Chicago 1995
Member
Said the same thing to one of my friends during the game last night. Seems like Gillis is rounding into form on offense, which would be a nice boost. His D is always very good. As is everyone's.
MBB: Duke 76, Pitt 47 Post-game Thread
- Thread starter -jk
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MChambers
Member
Yes, Duke kept switching every ball screen and usually ended up with a big on their guards, which Pitt seemed to want, but it didn't matter, for the most part. We still had a dominating defensive performance.
Before the game, someone suggested Duke might use drop coverage by Maluach, but we didn't, and our defense was great. Bodes well for the rest of the reason.
Theoretically, yes Foster is a weapon off the dribble. But that theoretical strength hasn't shown up overall, let alone consistently. He has the worst eFG% on the team and is worst at the rim as well (just slightly behind Proctor, but still behind him).
It's been a rough season for Foster so far this year (offensively, at least).
Amazing poster shot! I would also like to credit Guillermo for his good sportsmanship on this play as the posteree. Seriously — he handled it well. A lesser player might have reacted differently.
I think his biggest asset will be in the NCAAs providing leadership and leveraging his experience. This team should be less susceptible to a deer-in-headlights stretch (Tennessee when Mitchell was abruptly not playing and the Vols style, the last 10 minutes against NCSU) like the last two NCAA losses. I really like what he brings and he seems to have settled into his role nicely…
I agree on Gillis but disagree on everyone's defense being very good. Caleb and Isaiah are not good defenders. Caleb's defense is about where it was last season. No improvement and I don't know why. He's pretty athletic and had a year learning the Duke man2man. I expect Isaiah not to be up to par because of his inexperience, but not Caleb. Kon has improved his defense since the season began. Our team defense is very good, however.
GoDuke!
UrinalCake
Member
With 8 minutes remaining Pitt cut the deficit to 11 after we had committed two consecutive turnovers leading to layups on the other end. The game was still somewhat in doubt, and Jon called a timeout and put the starters back in. I didn't interpret the substitution pattern as "leaving the starters in to send a message" as much as "we're not going to give them any chance at coming back."
It seems we posters have forgotten the "Fake" injury to Pitt's Austin. He's on the floor acting like he's injured, trainers around him. They help him off the court and 5 minutes later he's back in the game. What a quitter. He was getting abused by Flagg, etc and quit. Says something of the character of this faker. Or as I say - lack of character. He would be sitting the next game then maybe he would grow up.
CrazyNotCrazie
Member
Have you read the ten responses that have all clarified they meant with 2 minutes left and Duke up about 20? We are all smart enough to recognize the difference between an 11 point game with eight minutes left and a 20 point game with two minutes left.
This topic was going to die a peaceful death as the point was made but some people just can't help themselves.
MChambers
Member
Why do you think he was faking? Sometimes you twist your shoulder the wrong way and it really hurts, but there is no long-term issue.
NYBri
Member
Wondering when some team was going to try this. I guess others won’t follow suit since it didn’t work.
NYBri
Member
May be a story he tells decades from now.
Yeah, I'm really not comfortable with calling people fakers and questioning their character from afar. It's one thing to discuss the nut/gut tap by Dunn (which was totally uncalled for). But we have no idea how much pain (or not) Austin was in.
I agree. It looked to me like his shoulder popped out and then almost immediately back in. It hurts for a few minutes, then feels better. It used to happen to Chris Carrawell a lot in his playing days. My only question from this game is why didn’t Gillis see the floor in the second half after playing so well in the first half?
MChambers
Member
Adam Rowe on Bluesky says a lot of Duke's players were not feeling well. Doesn't say who. https://bsky.app/profile/airowe.bsky.social/post/3lf6yynoprp2q
Might have played a role in the limited substitutions.
Might have played a role in the limited substitutions.
dukebluesincebirth
Member
Anyone know if Capel apologized or even addressed the classless punch at the end? I'm pretty sure he never addressed the postgame taunting of Blake Hinson standing on the scorer's table. Seems like Jeff doesn't always have full control of his team. And I have zero issues with the starters being in at the end. Don't stand on the table in our house, and maybe you'll get the privilege of playing against Spencer Hubbard.
robed deity
Member
If Foster was one of them and he was getting shots up after the game, he is really working his butt off to get out of his rut.
Yes, and the entire team is focused on keeping close to shooters behind the arc. We have learned that forcing someone to put the ball on the floor and drive means they meet 4 mean dudes on their way to the rim. Our switching and foot speed are the best I've seen from Duke in a long time.
I am amazed at how this team plays such intense pressure defense without using their arms and hands too much. I am also amazed at how much Proctor has matured on both sides of the ball. I am also amazed at Sion for reasons I surely don't have to share here.
This was the first full game that Maluach didn't have some empty stretches. He was involved and had a consistent positive impact. The more he learns to be consistently involved and active on defense, the more our ceiling rises. I think his defense has been just ok at times, and he has benefitted from the impressive blocks that distracted from his occasional poor play. Our team defense is rising because he is improving.
Caleb Foster still has a role to play on this team. On defense, we need him to stay home a little more. He gets out of position trying to get strip steals and leaves his man open. His offense is critical to give us points while the starters rest or have foul trouble, and we don't need him to produce on defense as long as he is decent.
Two lineups I want to see: I want Maliq in with Man Man, and I want to see them play some high/low sets passing to each other. I also want to see us play with Mason in instead of either big, and see how our offense works with 5 shooters cutting and slashing across the court. Could their ball pressure make up for the lack of a rim protector? Neither of these are necessary, but my curiosity wants to know how those situations would play out.
sagegrouse
Member
After the conference with the officials after the incident, Capel calmly and unemotionally pointed to the locker room, indicating to Dunn he was ejected.