MBB: Duke 103, ASU 47 Post Game Thread

[Stray Gator]

One interesting feature I noticed from Duke's offense during this game: It seemed that our players were initiating the action earlier in the shot clock by driving aggressively to the basket more frequently than I can recall having seen from any Duke teams in recent memory. As the game went on, I mentioned that to my son, who attended the game with me, and we speculated that this aggressive attack approach was probably by design for two reasons: First, this team has an exceptionally deep bench, with sufficient talent and experience to alleviate customary concerns about fatigue or foul trouble. And second, these players appear to be ideally suited for the drive-and-kick-out approach, because the coaches can put several on the court at the same time who combine excellent passing and outside shooting skills. I'll be curious to see whether Jon gives them the same latitude in games that are more closely contested.

 

[SkyBrickey]

One interesting feature I noticed from Duke's offense during this game: It seemed that our players were initiating the action earlier in the shot clock by driving aggressively to the basket more frequently than I can recall having seen from any Duke teams in recent memory. As the game went on, I mentioned that to my son, who attended the game with me, and we speculated that this aggressive attack approach was probably by design for two reasons: First, this team has an exceptionally deep bench, with sufficient talent and experience to alleviate customary concerns about fatigue or foul trouble. And second, these players appear to be ideally suited for the drive-and-kick-out approach, because the coaches can put several on the court at the same time who combine excellent passing and outside shooting skills. I'll be curious to see whether Jon gives them the same latitude in games that are more closely contested.

Yes the pod guys said it was a 73 possession game which would have been the 7th fastest pace last season. Makes sense we should play fast this year.

 

[SkyBrickey]

I think you are low on Khaman. Once DLII got his fouling under control, he was routinely playing north of 25 minutes. It's early, but Khaman seems to be good at limiting his fouls. That being said, prepare yourself for him fouling out before the first media timeout when Duke plays at UNC.

You might be right Azz. But I do think we will play at a faster pace this year, and Maliq is such a talented player. Tough to imagine him getting less than 15mpg, but maybe so if Khaman is really dominant like he flashed last night.

 

[jafarr1]

I think you are low on Khaman. Once DLII got his fouling under control, he was routinely playing north of 25 minutes. It's early, but Khaman seems to be good at limiting his fouls. That being said, prepare yourself for him fouling out before the first media timeout when Duke plays at UNC.

You kid, but you can bet that opponents are going to try to drive at Khaman early and often to try to get him into foul trouble. He'll do fine some nights, but on other nights he may not. While it appears we have capable bench replacements, other teams will immediately feel better without Khaman defending and rebounding.

The high pace and high intensity defense make a ton of sense with this roster. Teams that don't match our energy will likely see the game get away from them, and those that do will likely see their starters wear down, at which point it becomes our bench against theirs. We may see some opponents try to use up the shot clock on offense throughout the game to reduce the number of possessions.

 

[SkyBrickey]

We could also see teams drive on Khaman early and then not again after the ball ends up 6 rows up in the stands...

 

[Indoor66]

Kon is just a killer by nature.

Sometimes it's not obvious to see what recruits are going to be that guy until you do see it.

I remember a football coach I had who had been the best player in the NFL on our staff slightly disagreeing with the head coach about some Spring practice analysis. "Well, this is Spring practice. We'll see when the pads come on" That guy was just a killer by mentality. Wasn't the biggest or fastest guy ever but made himself NFL All-Pro anyway

Sounds like Mike Curtis.

 

[bird]

I attended Lincoln and Ariz St in person and my take of this thread is that folks may be missing how good and aggressive Foster and Proctor were.

 

[budwom]

I'm trying a bit to temper expectations based on that initial Zion/Barrett/Reddish Kentucky blowout but by and large I am not succeeding.

 

[Travis]

I mentioned this on the pod last night, but I think it's worth repeating: Duke showcased two separate ways it can win games this year in two halves last night.

In the first half, Duke wasn't right from beyond the arc (they shot 2-for-11). Yet, thanks in large part to their defense, translation of that defense to fast-break offense, and ability to dominate the offensive glass, Duke was leading 37-20. In the second half, Duke shot closer to what we expect them to this year and, well, annihilated a Big 12 team.

Duke won't shoot as well as we did in the second half last night regularly, unfortunately. But it certainly seems like we have the ability to win games when we aren't shooting the lights out, which has been a consistent pre-season question mark for seemingly the last decade or so. That has me even more excited that the final score last night.

It seems more like Duke showed a way to win in the first half and a way to destroy in the second half as the defense continued to perform in the second half.

If at halftime, Duke’s score was zeroed out while ASU kept their points, Duke still wins the game. And it would not even be that close: 66-47 what we would call a UVA-style thumping. At least part of the offensive explosion in the 2nd half reflects the continued defensive pressure as we converted good defense into offense. Really hope this team continues to pressure and drive the pace.

