2011 March Madness: Duke tips-off defense of its title

2010 NCAA Champions - Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

The defending 2010 NCAA champion Duke Blue Devils (30-4)  begin defense of their title on Friday at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, NC. Coach Mike Kryzyzewski leads his team back into this year's 2011 NCAA Championship tournament as the #1 seed in the West Regional. Duke earned its top seeding just after it had won its third consecutive ACC tournament championship title on Sunday. After losing the ACC regular season title to the tournament #1 seed UNC Tar Heels (26-7), the Blue Devils reassured everyone that they deserved a top seed by  beating the Tar Heels 75-58 in front of a packed Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, NC.

After last-season's progression through the NCAA Tournament in which a "good team became a great team", Krzyzewski and his team were once again recognized as the gold standard of success in college basketball. Preseason predictions putting them in contention for a title defense were no longer considered unreasonable after the program struggled in recent years. The outlook for the 2010-2011 season was a bright one and so far they have not disappointed themselves or their fans. With a healthy and deep roster, the chances to repeat as NCAA champions is a definite possibility in 2011.

Video preview: #1 Duke Blue Devils vs. #16 Hampton University Pirates (24-8) - Friday, Mar. 18 - 3 p.m. 

Raleigh Sports Examiner coverage from the NCAA Tournament in Charlotte

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