MBB: Duke @ Miami Pre-Game and In-Game Thread

[sagegrouse]

The Devils travel to Miami for a game Wednesday night. Miami has lost only one game at home all year (3-1 in the ACC) and finishes its schedule with four home games in the last five ACC games.

Here are a couple of questions to ponder:

1. Was Zoubs' performance against the Terps a one-time wonder? The 'Canes, like Maryland, also seem also seem to be a smaller, perimeter-oriented team.

2. Can Duke gain a shooting touch on the road?

3. Will the Devils suffer a letdown after emotional wins against rival #1 and not-a-rival #1?

sagegrouse
'I wish I were going to the game. I always have breakfast at the News Cafe on Ocean Ave. in Miami Beach'

[PumpkinFunk]

I don't see a lot of huge issues for us against Miami. They're 3-1 at home but 0-6 on the road, and they've also barely eked out wins at home over Wake, VTech, and GT with a bad, bad loss to Boston College. With that being said, Miami needs a marquee win to have a shot at the NCAAs... this is it for them. We need a big game from our big men to ease it up for the rest of our team, though I still don't think Miami has the players to keep up with us.

[CDu]

The Canes do have a very talented (but very inconsistent) big man in Dwayne Collins. When Collins shows up (as he has a couple of times against Duke), he can be an absolute force with his combination of strength and athleticism. But he can also be a complete non-factor at times. I think a big part of the reason for his inconsistency is that Miami never seems consistently interested in getting him the ball. Their guards are not terribly good.

[moonpie23]

and not-a-rival #1?

please forgive me as i have somehow managed to overlook this MOST AWESOMEST of AWESOME phrase for our turtle friends...

thank you for bringing that to my attention.

[MChambers]

1. Was Zoubs' performance against the Terps a one-time wonder? The 'Canes, like Maryland, also seem also seem to be a smaller, perimeter-oriented team.

2. Can Duke gain a shooting touch on the road?

If Zoubs can continue the level of play he displayed Saturday, but we don't have a shooting touch, Zoubs could reach the 20 rebound level. I'd rather see a better shooting touch, however.

[Neals384]

I'll be watching for Reggie Johnson, 6'9" 295 lb frosh. He's only averaging 12 minutes off the bench, but he seems to be coming along, especially in recent home games:

15 pts 9 rb in 23 min vs BC
7 pts 4 rb in 13 min vs VT
10 pts 7 rb in 16 min vs GT

Looks like he does most of his scoring from the stripe, where he shoots 77%. Our bigs will need to be disciplined when he's in the game.

* * *

According to the AP, Miami has had low attendance. I'll be surprised if they don't fill the house for Duke. For the GT game:

"Announced attendance was 4,319, but the crowd numbered less than 500, pep band included, when the Hurricanes took the court a few minutes before tip-off."

[davekay1971]

Just another day for Duke on the road in the ACC: it's the Super Bowl for our opponent and their fans; it's a must-win game for our opponent's NCAA tournament chances; they're going to be amped up, etc etc etc.

Same old story for our guys - bring the defensive intensity, make some clutch plays, get out with a win.

Would love to see Zoubs post another double-double, but for me the most important player to see continuing to develop is Mason. I hope he continues to build on the kind of play we're starting to see from him. Of course, if Zoubs turns what happened against Maryland into a career-changing moment that launches him to the next level 2/3 of the way through his senior season...well, that would be nice, too! In fact, if Zoubs doesn't give us a double-double every game from now through the national championship game, I'm going to be disappointed in him.

That's right, Z. You showed us the potential...now you've raised the bar. Dominate, big man. Dominate.

[ChicagoCrazy84]

I'll be watching for Reggie Johnson, 6'9" 295 lb frosh. He's only averaging 12 minutes off the bench, but he seems to be coming along, especially in recent home games:

15 pts 9 rb in 23 min vs BC
7 pts 4 rb in 13 min vs VT
10 pts 7 rb in 16 min vs GT

Looks like he does most of his scoring from the stripe, where he shoots 77%. Our bigs will need to be disciplined when he's in the game.

* * *

According to the AP, Miami has had low attendance. I'll be surprised if they don't fill the house for Duke. For the GT game:

"Announced attendance was 4,319, but the crowd numbered less than 500, pep band included, when the Hurricanes took the court a few minutes before tip-off."

295??? My gosh, that is a big boy. I can see why he only gets 12 minutes.

[Indoor66]

295??? My gosh, that is a big boy. I can see why he only gets 12 minutes.

