Duke v. Michigan Post Game Thread

[Faison1]

My only complaint thus far is why they do not look to run more.. I expected to see them really push the ball always looking for break opportunities and keep constant pressure on the opponents defense but not so much yet...

I am actually pleasantly surprised that they aren't running as much as they did last year. I had fears that we would run too much to start the season, then be gassed by the time the tourney's come around. So, the fact that we look good without employing full-court press and PHX Suns type offense makes me happy.

[CDu]

I'm continually impressed by Singler. He's just so crafty and seems to know where to be on the floor. He's really impressive in his ability to score in so many different ways. If you could combine Henderson's athleticism with Singler's shooting touch and craftiness, well, I just don't know that there'd be any stopping that player. That said, it's nice to have each of them with just the skillsets that they each have as well.

I hope Smith can build off of this game. I don't think he's ever going to be a pass-first type of point guard. I think his game is always going to be defense, speed, and scoring ability first, with the ability distribute secondary. Fortunately, I don't think the offense is relying on him to be a playmaker, as Henderson, Singler, and Scheyer can all create for themselves.

I'm hopeful that the Zoubek/Thomas/Plumlee triumvirate can be productive when we face tougher post play this season. Zoubek is clearly the most skilled of the three offensively down there, but he's really slow of foot (was beaten off the dribble by a big guy from the top of the key for a layup in both games). Thomas seems to be better suited as a catch and finish player than anything else offensively, which is good that he's found a niche. Plumlee seems to be an afterthought early on. We're going to need those guys to keep Singler fresh though.

[sandinmyshoes]

The word solid keeps coming to mind when I think about this win. Workman like with flashes of brilliance. It seems like that we're reaching a point where the guys are recognizing opportunities and not forcing plays. If the defense tries to shut down a guy like Singler or Henderson the other guys realize it means there is a play for them.

[wilson]

Zoubek is clearly the most skilled of the three offensively down there, but he's really slow of foot (was beaten off the dribble by a big guy from the top of the key for a layup in both games).

I agree with most of your comments, and I also really like the clearly improved skill set that Zoobs has displayed. But I'm not sure I agree that he's demonstrably slower than other people his size (not that there are a lot of them around...). He did get beaten off the dribble a couple of times last night, but he shouldn't be stepping out that far on defense anyway. When we come up against bigs who can play outside, that's when Kyle needs to provide defensive assistance. I think Zoobs has been plenty serviceable defending the post, which is where he ought to stay.

[greybeard]

Second half defense was awesome and athletic. Did I remember to say athletic. Are you kidding me. You have enough having Gerald in your grill, try a fresh Williams with those long arms and that anticipation. Had enopugh of Lance, say hello to McClure and do try to breathe even though your ribs cannot extend even half an inch.

And, am I the only one impressed with the reach of this kid Singler, I'm talking about when he has inside position on the defensive board and a bigger guy is on his back and Kyle seems caught a little too far underneath and the ball comes off high and you are sure that the big behind him will reach up and grab it only there is/are Kyle's hand(s) grabbing the thing oh so high with oh so much extension and once the ball is touched he owns it. This is timing, athleticism, strength, eyesight, you name it, like no one you have seen, unless you are older than me, which is pretty freakin rare to find these days.

Likening this kid to anyone, Laetner included, is an injustice. Kyle is an extraordinary human being who sooner or later talking heads will stop trying to pigeon hole into anyone else's mold, and "get" that he plays the game differently from other great college players that you have seen. And the differently to my eye is very, very esthetically pleasing; it's as if there is music playing inside him; he can shorten the intervals, make it quicker, but the tune (I showing my musical short comings here) will be the same, and then switch from country to classical. Very, very clear and decisive too. Yeah, I like the kid as a player. You think!

I'm very encouraged by Zoubek's play and see the best ahead of him. He is very, very good; when he understands even better how little an edge he actually needs in terms of momentum, that an inch or two ahead of a defender will suffice when, as is the case now, Duke's littles are showing an ability to see it and throw it that has been missing for who knows how long from most of the college game, I expect that Zoubek will even surprise himself. He will not surprise me, however; and please, please, throw it to him high understanding where he is position to be able to move (there will be more than one vector) and let him make an impressive reception. I believe he will score the ball more often than not when he does, but even if he doesn't, you and he will have told the defense that there is domion here over precious territory--that areas around the basket are NOT safe, not EVER, when this UNATHLETIC guy WITH SLOW feet is in there.

