MBB: Duke vs. Louisville (2/21, 9 p.m., ESPN) Pre-Game and In-Game Thread

[jv001]

Are you guys a better team without Bagley? Is that possible?

It seems we move the ball better on offense and our defense has been very good the last 3 games. But then when MBIII was 100%, we were scoring more points. So, yes we are better with MBIII at 100%. GoDuke!

[CDu]

Not a strong, physical zone wing like Jack is.

Yep, same answer we have given to this question the past few games: O’Connell isn’t a forward, and the zone means our guards can play close to (if not exactly) 40 minutes.

[rsvman]

Remember when it was 42-21?

Good times.

[duke4ever19]

Remember when it was 42-21?

Good times.

I guess?

[TheOldBattleship]

THIS is the Grayson we've all wanted to see! Not even just the shooting; it's the sense of the moment that a senior brings to the table that I love. Team flagging a bit to start the second? The senior steps up and just takes the game over in every way for two minutes to push the run back and the lead up to 19 again. Just excellent stuff.

[rsvman]

Nevermind. Our non-slaught ended right after I posted. Louisville was on an 8-0 run and we hadn't scored in a long time, but that's ancient history now, lol.

[LasVegas]

Nevermind. Our non-slaught ended right after I posted. Louisville was on an 8-0 run and we hadn't scored in a long time, but that's ancient history now, lol.

Keep up the hard work!

[CoachJ10]

Some middle school game is missing their refs tonight. They showed up in Durham instead. An embarrassing clown show on display.

[TheOldBattleship]

Loving the Horns set with Wendell Carter distributing from one of the two elbows. He's really, really good at the dribble handoff. It's actually really tricky for a big to know when to give the ball or pull it back, when to turn and go to the triple threat or when to hold with your back to the basket, when to actually go with the drive. Carter makes excellent decisions very quickly, and almost never gets the dreaded moving screen off the handoff called on him. He's up to 5 assists so far, which, for a college center, is just absolutely outrageous. With Grayson shooting like this off of dribble handoffs, yikes. Good luck guarding that action.

[SkyBrickey]

Carter leading the team in rebounds, blocks and assists. 😳

[TheOldBattleship]

I also like what Duval has been doing on the defensive glass today. Granted, Louisville is hardly the most threatening rebounding team in the ACC, but when our bigs are forced to close out to the three-point line, in particular, Duval's length, size, and bounce has made a big difference in our team defensive rebounding. He's so big and athletic that he basically counts as an extra forward out there, and he's done a really nice job in his rotations to the weakside (this last rebound was a great example). An understated but really important part of our general rebounding dominance tonight.

[BigZ]

Grayson is garbage. Should of gone pro

[Dub]

Outside the reemergence of Grayson Allen, our communication on defense has improved soooo much. Staying in zone has made the guys so comfortable. They know they’re assignments and they play them with intensity. So great to see a Duke team starting to click on all cylinders. When MBIII is back, watch out!!!

[AtlDuke72]

Grayson is garbage. Should of gone pro

What is that supposed to mean?

[DukeWarhead]

Yes, it is rather silly to say that Duke is better without MB III. But... hot damn!

[duke4ever19]

Grayson is garbage. Should of gone pro

There's no way you are serious, so next time put this face which signifies sarcasm/roll of the eyes.

[arnie]

I think we’re gonna play a complete 40 minute game tonight.

[TheOldBattleship]

Wow. This has turned into just a complete beatdown of a legitimately solid team. Granted, Louisville has had a... tough week, let's say, but still. You don't often win games like this against tournament teams late in the ACC season. We've played outrageously well. The scary thing is that there's a lot of things that are easy to point to that HAVEN'T gone perfectly for us, too. But when Allen and Carter can play like this, saying we're impressive is an understatement.

[rsvman]

How many hands does Carter use when rebounding the ball again, Jay? It slipped my mind.

[CDu]

Wow. This has turned into just a complete beatdown of a legitimately solid team. Granted, Louisville has had a... tough week, let's say, but still. You don't often win games like this against tournament teams late in the ACC season. We've played outrageously well. The scary thing is that there's a lot of things that are easy to point to that HAVEN'T gone perfectly for us, too. But when Allen and Carter can play like this, saying we're impressive is an understatement.

To be fair, Louisville is a bubble team. But yeah, we have dominated tonight.