MBB: Duke v Cheating Bastards (9:30pm, Fri Mar 15, ESPN) Pre- and In-Game Thread

[devildeac]

uNC wins this game by getting our stars into foul trouble, which they do by drawing charges. The charge/block pendulum has swung all the way toward charge.

I hope Coach K is telling EVERYBODY to keep their arms glued to their sides when they drive and to do some jump-stops and floaters in the lane. If RJ, Zion, and/or Cam spend a large amount of time on the bench, we are toast.

Duke wins this game by keeping White and Johnson from shooting and making a lot of threes, and by not giving the refs reasons to call charging fouls. It also helps to value transition D above almost every other basketball virtue.

And the cheats will still figure out ways to flop.

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

And the cheats will still figure out ways to flop.

Sure. But if you flop as a play stops short and pops a ten foot jumper (swish) you end up looking like a total tool.

[azzefkram]

ooof. I think those glasses are so darkly tinted you might get a ticket. Credit where credit is due...coby white is having a fantastic campaign.

I'd be willing to bet UNC's bench puts up better numbers than ours...given like 95% of our scoring comes from 3 guys.

Coby is a heck of a player but in the first game he went 3-14 with 6 TOs. I think having Zion back helps the rest of the team's defense. Tre is going to be able to hound him much of the game. As for the bench, defense counts and I like what Duke can get from Jack and Jordan. Alex may even chip in some offense.

[UrinalCake]

UNC working through their defensive sets at today’s practice

https://gfycat.com/reliablegianthairstreak

[devildeac]

UNC working through their defensive sets at today’s practice

https://gfycat.com/reliablegianthairstreak

LMAO.

If UC does not win the internet/get POTD/unanimous MOTM for this post, the world should come to an end.

I'd spork ya, but you know the standard response. Virtual sporks will have to suffice.

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

UNC working through their defensive sets at today’s practice

https://gfycat.com/reliablegianthairstreak

Sporks have flown.

[Nugget]

The strength of our schedule doesn’t change because a player on our team isn’t available.

The strength of our team that goes into determining our opponents strength of schedule is based on our body of work. So SOS can change as our opponents go through the year.

For example, as Ky continued winning through the year it helped our SOS. If three of their starters were lost for half the year and they lost 15 in a row, our SOS would be weaker, even though we played them while they were at full strength

I think the poster's point was that Carolina's SOS is to some degree artificially propped up by the fact that they played us twice without Zion (when we were markedly worse than the Top 1-3 team we otherwise have been throughout the season, but UNC's SOS still gets "full credit" for having played Duke).

I don't think it's a material effect -- and, in any event, trying to parse a meaningful difference from having an SOS that is #1 or #3 or #5 or #14 in the country doesn't make much sense to me.

While the poster was talking about Ken Pom's SOS rankings, there seem to be others one could point to that come out differently.

For example, under Warren Nolan's "SOS" rankings (unclear to me how he does them), we are #2 and UNC is #5 -- http://warrennolan.com/basketball/2019/sos

And, the RPI SOS has us #2 and UNC #5 -- http://warrennolan.com/basketball/2019/rpi-live

Finally, and most importantly, the Net Team Sheets -- i.e., what the Committee is mostly likely actually working off of, has Duke at #3 SOS and UNC at #4 -- https://extra.ncaa.org/solutions/rpi...14,%202019.pdf

[dukelifer]

Duke needs to treat this game as the championship- defense will win it. UNC is never out of games because they have three good 3 point shooters- and another who can get hot! Duke has no good three point shooters- but a few that can get warmish. But Duke can drive the ball really well and apply pressure on D. This is a game that will be won in the last few minutes- which means players need to execute.

[Matches]

UNC working through their defensive sets at today’s practice

https://gfycat.com/reliablegianthairstreak

LOL. Is it possible RJ Barrett just has really bad breath?

Someone should dub Bilas on it gushing over the outstanding "defense".

