tteettimes
Member
Vegas has Duke-6
MBB: Duke vs. Kentucky (11/12, 9pm ET, ESPN) Pregame and In-Game Thread
- Thread starter brevity
- Start date
- Status
brevity
Member
Isaac Trotter of 247 Sports has posted his Top 25 power rankings after Week 1, and says the following about Duke and Kentucky:
247sports.com
College basketball top 25 power rankings: Auburn, Duke claim top spots, early takeaways
Here's what we've learned about the best 25 teams in college basketball after a buzzy first week.
247sports.com
I was surprised he only had Kansas at #7 after beating a top ten team - sounds like he isn’t as sold on Kansas or UNC at this point…Isaac Trotter of 247 Sports has posted his Top 25 power rankings after Week 1, and says the following about Duke and Kentucky:
College basketball top 25 power rankings: Auburn, Duke claim top spots, early takeaways
Here's what we've learned about the best 25 teams in college basketball after a buzzy first week.
Edouble
Member
Fat Matt's has great ribs, but the rest is mediocre.
Fox Brothers is Texas style BBQ. They have great brisket and chicken. Probably the best all around spot for BBQ in the A. They are really quite an establishment. Solid sides and a couple of great sandwich concoctions.
Woods Chapel BBQ is a pricey up and comer in an up and coming neighborhood (Summer Hill) nearish to State Farm Arena, for anyone looking for an adventure. I mean, yeah Heirloom is great, but it's a trek from the site of the game.
Over the next seven games, we will learn much about this team. Dominant wins over Maine and Army are nice, but getting a read on the team is tough when the talent disparity is that large.
The frontcourt battle will be interesting. Man Man and Coop will face players who can compete with them physically. If either struggles, it could be a long evening for Duke.
The frontcourt battle will be interesting. Man Man and Coop will face players who can compete with them physically. If either struggles, it could be a long evening for Duke.
kAzE
Member
I watched some of their highlights so far, Kentucky sure doesn't seem like a team that hasn't played together much. Their ball movement and spacing is excellent. They are averaging 26.5 assists to Duke's 18.0.
Kentucky is a fun team to watch. Pope so far seems like a great hire.
DavidBenAkiva
Member
My assumption here is that rebounding will be the key to the game. Both teams are good at rebounding, but Duke is really good at it. Duke needs to win the rebounding battle to limit open looks and keep Kentucky from creating easy looks.
While Kentucky has been on fire from outside as a team, a lot of that can be attributed to one player, Koby Brea. He is 10/12 from 3 while the rest of the team is 14/48 (29.2%). It's a super small sample size of just 2 games, so that's worth taking with a grain of salt. There are some good shooters on this team, so I expect that Brea's shooting percentage will come down while the rest of the team's will go up. Starting PG Lamont Butler is probably the worst non-center shooter on the team.
This gets me back to rebounding. Duke's guards will have to be active on the boards to limit second chances. The best shots are going to be off of offensive rebounds. My hope is that Duke does such a good job on the boards that Kentucky is mostly limited to one-and-done on each possession. That will go a long way to keeping Duke in the game or keeping Duke ahead.
While Kentucky has been on fire from outside as a team, a lot of that can be attributed to one player, Koby Brea. He is 10/12 from 3 while the rest of the team is 14/48 (29.2%). It's a super small sample size of just 2 games, so that's worth taking with a grain of salt. There are some good shooters on this team, so I expect that Brea's shooting percentage will come down while the rest of the team's will go up. Starting PG Lamont Butler is probably the worst non-center shooter on the team.
This gets me back to rebounding. Duke's guards will have to be active on the boards to limit second chances. The best shots are going to be off of offensive rebounds. My hope is that Duke does such a good job on the boards that Kentucky is mostly limited to one-and-done on each possession. That will go a long way to keeping Duke in the game or keeping Duke ahead.
kAzE
Member
I think it says something about the McDonald's AA program when Bronny James is a McD's AA, and Kon Knueppel isn't . . .
camion
Member
It says something about a lot of things.
Media just goes with a simple rule. Pick the one would generate more clicks/reads/viewers. Currently the pick is Bronny.
In a couple of years the answer may well be different. Kon will get his clicks/reads/views if he continues to get buckets.
DavidBenAkiva
Member
The comparison should have been between Bronny and Caleb Foster because they were playing similar positions, in the same state, and in the same high school senior class. Bronny was a Class of 2023 recruit while Kon was Class of 2024. Looking back, both Kon and Foster had strong reasons to be in that game.
