PDA

View Full Version : WBB: Duke 61, Texas A&M 58



CameronBornAndBred
12-06-2010, 05:05 PM
Huge game tonight in Cameron, the #5 Blue Devils take on #7 Texas A&M in Cameron. Game on ESPN2 at 7:00.
The women are just coming off a tough road trip, having won 4 in a row away. Hopefully they are rested, they will need to be tonight.
We'll be chatting in Section 21 (http://crazietalk.net/ourhouse/chat) if anyone wants to join us.

Indoor66
12-06-2010, 05:49 PM
The Duke Women vs Texas A&M will be on ESPN2 at 7:00 PM. The game is pary of the the Jimmy V Classic.

DU82
12-06-2010, 06:55 PM
There's something very wrong with covering up the Iron Duke "D" in the middle of the floor with the Jimmy V logo! (You'll see it on TV in a few minutes.)

DU82
12-06-2010, 08:09 PM
After starting cold, behind 18-10, duke went on an 18-3 run, before A&M finished with 5 straight to get back within one.

Jas started ice cold, forcing shots, before taking and making better shots. Seven points and more amazingly six rebounds. Karima took charge to start the run, and the defense settled down and stopped allowing open jumpers. The Aggies big girl (quite literally) Adams looked frustrated, and was stuffed by Krystal and others. We have to cut down the stupid turnovers and keep the defensive heat on to pull it out in the second half.

CameronBornAndBred
12-06-2010, 08:18 PM
The Aggies big girl (quite literally) Adams looked frustrated,
Announcers said her coach calls her the "round mound of rebound". LMAO!!

DU82
12-06-2010, 08:22 PM
Announcers said her coach calls her the "round mound of rebound". LMAO!!

She doesn't move with anywhere near the grace of Sir Charles. She's pretty slow, and keeps setting moving screens (of which none have been called.)

We're folding under the minimal pressure D of the Aggies. We need to take better care pf the ball, and get better spacing. A little too much dribbling up t the last cole of series.

Johnboy
12-06-2010, 09:18 PM
Way to go, women! We pulled out a tight win with solid defense and clutch shots.

CameronBornAndBred
12-06-2010, 09:23 PM
What an awesome game!! Section 21 was a blast, thanks to all who joined us. Jasmine Thomas must have nerves of steel. She makes the incredible shot for the lead, and then after a great defensive stand by the whole team is the source of quick turnover, and then makes the two free throws to seal the deal. My poor heart was pounding, I don't see how they play with such poise under that pressure. Great win women, great job Jasmine!

camion
12-06-2010, 09:32 PM
It was touch and go all the way, a very fun game to watch since we won. This is the first good look I've gotten at the women and an exciting one it was.

Way to go ladies!

burnspbesq
12-06-2010, 11:30 PM
One down (non-conference games against teams currently in the top ten), three to go.

Superb defensive performance, and Jaz was clutch.

LSanders
12-06-2010, 11:48 PM
Handed the Aggies their first loss ... SWEET!!

-bdbd
12-07-2010, 01:06 AM
That was really fun watching the Duke women play on ESPN. It seemed a bit touch-and-go down the stretch, but they pulled it out. Great, gutty win against a quality top-10 opponent. BTW, anybody else get the sense that one announcer was pulling for TAM?

It seems like we still have several kinks to work out, not the least of which is turnovers/ball handling. But this was an invaluable experience for a fairly young team.

Keep er rollin' Devils!

:cool:

DukieInKansas
12-07-2010, 10:06 AM
Congratulations on the win. It was closer than I would like - but great to get a chance to watch them play.

CameronBornAndBred
12-07-2010, 10:51 AM
DBR/CTN poster MHTorringjan has a great review of last night's game here.


If you’ve watched Duke play over the past couple of years, you’ll know that there are three main tenets to McCallieBall, as I like to call it. (1) Play hard defense, (2) rebound the ball, and (3) run the offense through the post. Last night was a clinic in McCallieBall, both in terms of the three tenets and in terms of other stats not included in the tenets.

http://crazietalk.net/?p=293

jimsumner
12-07-2010, 11:25 AM
DBR/CTN poster MHTorringjan has a great review of last night's game here.



http://crazietalk.net/?p=293


Keep in mind that this is a Texas A&M team that blew out Duke last year 95-77. A full-court press is a big part of McCallieball. Duke pressed A&M last year, A&M broke the press and it was a lay-up drill.

Duke didn't press this year and made A&M score in the half-court. So, give McCallie some credit. Also give her credit for going big zone late, playing Krystal Thomas and Vernerey together. A&M never did figure out how to attack the big zone.

This was a very physical game and the refs let them play, especially early. I think A&M's physicality knocked Duke back a bit at the beginning of the game. Duke was soft on some entry passes and soft on some dribbles.

But you're not going to out-tough Karima Christmas for very long. Duke didn't have much luck running sets; Duke only had seven assists. So, Christmas just stared barreling to the basket and daring A&M to get in her way. She changed the flow of the game, IMO.

Selby gave Duke a lift off the bench, including a big 3 late that cut the A&M lead to a point. Gray was the only freshman who played well; the others looked a bit overwhelmed.

And then there are the Thomases. Adams is a real load down low. Women's media guides don't list weights--lots of sociological subtexts here--but she looks bigger up close than she does on TV and she looks pretty big on TV. Duke has smaller linebackers. Adams begins her drives by lowering her shoulder and delivering a blow. KT absorbed those blows and just smothered Adams inside. Kudos.

Then there's Jasmine Thomas. She's not shooting all that well and I'm not convinced she's completely comfortable playing off the ball. But when the game was up for grabs, she went out and grabbed it, by the throat and didn't let it go. That go-ahead-basket with about a minute left was vintage All-American. She was like a boxer, bobbing and weaving, probing for an opening. When she found just the slighest sliver, she made the shot.

It wasn't always pretty. Duke shot 31% and had 11 more turnovers than assists. But they found a way to win, on the boards, on D, a very good win over a very good team, one in which Duke had to dig deep, the kind of win that presages good things down the road.

CameronBornAndBred
12-07-2010, 11:46 AM
Duke has smaller linebackers.
Speaking of which..it was great to see the football team there showing support.

jimsumner
12-07-2010, 12:31 PM
Speaking of which..it was great to see the football team there showing support.

Not just showing up but really getting into it. Much of the football team was in the bleachers beside the Pep Band, making some serious noise when A&M was shooting foul shots in that direction.

CameronBornAndBred
12-07-2010, 01:52 PM
Duke leapfrogged a bit, despite no losses by teams in front of them (excluding Baylor..loss early in season to UCONN) to #4 in the ESPN/USA Today poll. Xavier fell to #5.