MBB: Duke vs Penn Pre-Game and In-Game Thread

[Bob Green]

Penn is 0-8 on the year with an average margin of defeat of 15.4 points. In their most recent game, on December 28th, the Quakers were beaten by Davidson (http://www.pennathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=8624&SPID=539&ATCLID=204862843&DB_OEM_ID=1700) 79 - 50.

[Saratoga2]

This looks like a game where the bench will play a great deal of the time. Good opportunitiy for coach K to try combinations for extended periods.

[davidson]

One interesting note from the Davidson-Penn game on Monday - Denzel Washington was at Davidson (along with family) to watch his son. Malcolm Washington is a freshman at Penn - scored three points in limited action. If Denzel made the trip to Davidson, its probably a good bet that he'll be at Cameron as well.

My favorite Denzel quip of the night was someone noting that we won by Malcolm XXIX points.

[RainingThrees]

The real question is how many minutes Casey peters will get and if he does how many points will he have. Hopefully he'll get in there, as i haven't seen him in the game for a while. I kinda feel bad for Penn though, no wins and they have to come into Cameron.

[Lord Ash]

This looks like a game where the bench will play a great deal of the time. Good opportunitiy for coach K to try combinations for extended periods.

Heh heh heh... famous last words;)

[BlueintheFace]

If the Plumlees don't both get 25 min+ K should be fired. End of story.

[PumpkinFunk]

My brother goes to Penn (and was actually asked to write up this game for their newspaper), but they're a terrible team again this year, with prospects looking dim. When their coach left for Temple a few years back, it killed the program (plus, I'm sure Cornell's rise and Amaker joining the Ivy League couldn't hurt) for the present. This should be an easy W.

[Tim1515]

If the Plumlees don't both get 25 min+ K should be fired. End of story.

Why is that? K is trying to prove to the freshman and Miles that they need to be consistent on defense to earn time. 3 blocks and 4 missed assignments isn't a good mix.

It is better to play them anyway and hope they figure things out...or make a point so they get it now? Hopefully that point was made against Long Beach and we will see them 20+. 25+ is asking a lot.

[Ultrarunner]

Why is that? K is trying to prove to the freshman and Miles that they need to be consistent on defense to earn time. 3 blocks and 4 missed assignments isn't a good mix.

It is better to play them anyway and hope they figure things out...or make a point so they get it now? Hopefully that point was made against Long Beach and we will see them 20+. 25+ is asking a lot.

I think maybe you missed the sarcasm.

[SCMatt33]

Penn actually fired their coach already this year. The guy that they hired to replaced Fran Dunphy was completely inadequate for the unique challenges of coaching an Ivy league team. With Penn's basketball tradition, a good coach should get them back in three to five years. But for now, they're just bench fodder and and RPI black hole for us.

[ChicagoCrazy84]

My boy Robbie Belcore is in his 2nd year at Penn. I didn't play with him at Loyola in Chicago cause I was a senior on the varsity squad and he didn't get moved up until he was a sophomore, but I played with him quite a bit for fun and his sister was good friend's with my best friend's sister.

I texted him earlier today, "Are you guarding Scheyer tomorrow?"

He texts back 5 minutes later, "define guarding"

Me: "lol"

Rob: "I don't know who I hate more, you or Duke"

Me: "I love you too"

[BlueintheFace]

I think maybe you missed the sarcasm.

yah, just poking a little fun

[striker219]

My boy Robbie Belcore is in his 2nd year at Penn...I texted him earlier today, "Are you guarding Scheyer tomorrow?"

He texts back 5 minutes later, "define guarding"

Me: "lol"

Rob: "I don't know who I hate more, you or Duke"

Me: "I love you too"

That's so awesome I just wanted it to be on the screen again.

[DevilHorns]

I hate to be overtly overconfident for this game but I will just flat out say what I want to say. Why did we schedule this cupcake matchup at this point in the season? We're about to begin ACC play with Clemson. We should be playing a team that is at least .500. Penn a few years back would have been fine. This year they are awful.

[DukeUsul]

I hate to be overtly overconfident for this game but I will just flat out say what I want to say. Why did we schedule this cupcake matchup at this point in the season? We're about to begin ACC play with Clemson. We should be playing a team that is at least .500. Penn a few years back would have been fine. This year they are awful.

A better question might be when did we schedule this game? Was it a couple years ago when Penn was pretty decent?

