A Round of 64 loss in the NCAA tournament is never acceptable at Duke, especially when it comes at the hands of a massive underdog like Mercer.

The main culprit for the Blue Devils’ disappointing end to the season was a defense that hampered their effectiveness throughout the entire year. In fact, Duke finished 116th in Ken Pomeroy’s pace-adjusted defensive efficiency rankings, which is particularly disappointing considering it was second in the country in offense.

This could have been a Final Four team with even a mediocre defense.

Bleacher Report - College Basketball
Article is property of BleacherReport.com