MBB: Duke v Tenn (Sat 3/18, 2:40, CBS) Pre-Game and In-Game Thread

[CameronBornAndBred]

Be prepared for some awful officiating tomorrow. After watching these games today, it’s not clear what an actual foul is.

It's something between being punched in the face and breathed on.

[jipops]

It's something between being punched in the face and breathed on.

Even that’s more narrow than what I’ve been watching. None of it makes sense.

[Turk]

Hey gang -
I took a flier on Greensboro tix. Asking if anyone has any recommendations of a good local place to hang and watch the game tomorrow. Places I've tried so far have been mostly meh (as the young Turks like to say) Duke alumni site has nothing nearby. TIA

[ThaHusk]

Turk
Little place we used to go to back in college is olde town near uncg, get the chicken philly. They will have games on but not necessarily a sports bar by any means. Also, could try Natty Greens or macs speed shop.

[FastBreak]

All else equal - would we rather be playing a really good defense and okay offense or vice versa? Still getting my head around two good defensive teams playing each other. Probably comes down to either of: 3 point shooting (making just 1-2 more than the other team) or turnovers that lead to easy offense for the other team... Margin for error is really low in this one.

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

All else equal - would we rather be playing a really good defense and okay offense or vice versa? Still getting my head around two good defensive teams playing each other. Probably comes down to either of: 3 point shooting (making just 1-2 more than the other team) or turnovers that lead to easy offense for the other team... Margin for error is really low in this one.

If we limit our turnovers, we will be fine.

[dukelifer]

Whoa, I didn't realize he had coached before this season!

And likely an NCAA violation since he did it in 2009 probably voiding the 2010 championship.

[Native]

Gameday! Let’s Go Duke!

[DevilYouKnow]

Odds are every game going forward will be against a higher seed. However many that is.

…not so fast.

-FDU

[kshepinthehouse]

Who would you take right now on your team? Sophomore Mark Williams or the current Lively? I'm taking Lively. His presence on defense seems more game altering than Williams - and he was pretty game altering.

This starting 5 is playing great defense of course. Last year's team had an incredible defense, but had some vulnerabilities on defense that ultimately cost us the FF game. Feeling good about our chances...

Williams was game altering on the inside. Lively is pretty much discombobulating offenses anywhere inside the three point line.

[Saratoga2]

I know Jon will have the team laser focused on the Tennessee game. It's one game at a time, survive and advance.

As many others have observed, we will need to play our best defense. We have six players who can play that defense and a couple of additional subs who are adequate. Tennessee is somewhat turnover prone and are not a great shooting team. With our defense and rebounding, we could have more shot opportunities than them. We can't be over hyped on defense and give up gratuitous fouls. Foul trouble could weaken our defense and rebounding.

We know Tennessee will play a physical and be on our offensive players. They are long and quick and well coached. We need to be strong with the ball, be moving without the ball and make crisp passes. We need to be patient and work for good shots, particularly where we have players in place for potential offensive rebounding. When a good shot opens up, take it and finish it strongly or get fouled. With that approach, we should get more quality shots than Tennessee and we know we are a good foul shooting team so if they foul us, we should also have an advantage. We also need to avoid sitting on the ball while the clock runs down and then driving into a crowd. Tennessee is to good on defense for that to work.

How many times in this tournament have we seen players rush down the floor and jack up long shots, not in rhythm and with no rebounders available? Hero ball won't get it done.

[jv001]

I know Jon will have the team laser focused on the Tennessee game. It's one game at a time, survive and advance.

As many others have observed, we will need to play our best defense. We have six players who can play that defense and a couple of additional subs who are adequate. Tennessee is somewhat turnover prone and are not a great shooting team. With our defense and rebounding, we could have more shot opportunities than them. We can't be over hyped on defense and give up gratuitous fouls. Foul trouble could weaken our defense and rebounding.

We know Tennessee will play a physical and be on our offensive players. They are long and quick and well coached. We need to be strong with the ball, be moving without the ball and make crisp passes. We need to be patient and work for good shots, particularly where we have players in place for potential offensive rebounding. When a good shot opens up, take it and finish it strongly or get fouled. With that approach, we should get more quality shots than Tennessee and we know we are a good foul shooting team so if they foul us, we should also have an advantage. We also need to avoid sitting on the ball while the clock runs down and then driving into a crowd. Tennessee is to good on defense for that to work.

How many times in this tournament have we seen players rush down the floor and jack up long shots, not in rhythm and with no rebounders available? Hero ball won't get it done.

As I is was reading your post, the thought about our players picking up their dribbles and getting doubled team into a turnover, came to mind. You addressed another potential problem, letting the shot clock run down and taking a desperation shot that leads to a fast break. We can't come out timid because we could find ourselves down quickly. The Miami and NC State road games come to mind.

GoDuke!

[sagegrouse]

…not so fast.

-FDU

Won't the winner of Duke-Tenn play the winner of #9 and #16 (FAU and FDU)?

[jaywilliams22]

Won't the winner of Duke-Tenn play the winner of #9 and #16 (FAU and FDU)?

Correct. We'd be heavily favored against either at MSG.

[UrinalCake]

All else equal - would we rather be playing a really good defense and okay offense or vice versa?

I think I’d rather face a good offense/bad defense - our defense can neutralize a good offense and it gives our sometimes-stagnant offense more of a chance. Last year it was the opposite, we wanted to play bad offense/good defense because our offense was so good it could score on anyone, and we were fortunate in getting those matchups against MSU/Texas Tech/Arkansas which fit that profile.

Tennessee does seem like a more physical UVA as someone else stated a while back. Will be a tough game, I am nervous as heck!

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

Yeah, I really really want to win this game. This game feels like the over/under on whether we have a season that went pretty well, or one that no one in our fanbases can whine about.

If we win today, we are playing with house money.

[HereBeforeCoachK]

Did we not play even one higher seed in our 2010 run?

Edit. Strike that. We were number one seed and I didn’t even remember that.

How in the world were we the #1 seed when we were so ‘alarmingly unathletic’? Funny how the memory plays tricks on you.

And that steamed Bob Huggins....whose WVA team was the top of the 2 seeds that year, and Duke was the last of the 1 seeds. It allowed WVA to take Kentucky out in the regional...and might've been a nice factor in Duke winning the Natty that year. Might've been one of the few times Duke caught a break in the seeds/match ups.

Then again, Duke had to play 2nd seed Baylor in Houston for the Regional final, and that was tough. Always thought Duke's best 60 minutes all season...the second half against Baylor and the entire game against WVa in the semis. I thought they were rather poor, but good enough, to beat Butler in the title game...

[HereBeforeCoachK]

Yeah, I really really want to win this game. This game feels like the over/under on whether we have a season that went pretty well, or one that no one in our fanbases can whine about.

If we win today, we are playing with house money.

That's how I felt several weeks ago. After the ACCT win, however, I moved that 'over under' to reaching the elite 8.

Then again, K's retirement and Hubert's implosion this year....kinda pressure free already.

[ClemmonsDevil]

Tennessee has the tendency to sling the ball all over the place and play pretty recklessly. Chase Vescovi off the 3 point line and pound them on the boards. This should be a game Filipowski asserts himself offensively.

[jaywilliams22]

That's how I felt several weeks ago. After the ACCT win, however, I moved that 'over under' to reaching the elite 8.

Then again, K's retirement and Hubert's implosion this year...kinda pressure free already.

Anything can happen, but a win today puts us in a GREAT position to be in the Elite 8 at MSG next Saturday.