Quinn Cook's defense

[Wander]

Kevin Pangos: 2-8, 4 pts, 0 assists, 3 turnovers, 0 threes
Delon Wright: 4-13, 10 pts, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 0 threes
Marcus Paige: 2-11, 5 pts, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 three

This is the biggest difference between last year and this year to me.

[pfrduke]

Kevin Pangos: 2-8, 4 pts, 0 assists, 3 turnovers, 0 threes
Delon Wright: 4-13, 10 pts, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 0 threes
Marcus Paige: 2-11, 5 pts, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 three

This is the biggest difference between last year and this year to me.

Co-sign!

I've made this point as well. Quinn sacrificed his offense in the last couple games (in my view, at least) to completely dedicate himself to defense, and thank goodness for it. I think he's exhibit 1-A as to why our defense suddenly transformed through the tournament.

[OldPhiKap]

Kevin Pangos: 2-8, 4 pts, 0 assists, 3 turnovers, 0 threes
Delon Wright: 4-13, 10 pts, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 0 threes
Marcus Paige: 2-11, 5 pts, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 three

This is the biggest difference between last year and this year to me.

Great observation, he has been lock down. As K said several times, our defense is given a bad wrap. Defense has won a number of these games, including today.

[CR9]

Been unbelievable.

[Tripping William]

Kevin Pangos: 2-8, 4 pts, 0 assists, 3 turnovers, 0 threes
Delon Wright: 4-13, 10 pts, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 0 threes
Marcus Paige: 2-11, 5 pts, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 three

This is the biggest difference between last year and this year to me.

I third this. QC's D in The Dance has been excellent.

[gurufrisbee]

Absolutely. NO ONE would have thought we would have gone through this weekend of Utah and Gonzaga by being a lockdown defensive team lead by Quinn shutting down two of the better guards out there. He was terrific!

[Newton_14]

Kevin Pangos: 2-8, 4 pts, 0 assists, 3 turnovers, 0 threes
Delon Wright: 4-13, 10 pts, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 0 threes
Marcus Paige: 2-11, 5 pts, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 three

This is the biggest difference between last year and this year to me.

Totally agree Wander. The kid is playing some serious defense!

[MCFinARL]

Duke defensive ranking now up to #17--and I think a lot of the credit goes to Quinn Cook! So glad he got a banner to hang today.

[77devil]

Kevin Pangos: 2-8, 4 pts, 0 assists, 3 turnovers, 0 threes
Delon Wright: 4-13, 10 pts, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 0 threes
Marcus Paige: 2-11, 5 pts, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 three

This is the biggest difference between last year and this year to me.

And yet there was still some negativity on the chat today about his shooting. Give it a rest folks. This team has great chemistry on and off the court. A lot of the credit belongs to Quinn. K's affection for him and this team is palpable.

[grossbus]

The Mighty Quinn.

[OldPhiKap]

The Mighty Quinn.

Come on, without
Come on, within.
You've not seen nothin'
Like the Mighty Quinn.

(I picture Jerry singing it and not Dylan, but any version is good)

http://youtu.be/pbKva2HFO4Q

[-jk]

Come on, without
Come on, within.
You've not seen nothin'
Like the Mighty Quinn.

(I picture Jerry singing it and not Dylan, but any version is good)

http://youtu.be/pbKva2HFO4Q

Grateful Dead covering Mighty Quinn? Perfect!

-jk

[ScreechTDX1847]

Come on, without
Come on, within.
You've not seen nothin'
Like the Mighty Quinn.

(I picture Jerry singing it and not Dylan, but any version is good)

http://youtu.be/pbKva2HFO4Q

I basically consider it a Dead song. Like a lot of Dylan songs they cover.

[-jk]

I basically consider it a Dead song. Like a lot of Dylan songs they cover.

Maybe Mickie will use it - so as to not step on Quin Snyder's senior video...

-jk

[flyingdutchdevil]

Is there a petition going around for keeping this thread on top? If so, can I please sign it?

Cook's D has been amazing. He's engaged, he's tough, and he's the heart and soul of this defense (and team).

First Wright, then Pangos. Let's make it Trice as Nice with a third shut-down.

Thanks Quinn!

[superdave]

Quinn made Pangos catch the ball 35 feet out if he wanted to touch it. He was really making Pangos work hard. Good game plan and a lot of energy to make it work.

