Rex Chapman will coach the Big Blue All Stars, whose roster includes DeMarcus Cousins, Brandon Knight, Eric Bledsoe, Jodie Meeks, Chuck Hayes, DeAndre Liggins and Josh Harrellson.
 
"It's going to be a special night. A lot of talent," said Sheppard, who played on both the 1996 and 1998 UK national championship teams. "The timing of this is great with the NBA lockout. Guys are just hanging out, looking for stuff to do. It just made a lot of sense."
 
The roster for The Villains has not been finalized, Sheppard said, but players interested include: Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina), Nolan Smith (Duke), Rudy Gay (Connecticut), Eric Gordon (Indiana), Zach Randolph (Michigan State), Terrence Williams (Louisville), Shelvin Mack (Butler) and Kenneth Faried (Morehead State).
 
But Laettner, the former Duke star who hit the improbable, last-second shot to beat Kentucky 104-103 in the East Regional final of the 1992 NCAA tournament, is the big draw. How did Sheppard get him to agree to participate?
 
"Pretty simple: I picked up the phone, called the Duke basketball office and told them what I wanted to do," Sheppard said. "They got in touch with Christian, and he called me two hours later. He said, 'I would love to be the No. 1 villain in this game.'
 
"I'm pretty sure this is Christian Laettner's first game ever in Rupp Arena. I'm very excited."
 
Of course, security will have to be beefed up for his arrival. Some UK fans still wear T-shirts with Laettner-hating slogans.
 
"The entire Kentucky State Police force will be on call for this one," Sheppard said.
 
Pre-sale begins Friday at Ticketmaster.com, at which time Sheppard said about 10,000 of the tickets – ranging from $25-50 – can be purchased using the code "BLUE." The rest of the tickets go on sale Monday at Ticketmaster and the Rupp Arena ticket office.
 
The game at Rupp will conclude a six-game barnstorming tour for the Big Blue All Stars.
 
They'll first play five exhibitions around the state against small college teams: Pikeville at the Eastern Kentucky Expo Center at 7 p.m. Saturday, Alice Lloyd College at Knott County Central High on Sunday at 4 p.m., Georgetown College at Mason County High School at 7 p.m. Oct. 10, Union College at Pulaski County High School at 7 p.m. Oct. 11, Mid-Continent University at Graves County High School at 7 p.m. Oct. 13.
 
Kyle Tucker can be reached at (502) 582-4361