 

[OldPhiKap]

One interesting feature I noticed from Duke's offense during this game: It seemed that our players were initiating the action earlier in the shot clock by driving aggressively to the basket more frequently than I can recall having seen from any Duke teams in recent memory. As the game went on, I mentioned that to my son, who attended the game with me, and we speculated that this aggressive attack approach was probably by design for two reasons: First, this team has an exceptionally deep bench, with sufficient talent and experience to alleviate customary concerns about fatigue or foul trouble. And second, these players appear to be ideally suited for the drive-and-kick-out approach, because the coaches can put several on the court at the same time who combine excellent passing and outside shooting skills. I'll be curious to see whether Jon gives them the same latitude in games that are more closely contested.

The most interesting thing about Jon’s post-game press conference was his comment that the coaches have to keep reminding everyone to drive — because they’re used to practicing against Khaman where they can’t.

 

[MChambers]

Did anyone notice that on Kon's first three, early in the second half, when Duke set up, Cooper went to the wrong spot and Khaman had to tell him where he should be? As soon as Khaman spoke to Cooper, he moved to the right position and ended up setting a screen that gave Kon an open three. I'm not posting to criticize Cooper. I'm just impressed with Khaman's quick learning and willingness to speak up.

 

[camion]

Did anyone notice that on Kon's first three, early in the second half, when Duke set up, Cooper went to the wrong spot and Khaman had to tell him where he should be? As soon as Khaman spoke to Cooper, he moved to the right position and ended up setting a screen that gave Kon an open three. I'm not posting to criticize Cooper. I'm just impressed with Khaman's quick learning and willingness to speak up.

I love Khaman. Everyone on the team looks up to him.

 

[Indoor66]

I love Khaman. Everyone on the team looks up to him.

Is that literally, figuratively or both?,

 

[Nrrrrvous]

I love Khaman. Everyone on the team looks up to him.

FIFY

 

[azzefkram]

You might be right Azz. But I do think we will play at a faster pace this year, and Maliq is such a talented player. Tough to imagine him getting less than 15mpg, but maybe so if Khaman is really dominant like he flashed last night.

You know I'm a big Maliq fan, so I would think he would get close to 20 minutes in competitive games. I just imagine they won't all come from Khaman.

I, too, think (hope) the pace will be more frenetic this season. I'm not sure that will be an issue for Khaman. Didn't the young man grow up playing soccer?

 

[accfanfrom1970]

How much time did Maliq and Khaman spend on the court together? At least some, when Maliq took his 3 in the second half….

 

[azzefkram]

You kid, but you can bet that opponents are going to try to drive at Khaman early and often to try to get him into foul trouble. He'll do fine some nights, but on other nights he may not. While it appears we have capable bench replacements, other teams will immediately feel better without Khaman defending and rebounding.

The high pace and high intensity defense make a ton of sense with this roster. Teams that don't match our energy will likely see the game get away from them, and those that do will likely see their starters wear down, at which point it becomes our bench against theirs. We may see some opponents try to use up the shot clock on offense throughout the game to reduce the number of possessions.

While possible, I think that is harder to do than write. I don't think it will become a "thing." Khaman looks pretty conscious about not fouling. There were a few instances versus ASU that I thought he could defend more aggressively.

I do think there is a pretty significant drop off when Khaman is out of the game, so if Khaman can avoid taking himself out of the game via fouling the better it is for Duke.

 

[UrinalCake]

I do not think Scheyer is going to sacrifice any equity this season for the sake of maybe pleasing players 8-12 enough that they come back next year, particularly not in the Cooper Flagg year. He is going to play the players that give him the best chance to win any given game, with a secondary consideration to seasonal development. I don’t think K was any different.

Mark Mitchell played 28.6 minutes per game last year, started every game he was healthy, had a 19.9% usage rate, and still chose to transfer. There's no magic number of minutes that will guarantee that a guy comes back, and the last thing we want Jon to do is force feed a player more minutes in order to keep him happy, drop a game or two as a result, and then watch him leave anyways.

I'm with you that we'll play the guys that give us the best chance to win, period. Keeping guys happy out of fear that they'll leave is just not going to happen. When last season ended, Jon told all of his players that nothing is guaranteed and they would have to compete for minutes if they returned. Some chose to stay and many others didn't.

 

[SkyBrickey]

You know I'm a big Maliq fan, so I would think he would get close to 20 minutes in competitive games. I just imagine they won't all come from Khaman.

I, too, think (hope) the pace will be more frenetic this season. I'm not sure that will be an issue for Khaman. Didn't the young man grow up playing soccer?

Its very easy to say this guy or that guy should play more minutes this year. We've got 10 deserving guys. But when you put a guy on the court, you've got to take a guy off the court...

 

[AGDukesky]

Mark Mitchell played 28.6 minutes per game last year, started every game he was healthy, had a 19.9% usage rate, and still chose to transfer. There's no magic number of minutes that will guarantee that a guy comes back, and the last thing we want Jon to do is force feed a player more minutes in order to keep him happy, drop a game or two as a result, and then watch him leave anyways.

I'm with you that we'll play the guys that give us the best chance to win, period. Keeping guys happy out of fear that they'll leave is just not going to happen. When last season ended, Jon told all of his players that nothing is guaranteed and they would have to compete for minutes if they returned. Some chose to stay and many others didn't.

True but Mitchell also had some chirping from his father during the season that indicated something else was going on