they're getting better. Duke doesn't have ballers like unc and even maryland (very impressive last night with their transition game) and others. Coach K doesn't like recruiting studs who play for a year or two and leave, but I think he's got to change, and knows it, to keep up with arch-rival UNC.
As for tourney potential, think about teams that have played well //on the road// this year. Everybody wins at home. I don't see that many games, but va.tech could surprise--and Texas A&M is very impressive. They beat a good kansas team in kansas, and almost beat texas away last night--double OT loss. Very well coached. Kansas is very talented by young and always seems to go down easily in the tourney. UNC is young but also very talented and should play well. Pittsburgh is enigmatic: plays tough but doesn't have enough talent, I don't think. Duke's McRoberts is a better inside player than Gray of Pitt--who is not mobile enough to be really strong. I don't think georgetown can win more than two games. Haven't seen ucla but they must be pretty strong.
As for the Vols, I liked the way they passed the ball against florida and I like the way they are getting points inside from the bigs. That's why this team is better. You aren't going to go far relying on one or two guys to make a lot of treys--that doesn't work as we saw last year. You need some strength/points inside.
