I meant to try to get my Duke seed prediction up before they came out on Sunday, but I was too late. If I had not been, I was going to say Duke would end up anywhere from 7 to 9, but that since their schedule was so difficult and the pollsters are biased toward Duke (if "biased" is what you call recognizing the most consistent team in the last 12 years and their possibly-best-of-all-time coach for what they are) they would most likely get the 7 seed.
Turns out they were 6th.
Great.
Up first is Viginia Commonwealth. VCU looks to have a strong guard and a tenacious pressure defense which causes a lot of turnovers. These are two of Duke's weaknesses. Duke doesn't defend prolific guards effectively (even when they are communicatin on defense) and Paulus and McRoberts have suffered from multiple turnovers
However, Duke has had a bit of time to rest up and get a few things figured out, so I anticipate limited turnovers and a decent amount of points off of a burned, over-pursuing defense. 72-64 Duke.
Go Duke
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Scoring Consistent, Defense Not
Duke's last three losses have seen them give up 85.3 points per game to their opponents. Compare this with an points against average under 60 for most of the season and it is not a surprise that Duke hasn't come out on top. So what's the difference?
According to Coach K, it comes down to communication. "You have to talk on defense. In the last two weeks we’re not communicating on defense. So guys are playing individually, instead of collectively. The most important for team man-to-man defense is communication, coordinated with effort. Effort is coordinated as a result of having talked. If you don’t talk very well you’re looking around. You’re not concentrating on what you’re doing."
Which indicates something that does not bode well for the Blue Devils: the pressure has gotten to them. Duke has always played as a tight team. Supportive, intense, communicative. What has kept them in games, in which they routinely score in the upper-60s and lower-70s is their defense, which is built on communication. If the communication isn't there, there is something wrong with the team dynamics.
Coach K might be up against one of his toughtest challenges yet, trying to play psychologist for a team that is beating themselves. I sure hope this is not the case, that there is division in the ranks, but it wouldn't be the first time it's happened in college basketball. Just the first time at Duke.
Go Duke
According to Coach K, it comes down to communication. "You have to talk on defense. In the last two weeks we’re not communicating on defense. So guys are playing individually, instead of collectively. The most important for team man-to-man defense is communication, coordinated with effort. Effort is coordinated as a result of having talked. If you don’t talk very well you’re looking around. You’re not concentrating on what you’re doing."
Which indicates something that does not bode well for the Blue Devils: the pressure has gotten to them. Duke has always played as a tight team. Supportive, intense, communicative. What has kept them in games, in which they routinely score in the upper-60s and lower-70s is their defense, which is built on communication. If the communication isn't there, there is something wrong with the team dynamics.
Coach K might be up against one of his toughtest challenges yet, trying to play psychologist for a team that is beating themselves. I sure hope this is not the case, that there is division in the ranks, but it wouldn't be the first time it's happened in college basketball. Just the first time at Duke.
Go Duke
Friday, March 9, 2007
Not Great. But not bad.
A lot was made about how huge the upset was yesterday when NC State beat Duke in the first round of the ACC tournament. I made the argument that it's not that big of an upset this year since Duke is in a rebuilding year and is weak compared to other teams in the last ten years.
But what also needs to be mentioned is that NC State is not that bad of a team. Their overall record in the ACC was not that great, but they are healthy now, and playing with some decent senior leadership. And, as evidenced by tonights "huge" upset over Virginia 79-71, they are capable of winning in crunch time. NC State came back from a 14-point halftime deficit to spank the Cavalier's right out of the tourney.
It'd be nice to see State make a run at this thing so that Duke can at least say they lost to the eventual champions.
But what also needs to be mentioned is that NC State is not that bad of a team. Their overall record in the ACC was not that great, but they are healthy now, and playing with some decent senior leadership. And, as evidenced by tonights "huge" upset over Virginia 79-71, they are capable of winning in crunch time. NC State came back from a 14-point halftime deficit to spank the Cavalier's right out of the tourney.
It'd be nice to see State make a run at this thing so that Duke can at least say they lost to the eventual champions.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Shut up
I don't want to hear it, so just shut up. Big deal. So Duke is out of the ACC tournament in the first round. This is not that big of a deal. Give me a break with all the unbelievable upset crap. If this NC State team beat last year's Duke team it would be an upset. But this Duke team is not that good and they're not playing good for even them right now in particular, so it is not that unexpected. Everybody just needs to cool down.
I've heard enough of the Duke has won 23 of 24 ACC Tournament games. Well, duh. It's only possible to get one loss per tournament. If you win a championship or two you're going to have a great tournament record.
So shut up. Duke's not a dominant team. Are you just now getting that? The rest of us knew it from the beginning, and we love them anyway. We love the fact that you all hate Duke, because the best program in the country for the last 25 years and possibly the best program over a 10-year period in HISTORY is bound to be hated. Thank you for confirming the fact that we are the best. Of all time.
Sit down. Shut up. And be thankful that you're not getting your ass handed to you by Duke this year. Because you will again soon.
Go Duke. Go Duke. Go Duke!!!
****Addendum****
As soon as I hit publish last night on this post, I thought, "Hmm...perhaps I should address the UCLA issue. Nah...I'll worry about it if anyone actually reads this." Well, awesomely enough, three people have, and three people have brought up UCLA.
