OK, I know that Duke is absolutely wonderful and all, but, seriously.  Some people need to get a life!  I am going to say this one time: FSU.  Is.  Not.  Duke's Rival.  At this point, do the Blue Devils even have one team out there that doesn't claim to be their supposed rival?  Aaarrrgghhh!  Enough already.  While it is true that I have a deep hatred in my heart for more than a few ACC teams, it does not mean they are a rival.  But, hey, whatever makes you sleep better at night FSU...Maryland...BC...and so on.

As for the game, where do I begin?  How about with, oh, I don't know, maybe JON SCHEYER?  Who might just possibly be the reason Duke managed to win the game against FSU (70-57) Wednesday evening?  Please excuse me for just one moment while I do my "I-Told-You-So-Blue ::HEARTS:: Jon Scheyer ForEVER" dance.  AH, that felt good...just be thankful you only had to read about it.  (And yes, I do clearly remember Singler's basket in the second half that brought back the momentum, but you can at least let me have this "one shining moment" without ruining it for me).

The game got off to a slow start until our hero, Jon Scheyer, came out of nowhere and just lit it up.  While our normally solid offensive players (I'm looking at you, Markie) had apparently made a recent trip to Hogwart's and decided to wear their new invisibility cloaks (yes, I did just make a Harry Potter reference, sue me, I'm a dork) Scheyer dominated the first half, sending us to half time with a very comfortable 34-22 lead over Hamilton's band of merry thugs.  Driving Jay "I Never Really Went to Duke, I Swear" Bilas and Mike "I'm Still Bitter After All These Years" Patrick to the verge of tears. 

Not to worry...even though forced to have to sing their praises in regards to Scheyer, Bilas stayed true to his roots letting us all know just how the game wasn't over yet, can't count that glorious FSU {or insert ANY team but Duke here} out, yet!   At least, I assume he did, I wasn't paying attention at that point, but I don't know why he would stray from his normal routine.  Which, although true (horribly, in this case), he would still say it if the score was 202-2, Duke with two minutes left in the game.

AH, the second half!  All Hail the return of the Blue Devils who can lose any lead, no matter how large, once round two begins!  Gee, it's been awhile since I saw these guys...oh, nevermind, no it hasn't.  Absence makes the heart grow fonder, they say, so I think this version of the team should consider taking a wee bit longer of a hiatus next time.  We can even go back to Greg bashing a little bit with this game...literally.  I never want to hear one word about the Tyler/Henderson incident again.  While it is funny to joke that it wasn't an accident sometimes, it was.  A far cry from Reid so thugaliciously raring back and punching GP.  And then pout about being T-ed up for it...even though GP was, as well...didn't see him whining about it.

I have to be honest and admit that somewhere in the second half I just zoned out and replayed Scheyer's glorious first half repeatedly in my head to the tune of that really stupid song "I Need a Hero" to avoid severe damage to my television.  My fiance had to stop watching altogether (thank goodness for DVR) at the 55-54, FSU mark.  Then along comes Singler and we get back our momentum.  GP steals it and scores and then, wonder of all wonders, someone known for his less than ideal FT percentage, makes his FTs!!!  (I'm looking at you Markie)!!!  Impressive.  A little bit Twilight Zone-ish, as well, considering Scheyer's lack of making his this game. 

So, Jon Scheyer and Company squeaked by in the end, about which I'm quite happy.  Jon Scheyer had an awesome game, about which I am in the throes of an ecstatic frenzy.  But the final score does not tell the true story about this game.  There is no excuse for losing huge leads in the second half and this team might want to start thinking about fixing that problem if they have any hopes of a real post-season.  Hopefully, at long last, they will learn their lesson...before the Clempsum--who is a REAL team now, almost beating THE GREATEST TEAM, EVER (and then losing to, um, Charlotte?)--game.  Then again, I have been hoping for the total disappearance of "sorry arse second half" Duke for a while now.  Guess we'll have to wait and see.