Like I used to remind myself when I played, and we are talking slow here friends, you do not need to be there first, the place where you get needs to be different and needs to work for you. Then the game on the inside is easy.

Lance, it seems to me, is getting that concept and will also become more and more potent. Interestingly enough, I see him much more dangerous as a receiver, and therefore as a finisher, if he learns to use changes of speed on his routes, that is, if at times he goes SLOWER. I can see his confidence growing and can see him sitting back behind the defense, waiting until he sees a defender make a fatal mistake. Can be as simple as the defender letting his focus fix on the ball a little too much, shade a tad to help when he thinks the pass is going to the opposite wing to Gerald or Scheyer and wants to discourage penetration. When he sees that happen, and sees a lane that will open in a minute, then there will be a glide, so the catch will be made in complete balance. The defender tries to catch up, and bye.

There is in the college game more than one way to skin a cat and this Duke team will show you a lot of them. I'm still liking alot what I see from Williams, an awful lot, and I think good things continue to happen whenever Marty is on the floor, and he has yet to get a chance, and perhaps never will, to really fill it up.

This has got to be K's toughest job ever. So many different things to do, so little time to do it in. Good thing he had the practice of dealing with such challenges these past few summers.

[CDu]

I agree with most of your comments, and I also really like the clearly improved skill set that Zoobs has displayed. But I'm not sure I agree that he's demonstrably slower than other people his size (not that there are a lot of them around...). He did get beaten off the dribble a couple of times last night, but he shouldn't be stepping out that far on defense anyway. When we come up against bigs who can play outside, that's when Kyle needs to provide defensive assistance. I think Zoobs has been plenty serviceable defending the post, which is where he ought to stay.

It doesn't matter whether Zoubek is slow or not relative to people his size, because the fact is that he's not going to be guarding guys like that. He's going to be guarding smaller players. As far as it being a bad idea for Zoubek to defend guys on the perimeter, I agree. Unfortunately, that's not the way Duke does things. Our guys push way out defensively, regardless of position.

[mapei]

As far as it being a bad idea for Zoubek to defend guys on the perimeter, I agree. Unfortunately, that's not the way Duke does things. Our guys push way out defensively, regardless of position.

Used to drive me nuts watching Georgetown when Hibbert came out on D. Obviously, K and JT3 know more than we do, but it seems like such a bad idea. I remember one play where Duke definitely got burned by it last night.

[CDu]

Used to drive me nuts watching Georgetown when Hibbert came out on D. Obviously, K and JT3 know more than we do, but it seems like such a bad idea. I remember one play where Duke definitely got burned by it last night.

I guess the idea is that Coach K prefers to trade the occasional embarassing blow-by in favor of preventing open threes for guards coming off high screens. It takes a team like Georgetown (with athletic and skilled bigs) or a team like the one we faced in the first round of the tourney a few years ago (who pulled Shelden way outside and made it interesting for a half) to make us pay for that strategy.

Ultimately, I guess the key will continue to be a pieced together approach with the bigs, with the goal being to keep Singler fresher than last year. Anything beyond that will be a bonus. So far, we've gotten a bit beyond that through the early games of the season.

[Charles Wicker]

I saw, but something is missing; or maybe not. I like how one poster posited that; Nolan perhaps will never never be a "pass-first," type PG. Great observations, because he definitely has a unique ability to score points quickly!

Sing is playing good, but I like Dick, would like to see him play more in the post. That may not be his natural position or where he truly is effective, but I believe he has that capability, and also is where he will augment his future earning potential. He is demonstrating the scorers mentality, which will serve us well throughout the season.

As for the team; I wish K would experiment more with lineups/players, take more chances and heck, risk losing a game to prepare and develop other players. Williams, hasn't shown me he deserves the time he's been given. I mean, play him, but he doesn't look like he brings more than say Marty would bring. No, this isn't a Marty thread, because if it were the dogs would come a howlin, and you would feel the power.

We have so much talent, that Sing and Jon, shouldn't have to play 36 and 30 minutes, not against sub-par, non-threatning, offensive deficient teams as Michigan was last night. I know it's early in the season, but in blowouts and when we have 15,16, 17 point leads; take some risks and let the other players get some burn to make it fun to watch and see who these players are.

