MBB: Duke vs. Pittsburgh (1/19/15 7 pm ESPN) Pre-Game & In-Game Thread

[Bob Green]

A quick turnaround. Discuss the game here.

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

Let's go take care of business and put fear back into the rest of the ACC

[OldPhiKap]

If you are Dixon, do you prepare for.m2m or zone? Someone did not sleep well last night I am guessing.

LGD!

[Dukehky]

If you are Dixon, do you prepare for.m2m or zone? Someone did not sleep well last night I am guessing.

LGD!

Most coaches work on multiple offenses for different defensive schemes.

Also, good thing we get Pitt at home this year. The Pete was the most intense home environment Duke has ever played in last year! We barely eeked out a win...

[Olympic Fan]

A quick turnaround. Discuss the game here.

Even quicker turnaround for Pitt ... they played Georgia Tech at 4 p.m. Saturday AND they have to travel to Durham.

So it's not like either team has much time to prepare.

FWIW -- Pitt is slightly below average in the ACC in 3 point shooting -- they do shoot a slightly better percentage that Louisville, but oddly, Louisville averages slightly more 3s made a game.

[Troublemaker]

I think we'll see more zone than man in this game. From the postgame presser, it sounded like Coach K just wants to survive through Monday and then use the longer week of preparation (the SJU game isn't until Sunday) to review fundamentals, which I interpreted to mean "review ball screen defense in the m2m" first and foremost, among other things.

Jamie Dixon, in case people don't know, has actually been a huge thorn in Boeheim's side over the years. At Pitt, Dixon has gone 13-7 against Syracuse, and Dixon prides himself on being able to coach offense against a 2-3 zone.

Not sure any of that really matters. Pitt is having a down season and probably won't make the tournament.

I expect Duke to play well. We should dominate on offense, and our makeshift zone should be effective enough for a comfortable win.

[Clay Feet POF]

I think in this game when the Zone is used we see a little more of Grayson, it will lessen his defense weakness as well as presenting a chance to find his offensive sync which will be needed as the season progresses. Let’s keep Rollin!

[gep]

From the Louisville post game presser... Coach k mentioned a "11" defense...

••••••••••
(Has the team been practicing more zone recently)“Again, we practice zone even before this game. We practiced it a lot. Basically what we did was we went zone on makes, and 11 on misses. The 11 is a little bit like a zone and it basically tries to keep people out of our paint.”
••••••••••

So a mixture of defenses was already in play. I'm not good enough to notice such nuances... I would think more tweaks are on its way.

[CDu]

I think in this game when the Zone is used we see a little more of Grayson, it will lessen his defense weakness as well as presenting a chance to find his offensive sync which will be needed as the season progresses. Let’s keep Rollin!

If it is a close game, I would expect Allen to remain on the bench.

[Clay Feet POF]

If it is a close game, I would expect Allen to remain on the bench.


If its not?

[CDu]

If its not?

If it is not a close game, then it hardly matters who is in.

[Clay Feet POF]

If it is not a close game, then it hardly matters who is in.


Disagree, I would think we try to continue to develop players whenever the opportunities occur.

[CDu]

Disagree, I would think we try to continue to develop players whenever the opportunities occur.

Well, sure, but that is completely different than your point that I responded to above. But he would get that PT with or without the zone in a blowout. The zone isn't changing the likelihood of Allen playing, which was my point. Allen would only play significantly in a blowout with or without the zone.

We are extremely unlikely to play Allen for significant minutes in any tough games this year. Our guard/wing depth is deep enough that he won't be needed. It will only be if injury dictates it. And if injury does happen, he will get plenty of minutes to develop.

[sagegrouse]

Most coaches work on multiple offenses for different defensive schemes.

Also, good thing we get Pitt at home this year. The Pete was the most intense home environment Duke has ever played in last year! We barely eeked out a win...


You make a good observation, Dukehky, but it must have been a scary game!

[Bob Green]

Vegas has Duke favored by 15 points with the over/under at 138.

[left_hook_lacey]

Vegas has Duke favored by 15 points with the over/under at 138.

Bump. We have a game tonight guys!

I have to admit I haven't seen Pitt play all year so I don't have an opinion as to whether we'll cover the spread. As long as we get the W, I'm good.

[mattman91]

Hopefully Dick Groat gets a warm welcome tonight.

Go Duke!

[jv001]

Hopefully Dick Groat gets a warm welcome tonight.

Go Duke!