[Bob Green]

We will need to shoot better on 3 PT FG to win tonight:

1st Game: 8-39 (20.5%)
2nd Game: 8-32 (25%)

Carolina is playing great ball right now so we will have to have a solid defensive game, get back on defense, limit transition opportunities and second chance points, etc...but as Kedsy has pointed out multiple times, we lost because of under performing on offense.

The Duke player with a "Big Red Circle" around him is Tre Jones. If Carolina opts to lay off him using the player "guarding" Tre to double team, Tre has to make them pay by knocking down open looks. He has to shoot better than 1-6 (1st game) and 1-3 (2nd game) on 3 PT FG.

Having Zion Williamson playing will make a huge difference but I still believe the key to the game will be making shots.

[Wildling]

When is the last time Duke lost 3 times in one season against the cheats?

As for the game tonight, we must, and I can't stress this enough, MUST get offensive production from Tre tonight. I know that's asking a lot, but if he's hitting those floaters, driving and dishing and or driving and scoring, that opens up sooooooooooooooooo much more for the entire team.

Please Tre, if there is a game we need you to get buckets, it's tonight my man!

[GoDuke2015]

When is the last time Duke lost 3 times in one season against the cheats?

Good question - I have no idea? anyone know?

[Bob Green]

When is the last time Duke lost 3 times in one season against the cheats?

1975-76 season according to this article:

https://balldurham.com/2019/03/15/du...all-tar-heels/

[ns7]

Good question - I have no idea? anyone know?

Last time UNC won 3 in a row was across two seasons: 2006-2007. Last time they won 3 in a season was 1976 according to this link.
https://cbbseries.com/compare/north-...sus/duke/games

The teams used to play three times a year with an early game in Greensboro. There was a big four tournament in Greensboro from 1971 to 1981.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Four_Tournament

The last time we won 3 in a season was 2002.

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

1975-76 season according to this article:

https://balldurham.com/2019/03/15/du...all-tar-heels/

The broadcast last night said our last 3 loss season against one team was Tim Duncan and Wake, I believe in 1995 (which sounds right for other reasons).

UNC this year is no Duncan Wake Forest. This is not 1995.

[gocanes0506]

When is the last time Duke lost 3 times in one season against the cheats?

As for the game tonight, we must, and I can't stress this enough, MUST get offensive production from Tre tonight. I know that's asking a lot, but if he's hitting those floaters, driving and dishing and or driving and scoring, that opens up sooooooooooooooooo much more for the entire team.

Please Tre, if there is a game we need you to get buckets, it's tonight my man!

The last time Duke lost 3 times is 1976. Duke has beaten UNC 3 times in a season 3 times since then.

Duke has lost to UNC 3 times in a season 10 times. Duke has won 3 in a season over UNC 4 times. Duke and UNC have played at least 3 times in a season 41 times. I say at least 3 because Duke and UNC have played 4 times in a season, 3 times.

Most recent examples of Duke losing the two regular season games but winning the conference tourney game is 1980 and 1984.

[Wildling]

I knew you guys would pull through finding such dark days of despair!

[ncexnyc]

UNC working through their defensive sets at today’s practice

https://gfycat.com/reliablegianthairstreak

Well you had me fooled. I thought your video would be about how to trip someone. I guess a good video of them practicing there offensive sets would be a video showing someone climbing on another guy's back as they seem quite proficient on that.

[-jk]

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Let's Go Duke!

-jk

[uh_no]

Coby is a heck of a player but in the first game he went 3-14 with 6 TOs. I think having Zion back helps the rest of the team's defense. Tre is going to be able to hound him much of the game. As for the bench, defense counts and I like what Duke can get from Jack and Jordan. Alex may even chip in some offense.

quite the cherry pick. in the second game he had 21 points and 0 TOs, and 3 blocks to boot. Even if you call it a "tie" head to head, Coby white still has the better overall numbers.

Tre is the better defender, sure, but he's not enough of a consistent offensive threat to make up the difference.