[-bdbd]

I noticed afterwards that K, in the handshake line, took a really long time talking to Pangos. It looked like he was trying to encourage the kids, as in, "Yeah, you had a bad game, but we actually been our gameplan around trying to stop YOU. You are the most important player on your team, and you'll be a terrifically successful pro... Good luck." At least that's how I imagined it. ;)

Cook is a young man who realllllllllly wanted to go to the Final 4. He's my MVP of the year. Most of our success just doesn't happen w\/o his leadership, character and clutch performances.

[turnandburn55]

Had this sent to me from a facebook friend, but says it all:

http://collegespun.com/acc/duke/photo-duke-g-quinn-cook-teared-up-after-blue-devils-clinched-final-4-berth

[jipops]

I noticed afterwards that K, in the handshake line, took a really long time talking to Pangos. It looked like he was trying to encourage the kids, as in, "Yeah, you had a bad game, but we actually been our gameplan around trying to stop YOU. You are the most important player on your team, and you'll be a terrifically successful pro... Good luck." At least that's how I imagined it. ;)

Cook is a young man who realllllllllly wanted to go to the Final 4. He's my MVP of the year. Most of our success just doesn't happen w\/o his leadership, character and clutch performances.

Could read K's lips a little when talking to Pangos. He said "I've been watching you for four years".

[Skitzle]

Here is a summary:

http://www.khq.com/clip/11290659/coach-k-with-consoling-words-for-pangos-zags

[wsb3]

Forgive me if this has already been shared..What a great picture..

http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/duke/duke-now/article16868852.html

[flyingdutchdevil]

Forgive me if this has already been shared..What a great picture..

http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/duke/duke-now/article16868852.html

Wonderful article. Thanks for sharing.

This season has been defined by our three star freshman, and it should be. Without them, we aren't making a Final Four. But I'll remember this season for Quinn. No questions asked.

[Indoor66]

Had this sent to me from a facebook friend, but says it all:

http://collegespun.com/acc/duke/photo-duke-g-quinn-cook-teared-up-after-blue-devils-clinched-final-4-berth

Thanks for sharing. That is a great shot. Liddy strikes again!

[Wander]

One more note: I said Delon Wright was 4-13, a pretty bad line for a great guard, in the Duke game. That's true, but according to ESPN...

"Wright scored two points on 1-of-8 shooting with a turnover when guarded by Quinn Cook, with the lone basket coming with 14 seconds remaining in the game."

[FerryFor50]

One more note: I said Delon Wright was 4-13, a pretty bad line for a great guard, in the Duke game. That's true, but according to ESPN...

"Wright scored two points on 1-of-8 shooting with a turnover when guarded by Quinn Cook, with the lone basket coming with 14 seconds remaining in the game."

Wright was not very good in the NCAA tourny:

http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/delon-wright-1/gamelog/2015/

2-7 against both SF Austin and Georgetown.

While Quinn has really stepped up his defense the last half of the season, I think he benefited a little from Wright hitting a slump. Also, Duke's overall defense, I think, has been helped by two things:

1) A healthy Justise Winslow
2) A more engaged, aggressive Jahlil Okafor in the middle

Okafor is no longer sitting back and letting guys get uncontested layups. He's challenging shots - and blocking them. He has 8 blocks in the tournament so far. That type of help defense makes the perimeter defense look so much better, as the perimeter guys can funnel shooters into the lane and the bigs can challenge. That helps aggressive man to man.

Plus, Winslow and Matt Jones have been excellent getting steals in passing lanes and knocking the ball away. Just all around great team defense.

The switching has been way better, too. Very few missed assignments. Guys are talking and it shows.

[Kedsy]

Kevin Pangos: 2-8, 4 pts, 0 assists, 3 turnovers, 0 threes

I just re-watched the 2nd half of the Duke/Gonzaga game, and neither of Pangos's baskets came when Quinn was guarding him. His first bucket came when Tyus was guarding him (Pangos blew by Tyus on the baseline and hit a layup) and the second basket was on a fast break against Justise. So Quinn held him to zero baskets while he was guarding him.

[sagegrouse]

I basically consider it a Dead song. Like a lot of Dylan songs they cover.

Sorry, the British group Manfred Mann made it a worldwide hit in early 1968.

[sagegrouse]

Forgive me if this has already been shared..What a great picture..

http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/duke/duke-now/article16868852.html

This is the emotional reaction by Quinn after the game. I hadn't thought about it this way, but all those banners may really create pressure for the current-year team.

[Henderson]

Sorry, the British group Manfred Mann made it a worldwide hit in early 1968.

But it was a Dylan song. He recorded it in 1967 as part of The Basement Tapes.