MLax: Hoos @ Duke

[burnspbesq]

Tied 9-9 at the half. Duke's D is playing too much with their sticks and not enough with their feet. Some really strange calls have gone against Duke, and some obvious penalties on both teams have been let go.

[burnspbesq]

Not pretty, but we'll take it.

Duke came out really flat after halftime and gave up a four-goal run. Down 13-9, something suddenly locked in. They destroyed the Virginia zone for a 10-1 run. Jake Tripucka had the best offensive game of his career with three goals and four assists. After being fought to a standstill for 2 1/2 quarters, Brendan Fowler came alive and fueled the Duke run by winning seven face-offs in a row. Virginia got two meaningless late goals, but it was essentially over at 19-14.

At 5-7, with only surprising Bellarmine and the ACC Tournament left, Virginia is virtually certain to miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004.

Duke has now won 13 of the last 14 matchups against the Hoos.

Next up for Duke: Rutgers, a week from tomorrow night in Piscataway.

[MCFinARL]

Not pretty, but we'll take it.

Duke came out really flat after halftime and gave up a four-goal run. Down 13-9, something suddenly locked in. They destroyed the Virginia zone for a 10-1 run. Jake Tripucka had the best offensive game of his career with three goals and four assists. After being fought to a standstill for 2 1/2 quarters, Brendan Fowler came alive and fueled the Duke run by winning seven face-offs in a row. Virginia got two meaningless late goals, but it was essentially over at 19-14.

At 5-7, with only surprising Bellarmine and the ACC Tournament left, Virginia is virtually certain to miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004.

Duke has now won 13 of the last 14 matchups against the Hoos.

Next up for Duke: Rutgers, a week from tomorrow night in Piscataway.

This was a weird game--a classic example of how momentum can shift during games in surprising ways. Duke came out pretty solid, then looked completely discombobulated, then looked terrific again. Quint K. said the offense looked like a final four offense and the defense looked like a quarterfinal loser, and while I take Quint with a grain of salt I have to agree. Admittedly, for that stretch in the middle of the game, the offense was a bit stagnant and make a few mistakes, but most of that time they didn't have the ball. The rest of the game they looked strong. But the defense had a pretty rough outing. Too many times when they allowed open shots and too many times when they got penalties because they couldn't think of another way to stop the Hoos. (Admittedly some of the calls were a bit odd.) Turri had a bit of a rough outing as well.

[Duvall]

This was a weird game--a classic example of how momentum can shift during games in surprising ways. Duke came out pretty solid, then looked completely discombobulated, then looked terrific again. Quint K. said the offense looked like a final four offense and the defense looked like a quarterfinal loser, and while I take Quint with a grain of salt I have to agree. Admittedly, for that stretch in the middle of the game, the offense was a bit stagnant and make a few mistakes, but most of that time they didn't have the ball. The rest of the game they looked strong. But the defense had a pretty rough outing. Too many times when they allowed open shots and too many times when they got penalties because they couldn't think of another way to stop the Hoos. (Admittedly some of the calls were a bit odd.) Turri had a bit of a rough outing as well.

Isn't the difference between a Final Four offense and a quarterfinal defense just one game?

[53n206]

We missed an unbelievable number of point blank shots. Not bad shots, lousy luck. The guys played well. Did seem,early, that UVa had unopposed shots from Turi's right side.

[chrishoke]

Ugly game, but we did what we had to do to make the NCAAs, win 10 in a row including the Virginia game. Nice job team.

[TKG]

Jake Tripucka was strong in the second half with both his scoring and his pinpoint passing. The seven goal fourth quarter by the Blue Devils was impressive as well.

[matt1]

Ugly game, but we did what we had to do to make the NCAAs, win 10 in a row including the Virginia game. Nice job team.

I have not really followed the team as much as I would have liked. Are we going to make the tournament?

[MCFinARL]

Isn't the difference between a Final Four offense and a quarterfinal defense just one game?

Well, yes, good point. Somehow Quint made it seem so much worse than that. Guess that's why he makes the big bucks. ;)

[MCFinARL]

I have not really followed the team as much as I would have liked. Are we going to make the tournament?

Probably, but it's not a certainty. Because the team has four losses (admittedly against good teams), it can't afford to lose any more games that it "should" win, i.e. games against Rutgers and Marquette. Marquette is a new team that should provide no challenge; Rutgers is not especially good but did give Notre Dame a big scare earlier this season and the game is at Rutgers.

To be assured of a seed (top 8) and a first-round home game, it would help to win our ACC semifinal game as well.

[burnspbesq]

Well, yes, good point. Somehow Quint made it seem so much worse than that. Guess that's why he makes the big bucks. ;)

In this week's TempoFreeLax.com statistical rankings (the closest we have to a KenPom for lax), Duke was 36th in adjusted defensive efficiency, which leaves a lot to be desired. Last night, the Hoos got 16 goals on 39 possessions, right around 42 percent, which is even worse than our ADE for the season. The only thing we did well defensively last night was force five failed clears against a team that was clearing at 94 percent on the season.

[MCFinARL]

In this week's TempoFreeLax.com statistical rankings (the closest we have to a KenPom for lax), Duke was 36th in adjusted defensive efficiency, which leaves a lot to be desired. Last night, the Hoos got 16 goals on 39 possessions, right around 42 percent, which is even worse than our ADE for the season. The only thing we did well defensively last night was force five failed clears against a team that was clearing at 94 percent on the season.

Yes, your stats confirm the eyeball test--the defense looked pretty ineffective all around. This is discouraging because, while they haven't looked really sharp all year, it appeared until last night that they were gradually improving. Then they made a UVA offense that has been struggling look good. Hopefully it's just two steps forward one step back. But we'll see.

[burnspbesq]

Maryland plays Virginia at 5:00 p.m. Eastern on Friday, 4/26, at Kenan. Duke plays Carolina in the nightcap.

[Here is a Turtle]

Where is the tournament being held this year?

[BigWayne]

Where is the tournament being held this year?

It's in the post above yours, Kenan Stadium. (http://bit.ly/XJJyWu)

[BigWayne]

Isn't the difference between a Final Four offense and a quarterfinal defense just one game?
That, and how well your faceoff team does on the third weekend in May. For a team like Duke has this year where the offense is so strong compared to the defense, it really comes down to how dominant the faceoff team is.

[MCFinARL]

That, and how well your faceoff team does on the third weekend in May. For a team like Duke has this year where the offense is so strong compared to the defense, it really comes down to how dominant the faceoff team is.

The good news is, Duke's faceoff team is doing really well this year. That being said, there are other good faceoff teams out there as well, and Duke could run into one in the tournament.

[BigWayne]

The good news is, Duke's faceoff team is doing really well this year. That being said, there are other good faceoff teams out there as well, and Duke could run into one in the tournament.

We have had outstanding stretches and a few rough patches. The rough patches tend to result in a lot of goals for the opposition.
We really need to keep an advantage at the face-offs to be successful in the post season.