MBB: St. John's @ Duke pre-game and in-game thread

[Bob Green]

Moving forward, Coach K has been known to shake things up after a loss so I'm wondering if Andre Dawkins has shot his way into the starting line-up or if some other surprise awaits us when the team takes the court against the St. John's Red Storm. Duke should be playing with a bit of a chip on their shoulder and they will need to be as the Red Storm are an experienced team and the game on Saturday will be a lot closer than the ones the past several years.

[sagegrouse]

Moving forward, Coach K has been known to shake things up after a loss so I'm wondering if Andre Dawkins has shot his way into the starting line-up or if some other surprise awaits us when the team takes the court against the St. John's Red Storm. Duke should be playing with a bit of a chip on their shoulder and they will need to be as the Red Storm are an experienced team and the game on Saturday will be a lot closer than the ones the past several years.

I don't know whether a major shakeup is in order. I thought Scheyer's quote about Wisconsin wanting it more was dead on target. Duke came off an emotional exhilarating win over UConn and suffered a serious letdown.

In terms of starters and minutes, I suspect that LT and Zoubs didn't help their cause very much with really clumsy play against Badgers who were a bit clumsy themselves: "Drop the ball in the basket, Brian!" "Make the pass, Lance!" I bet we see more of Mason in the St. Johns game.

Dawkins is already the first guy off the bench. I hope he isn't added to the starting lineup in place of a big guy -- the DBR would absolutely detonate if Duke went small in the first week of December. Imagine: we start Miles, Kyle, Jon, Nolan and Andre; that makes our bench LT, Zoubs, Mason, Kelly and Czyz. We would have the tallest bench in the universe, averaging 6-9 1/2.

sagegrouse

[Saratoga2]

Our weaknesses were exposed against ASU and again against W. The play of our bigs was a weak area with Zoubek and Thomas unable to contribute anything offensively.

Our best teams include Miles at the big. Mason offers some hope as he improves. If we use a high low game it has to be either with Kelly playing high or perhaps Mason, if he can handle it. The top of the key man needs to be able to hit the open shot from there.

The team needs to incorporate Dawkins shooting ability into the game plan and go to him early and often. If he can stretch defenses, then Smith and Scheyer may also get more open looks.

When Zoubek is in the game, we need to think about zone defense. His mobility is better suited to the zone in my opinion.

Thomas will get playing time due to his man defensive abilities. His PT should not reflect that of a starter as he is one dimensional.

Looks like the best team right now includes Miles, Singler, Scheyer, Smith and Dawkins. Key subs will include Mason and I would advocate Kelly. Thomas has his place and Zoubek can give good minutes against teams with comparable centers.

[KShip21]

As much as I love the kid, I don't think inserting him into the starting lineup right now is a good move at all.

1) he is obviously comfortable being the first guy off the bench and 7 games into his college career I wouldn't want anything to effect his comfort level. 2) we can't take out a big this early in the season, so does he take Nolan's spot? If so, what does that do to Nolan's confidence as he is slowly breaking through to be that player we know he can be. 3) if he does take a big's spot, that moves Kyle back to the 4 which K would like to avoid for the most part. I think we saw last night, he is more effective at the 3.

If there is lineup change, I think (although it wouldn't be a shock) Mason for Lance. Start getting him into more of a rythm.

Also, anyone notice that at least the last few years, we always go into the SJ game after a loss. The only people as mad at the loss as we are are the SJ team and fans...Maybe we can take it out on them again...

[whereinthehellami]

I still can't believe how ineffective Brian and Lance were in the Wisconsin game. These guys are seniors and looked lost in the game. Neither of them have any confidence.

[Devilsfan]

I agree on the need for Lance to step it up and I believe he can. Zoub on the other hand is playing as good as he can, imo. He is definitely trying.

[SilkyJ]

I agree on the need for Lance to step it up and I believe he can. Zoub on the other hand is playing as good as he can, imo. He is definitely trying.