[airowe]

Penn a few years back would have been fine. This year they are awful.

I think is probably the reason. Without knowing exactly when this game was sxheduled, I'd venture to say it was at least a year or two ago. No way to know how well many of the weaker OOC teams will be when they're scheduled.

Prediction: Duke 108 - Penn 64

[Duvall]

A better question might be when did we schedule this game? Was it a couple years ago when Penn was pretty decent?

I'm not sure we schedule games against teams like Penn that far out, though.

It may just be that Duke wants to schedule a couple of games against really terrible teams each year, and they might as well play one of those games against a team that will get a little bit of attention in Philadelphia and South Jersey. I dunno.

[Greg_Newton]

My boy Robbie Belcore is in his 2nd year at Penn. I didn't play with him at Loyola in Chicago cause I was a senior on the varsity squad and he didn't get moved up until he was a sophomore, but I played with him quite a bit for fun and his sister was good friend's with my best friend's sister.

I texted him earlier today, "Are you guarding Scheyer tomorrow?"

He texts back 5 minutes later, "define guarding"

Me: "lol"

Rob: "I don't know who I hate more, you or Duke"

Me: "I love you too"

Bahahahaha. POTY.

This could get real ugly. Hopefully we'll at least get to witness the long-awaited Plumlee Party. Not that it would mean much again Penn, but it would sure be a fun way to kick off the night... :rolleyes:

Happy (early) New Years to everyone!

[chrisheery]

Everyone ring in the new year with a Plumlee Party. I like the sound of that. Like two huge party favors.

[airowe]

I love 2 games within 3 days!

The players might not, but who are the games really played for? ;)

Wooooo!

[riverside6]

for those interested, we'll be carrying live stats for the duke/penn game here:

http://www.scacchoops.com/ViewHDGame.asp?hSchedule=3737

starters should be up around 5:45 ET

[riverside6]

starters are now up (http://www.scacchoops.com/ViewHDGame.asp?hSchedule=3737)...

Scheyer, Smith, Singler, Thomas, and Miles Plumlee

[Greg_Newton]

Still 5 minutes left in the 5-point Tenn-Memphis game on ESPN2... ughhhhhh...

[Jumbo]

Head over to ESPNU. They'll show it until the game ends on ESPN2.

[Oriole Way]

Wow do I ever dislike Len Elmore.

[_Gary]

It took all of four minutes for Elmore to tell the audience that Duke gets all the calls. :rolleyes:

The timing was great too because my daughter and I had just bemoaned the fact that we'd have to be listening to the game called by him. Some things never change, and Elmore pointing out that Duke will always get the calls is one of those things.

[DevilHorns]

Commentator gives a lengthy spat on how the coach for penn shouldn't argue/talk to the officials since he's playing away at duke insinuating that duke will get all the calls. sigh.

[DevilHorns]

Man I love Miles' intensity. Its so infectious.

[delfrio]

I like how one of the highlights in the game recap (for those who missed the first 8 min) was a Scheyer turnover. It's just so unusual!

[tdrake51]

Great play Jon to MP2

[Dukeface88]

Darn. I was hoping Scheyer would have a one half double-double.

[IBleedBlue]

Is this the game where scheyer would set a Duke, acc, ncaa record for assists in a game? He already has 9 by half time. :)

[delfrio]

Boo, Jay Will. Infected by the ESPN virus.

[Dukeface88]

Boo, Jay Will. Infected by the ESPN virus.

Yeah, that one hurt.

[davekay1971]

One interesting note from the Davidson-Penn game on Monday - Denzel Washington was at Davidson (along with family) to watch his son. Malcolm Washington is a freshman at Penn - scored three points in limited action. If Denzel made the trip to Davidson, its probably a good bet that he'll be at Cameron as well.

My favorite Denzel quip of the night was someone noting that we won by Malcolm XXIX points.

You know, I really enjoyed Malcolm X. I never did see Malcolm I through Malcolm IX, but they must have been pretty good to keep the series going all the way to Malcolm X. Did they ever make a Malcolm XI? If not, they should, and they should get a really good director like McG or Micheal Bay to direct it!

PS: the Plumlees are looking pretty good so far tonight... Does Jon really have 9 assists already? Too bad we don't have a point guard this year.

