MBB: Duke vs. Santa Clara Pre-Game and In-Game Thread

[Bob Green]

Santa Clara visits CIS tomorrow at 12 pm with coverage on ESPN2. Discuss the game here. The first thing I'll be looking for is a healthy and contributing Marshall Plumlee.

[subzero02]

I want to see a solid defensive effort as a team and a continuation of great play from MP2.

[BD80]

Santa had a pretty big night 4 nights ago, may not yet have fully recovered.

[robed deity]

Don't know much about Santa Clara, but they come in 11-2 and a respectable 89 on kenpom. Could be a tough game if the Devils have any holiday hangover.

[awhom111]

I am a little bored and tired of watching ACC teams lose to Big East ones in bowl games, so I thought I would write a little blurb about the Broncos. I am one of the Norcal people on this board and the parts of five or so Santa Clara games that I watch per year is probably more than most other users, so I feel obligated to write something.

Santa Clara enters the game 11-2 with both losses coming in overtime. While that may sound impressive, their schedule has been extremely weak. They did win at Saint Louis and had a solidish win at future WCC team Pacific. They did beat Cal Poly, which is more than can be said about the other team in an ugly shade of blue that is the hated rival of a school that I earned a degree from.

While the team lacks quality bench players, they do have four solid players. The best one overall is probably forward Marc Trasolini, but Ryan should be a good matchup for him on the defensive end. Both of their guards can handle the ball and create with Evan Roquemore leading the team in assists and Kevin Foster leading the team in scoring. Raymond Cowels III is their next biggest offensive threat. The team is experienced so it is possible that they will not be easily intimidated, but they have not faced a test that is nearly as difficult as Duke so far.

[Edouble]

I want to see a solid defensive effort as a team and a continuation of great play from MP2.

In all seriousness, has there been "great play" at this point from Marshall? The one game that he played in was blacked out in my area, so I have not seen him play yet. I did not get the impression that he did anything earth shattering.

I am most interested in seeing the continued development of Amile and Murphy. I suspect that Murphy's PT will cool by the time the beef of the conference play is underway, but I think (and hope) that Amile is going to continue to stay in the rotation.

[CDu]

In all seriousness, has there been "great play" at this point from Marshall? The one game that he played in was blacked out in my area, so I have not seen him play yet. I did not get the impression that he did anything earth shattering.

I am most interested in seeing the continued development of Amile and Murphy. I suspect that Murphy's PT will cool by the time the beef of the conference play is underway, but I think (and hope) that Amile is going to continue to stay in the rotation.

MP2 is Mason. Marshall is MP3.

Mason has indeed had plenty of great play. Marshall hasn't had enough playing time to show anything other than energy.

[Edouble]

MP2 is Mason. Marshall is MP3.

Mason has indeed had plenty of great play. Marshall hasn't had enough playing time to show anything other than energy.

Oh, whoops, I read that as MP3. I have like 8 windows open and I'm flying through work and fun stuff. Don't mix business and pleasure, kids.

[Bob Green]

Vegas has Duke as an 18 point favorite with the over/under set at 149.5 so the oddsmakers are expecting a score in the neighborhood of 84-66.

[subzero02]

I wonder what kenpom is predicting score-wise???...hmmmm

[loran16]

I wonder what kenpom is predicting score-wise???...hmmmm


Vegas has Duke as an 18 point favorite with the over/under set at 149.5 so the oddsmakers are expecting a score in the neighborhood of 84-66.

Pomeroy is expecting an 86-63 final score - so even bigger than Vegas.

[Olympic Fan]

Agree that Santa Clara is solid, but maybe not as good as its 11-2 record. Actually, two of the wins have come over non-D1 competition. The win at St. Louis is solid, but that's the only win over a top 150 team.

They do have a fairly experienced team, starting three seniors and a junior. Looks like both Foster and Roquemore are good distributors.

Not a lot of size -- they do have a 7-footer who averages about 14 minutes a game. Doesn't look like he does a lot. The 6-9 Trasolini is far and away their best frontcourt player.

They are projected 5th in ther WCC. That's actually pretty good after going 0-16 in the league last year. But that was after Trasolini missed the entire year with an injury and Foster was suspended at midseason.

[Bob Green]

The 6-9 Trasolini is far and away their best frontcourt player.

