Frustrating loss. We were hustling and playing hard, but just ran into the wrong matchup and couldn't figure out how to adapt. Next two games are largely must-win. We need to figure this out because Tech is playing well and is led by a senior, ball-dominant penetrating point guard. Alvarado is not as good as Jones but he took us apart last time and will be ready to do the same Tuesday.
As I said in the in-game thread, we have been getting a lot of rolls the last few weeks. Unfortunately, tonight a lot of those rolls were going against us - we had a lot of shots spin out, including a few And-ones that became two shot fouls. There were also a few really sloppy turnovers - they won't necessarily rise to the top in the box score or statistical analyses, but they were real killers.
Microcosm of the season again, played just well enough to lose to a stronger more experienced team. Things looked incredibly grim in the first half, but one good thing about this team is they always find a way to play themselves back in it. I’m proud of their fight no matter how this all turns out.
Seemed like the game was in our hands when we scored 27 points in 12 minutes of the second half to take the lead after only 26 points in the first, but we could only score four points in four plus minutes thereafter and found ourselves in an absolute dogfight.
Their experience, size and mobility meant that Roach and Williams ended up being played off the floor or being largely a non-factor for significant stretches, and we had to go small in OT which meant they could keep attacking us inside and foul Hurt out eventually.
So many big plays and non-plays but not securing the rebound after the missed FT in the final seconds of regulation, plus giving up a three to a 24 percent reserve at the start of OT, felt like daggers.
I wondered why we weren’t trapping Carlik Jones more in the half court but our back line defense and rotations were so suspect, I get that K probably felt Louisville would have adjusted quickly and torn us up. The full court press worked well to keep us in it, but when forced to try to score in the halfcourt offense we just struggled to keep up if Matthew wasn’t making plays for us.
Hoping for one final reset and an uptick in play and focus for the road games next week.
I will do what fans do and jump on this point in agreement. It's not surprising given K's proclivities demonstrated year upon year. I can't question his rationale because I don't know why he prefers shorter lineups at times, he must have his reasons. But Duke was heavily exploited by Jones driving to the lane late in the game, with a weak inside presence.
I'm more comfortable saying that the guard play was atrocious. Someone asked during the game thread why Joey Baker, wide open in the corner, was overlooked. That's an easier question to answer, first in part, freshmen doing freshmen things, but also because none of Duke's guards are distributors. When it comes to the instinctive nature of being a ball distributor, there is nothing remotely close to a Bobby Hurley on this team. Steward and Roach are far more offensive minded and look to get to the rim and pop out for 3s. That in part is by design, but when Roach and Steward aren't hitting their shots, their role in the offense is a net negative. Goldwire fills the role of distributor somewhat but he delivered two passes to Williams, one down on the blocks and one out between the top of the foul circle and center court that Louisville stole by coming over the top. Those TOs were completely on Goldwire. Any decent point guard should be able to deliver the ball to a guy as big as Williams who has his defender on his back/hip. Fundamentally that was just bad playmaking on Jordan's part.
Duke dropped to 35th on Kenpom.
Well the question was already answered I recognize, but home court advantage for Duke this year has also been somewhat neutered. Crowd would have probably been worth 1 point in regulation...
Ironically, I think this was our biggest point loss of the ACC season despite going to OT. Can't make only one FG in 5 min of OT and expect to win.
Was glad to see a lot of fight from the team in the second half though, but just didn't execute in crunch time like we've seen a lot this season unfortunately.
To much Goldwire dribbling, all night long. Need the ball in a play makers hands and he is not that.
Recapping a highly disappointing loss and five observations. It is a shame this incredible Matthew Hurt performance resulted in a loss.
https://bluedevilstop.com/dukes-tour...to-louisville/
Need to value the ball more. The turnovers at the top of the key are killing us. I thought Hurt had tired legs on a couple of threes in crunch time in the second half. Need to go on another four game winning streak to make the tourney.
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