[Wildcat]

Guys, cmon. You have to listen with regards to context. Elmore wasn't saying Duke gets all the calls per se; he was saying, look, in the game of basketball, your'e down 30, playing a top team in the country, on the road, you gotta know that you won't get some calls. Wow, I gotta believe that you really don't understand the context in which he's mentioning it. I believe in the integrity and professionalism of commentators, some things they just won't say.

Plus, these guys probably have waaaaaaaay more experience than anyone else on this board. Just because they don't sing our praises at every whim, it's no reason to dismiss their analysis as "anti-Duke." Honestly, I enjoyed listening to Elmore's comments on Kyle's situation how he could possibly adjust and make improvements; this is coming from a Hall of Fame BIG MAN. Cmon people.

[tdrake51]

Great pass from Jon to Kyle... It really is too bad he cant make the highlight passes

[KenTankerous]

Up 35, 12 or so to go, us casual fans should not recognize any of the Duke players on the floor. Playing time seems to be a concern every time anyone transfers out of Duke. Would the more experienced posters explain why the scrubs are not playing right now? Please?

[Dukeface88]

Up 35, 12 or so to go, us casual fans should not recognize any of the Duke players on the floor. Playing time seems to be a concern every time anyone transfers out of Duke. Would the more experienced posters explain why the scrubs are not playing right now? Please?

Ryan Kelly is the only non-walkon with fewer than 10 minutes. Who exactly do you think should be getting more minutes?

[Greg_Newton]

Up 35, 12 or so to go, us casual fans should not recognize any of the Duke players on the floor. Playing time seems to be a concern every time anyone transfers out of Duke. Would the more experienced posters explain why the scrubs are not playing right now? Please?

Well, we only have 9 scholarship players, for one thing... if Steve Johnson transfers, we'll live. But yes, it is frustrating to not see the underclassmen getting more of these mop up minutes. It's getting pretty chippy, I don't really understand why the big three are still in there.

I would also like to see the ball just pounded into the post every time down. "No shots outside 10 feet" kind of thing. Porque no?

[RoyalBlue08]

Up 35, 12 or so to go, us casual fans should not recognize any of the Duke players on the floor. Playing time seems to be a concern every time anyone transfers out of Duke. Would the more experienced posters explain why the scrubs are not playing right now? Please?

All the scholarship players are rotating in and out. Playing walk ons offers the team no value. However, using this half to work on something (like the zone they are playing) allows some sort of teaching experience for the players.

BTW, if you cannot recognize the five backups on the team (assuming the five starters got benched as you suggest) you are less than a casual fan.

[KenTankerous]

I don't know their names but I know who shouldn't be on the floor - Singler, Scheyer, Zoubeck, Plumlee squared, Dawkins, Smith, Thomas, Wall and Kelly.

Oh sorry, Wall went to that other blue school.

[Dukeface88]

I don't know their names but I know who shouldn't be on the floor - Singler, Scheyer, Zoubeck, Plumlee squared, Dawkins, Smith, Thomas, Wall and Kelly.

Oh sorry, Wall went to that other blue school.

So we should be playing MP1, Johnson, Peters and Davidson? I know Penn isn't very good, but playing 4 on 5 might be a bit much.

Also, LOL at the announcers complaining about the air ball chant.

[dukebballcamper90-91]

did take time to read but has anybody mentioned freakn Denzel is the house

[KenTankerous]

30 plus up with less than ten to go in this game Speedo Guy ought to be playing, just saying.

[Duvall]

Guys, cmon. You have to listen with regards to context. Elmore wasn't saying Duke gets all the calls per se; he was saying, look, in the game of basketball, your'e down 30, playing a top team in the country, on the road, you gotta know that you won't get some calls.

Nah. Elmore was grousing from the first noncall of the game.


I believe in the integrity and professionalism of commentators, some things they just won't say.

Why?

[FireOgilvie]

30 plus up with less than ten to go in this game Speedo Guy ought to be playing, just saying.

The very end of our bench is playing with 4 minutes to go and under and we'll probably have 9 or so guys get 10 minutes or more. The end of our current bench happens to include two McDonald's AA freshmen. I saw John Wall play 30 minutes against Hartford and he came out with only a few minutes to go against Drexel (both huge blowouts).

[Wildcat]

will be reprimanded. The same reason why a person would hand over their financial information to a trusted advisor. Integrity of the profession. Unbiased