MOTM: Duke vs Florida State (Feb 23, 2012)

[Bob Green]

Who was the Man-of-the-Match?

[OldPhiKap]

Who was the Man-of-the-Match?

"I'll take Andre for three, Bob"

[Bluedevil114]

It had to be Rivers for the all around game. He was great on offense and defense. Great steal at the end when we could not get a rebound to save our lives. Dawkins shot great but it was not a complete game on both sides.

[superdave]

I have to go with Miles. He played his butt off. He stepped up big. This game was huge for us and he played strong wire to wire.

[PADukeMom]

Who was the Man-of-the-Match?

Either 'Dre or Miles.

[Bob Green]

"I'll take Andre for three, Bob"

I agree! Dawkins was "El Hombre" tonight!

[gcashwell]

Miles, Andre, and rRivers.

Seth and Kelly even hit some big shots.

[pamtar]

Nobody played bad, save Mason, but Andre put us in position to win. Great, great effort my Miles too. Had he kept it up in the second half he would have easily won my vote. Alas, the giant POS Teddy Valentine shut him down...

[MCFinARL]

Austin and Miles both made important contributions--and Miles really set the tone at the beginning, which was big. But Andre was the difference maker in this game.

[weezie]

It became very apparent that this team is now looking like a tough Duke team. Great effort all over the court.

[jv001]

Couldn't go wrong with either Austin, Miles, Ryan, Seth but my vote goes to Andre for the lift he gave us in the first half. Those threes were very big, especially for our confidence. Miles is one tough dude. GoDuke!

[devildeac]

Voted for Miles as he did the dirty work, even with 2-3 really cheap calls by teddy "the show" valentine. Can easily see votes for Dre and AR, too. Really fine games for both of them.

[Ggallagher]

Miles and Ryan were in the middle of lots of plays that took opportunities away from FSU. Oh - and Andre dropped a few on them, too. Tough pick for me, but I'll give it to Miles, with Ryan right behind him.

[SCMatt33]

I'm voting for Austin for two reasons, toughness and aggression. He tweaked his ankle twice during the game, both times caused by an FSU player who didn't get called for a foul, but he just seemed to come back and take it at them. I think he got a little wild a couple times, notably at the start of the second half where he hit threes on the first two possessions, and then appeared to have an open drive the next time down, but pulled it back out to take a contested three that missed badly. Overall, though he was the most aggressive guy on the floor, and was willing to challenge the FSU defense all the way to the rim, hustled well for loose balls, got that huge steal at the end, and had 4 assists to just 2 turnovers. I think the next big step for Austin (which probably won't happen this year) is for him to let the game come to him in terms of his decision making. Too often, he seems to make up his mind on drive, pull up or pass before he starts his move. For a freshman, though, that's a rare thing to have, and hopefully, he takes another year here to develop it.

[jacone21]

Voted for Austin for his solid perimiter defensive work. No game winning 3s from FSU tonight and Austin was a big part of that. He also hit his free throws when the game was on the line. He played like a man and a winner.

[bluedevil31]

If I could split my vote, it would be between Andre and Austin but I've got to pick one and that's Andre. He set the tone in the first half and gave them confidence going into the second half. Great effort though as a team.

[wallyman]

I'm voting for Austin for two reasons, toughness and aggression. He tweaked his ankle twice during the game, both times caused by an FSU player who didn't get called for a foul, but he just seemed to come back and take it at them. I think he got a little wild a couple times, notably at the start of the second half where he hit threes on the first two possessions, and then appeared to have an open drive the next time down, but pulled it back out to take a contested three that missed badly. Overall, though he was the most aggressive guy on the floor, and was willing to challenge the FSU defense all the way to the rim, hustled well for loose balls, got that huge steal at the end, and had 4 assists to just 2 turnovers. I think the next big step for Austin (which probably won't happen this year) is for him to let the game come to him in terms of his decision making. Too often, he seems to make up his mind on drive, pull up or pass before he starts his move. For a freshman, though, that's a rare thing to have, and hopefully, he takes another year here to develop it.