UCLA is, of course, the one team that can lay claim to being as dominant or more than the Duke Blue Devils over a 10 year period. In fact, UCLA can lay claim to being the most dominant team over a 10 year period out of ANY team in ANY of the major sports.
I readily concede that Duke most likely comes in second place in this category. I would only ask that one considers the level of athleticism that is present and spread across so many teams makes domination that much more difficult now than it was then. And Duke plays in, arguably, a consistently stronger conference than UCLA did in the late 60's and 70's, making their regular season that much more exhausting and winning 7 of 9 conference championships that much more impressive.
Clearly, Duke has not had the success in the National Tournament that UCLA did, but then, no one ever will again, with the talent pool so widely diversified in modern times.
Go Duke.
I've heard enough of the Duke has won 23 of 24 ACC Tournament games. Well, duh. It's only possible to get one loss per tournament. If you win a championship or two you're going to have a great tournament record.
So shut up. Duke's not a dominant team. Are you just now getting that? The rest of us knew it from the beginning, and we love them anyway. We love the fact that you all hate Duke, because the best program in the country for the last 25 years and possibly the best program over a 10-year period in HISTORY is bound to be hated. Thank you for confirming the fact that we are the best. Of all time.
Sit down. Shut up. And be thankful that you're not getting your ass handed to you by Duke this year. Because you will again soon.
Go Duke. Go Duke. Go Duke!!!
****Addendum****
As soon as I hit publish last night on this post, I thought, "Hmm...perhaps I should address the UCLA issue. Nah...I'll worry about it if anyone actually reads this." Well, awesomely enough, three people have, and three people have brought up UCLA.
UCLA is, of course, the one team that can lay claim to being as dominant or more than the Duke Blue Devils over a 10 year period. In fact, UCLA can lay claim to being the most dominant team over a 10 year period out of ANY team in ANY of the major sports.
I readily concede that Duke most likely comes in second place in this category. I would only ask that one considers the level of athleticism that is present and spread across so many teams makes domination that much more difficult now than it was then. And Duke plays in, arguably, a consistently stronger conference than UCLA did in the late 60's and 70's, making their regular season that much more exhausting and winning 7 of 9 conference championships that much more impressive.
Clearly, Duke has not had the success in the National Tournament that UCLA did, but then, no one ever will again, with the talent pool so widely diversified in modern times.
Go Duke.
First half notes
Early, Duke wasted a steal with a subsequent turnover which resulted in a long-range two.
An early ally-oop to McRoberts off the weave from DeMarcus.
McRoberts gets called for charge early, and, predictably, complains that it's "bullsh**." Followed up by another offensive fouls.
At the 15:53 mark, McRoberts gets called for his second foul. Unbelievably, he complains about it all the way to the bench.
At around 10:10, Paulus and Scheyer combine for back to back threes to go up 4. Scheyer drains his second a couple miutes later.
DeMarcus continues the foul and turnover fiesta on the next time down the floor to help State tie the game.
At 6:21 Duke picks up their umpteenth foul.
At 4:03, Pocius drains his second three pointer, shortly after Scheyer racks up his third. One of the keys for Duke if they want to win is for the hot and cold Scheyer to have an on game and for someone else on the bench to pick up for Gerald Henderson's absence. So far, Jon and Pocius are coming through.
At 1:23, Tim Denison exclaims, "Did you just see that?" This in response to Martinas Pocius splitting three defenders to score with one second left on the shot clock.
11 first half turnovers for Duke. That's a lot.
At the half: Duke leads 34-29.
An early ally-oop to McRoberts off the weave from DeMarcus.
McRoberts gets called for charge early, and, predictably, complains that it's "bullsh**." Followed up by another offensive fouls.
At the 15:53 mark, McRoberts gets called for his second foul. Unbelievably, he complains about it all the way to the bench.
At around 10:10, Paulus and Scheyer combine for back to back threes to go up 4. Scheyer drains his second a couple miutes later.
DeMarcus continues the foul and turnover fiesta on the next time down the floor to help State tie the game.
At 6:21 Duke picks up their umpteenth foul.
At 4:03, Pocius drains his second three pointer, shortly after Scheyer racks up his third. One of the keys for Duke if they want to win is for the hot and cold Scheyer to have an on game and for someone else on the bench to pick up for Gerald Henderson's absence. So far, Jon and Pocius are coming through.
At 1:23, Tim Denison exclaims, "Did you just see that?" This in response to Martinas Pocius splitting three defenders to score with one second left on the shot clock.
11 first half turnovers for Duke. That's a lot.
At the half: Duke leads 34-29.
Surprises Early
Surprises ruled the first half of the first day of the ACC Tournament with Florida State beating Clemson, and Miami cooling off the ridiculously hot Maryland Terrapins.
Duke looks to stem this tide tonight against NC State.
Go Duke
Duke looks to stem this tide tonight against NC State.
Go Duke
Florida State Advances
Florida State eeked out a tight one against Clemson, 67-66 in the first round of the ACC Tournament.
The Seminoles move on to play North Carolina tomorrow.
The Seminoles move on to play North Carolina tomorrow.
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