Here is a nice preview from the San Jose Mercury News that discusses Marc Trasolini and his match-up against Mason Plumlee:

http://www.mercurynews.com/scu-broncos/ci_22275053/santa-clara-takes-no-1-duke


The 6-foot-9 Canadian, who missed all of last season because of a knee injury, is averaging 16.3 points this season, including 23.7 over the past three games.

[Saratoga2]

I would like to see a little fire in our players action from the get go in this game. There are many characteristics which make up any basketball players value and we have talked about them oftentimes throughout the season, but the one that interests me in this game is the fire that makes the players go out and want to be dominant. We have Quinn, Tyler, Rasheed, Amile, Alex and Josh who always seem to bring that fire, but we also have slow starters at times in Ryan, Seth (injuries) and even Mason. Since they are the senior leaders, it is important that they set the example in this game and games which follow.

[riverside6]

Live tempo based stats for duke/Santa Clara here http://www.scacchoops.com/ViewHDGame.asp?hSchedule=14527

[DukieInBrasil]

As my screen name implies, i am currently in Brasil. Are there any ways to watch the game online?
peace

[Oriole Way]

Is Amile Jefferson hurt/sick, or just not in the rotation thus far today?

[SupaDave]

This Kevin Foster kid is bananas...

[Indoor66]

This Kevin Foster kid is bananas...

Going Bootsy

[chaosmage]

if we focus on him, do they have weapons to keep them in? Or are they a one man show?

[SupaDave]

if we focus on him, do they have weapons to keep them in? Or are they a one man show?

One man show and let's give some serious props to Thornton's defense in the last few seconds.

[lotusland]

They are defending us well and really collapsing on penetration. Duke needs to pick up their dribble quicker and find open shooters. It's going to be tough getting to the rim but shooters are open on the double teams

[SupaDave]

That's if both teams can stay off the free throw line. Very tight game being called.

[Les Grossman]

we win

[DukeWarhead]

Need to get fired up in some way at the half. I'm hoping to get and stay aggressive. Keep going at Foster on the offensive end, maybe get him a few minutes on the bench.

Gotta protect, home court, guys. Get pissed.

[CLW]

bad free throw shooting and a lackluster effort particularly early in the first half (a recurring theme recently). foster went off in the 1st half need to contain him in the 2nd and finish this game early in the 2nd half with a huge run to start the half.

[CDu]

if we focus on him, do they have weapons to keep them in? Or are they a one man show?

Roquemore, Clark, and Trasolini are more than capable of giving us trouble as well.

Not pleased with the return of bad FT-shooting Mason. After a terrific start, he has shot 18-38 from the line in his last 4.5 games.

[subzero02]

Strong hard nosed defense needed in the 2nd half... Force some perimeter turnovers in the passing lanes, anticipate and fight through the screens. Avoid putting them on the foul line.

[gep]

Not pleased with the return of bad FT-shooting Mason. After a terrific start, he has shot 18-38 from the line in his last 4.5 games.

I wonder if Mason's "thinking too much" again... :confused:

[sagegrouse]

While I am getting tired of relying on 2nd half surges, we need to go to the well one more time.

sage

[CDu]

I wonder if Mason's "thinking too much" again... :confused:

I'm more inclined to believe that he was simply getting unusually good fortune early in the season, and things are reverting back to normal. His form looks the same. It wasn't pretty even when it was working early on, and it still isn't pretty.

[CLW]

apparently we are just going to sleep through this one and see if we can pull it out in the final minutes. :confused:

sorry effort coming out in the 2nd half.

[subzero02]

Our missed free throws are becoming the primary theme behind our struggles today.

[CDu]

Our missed free throws are becoming the primary theme behind our struggles today.

I'd say that's one of the themes behind our struggles. There's more going on than just missing free throws.

[Philadukie]

Wow. Can't believe we're playing this bad. If the effort doesn't change, we are going to lose. To an unranked team. At home.

We have to wake up.

[Les Grossman]

refs calling everything...and nothings

[CDu]

I'll say this though. Despite his bad free throw shooting, Mason isn't getting cheated on effort. He's doing his best to keep us in this.

[DukieInBrasil]

apparently we are just going to sleep through this one and see if we can pull it out in the final minutes. :confused:

sorry effort coming out in the 2nd half.