Loved what Andre did and Miles was tough as nails. But Austin does so much. Has a Duke freshman ever improved as much before our eyes? The steal was a thing of beauty and the guy is just so tough. Kudos to all but MOTM to Austin...

[UrinalCake]

Hard to pick just one guy tonight as so many players stepped up and made big plays. If "The Defense" was an option, I'd vote for that 8-).

[greybeard]

I have to go with Miles. He played his butt off. He stepped up big. This game was huge for us and he played strong wire to wire.

Agreed.

I can only add that I was really impressed by Miles' on offense. In particular, I really liked one move along the baseline; Miles beat the guy, slowed and with poise took it under the rim to score. We see more of that kind of play, watch out. He also was sprinting out to set picks with a focus and purpose that reminded me of, dare I say it, the Z man.

Miles has had a collection of really good games lately. If he continues to play without rushing on offense, and with the confidence he is showing, he might well take a very talented group a step or two higher. He did tonight, playing "strong wire to wire," as superdave says. Without Miles' effective play against State's talented front line, I don't think that the considerable contributions of his teammates would have mattered. I vote for Miles.

[magjayran]

Dre's shooting in the first was huge but I thought Austin was better all around. I love this kid.

[SupaDave]

The bigs opened it up for Dre. Dre opened it up for Austin. And all our guards figured out how to get past FSU's over playing guards to the basket - which I believe was HUGE.

Quote of the night: "We've gotta get someone on Dawkins. He didn't miss a shot the whole first half" Well he did miss a COUPLE.

BUT that 3 off the rebound was nothing but pure being in the moment. If he's good like that for a half every game we are pretty much unstoppable.

I stated early that Andre was the key. He really IS the JJ of this team and I'm glad he's finally starting to play like a star. At this point he's had a lot more up games than down and he just may be rounding into form (remember the kid is still only supposed to be a SOPH).

Yesterday was certainly Dre Day.

[elvis14]

I voted for Miles. I thought he anchored the team last night. Sometime during last night's game I realized that Miles is my favorite player on this team. He's not the best player and I know his weaknesses but I just want him to succeed so much.

[PADukeMom]

I stated early that Andre was the key. He really IS the JJ of this team and I'm glad he's finally starting to play like a star. At this point he's had a lot more up games than down and he just may be rounding into form (remember the kid is still only supposed to be a SOPH).

Yesterday was certainly Dre Day.

With all due respects and as much as I love 'Dre & voted for him, he is nowhere near JJ. JJ was money 99% of the time. With 'Dre, Seth, Austin you never know which one is going to have the hot hand that night. It seems to be one game a player is unstoppable the next game he couldn't hit the ocean standing on shore. That is when one of our other guards gets hot. When JJ was here I trusted the ball in his hands.

[SupaDave]

With all due respects and as much as I love 'Dre & voted for him, he is nowhere near JJ. JJ was money 99% of the time. With 'Dre, Seth, Austin you never know which one is going to have the hot hand that night. It seems to be one game a player is unstoppable the next game he couldn't hit the ocean standing on shore. That is when one of our other guards gets hot. When JJ was here I trusted the ball in his hands.

99% of the time? That's the problem right THERE!!! No - JJ was not!! In his freshmen and sophomore years he was a MAJOR defensive liability and it wasn't until Coach K challenged him that he came back with a vengeance his junior year. JJ shot just 23% overall his freshmen year and ended at 35% by his senior year. His 3pt percentage was 39% his freshmen season and hopped up to 42% by his senior year.

JJ got to shoot a WHOLE lot more than Dre and it was certainly needed his last two years but now I would politely like for you to go look at Andre's stats. He's on course to double the amount of 3's he shot as a spot duty freshmen - at 42% a clip no less which may have increased last night.

http://statsheet.com/mcb/players/player/duke/jj-redick

http://statsheet.com/mcb/players/player/duke/andre-dawkins

[Bob Green]

It seems to be one game a player is unstoppable the next game he couldn't hit the ocean standing on shore.