Yeah. To keep in shape for BB he plays DE on the football team.

[sandinmyshoes]

The only thing that scares me about this game is that I can't think of much that scares me.

[pfrduke]

The only thing that scares me about this game is that I can't think of much that scares me.

James Dews, Malcolm Grant, and Adrian Thomas getting hot from 3. Each shoots 41% or better from downtown (numbers that have been somewhat boosted by their cupcake non-con schedule), and we've been a little lucky so far in terms of holding teams to ridiculously low percentages from outside. A team is due to get hot from outside against us, and if it's Miami, it could spell trouble.

[sagegrouse]

The only thing that scares me about this game is that I can't think of much that scares me.

(a) Miami's home record is excellent with wins over Wake, GT and VT and only one loss.

(b) Foul trouble on one of the big three could give us fits.

(c) We will need to have some scoring punch inside, unless we unexpectedly find our outside shot on the road. And who the heck can predict what will happen on offense with Zoubs, Lance, or Los Plum Locos?

sagegrouse

[jv001]

Some thought about the upcoming game against the Hurricanes:
1. Zoubs to play well and not get into foul trouble. I feel if he does the latter, he will play well. Maybe not a double-double, but a good solid defensive game with some offensive rebounds.
2. Jon to continue his solid play and get his 20-25 pts in this game. He is just so consistent that I some time take him for granted.
3. I like how Nolan dished the ball last game. He needs to continue that trend and make us a better team going forward.
4. Mason continue to build on this his freshman year. Playing against a smaller team may help his inside play.
5. Stay with their perimeter guys. Don't let them have open 3s. They can hit them.
I look for a close game up to half time and Duke to win by 14pts. Go Duke!

[BleedsP287]

I look for Duke's big to play well again and we win. I think Zoubek gets the start (how could he not?), and if he can maintain some confidence (I'm looking at you, refs) he has another good game. I don't expect a repeat of last game's career effort, but a more solid performance than average for him.

And I honestly believe our other bigs are going to be inspired by his play and step up themselves. This team is really coming together. Looking ahead it's conceivable would could win-out the regular season.

At Maryland is my biggest worry. At Virginia next, they are talented, well coached, may be playing us with a winning record in the ACC for a change, and trying to get in the bubble, and they are pissed at having a good start falter. At Miami, I'm very optimistic. Go Duke.

[Newton_14]

We should take nothing for granted. The last 2 times we played Miami we were extremely fortunate to eke out 1 win in the 2 games. We were blown out in Miami 2 years ago before rallying late to cut it from 20 to 3. Last year we were down 16 at home and had to go to overtime to win. Our guys have still not played a good offensive game on the road yet.

Given all that I hesitate to predict any kind of easy win for our guys. I know we can win and hopefully this is a game where we finally put it all together in a road game. But every road game in the league this year is dangerous.

Our guys need to come out focused, play defense at the level we have been playing and move, cut, and shoot well on offense. They can get it done but will need to be on top of their game.

[-jk]

Indeed. As. I recall, our last "easy" game was at State. We can't afford to think of any game as easy.

-jk

[loldevilz]

I would really love to see Duke win out to get the #1 seed. That means we will need to beat Miami. I was at the game last year and it was one of the toughest games of the year. I think they have lost their best player who couldn't miss a shot in the second half last year in their overtime loss. Still they are a very dangerous team especially at home, and they will be hungry to get a signature win.

[G man]

these are the games that make me nervous. I hate being favored. I hope we have the gas on the peddle from the get go!

[pfrduke]

these are the games that make me nervous. I hate being favored. I hope we have the gas on the peddle from the get go!

You do realize we're favored in ~90-95% of the games we play, right?

[Saratoga2]

Just another day for Duke on the road in the ACC: it's the Super Bowl for our opponent and their fans; it's a must-win game for our opponent's NCAA tournament chances; they're going to be amped up, etc etc etc.

Same old story for our guys - bring the defensive intensity, make some clutch plays, get out with a win.

Would love to see Zoubs post another double-double, but for me the most important player to see continuing to develop is Mason. I hope he continues to build on the kind of play we're starting to see from him. Of course, if Zoubs turns what happened against Maryland into a career-changing moment that launches him to the next level 2/3 of the way through his senior season...well, that would be nice, too! In fact, if Zoubs doesn't give us a double-double every game from now through the national championship game, I'm going to be disappointed in him.

That's right, Z. You showed us the potential...now you've raised the bar. Dominate, big man. Dominate.

He needs to play hard for his entire stint in the game. I didn't like to see him jog back on defense.