Man of the Match vs. Maryland

[Jumbo]

Who was the Man of the Match vs. Maryland?

[2001dukechamps]

It's a split, Demarcus and Gerald.

[Billy Dat]

Is there even a question...Demarcus MoFo NELSON!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jumbo]

And to answer my own question, Henderson, Smith and Thomas were all fantastic in different ways. But DeMarcus Nelson combined everything they did into one incredible performance. He just willed this team back into the game. Kudos.

[freedevil]

DeMarcus Nelson is a bad, BAD man.

[bbar7502]

demarkie was a MEAST!

[Madrasdukie]

Nelson, what a way to say good-bye to Comcast !!

Gerald ofcourse and the rest of the team were great but I can't stop gushing about Nolan (this kid is a freshman).

[houstondukie]

Nelson filled the stat sheet:

27 points (10/19 FG; 1/2 3ptFG; 6/8 FT)
7 rebounds (3 offensive)
4 assists (1 TO)
4 steals
1 block

But Gerald provided a great 1-2 punch.

Great games also by Nolan and Lance.

[Indoor66]

I voted for Nelson but our depth won the game. MD ran out of gas.

[Duvall]

If I could split my vote, I would give 30% to Nelson, 30% to Henderson, 30% to Smith - a great performance with no safety net due to Paulus' foul trouble - and 10% to Thomas, who has quietly become a key asset for Duke. And he stayed on the floor!

But I can't, so I gotta go with the Captain.

[pamtar]

It was Markie but I voted for Nolan. That kid plays well beyond his years.

[mapei]

I allocate 5 of my 10 delegates to Nelson, 3 to Gerald, and 2 to Smith.

[Saratoga2]

Nelson had a great game and should be the man of the match, but Gerald had a great game as well and I thought Nolan's contribution as really excellent. It is something to have three guys out there deserving of special mention.

[dukestheheat]

folks, Captain 'O Captain Markie just got the nod for a first team All-ACC spot and I couldn't be prouder of him. He is a great leader and the guy just stepped up tonight and hit the shots and played the D when/where we needed him.

All hail Markie!

dth.

[captmojo]

The floor leadership of Nelson improves with every passing game. :)

[bluedevildaddy]

Tremendous game for DeMarcus in all facets of the game. What a great job of leading by example!

[dyedwab]

I voted for Nelson but our depth won the game. MD ran out of gas.

You beat me to it...We tired Maryland. But we certainly followed Nelson's lead tonight....

What a great win

[Karl Beem]

Captain Nelson.

[dukepsy1963]

It's NELSON!!!!

[heath_harshman4]

Split.

Hendo and Markie both had big shots at big moments...

I voted for Gerald...but Markie...Gerald, Markie......

GAH!

what a great dilemma eh?

[mapei]

G was better offensively but DM was a little better all-around IMO.

[weezie]

D Markie Mark got my vote but I think Coach K did a superb job tonight, too. Way to juggle, rattle and roll, Mike!!!

[watzone]

This was Gerlads best game of the season. Same for Smith, but Nelson was the man once again.

[captmojo]

MOTM?

A new player's name......
Getavid Depaulyer Singsmithmas

[billybreen]

I'll be curious to see the numbers on this once voting is closed. This is probably one of the most lopsided votes we'll see. Markie all the way.

[allenmurray]

I was thinking either that Greg Smith or that Nolan Paulus guy. I mean 26 points, 3 assists, and 7 rebounds from a point guard. Wow.

[CDu]

I'd say 55% Nelson, 40% Henderson, and 5% Smith. Henderson did a great job keeping us around (23 points on 9-12!) and Nelson really stepped up in the second half.

The player of the game honors are always interesting to me. In this game, we had two guys who REALLY stood out (Henderson and Nelson) and a couple of guys who had very solid games (Smith and Paulus). Nelson is understandably running away with the vote, yet Henderson gets very little love (less love than Smith).

[dw0827]

I really didn't see how Nolan got hurt. What happened to him . . . and is it in any way serious?

[devildeac]

Markie. md at times must have felt they were playing 5 on 6 as he was everywhere with badly needed boards, steals, FT, tips and a career high points. Several best supporting actors tonight, too.

[VaDukie]

The march towards 1st Team All-Conference continues.

[jkidd31]

I thought Demarcus was awesome (as was Henderson) but I voted for Smith. The plays he made were key and kept the momentum going. Rebounding Scheyer's airball and getting the foul and making both freethrows turned what could have been a big play for Maryland into keeping the lead our way.

I also agree with several other posters that Lance Thomas played a great game as well. He more then held his own inspite of being outsized down low.

I also like the fact this team has picked up three road wins in buildings that we've struggled in the past few years (FSU, VT, & Maryland)

[phaedrus]

Demarc will win this, and deservedly so, but I threw in a token vote for GH. 23 points on 12 shots is just ballin'.

Plus, I loved his tie-up with 2 seconds left.

[jma4life]

Didn't watch the game on tv- don't have fsn where I'm at- but someone gave me a play by play over phone. Anyway, you know Demarcus had a beast game when two guys had arguably their best games at Duke (Gerald and Nolan) and you still beat them in motm in a landslide.

[Bob Green]

I just finished watching the game for the second time. DeMarcus Nelson is definitely the MOTM, but Gerald Henderson is a very close Runner-Up and Nolan Smith earns a Honorable Mention with a fabulous game. Overall a great game for the Blue Devils!

[CDu]

I really didn't see how Nolan got hurt. What happened to him . . . and is it in any way serious?

I'm not sure this is the issue, but Smith fell hard on a cut in the possession in which he got hurt. Maybe he just banged himself against the floor hard. He came back later in the game and did an offense/defense substitution with Thomas, so I doubt it was too serious.

[Delaware]

Overall a great second half and the drive left down the lane was as strong and as tough as you can get .... and sealed the deal.

[DukeDevil]

The MOTM is such a given, I almost think it'd be more interesting to vote on 2nd place. Not based on points, but rather, based on who made plays that just silenced the crowd and got us back into it.

[DevilCastDownfromDurham]

Nelson's numbers were great, but they don't even begin to capture what he did for us. Psychologically we looked really knocked back last night, but Markie simply put us on his back. Strong and tough on both ends, he staunched the bleeding and simply carried us. For me there's no question, Nelson was everything a Senior leader and captain should be.

[4decadedukie]

Our Captain and our leader: Great talent combined with tenacity, poise and guidance.

[DukeDude]

GeMarcus Nelderson.

[DukeDevil]

GeMarcus Nelderson.

You just blew my awesomeness fuse.

Jasmarald Neldersonwill.

I think the left side of my brain just shut down.

[Cameron]

Nevermind.

[DukeDevil]

Nevermind.

Not sure it's letting us see that...

[Classof06]

Gotta be Demarcus. I honestly cannot put into words how proud I am of him and the job he has done this year. Last night was the best I have ever seen Demarcus play in a Duke uniform and it was just such a sight to see, it truly was. And I love how FSN showed his FG% year-by-year and all you see is the upward trend. This kid represents what 4-year Duke players are all about: getting better each year and developing into a leader.

If this kid isn't 1st Team All-ACC, then I'll be awaiting the memo from John Swofford saying they won't be announcing a 1st Team All-ACC this year...

[Magnolia888]

I registered just so I could vote for Demarcus. What a great job!!!

I loved what they said on SportsCenter about his performance. Something like, "he just TOOK OVER and refused to let them lose." A man on a mission.