I haven’t been to Hattie Marie’s, but I can vouch for the others
wilson
Member
Another Atlantan cosigning the above, all of which is correct.
scottdude8
Moderator, front page and podcast contributor
A few more thoughts as I procrastinate during my lunch break:
- Koby Brea is leading UK in scoring despite only playing 23 mpg off the bench, scoring almost exclusively from deep. It wouldn't surprise me if Jon's primary counter to Brea checking into the game is Maliq Brown. Why? Against such a dominant three point shooter, I'd love to be able to switch 1-5... perhaps the easiest way to get Brea an open shot would be in the pick and roll against Khaman, our only non-switchable player.
- Amari Williams is averaging 13.5 RPG, but no one else on the roster is averaging more than 4.5. Andrew Carr, the other big who "starts", is only averaging 2.5. Yes, these are small sample size numbers, but this indicates that Kentucky may struggle to rebound if Khaman and/or Maliq can succesfully box out Williams. This could mean big rebounding numbers for Cooper.
- Related to the above, while some posters have worried about Kentucky's size given the frontcourt of Williams and Carr, it's noticeable that Carr's stats look more like those of a "stretch 4" than a traditional power forward... he's only taken 5 FTs in two games, for instance, alongside his poor rebounding numbers. I think I like the matchup of him versus Cooper.
- Besides Brea, no UK player has shot particularly well from deep. Otega Oweh went 3-for-3 in their opening game win, but 0-4 the next contest. Carr is 50% from 3, but on only 2 attempts. No one else is shooting better than 33% from deep. All this is a very small sample size, but should give the team the leeway to give Brea the attention he requires.
kako
Member
I'm looking forward to seeing Duke play a realistic tournament team, one potentially a higher seed. I am also looking forward to beating UK. They are my 2nd favorite team to beat. I really like lurking in BBN after a Duke win.
That being said, it's early in the season, so it's hard to make knowledgeable predictions. Even so, I will be watching Duke's perimeter and help defense. I think that will play a big part in winning this game. Then, it's hitting the glass. I think the offense will come, one way or another. I hope I'm correct in thinking Duke won't have too much trouble scoring.
9F
That being said, it's early in the season, so it's hard to make knowledgeable predictions. Even so, I will be watching Duke's perimeter and help defense. I think that will play a big part in winning this game. Then, it's hitting the glass. I think the offense will come, one way or another. I hope I'm correct in thinking Duke won't have too much trouble scoring.
9F
SkyBrickey
Member
Kentucky will be a tough test. Just watched most of their Wright State game.
Very well coached. Lots of cutting off the ball in a 5 out offense for some easy layups. Scoring spread around. Ball does not stick.
Amari Williams is really big and mobile. He has to be one of the best defensive, rim running centers in the country but not really a threat to shoot it. It will be very interesting to watch his matchup with Man. Their backup center Garrison is also big but made some boneheaded plays with the ball. Advantage Maliq. I see some steals tomorrow night.
Their PG Lamont Butler has the reputation as one of the best defenders in the country but didn't really show it this game. Will he cause our guards problems?
Brea can flat out shoot it like K2. Cannot give him an inch. It's pretty wild he doesn't start.
Kentucky's overall defense didn't look intimidating. Wright State had lots of open looks. My sense is their guys 6-8 don't bring the same intensity on defense as our Uncles - that may prove to be the winning advantage for Duke. Oh, and they don't have Cooper.
Very well coached. Lots of cutting off the ball in a 5 out offense for some easy layups. Scoring spread around. Ball does not stick.
Amari Williams is really big and mobile. He has to be one of the best defensive, rim running centers in the country but not really a threat to shoot it. It will be very interesting to watch his matchup with Man. Their backup center Garrison is also big but made some boneheaded plays with the ball. Advantage Maliq. I see some steals tomorrow night.
Their PG Lamont Butler has the reputation as one of the best defenders in the country but didn't really show it this game. Will he cause our guards problems?
Brea can flat out shoot it like K2. Cannot give him an inch. It's pretty wild he doesn't start.
Kentucky's overall defense didn't look intimidating. Wright State had lots of open looks. My sense is their guys 6-8 don't bring the same intensity on defense as our Uncles - that may prove to be the winning advantage for Duke. Oh, and they don't have Cooper.
Indoor66
Well-known member
Who are our "Uncles".
accfanfrom1970
Member
Mason, Sion and Maliq....
Indoor66
Well-known member
Can't you just name them rather than being so cryptic?
DukieInBrasil
Member
it's a nickname that people on this board have developed. Someone tried to call them the "Uncs", which got shot down for obvious reasons.
- Status