Both are trying and both are about as effective as they can be. They are seniors, so we should expect smarter decisions from them, but for the 1 billionth time: they are known commodities, don't expect any crazy jump in performance/production. Lance has played in ~90-100 games and started ~60-70 games so far in his career so he's not going to suddenly start performing better than he did in his previous 100 games. Zoubs will never be effective against mobile bigs who like to float out.

We will reach out full potential when the plumlees are both playing together and playing well. That's also when we will be at our most athletic.

[davekay1971]

We will reach out full potential when the plumlees are both playing together and playing well. That's also when we will be at our most athletic.

The development of the Plumlees at the 4 and 5 over the course of this season is one of the most exciting aspects of this team, imho. Look forward to seeing the next step of that on Saturday.

[SMO]

I still can't believe how ineffective Brian and Lance were in the Wisconsin game. These guys are seniors and looked lost in the game. Neither of them have any confidence.

I'm with you. It looked to me like Zoubs was making freshman mistakes as a senior. Lance looked OK, but not great. I'd love to see both elevate their games.

[Kewlswim]

I'm with you. It looked to me like Zoubs was making freshman mistakes as a senior. Lance looked OK, but not great. I'd love to see both elevate their games.

Hi,

I just wonder if we, as Duke fans, don't give enough credit to the opponent? Is it possible that the play of Wisconsin in the post made Zoobs play faster, for example, than he would have liked to? This is because they are so good and not that Zoobs has regressed?

Just because Wisconsin (and initially ASU) pointed out our weakness in the post does not mean we won't be better by March. Isn't it good to have things to work on and time to do it? I keep saying, "We are not a finished product."

GO DUKE!

[ChicagoCrazy84]

I still can't believe how ineffective Brian and Lance were in the Wisconsin game. These guys are seniors and looked lost in the game. Neither of them have any confidence.

That has been the problem with Lance his whole career. He'll show so much promise in one game and we'll all think he's turned the corner and then he'll be completely invisible the next. He needs to string together some strong performences, starting with today. Mason won't be starting yet and probably won't get 25+ minutes so he has the opportunity!

[airowe]

Gametime in 5 minutes and you guys are still talking about the last game?!?

Let's.


Go.



Duke.

[riverside6]

we have live tempo-based stats for the game here:

http://www.scacchoops.com/ViewHdGame.asp?hSchedule=3674

starters: scheyer, smith, singler, and 2 plumlees

[FireOgilvie]

It's nice to see Mason starting already.

[FireOgilvie]

Bilas called Mason the "most talented player" on Duke's roster.

[slower]

Bilas called Mason the "most talented player" on Duke's roster.

And his broadcast partner referred to Marshall Plumlee as "Madison". Seriously, do some of these guys even WATCH basketball?

[Tucknut]

Bilas called Mason the "most talented player" on Duke's roster.

I think Jay's brain cells are receeding with his hairline.

Good half. Nice job, LT. Nice D by Ryan. Fun game so far!

[roywhite]

I think Jay's brain cells are receeding with his hairline.

Good half. Nice job, LT. Nice D by Ryan. Fun game so far!

Jay knows hoops and he knows Duke's personnel very well, so such a comment about Mason should not be dismissed. It may take a while for Mason to get into form.

[gwwilburn]

Jay knows hoops and he knows Duke's personnel very well, so such a comment about Mason should not be dismissed. It may take a while for Mason to get into form.

I am in agreement with this. No analyst that ESPN has seems to me to know more about Duke than Bilas. I know he gets a lot of heat around here for his supposed reluctance to praise Duke, but when he says Duke will run into problems, I'm worried. For instance, on Selection Sunday, he predicted that Nova's guards would carve Duke up in the Sweet Sixteen. But he hasn't predicted any doom today, so that's good.

[roywhite]

One of the things I like best about this team so far is the ability to block and contest shots around the basket. Singler, Zoubs, Lance, both Plumlees are defending the rim and making it hard to score.