Duke MBB vs. Virginia Pre-Game and In-Game Thread
Starters
Singletary 6-0, SR
Jones 6-4, FR
Diane 6-5, JR
Jospeh 6-7, SR
Scott 6-8, FR
Reserves, over 10 MPG
Baker 6-2, SO
Mikalauskas 6-8, JR
Tucker 6-8, SO
Tat 6-5, SO
Harris 6-6, SO
Meyinsse 6-8, SO
Pettinella 6-9, SR
Notes
- Virginia is 10-3 and coming off a 38 point loss to Xavier
- As a team UVA shoots 45% FG, 71% Ft, and 41% from 3.
- As a team Duke shoots 49% FG, 69% FT, and 41% from 3.
- For UVA 3 payers average double figures, Singletary (17.8), Joseph (12.6), and Diane (11.4).
- For Duke 5 players average double figures, Nelson (13.7), Singler (13.0), Henderson (12.6), Scheyer (10.6), and King (10.2).
- Singletary is shooting 39% FG, 84% FT, and 39% from 3.
- UVA has 3 players shooting over 40% from 3, Diane (51), Baker (45), and Joseph (41).
- Duke has 4 players shooting over 40% from 3, Paulus (46), King (46), Scheyer (44), and Nelson (42).
- UVA is averaging more TO than Assists per game, 15.8:16.1.
- As a team UVA averages 4 more RPG than Duke.
- As a team Duke score more pts (+5), steals (+2), and blocks (+1.6) per gamethan UVA.
Thoughts
Duke and UVA match-up pretty well on paper. Small, athletic, scrappy, and good shooters. But in reality the two teams have taken two different approaches to playing the game. UVA relies on Singletary to carry them. When he struggles with the burden, they lose. Duke relies on a handful of players to win, though they struggle with their identity sometimes.
To me there are two keys to this game. First,this is an away game for a struggling UVA team. Has Singletary been overburdened? He should expect alot of pressure from alot of different Duke guys. Second, which team will be hotter from the outside? UVa has the shooters to be beat Duke if they get on a roll.
In the end, I think Duke wins a close game in which both teams shoot it pretty well from the outside. I think Duke has more talent than UVA and that carries the day when all things are said and done.
Questions, questions, and more questions...
There are a multitude of questions heading into our ACC opener. Will Lance Thomas play? Can Duke improve their performance from the free throw line? Can Kyle Singler avoid foul trouble against ACC competition? Will Jon Scheyer snap out of his shooting slump? How long before Brian Zoubek returns? Has Taylor King earned more playing time? Will Nolan Smith and Greg Paulus share the court? And the questions continue...
From my perspective, the Virginia game will be won by Duke playing Duke basketball. First and foremost, we must pressure the ball and convert turnovers into points. Second, we need to knock down open shots. Virginia has struggled with the transition game and they haven't been successful defending the 3-point line. If we play our game, we should run Virginia right out of the game.
You have framed the questions well
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bob Green
There are a multitude of questions heading into our ACC opener. Will Lance Thomas play? Can Duke improve their performance from the free throw line? Can Kyle Singler avoid foul trouble against ACC competition? Will Jon Scheyer snap out of his shooting slump? How long before Brian Zoubek returns? Has Taylor King earned more playing time? Will Nolan Smith and Greg Paulus share the court? And the questions continue...
From my perspective, the Virginia game will be won by Duke playing Duke basketball. First and foremost, we must pressure the ball and convert turnovers into points. Second, we need to knock down open shots. Virginia has struggled with the transition game and they haven't been successful defending the 3-point line. If we play our game, we should run Virginia right out of the game.
Of the questions, I would think the ability of Lance Thomas to return in this game is probably the most important. I don't expect him to be 100% but it does reduce the concern relative to Singler's foul troubles.
I would add Singler's cold shooting from the 3 point line as another concern. He looks good shooting but they haven't been falling for him either. I thought King's play inside on defense is acceptable and he has the build of John Brockman, but not quite as strong. With his scoring ability, he can contribute when played more minutes. He does have to get back more quickly on defense. That is probably why he only played 12 minutes in the last game. Scheyer is good at so many things that he has contributed even though his shooting hasn't returned to his early form of last year. I have confidence that it will for him and that will make him even more valuable. Finally, I really like Nolan's contribution. He has the kind of ability, size and quickness that makes him very versitile. He can play sound defense, make plays and also finish very well. The more experience he gets this year, the more we will see him become a very solid player.
Who will play Singletary? Nolan? DeMarcus? Scheyer? Maybe we will tag team him.
Starting Five Against Virginia?
Who is going to start tomorrow night? Same as against Temple? Virginia gives us a pretty different look from Temple.
A little story about snow
While you guys are consulting each other over who's going to start tomorrow night, I've begun my pre-game preparation by thinking about Virginia games from the past. The old ACC schedules were set up so that we played the same teams about the same time each year. That sort of repeated pattern would tend to overlap with whatever prevailing long range trends occurred in the weather... at least that's how I've tried to explain my association with playing Virginia while snow falls outside.
The best example I remember came in the late 70's. The game was in February, a 9P start at home in Cameron. I had arrived early when the crowd was just beginning to assemble. As the teams worked out and the crowd filed in there was talk of the possibility of snow. About the time the game was to start, the announcer told the several thousand seated that it had begun to snow outside. A festive cheer arose and the game began for earnest.
Earlier that season when we played in Charlottesville, Virginia had won handily. The home crowd wanted that reversed in this game, demanded that it be reversed. The game was hard fought and closely played. People returning from outside during the halftime talked about how the snow was coming down at a steady pace, but few left to head home. The game was too tight. The score was too close. The outcome too important. Finally sometime after 11P the game ended with Duke winning by the narrowest of margins. As we all headed out of the hothouse atmosphere into the cold, it became clear that more than a little snow had fallen. I don't remember seeing anyone directing traffic anywhere.... not out of the parking lots nor exiting the campus. We were on our own. There was no traffic other than those slipping and sliding their way off campus into the night. A 20 minute ride home turned into an hour.
There have been other times we've played Virginia with snow falling outside while the game played out inside. Duke seems to play well when it snows, including during the conference tournaments. I've been watching the developing forecast for tomorrow night. There is a possibility of rain late accompanied by a few flurries.