MBB: Duke vs. Elon Pre-Game and In-Game Thread

[BlueDevilBrowns]

The game is "at" Elon but the location is the Greensboro Coliseum.

Gametime is 12/31 @ 1PM.

TV is ESPNU.

[pfrduke]

Elon presents a very different challenge to our defense. This is a pure perimeter oriented team. They don't get to the line very often, they don't pursue offensive rebounds, but instead they bomb away from 3. They're 10th in the country in terms of the percentage of points they get from 3s, 19th in 3 point percentage (40.9% as a team), and over 40% of their field goal attempts come from behind the arc. Sebastian Koch and Tanner Sampson have combined to make 86 of 177 from beyond the arc - nearly 50%. I expect Hood will get the main job chasing Koch around as he's the only one on Duke's team who matches him size wise and has the quickness to cover him at the perimeter.

Of course, there has been no more consistent trend for Duke defenses over the past dozen years than not allowing opponents to shoot 3s. Duke is committed to chasing teams off the 3-point line. Often times, this leads to easier penetration and open 2s - expect some of that tomorrow when playing Elon. But if we can limit their ability to bomb away (and force 3s to come off the dribble rather than off the pass), we'll take away the most effective part of their offense and make them try to beat us by playing a style other than what they most want to play.

When Duke has the ball, it should look to give Parker, Hood, and others scoring opportunities inside. Elon has not been good defensively and has been particularly terrible inside the arc - they give up over 50% shooting on 2s, they foul a ton, and they don't block shots.

[rsvman]

We can only hope that Rodney didn't give the pukes to half the team. Unless your name is Michael Jordan (or Kyrie Irving), it's pretty hard to have a good game when you are vomiting and having diarrhea.

[Troublemaker]

Lucas Troutman, Elon's leading scorer at 6'10 220 will probably get some chances to go 1-on-1 vs Amile, Josh, Jabari, and MP3 inside.

As Tommy mentioned in his Interior Defense thread, teams haven't been entering the ball into the post lately. This should change in this game. Elon loves to bomb away from 3-pt land but they're not going to be able to do that against Duke. They're going to hope that Troutman scores efficiently enough inside to free up their shooters.

[kmspeaks]

Lucas Troutman, Elon's leading scorer at 6'10 220 will probably get some chances to go 1-on-1 vs Amile, Josh, Jabari, and MP3 inside.

As Tommy mentioned in his Interior Defense thread, teams haven't been entering the ball into the post lately. This should change in this game. Elon loves to bomb away from 3-pt land but they're not going to be able to do that against Duke. They're going to hope that Troutman scores efficiently enough inside to free up their shooters.

Troutman is averaging 15.5/game, could this be a case where Duke elects to let him work 1 on 1 inside and end up with 25(+) while shutting down everyone else from the 3 point line?

[pfrduke]

Troutman is averaging 15.5/game, could this be a case where Duke elects to let him work 1 on 1 inside and end up with 25(+) while shutting down everyone else from the 3 point line?

A la DJ White in the IU game during the 2006 season.

[Newton_14]

Troutman is averaging 15.5/game, could this be a case where Duke elects to let him work 1 on 1 inside and end up with 25(+) while shutting down everyone else from the 3 point line?

I would bet yes. That is historically how K chooses to game plan. 3's will beat you much easier than 2's will as most people realize. I think we will defend the line like mad men and not double team at all in the post.

[BlueDevilBrowns]

So is anyone else going to the game tomorrow?

The Coliseum is only about 20 minutes from my home and since I wasn't able to make the Atlanta trip, it was a no-brainer for me to go.

I'm worried it may be pretty empty there.

[howardlander]

So is anyone else going to the game tomorrow?

The Coliseum is only about 20 minutes from my home and since I wasn't able to make the Atlanta trip, it was a no-brainer for me to go.

I'm worried it may be pretty empty there.

We thought about going (We live in North Durham) but it seemed kind of expensive. I think it was going to be $200 for the three of us. Maybe it would be cheaper to scalp tix on site?