So far so good. Workmanlike effort from the athletes and hopefully we can take some more risks, before the bench truly is shortened

[Edouble]

It takes a team like Georgetown (with athletic and skilled bigs) or a team like the one we faced in the first round of the tourney a few years ago (who pulled Shelden way outside and made it interesting for a half).

Good point. I think that was Delaware State, but it was Shav that they kept isolating.

[TaiAdmiral]

Alspaugh dorm here at Duke was rockin! Michigan kept it close early on, but I guess we were just too athletic for them. A lot of us here favored a UCLA matchup just to see how we would fare against such a high caliber team. Obviously, UCLA was just having a bad night against Michigan 2 days ago, which was obvious by their destruction of SIU.

Montana comes to Our House tomorrow! I'll be lining up.

[CDu]

Good point. I think that was Delaware State, but it was Shav that they kept isolating.

Yes, I believe it was Delaware State. However, I'm pretty sure they DID isolate Williams plenty as well. I remember being quite frustrated that our defensive player of the year and game-changing post presence was getting exploited 30 feet away from the basket.

[throatybeard]

Yes, I believe it was Delaware State. However, I'm pretty sure they DID isolate Williams plenty as well. I remember being quite frustrated that our defensive player of the year and game-changing post presence was getting exploited 30 feet away from the basket.

Allow myself to quote myself:

"Isn't that what Delaware State repeatedly did to us last year? [2006] Draw our bigs out, who then end up wandering around aimlessly like blue whales caught in a chihuahua race?

[Kedsy]

We haven't been hitting them since the big win at UNC last year. That's 10 months of evidence - we are not a big 3 point shooting team. Yet ... we let fly.

While I agree that a 3-pointer in the flow of the offense is infinitely better than dribble-dribble-hey-I'll-shoot-now, to be fair, 8 of your "10 months of evidence" came while the team wasn't playing. Give the kids a chance.

[Kedsy]

Sing is playing good, but I like Dick, would like to see him play more in the post. That may not be his natural position or where he truly is effective, but I believe he has that capability, and also is where he will augment his future earning potential.

Disagree. It might help his current team if he went inside a little more, but Singler isn't big enough to play 4 or 5 in the NBA. His "future earning potential" will be best served if he can slash to the basket and/or hit the long 3-pointer. Which he can. He won't be posting up too many guys at the next level.

[jimsumner]

Singler enhances his earning potential if he helps Duke go deep in the NCAAs. If posting up helps make that happen, then it helps him.

Whether he can or cannot post people at the next level matters not one whit to what he and his team do this season.

My two cents worth.

[Classof06]

Still in football mode but I was able to catch the SIU and Michigan games, the first two complete games I've seen. A couple of thoughts:

- Loving the depth of this team. Krzyzewski couldn't shorten his bench if he wanted to. Between Plumlee, McClure, Paulus, Thomas and E. Williams, there are too many players that can contribute for Kryzyzewski to do that.

- Scheyer is still as steady as they come.

- One of the commentators said it during the Michigan game yesterday but Singler is SO much stronger around the rim than he was a year ago. He's clearly added bulk from last year and just seems much tougher to push around. He's been arguably the most impressive player on the team thus far (either him or Scheyer).

- I was glad to see Gerald start to let it loose in NYC. How he's played the past two games is how Duke is going to need him to play all year. Like Vitale said, he has way too much talent not to be getting 15-16 points a game. He seems to have improved his shooting as well.

- Zoubek seems to still be working his way back but I'm very encouraged by what I see from him thus far. He's giving solid minutes, exactly what we need him to do. If he can get back into the groove he was in towards the end of the regular season last year, that will do wonders for us.

- Lance Thomas has had a great start to the season. I was hard on him after his sophomore season but I'm loving what he's bringing to the table this year. I really hope he keeps it up.

- This is the first time I've really said anything about this since the start of the season but Nolan starting at the PG gives Duke the exact kind of spark I thought it would. I must say, I'm glad Krzyzewski made the switch but I didn't think he would. Bottom line; however you feel about Paulus, having him come off the bench is one hell of a luxury.

- I think Elliot Williams is going to be a hell of a player. I'd like to see him get more minutes, but that comes with time.