MBB: Duke vs East Carolina Pre-Game and In-Game Thread

[Bob Green]

6 pm EST on ESPNU. Discuss the game here.

[Gugafan2005]

This one will be a little weird for me. I'm a life long Duke basketball fan and a ECU alum so I'll be the guy in section 17 tonight in the Duke t-shirt with the weird look on his face.

That said, as with every Duke game I know it will be a blast. I think this year's team is a lot of fun to watch and see develop with each game. As for the Pirates, like Duke is successfully doing with their football program, perhaps ECU can use this experience to build on something for the future.

[Ichabod Drain]

Was anyone at the game last night who can give some insight to ECU's strengths and play style? Just checking the box score their two leading scorers were both guards, Akeem Richmond and Paris Roberts-Campbell. They are the Pirates leading scorers on the season as well.

[flyingdutchdevil]

Doesn't matter who the opponent is, let me tell you what is guaranteed for this game:

-Tyler will hit 1 3pt. Not 0, not 2, but 1.
-Quinn will turn the ball over 1 time. He will have at least 4 assists (and I'd bet on 6+)
-Hood will shoot better than 50% from the floor
-Jabari will either get a double-double or get really close (8/9 rebounds)
-Andre will smile like a fat kid in a candy store
-Amile will have at least 1 offensive rebound & put back
-Coach K will not call a timeout until minus-2 min to play in the 1st half

Any takers?

[COYS]

Duke put in its best defensive performance of the young season last night. I'm hoping we can continue that momentum. Also of note: Amile grabbed 6 boards in only 19 min, Rasheed grabbed 4 in 13 min, and Andre and Matt grabbed 3 apiece in 18 and 14 minutes, respectively. That was some much needed rebounding from our guards. I hope to see the defense turn in another great performance which should (hopefully) include continued improvement from our guards on the boards.

Also, this really does look to be perhaps the deepest team since 1997-1999. Rasheed, who, to my eyes, has looked improved on offense and continues to play great defense, barely played a quarter of the game. This happened not because he was playing poorly, but because guys like Semi, Andre, and Matt were also playing great defense when they were in the game. I know the rotation was influenced a bit by the back-to-back games, but this team is seriously deep on the perimeter. Quinn, Rodney, Rasheed, Tyler, Andre, and Matt make for a devastating rotation. Meanwhile, Semi really played well last night. Will he continue to get minutes? If he can carve out a role as an athletic and strong defensive specialist who can pull down some boards and hit the open three, it will go a long way to helping Duke's defense get back to where it belongs among the elite in the nation.

[MChambers]

Duke put in its best defensive performance of the young season last night. I'm hoping we can continue that momentum. Also of note: Amile grabbed 6 boards in only 19 min, Rasheed grabbed 4 in 13 min, and Andre and Matt grabbed 3 apiece in 18 and 14 minutes, respectively. That was some much needed rebounding from our guards. I hope to see the defense turn in another great performance which should (hopefully) include continued improvement from our guards on the boards.

Also, this really does look to be perhaps the deepest team since 1997-1999. Rasheed, who, to my eyes, has looked improved on offense and continues to play great defense, barely played a quarter of the game. This happened not because he was playing poorly, but because guys like Semi, Andre, and Matt were also playing great defense when they were in the game. I know the rotation was influenced a bit by the back-to-back games, but this team is seriously deep on the perimeter. Quinn, Rodney, Rasheed, Tyler, Andre, and Matt make for a devastating rotation. Meanwhile, Semi really played well last night. Will he continue to get minutes? If he can carve out a role as an athletic and strong defensive specialist who can pull down some boards and hit the open three, it will go a long way to helping Duke's defense get back to where it belongs among the elite in the nation.

Coach K said that Rasheed is under the weather right now. That probably contributed to his limited minutes.

[roywhite]

Here's what I know about ECU Basketball:

The coach is Jeff Lebo, who played for El-Deano at UNC in the late 1980's; Lebo has been in coaching for a while, including a stint at Auburn
They finished last year 23-12 and won the College Insiders post-season tournament
In a program which doesn't have great tradition, a season with 20+ victories was very welcome and they got good fan support
So far this year, they are 4-0, and won last night

Any other info on players, etc.?

