Eight is enough

[NCMUFan]

Duke had only eight scholarship players.  Makes winning the National Championship even more impressive.

[PGsHeroes32]

Many teams basically play 8 guys. Here's the thing though.

They are choosing their 8 best out of 13.

Or in Dukes case they have a supply of 8 burger boys to rely on.

MU was faced with a different situation. They 8 guys that had to play. No other options and these guys were not all americans

[Dawson Rental]

Duke had only eight scholarship players.  Makes winning the National Championship even more impressive.

And four were freshmen.

One former starter dropped from the team (Rasheed Sulaimon)
One mid-season transfer (Semi Ojeleye)
One regular transfer sitting out (Sean Obi)  Big must have helped them prepare in practice.

BTW, Wisconsin only played 7 in the championship game.

[GoldenZebra]

If you have 8 players that are each 5ft tall and 8 players that are 6-10 you are probably going to win with the 6-10 players. But hey, 8 players is 8 players do I guess its a fair match....

[MU82]

I used to coach my son's and daughter's teams when they were in 4th-6th grade rec leagues. The teams had 8-9 players. Invariably, a couple kids wouldn't show for some games. A few times, only 5-6 showed.

I used to love that -- when they were the right 5-6 kids. Easy to divide playing time (or not have to divide it at all, if only 5 showed). If they were the right kids, we usually won easily because the other coach had too many kids to juggle and too many decisions to make.

Duke had the right kids.

[CTWarrior]

I used to coach my son's and daughter's teams when they were in 4th-6th grade rec leagues. The teams had 8-9 players. Invariably, a couple kids wouldn't show for some games. A few times, only 5-6 showed.

I used to love that -- when they were the right 5-6 kids. Easy to divide playing time (or not have to divide it at all, if only 5 showed). If they were the right kids, we usually won easily because the other coach had too many kids to juggle and too many decisions to make.

Duke had the right kids.

Heh heh.  I've coached youth teams forever and it must be something about me, but the weakest kids ALWAYS show up.  It seems like the weaker kids for certain coaches miss a lot. 

As for Duke, if you've got 8 great players that's all most teams have in their regular rotation anyway.  Barring injury or catastrophic foul trouble, it shouldn't be an issue.

[MU82]

Heh heh.  I've coached youth teams forever and it must be something about me, but the weakest kids ALWAYS show up.  It seems like the weaker kids for certain coaches miss a lot. 

Truth.

When my son was in 5th grade, the rec-league teams were put together with a 6th-grade stud, a second player who was real good and a bunch of role players, some of whom were total sleds. My son was the "second player" and the 6th-grade stud was, indeed, a stud. Unfortunately, he only showed up for about half the games, meaning that my son all of a sudden was expected to be the stud and role players were expected to be good. Of course, the team finished sub-.500.

[Dawson Rental]

Heh heh.  I've coached youth teams forever and it must be something about me, but the weakest kids ALWAYS show up.  It seems like the weaker kids for certain coaches miss a lot. 

As for Duke, if you've got 8 great players that's all most teams have in their regular rotation anyway.  Barring injury or catastrophic foul trouble, it shouldn't be an issue.

Except for practice.  Good competition helps.