Howard

[gam7]

A la DJ White in the IU game during the 2006 season.

Hey pfr, do you mean Killingsworth?

[August West]

We thought about going (We live in North Durham) but it seemed kind of expensive. I think it was going to be $200 for the three of us. Maybe it would be cheaper to scalp tix on site?

Howard

I'm going tomorrow with the family. I got my tickets through Duke when I ordered my season ticket. They were $35 each and they're great seats about even with foul line. I think it would definitely be cheaper to pick some tickets in the parking lot. Hope there is a good turnout tomorrow. AW.

[tommy]

Troutman is averaging 15.5/game, could this be a case where Duke elects to let him work 1 on 1 inside and end up with 25(+) while shutting down everyone else from the 3 point line?

Here's an idea: let's see if we can let him work 1-on-1 inside and NOT end up with 25+ points. How bout Amile, Jabari, Josh, and/or Marshall actually, you know, play good interior defense and stop him? He's a nice player, but he's not exactly Lew Alcindor or Patrick Ewing in there.

[noworries]

So is anyone else going to the game tomorrow?

The Coliseum is only about 20 minutes from my home and since I wasn't able to make the Atlanta trip, it was a no-brainer for me to go.

I'm worried it may be pretty empty there.

Ticketmaster still has plenty of lower levels when I checked earlier...I was planning on going until I got a free ticket to Atlanta this afternoon

[kmspeaks]

Here's an idea: let's see if we can let him work 1-on-1 inside and NOT end up with 25+ points. How bout Amile, Jabari, Josh, and/or Marshall actually, you know, play good interior defense and stop him? He's a nice player, but he's not exactly Lew Alcindor or Patrick Ewing in there.

Of course I like your plan better. However, IF there needs to be a trade-off between doubling down/clogging the lane and chasing Elon off the 3 point line history shows K is willing to let a big man have a career day while shutting down the 3 point shooters. I didn't mean to imply Duke would give Troutman free reign or that he necessarily would score 25+, just that the front court would be tasked with stopping him with good 1 on 1 defense and not much help as the focus would likely be on the perimeter.

This may end up being a doubly good strategy for Duke. Shut down Elon's primary offensive option and force them to try and score in the post which, if I understand your defensive charting correctly, may actually be a strength (or at least not the gigantic weakness many predicted pre-season) of Duke's defense this year. Although this also assumes that in attempting to make 3's difficult they don't give up too many easy drives on ball fakes, poor closeouts, etc.

[pfrduke]

Hey pfr, do you mean Killingsworth?

Probably. My memory gets sketchy on anything prior to my last meal.

[Marc81]

So is anyone else going to the game tomorrow?

The Coliseum is only about 20 minutes from my home and since I wasn't able to make the Atlanta trip, it was a no-brainer for me to go.

I'm worried it may be pretty empty there.

My wife and I will be attending. We also bought tickets on the duke site.

[CatDevil]

We will be there in section 111. Cannot wait to see Duke Basketball up close tomorrow and then watch the football game at our neighborhood New Year's Eve Gathering. The party will be pretty tame...cannot say the same for Cole and I during any Duke game. We are pretty vocal

[BlueDevilBrowns]

We will be there in section 111. Cannot wait to see Duke Basketball up close tomorrow and then watch the football game at our neighborhood New Year's Eve Gathering. The party will be pretty tame...cannot say the same for Cole and I during any Duke game. We are pretty vocal

That's great! Nothing brings families together like sports.

My Dad and I will be up top in 228 on the front row. It's a bit far but I've always liked to watch the action from above when in person.

[jimrowe0]

We will be there in section 111.

[gep]

Here's an idea: let's see if we can let him work 1-on-1 inside and NOT end up with 25+ points. How bout Amile, Jabari, Josh, and/or Marshall actually, you know, play good interior defense and stop him? He's a nice player, but he's not exactly Lew Alcindor or Patrick Ewing in there.

I vote for Marshall to take the job. Marshall's bigger, provides a big body.. just make Troutman work very hard... maybe get Troutman frustrated and make mistakes.