[MChambers]

Here's what I know about ECU Basketball:

The coach is Jeff Lebo, who played for El-Deano at UNC in the late 1980's; Lebo has been in coaching for a while, including a stint at Auburn
They finished last year 23-12 and won the College Insiders post-season tournament
In a program which doesn't have great tradition, a season with 20+ victories was very welcome and they got good fan support
So far this year, they are 4-0, and won last night

Any other info on players, etc.?

Just from skimming the stats and roster, it looks like the Pirates are not particularly big, with only two players over 6'7", and only one of those getting many minutes. The two leading scorers are guards, and are capable of shooting threes.

There is a 6'7" freshman forward, Brandan Stith, from Lawrenceville, VA, who is off to an impressive start, making 70% of his shots, and who is the son of UVa star Bryant Stith. How did we miss on him? (Just kidding.)

[Kedsy]

Duke put in its best defensive performance of the young season last night. I'm hoping we can continue that momentum. Also of note: Amile grabbed 6 boards in only 19 min, Rasheed grabbed 4 in 13 min, and Andre and Matt grabbed 3 apiece in 18 and 14 minutes, respectively. That was some much needed rebounding from our guards. I hope to see the defense turn in another great performance which should (hopefully) include continued improvement from our guards on the boards.

Also, this really does look to be perhaps the deepest team since 1997-1999. Rasheed, who, to my eyes, has looked improved on offense and continues to play great defense, barely played a quarter of the game. This happened not because he was playing poorly, but because guys like Semi, Andre, and Matt were also playing great defense when they were in the game. I know the rotation was influenced a bit by the back-to-back games, but this team is seriously deep on the perimeter. Quinn, Rodney, Rasheed, Tyler, Andre, and Matt make for a devastating rotation. Meanwhile, Semi really played well last night. Will he continue to get minutes? If he can carve out a role as an athletic and strong defensive specialist who can pull down some boards and hit the open three, it will go a long way to helping Duke's defense get back to where it belongs among the elite in the nation.

I agree with most of this but I have a couple nits. First of all, while I agree Semi played very well against UNCA -- he hustled for loose balls, grabbed several rebounds, and was outstanding on offense -- I just haven't seen anything from him that suggests he could play the defensive specialist role, at least right now and probably this season. He has the tools to be a really good defensive player, perhaps as soon as next season. His speed, strength, and jumping ability are off-the-charts. But right now his defensive positioning and rotation doesn't look like it's quite there yet. That said, I hope he can get some regular minutes over the next month or so and maybe be ready to contribute once the ACC season rolls around, although obviously hope and expectation aren't the same thing.

Second, while the 1997-98 team was in fact quite deep, I would argue our current squad is much deeper than the 1998-99 team. The '99 squad only had nine recruited scholarship players (albeit nine pretty good ones) while this year's team has 12 and all of them have the potential and ability to contribute. I suppose everybody's definition of "depth" is different, but this year's team might be the deepest K has ever had.

[davekay1971]

Lebo coaches ECU? Then we must destroy ECU tonight. The hallowed sanctity of Cameron Indoor Stadium cannot be desecrated by the filth of Tarheel-dom. It's unfortunate for the ECU players...but they should have known when they chose to play for a coach with UNC's stench all over him that, to paraphrase Marcellus Wallace, they lost their Cameron Indoor Stadium privileges.

[OldPhiKap]

Oh, no, Not LEBO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NYBri]

Meanwhile, Semi really played well last night. Will he continue to get minutes? If he can carve out a role as an athletic and strong defensive specialist who can pull down some boards and hit the open three, it will go a long way to helping Duke's defense get back to where it belongs among the elite in the nation.

Semi's easiest path to more minutes is rebounding and defense. Offense is icing, but we can get that from any number of places...rebounding and defense, not so much.

[NYBri]

Just from skimming the stats and roster, it looks like the Pirates are not particularly big, with only two players over 6'7", and only one of those getting many minutes. The two leading scorers are guards, and are capable of shooting threes.