Andre Dawkins is now #1 in the ACC in 3 PT FG% at 42.2%. Stating, "the next game he couldn't hit the ocean standing on shore" is grossly inaccurate. Dawkins is a great shooter.

[Kedsy]

99% of the time? That's the problem right THERE!!! No - JJ was not!! In his freshmen and sophomore years he was a MAJOR defensive liability and it wasn't until Coach K challenged him that he came back with a vengeance his junior year. JJ shot just 23% overall his freshmen year and ended at 35% by his senior year. His 3pt percentage was 39% his freshmen season and hopped up to 42% by his senior year.

JJ got to shoot a WHOLE lot more than Dre and it was certainly needed his last two years but now I would politely like for you to go look at Andre's stats. He's on course to double the amount of 3's he shot as a spot duty freshmen - at 42% a clip no less which may have increased last night.

http://statsheet.com/mcb/players/player/duke/jj-redick

http://statsheet.com/mcb/players/player/duke/andre-dawkins

Sorry, Supadave, but you're not quite right on this one. You're looking at his "shot %," which is the percentage of his team's shots that he takes when he's on the floor. That ranged from 23% of his team's shots his freshman year to 35% his senior year.

His shooting percentage was much, much higher. JJ shot 41% his freshman year (39.9%, i.e., 40% from three, better than Andre's freshman year), and ended at 47% his senior year (42% from three, pretty much exactly what Andre's shooting now).

Your larger point, that Andre just as reliable a shooter, although with many fewer shots, I completely agree with.

[SupaDave]

Sorry, Supadave, but you're not quite right on this one. You're looking at his "shot %," which is the percentage of his team's shots that he takes when he's on the floor. That ranged from 23% of his team's shots his freshman year to 35% his senior year.

His shooting percentage was much, much higher. JJ shot 41% his freshman year (39.9%, i.e., 40% from three, better than Andre's freshman year), and ended at 47% his senior year (42% from three, pretty much exactly what Andre's shooting now).

Your larger point, that Andre just as reliable a shooter, although with many fewer shots, I completely agree with.

Oh that's a tricky little stat there. I assumed it to be his overall shot percentage. But otherwise we are in total agreement. On another team (and allowed to not play defense) Dre could easily avg. 20 ppg.

[BluDvlsN1]

Pretty easy to make a case in 3 different directions!

Miles played great and smart and I am so happy for him, if a point value for all his game contributions were in place he would be right there.

Austin has turned into that guy we wanted and needed this year, points yes 3's and penetration, and now with smart dishes that result in good looks, his all around hustle,diving for balls, really moving his feet on defense,
He is leading by example as a freshman, but a case can be made, in basketball terms, he is NO LONGER, a freshman.

I voted for Andre, because the sheer volume of the three's in the first half, created some seperation, put some doubt in the Noles, and the team continued to respond from there throughout the game.

What a problem, needed three votes.

[Kedsy]

Oh that's a tricky little stat there. I assumed it to be his overall shot percentage. But otherwise we are in total agreement. On another team (and allowed to not play defense) Dre could easily avg. 20 ppg.

I agree. If Andre was "the guy" that all his teammates were always looking to pass to and set screens for, he'd be an all-conference player (in any conference). I even think he plays better defense when he's scoring more, so the "allowed not to play D" might not even be an issue.

[SupaDave]

I voted for Andre, because the sheer volume of the three's in the first half, created some seperation, put some doubt in the Noles, and the team continued to respond from there throughout the game.

It's b/c FSU employed the "anybody but Dre" defense in the second half while Austin was putting daggers in their heart to start the half. Teams used to do it to JJ all the time (which is one of the reasons he became so good off the screen).

Right now the whole team's confidence is high. They are feeling strong. I saw a few possessions last night where everyone touched the ball. It was a thing of beauty.