Has there been ANY effort in the second half? 3 pts in 5 minutes? Doesn't seem like the team is really in the game.

[Les Grossman]

Has there been ANY effort in the second half? 3 pts in 5 minutes? Doesn't seem like the team is really in the game.

Mason is playing hard

[CDu]

Seniors are carrying us today:

Mason: 13 points, 8 rebounds, 1 block
Curry: 16 points, 6-9 shooting
Kelly: 9 rebounds (5 offensive)

[SupaDave]

being shown. Santa Clara is just playing the kind of defense that you cant play with a 5 man rotation - and win against a team like Duke without being VERY good on the offensive side. Eventually the fouls catch up to you.

[Les Grossman]

good stuff

[CLW]

25 minutes into a 40 minute game they finally wake up and start to play a bit. that may work against santa clara but won't in the ACC or in the tourny.

[CDu]

Seniors are carrying us today:

Mason: 13 points, 8 rebounds, 1 block
Curry: 16 points, 6-9 shooting
Kelly: 9 rebounds (5 offensive)

Curry up to 19, Mason up to 9 rebounds and 2 assists, Kelly in double digits for rebounds. Senior leadership is huge when you aren't playing well as a team.

[rhynelander]

Our freethrow and layup shooting today is alarming. Nice to see us get tested at home though.

[subzero02]

Sulaimon has missed about 4 layups in the second half

[CDu]

Seth Curry just dropping the hammer on Santa Clara.

[Les Grossman]

Seth Curry just dropping the hammer on Santa Clara.
showing no sign of leg problems today. Guess that is behind him?

[uh_no]

showing no sign of leg problems today. Guess that is behind him?

no.

he hasn't had problems with games. he just is severely restricted in practice, and they mentioned he only practiced a little yesterday, and nothing before then.

[CDu]

Well, it hasn't been pretty. In fact, for the first 25 minutes, it looked pretty awful. But the cream appears to be rising to the top. Curry has dominated the second half, and Mason and Kelly are dominating the boards.

[captmojo]

MOTM already. I kinda like Seth's game today. Way to step it up!

Not bad overall for the team, considering the layoff.

[lotusland]

being shown. Santa Clara is just playing the kind of defense that you cant play with a 5 man rotation - and win against a team like Duke without being VERY good on the offensive side. Eventually the fouls catch up to you.

Looks like we've worn them down finally. Gotta give them credit for effort though. Good test going in to conference play

[JBDuke]

showing no sign of leg problems today. Guess that is behind him?

Nope. According to ESPN's crew, Seth didn't practice yesterday due to the continuing issues. However, having more than a week of rest probably helps him be much fresher in this game, as compared to the Elon game last week.

[Les Grossman]

at the FT line

[captmojo]

Foster's a beast.

[SupaDave]

Mason's rebounding has been superb this game. He's got to have near 15.

[dchen09]

We're not getting easy shots around the rim. Its a combination of bad positioning by Mason Plumlee and missed layups. Plumlee still gets pushed out of position way too easily. He seems to get to maybe 7ft out and as he's waiting for the pass he gets pushed out to 15 ft out. Its hard for him to get an easy shot when he gets the ball 15 ft out every single time. He also seems lazy getting positioning on the defensive end. Seems to get sealed off alot opening up the lane for the drive.

Edit: 5:24 instead of boxing out on trasolini, he just stands still. This lets Trasolini get an easy layup on an offensive board.

[captmojo]

Mason is showing great composure on breakaways to not go into the endzone crowd...or break a metatarsal.

[uh_no]

Mason's rebounding has been superb this game. He's got to have near 15.

12

i think they probably didn't count the rebounds he had that became immediate turnovers.

[CDu]

12

i think they probably didn't count the rebounds he had that became immediate turnovers.

No, I believe they counted those (see the 12:51 mark and the 12:20 mark of the second half in the play-by-play below). He's just had a very loud 12.

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/playbyplay?gameId=323640150

[uh_no]

No, I believe they counted those (see the 12:51 mark and the 12:20 mark of the second half in the play-by-play below). He's just had a very loud 12.

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/playbyplay?gameId=323640150

ah okay. didn't think to look there. kelly stole 10 rebounds from him, so i can see why he ONLY got 12 :)

[captmojo]

R e h b u l l s
R e h b u l l s
gthc!