I had forgotten Mr. Groat does radio play by play for Pitt. From what I've been told, he was a great athlete in his day.
For the game, I look for zone and man to man. Probably 50-50. I look for Duke to try to get Justise going again. Quinn will probably hit some big threes and Tyus will run the offense like a well tuned Chevy. GoDuke!

[Kedsy]

Tyus will run the offense like a well tuned Chevy.

Just to clarify, that's a good thing, right? ;)

[jv001]

Just to clarify, that's a good thing, right? ;)

Yeh, that's a very good thing. It was running like a sputtering Ford for a couple of game. GoDuke!

[mgtr]

Ahh, Chevy vs. Ford. I used to tell my students that Ford was no good, because it stood for found on road dead, frequent overhaul rapid depreciation, and others, while you couldn't say that about Chevy. One day a student noted that cracked head, each valve rattles oil leaks every time certainly did the job! One for student, zero for prof!

[tux]

Regarding the defense: My prediction is that Duke will play much more man-to-man than zone tonight.

In fact, I would guess no zone is more likely than a repeat of Saturday...

I think K will want to gauge his team before going into the longer break before the SJU game. Given the boost in confidence after win against UL and the fact that Pitt is struggling, K will want another data point to work with...

[Kedsy]

K will want another data point to work with...

Either way, it's a data point, right? I'm not convinced we know all there is to know about how well the zone works. Not sure which data point would be more valuable.

[MCFinARL]

Hopefully Dick Groat gets a warm welcome tonight.

Go Duke!

Very nice story (http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=209848808&DB_OEM_ID=4200) about Groat's return to Cameron for this game on the Go Duke website. Hopefully the Crazies have read it and will respond appropriately.

[OldPhiKap]

Tyus will run the offense like a well tuned Chevy.


Just to clarify, that's a good thing, right? ;)


Yeh, that's a very good thing. It was running like a sputtering Ford for a couple of game. GoDuke!

As long as Matthew McConaughtey is not driving. Dude looks whacked.

[-jk]

DBR Chat (http://forums.dukebasketballreport.com/forums/misc.php?do=cchatbox) is open!

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Let's Go Duke!

-jk

[riverside6]

Live tempo-based stats for Duke/Pitt, starters posted...

http://www.scacchoops.com/pittsburgh-at-duke-basketball-live-stats-01192015

[FerryFor50]

Let's get #999!

4650

[AIRFORCEDUKIE]

Good start guys look like they are having fun again.

[gsurgeon]

What are they chanting?

[AIRFORCEDUKIE]

I dont know, at the strip club no sound except awful music.

[gsurgeon]

Nice

[subzero02]

Looks like we're back in the zone... A zone that has been dangerous for our opponents...

[AIRFORCEDUKIE]

47% from three, its beautiful

[BullBlue]

Leading rebounder at the half...Cook with 6. Assist leader...Oakafor with 4. Would not have bet on that.

[Karl Beem]

They're just pushing us around.

[dukelifer]

They're just pushing us around.

Have they missed?

[AIRFORCEDUKIE]

Just keep grinding and answering their makes, and they will cool down and lose hope aaftr a while. They are hitting shots now so gotta D up.

[jipops]

Man to man not working...at all.

[dukelifer]

Man to man not working...at all.

Yep-just seems to make teams become the Harlem Globetrotters

[AIRFORCEDUKIE]

I really dont get it, Go man and everyone hits everything... Our man D cant be that much worse than anyone elses can it?

[dukeSF]

If only MP3 fouled less than every four plays out of five... I can only dream.

[jipops]

Defense non-existent. Pitt on pace to score 50 this half

[dukelifer]

Defense non-existent. Pitt on pace to score 50 this half

And no game for a week. They could be a bit tired but really no excuse.

[DU82]

Justice left the court with the medical staff.

[Channing]

I noticed it in Miami and thought perhaps it was just the teams performance, but there is a lot of standing and watching (and not cheering) by the fans. There is no energy in Cameron tonight.

[dukelifer]

Justice left the court with the medical staff.

Hmmm. Maybe his shoulder.

[dukelifer]

I noticed it in Miami and thought perhaps it was just the teams performance, but there is a lot of standing and watching (and not cheering) by the fans. There is no energy in Cameron tonight.

Matching the defensive intensity by Duke in the second half.

[Karl Beem]

Have we quit?

[DU82]

Hmmm. Maybe his shoulder.

Either that or his ribs. Obviously he was cleared, as he is back on the court.

[dukelifer]

Matching the defensive intensity by Duke in the second half.

Making too many mistakes

[gumbomoop]

Lost concentration all over the court. Sloppy pass turnovers.