There is a 6'7" freshman forward, Brandan Stith, from Lawrenceville, VA, who is off to an impressive start, making 70% of his shots, and who is the son of UVa star Bryant Stith. How did we miss on him? (Just kidding.)

Bryant Stith. Nice player. I remember cursing him a few times in the 80's.

[NYBri]

Lebo coaches ECU? Then we must destroy ECU tonight. The hallowed sanctity of Cameron Indoor Stadium cannot be desecrated by the filth of Tarheel-dom. It's unfortunate for the ECU players...but they should have known when they chose to play for a coach with UNC's stench all over him that, to paraphrase Marcellus Wallace, they lost their Cameron Indoor Stadium privileges.

I bit intense, but I get the sentiment.

[COYS]

.

Second, while the 1997-98 team was in fact quite deep, I would argue our current squad is much deeper than the 1998-99 team. The '99 squad only had nine recruited scholarship players (albeit nine pretty good ones) while this year's team has 12 and all of them have the potential and ability to contribute. I suppose everybody's definition of "depth" is different, but this year's team might be the deepest K has ever had.

I made a typo and said 1997-1999 instead of 1997-1998. I also don't consider the '99 team to be quite as deep as the '98 team. My bad.

[Lar77]

Lebo coaches ECU? Then we must destroy ECU tonight. The hallowed sanctity of Cameron Indoor Stadium cannot be desecrated by the filth of Tarheel-dom. It's unfortunate for the ECU players...but they should have known when they chose to play for a coach with UNC's stench all over him that, to paraphrase Marcellus Wallace, they lost their Cameron Indoor Stadium privileges.

"I live in a yurt on the Mongolian steppes, but if I were in Durham I'd slither in a Duke blue speedo over broken glass covered in salt and pay $350 dollars for an obstructed-view seat to watch Duke play against some random dudes from the Y."

Crush your enemies

[oldnavy]

Doesn't matter who the opponent is, let me tell you what is guaranteed for this game:

-Tyler will hit 1 3pt. Not 0, not 2, but 1.
-Quinn will turn the ball over 1 time. He will have at least 4 assists (and I'd bet on 6+)
-Hood will shoot better than 50% from the floor
-Jabari will either get a double-double or get really close (8/9 rebounds)
-Andre will smile like a fat kid in a candy store
-Amile will have at least 1 offensive rebound & put back
-Coach K will not call a timeout until minus-2 min to play in the 1st half

Any takers?

I'll take a chance on the Tyler prediction, I say he hits two...

You can have the rest, not touching those.

Winner gets a pitchfork????

[oldnavy]

Lebo coaches ECU? Then we must destroy ECU tonight. The hallowed sanctity of Cameron Indoor Stadium cannot be desecrated by the filth of Tarheel-dom. It's unfortunate for the ECU players...but they should have known when they chose to play for a coach with UNC's stench all over him that, to paraphrase Marcellus Wallace, they lost their Cameron Indoor Stadium privileges.

I actually went out drinking with Lebo back in the day. He worked for the same company my best friend did. The company was owned by a BIG, BIG UNC supporter, so it was basically workfare for Lebo, but anyway we all hit the town in CH for a night out. He was at the time a VERY NICE and quite HUMBLE dude... that was the only time I have ever seen him. My friend that worked with him has stayed in contact some and he says he is still a "cool" guy.

I wish him nothing but MAJOR success at ECU (spent 3 years there myself), but I hope it starts after tonight. Go Devils!!

[flyingdutchdevil]

I'll take a chance on the Tyler prediction, I say he hits two...

You can have the rest, not touching those.

Winner gets a pitchfork????

On Tyler, done. He's hit one three in all four games.

Btw - what I love about this team so far (I know, it's early) is the consistency. Quinn, Tyler, Jabari, and Hood are consistent players. Very similar to Scheyer, Singler, and Smith during the 09-10 team (and you can add Zoubs to that once he broke out).

I have no doubt that Rasheed will join that club soon. And let's hope that Amile joins that club as well sometime this season.

[bbosbbos]

I think Hood was not that self confident in the KU game. He probably thought too much.

Btw - what I love about this team so far (I know, it's early) is the consistency. Quinn, Tyler, Jabari, and Hood are consistent players.