Time for some unvarnished Wheat/"/"/"...
I didn't think either team actually played very well. It was a battle of top 25 teams in a slugfest of mediocrity.
It was a competitive game and a nice win, but the level of play was poor. If those were the second and 3rd best ACC teams, well then lets just say the league really is down.
About Mason...
Mason is a good player, and I make these comments holding his potential in high regard, but he's just not improving as he should. You look at him and it's easy to expect more. Now I'm beginning to wonder if he's reached his ceiling.
He's not getting the ball down low enough, in good enough position or rythem, and when he does, he's still only getting by with superior athletisicism. His post moves are not fluid at all. His shooting touch is bulky. And his foul shooting is just plain bad. His court awareness is average at best. He rebounds strong and is a solid defender, but certainly not a stopper.
He's not the player I thought he'd be when I first saw him, but he can still be good enough to anchor a title team if this team can find some chemistry.
At least Duke fans can relax for next season, because he's coming back. He's gonna be lucky to be considered a late first round pick,imo.
I don't understand at minimum how he can't have a catch and turn jump hook after three years. With his hops and strength he should be able to get that from 4' anytime a play was run for it.
When Duke does focus on him and gets him a feed so he can at least attack the basket, it opens the floor and the offense looks better. I'm puzzled as many are why he doesn't get more looks to score, because even if he can't get it in from the post or the line consistantly, he's sucking defenders down and drawing fouls.
This team is capable of stroking it from outside and beating anybody with individual shooting displays. But when they ever hit a team that can apply outside pressure on the ball for a full game, or just have an off shooting night, they're gonna struggle.
The lack of post offense to open things up for the shooters will get this team bounced if it doesn't improve big time before the tourney.
Just my 2cents...it is mid season after all and we're in conference posting mode now, time to sharpen the play. I'll only be able to defend myself by phone for a couple of days, be easy on me