MBB: NCAAT South Regional Discussion Thread (Duke #1, overall #3)

[BigZ]

Living in SD and having a roommate who is SDSU alumn I watch a lot of their games. This squad is not one of their better teams. I would describe them as a poor man's Louisville. Not much offense but physical defense. Play a lot of games in the 50s.

[arnie]

Who should I root for with this St. John's SDSU game? San Diego is clearly the better team overall with Obekpa out, but St. John's has better guards that can exploit Duke's weaknesses better, plus, we've already played them so they should have a much better idea for what they'd want to do in terms of a game plan. I'm leaning towards rooting St. John's, but not 100%

Well Polee of Sdsu thinks he's the 2nd coming of Beau Beech and Pointer is clearly best àthlete in tourney. We're doomed.

[rsvman]

Kenpom says SDSU is the 4th best defensive team in the country (UVA number 2) and has an offense that is actually well worse than Louisville's. They are in the 170s in offensive efficiency on the season.

Granted they don't look like it right now.

[gofurman]

Kenpom says SDSU is the 4th best defensive team in the country (UVA number 2) and has an offense that is actually well worse than Louisville's. They are in the 170s in offensive efficiency on the season.

Granted they don't look like it right now.

Watching the Game.. Who whould you rather play? I think SDSU. MY reason is that I don't think sdsu can keep shooting 3s like this and pointer on St Johns is a scary driver. I think we can guard 3s better than we guard nasty dribble penetration.

Thoughts?

[gumbomoop]

If our opponent is SDSU, I'll be surprised if they don't Hackafor. They play lots of guys, and have some size. As one of the TV panels noted, as Duke goes further, Jahlil's FT-shooting is a major issue. I suppose StJ couldn't afford that approach, lacking size and depth.

[pfrduke]

Watching the Game.. Who whould you rather play? I think SDSU. MY reason is that I don't think sdsu can keep shooting 3s like this and pointer on St Johns is a scary driver. I think we can guard 3s better than we guard nasty dribble penetration.

Thoughts?

I hesitate to take a position under the "be careful what you wish for" line of thinking. That said, in the abstract, I would far prefer to play offensively challenged but defensively strong teams than teams that have offensive skills and also play decent defense. I think our defense is good enough to stop bad offenses but vulnerable to good/decent offenses, and I like our offense against basically any defense.

[rsvman]

I agree with gofurman, I think. Their season stats say they can't shoot threes this well. They'll revert to the mean at some point. Ideally they shoot jot of their minds for the rest of thus game and then revert on Sunday. That would be ideal.

[FerryFor50]

I'd rather see St John's. Obekpa is suspended. Jah would have a field day.

[Duvall]

Duke-San Diego State/St. John's tipping at 2:40 Sunday. (Probably later. Thirty minutes after Michigan State-Virginia at 12:10.)

[Duvall]

These teams are just...gross.

[KandG]

I hesitate to take a position under the "be careful what you wish for" line of thinking. That said, in the abstract, I would far prefer to play offensively challenged but defensively strong teams than teams that have offensive skills and also play decent defense. I think our defense is good enough to stop bad offenses but vulnerable to good/decent offenses, and I like our offense against basically any defense.

This tends to be my position as well, but I sure am conflicted watching the actual game. One moment I'm like "SDSU is doing too well! They'll give us fits!", the next moment I see St. John's flying around wildly on a fast break like toddlers on a sugar high, I think "Oh no, a crazy team that will just beat us down the floor non-stop when we lose focus".

Basically, I just want Duke to be ready on Sunday, no matter who it is. (And having watched Coach K's postgame press conference, I'm confident they will be). Figuring out the better matchup is too much stress. :-)

[subzero02]

I am worried about SDSU... They are patient and athletic and long. We need our bigs to dominate.

[grad_devil]

SDSU fans chanting "We want Duke" at the 54.3 second mark. Let's hope we give them what they want.

[Duvall]

SDSU fans chanting "We want Duke" at the 54.3 second mark.

I mean, it's that or go home. That's how the bracket works.

[moonpie23]

careful what you wish for

[gofurman]

I hesitate to take a position under the "be careful what you wish for" line of thinking. That said, in the abstract, I would far prefer to play offensively challenged but defensively strong teams than teams that have offensive skills and also play decent defense. I think our defense is good enough to stop bad offenses but vulnerable to good/decent offenses, and I like our offense against basically any defense.

Yep. Someone else made a Louisville comparison. I'll take that analogy - I like playing teams that are 'supposedly' (not tonight( offensively challenged.

[gofurman]

This tends to be my position as well, but I sure am conflicted watching the actual game. One moment I'm like "SDSU is doing too well! They'll give us fits!", the next moment I see St. John's flying around wildly on a fast break like toddlers on a sugar high, I think "Oh no, a crazy team that will just beat us down the floor non-stop when we lose focus".

Basically, I just want Duke to be ready on Sunday, no matter who it is. (And having watched Coach K's postgame press conference, I'm confident they will be). Figuring out the better matchup is too much stress. :-)

Where can I see the post game press conference? Thanks

[brevity]

South Regional games this weekend (all times Eastern).

Saturday

12:10pm, CBS: (14) UAB vs. (11) UCLA
7:45pm, CBS: (5) Utah vs. (4) Georgetown

Sunday

2:40pm, CBS: (8) SDSU vs. (1) Duke
7:10pm, TBS: (7) Iowa vs. (2) Gonzaga

[juise]

Tony Parker off to a great start against UAB. I hope he conserves some energy in the second half for what is likely to be an epic post-game presser (win or lose).

[MarkD83]

Well Polee of Sdsu thinks he's the 2nd coming of Beau Beech and Pointer is clearly best àthlete in tourney. We're doomed.

Well since we only beat the team that beat North Fla by 29 and North Fla was clearly the best team in the tournament we are doomed.