MOTM Poll: Duke vs. UNC (March 8, 2025)

[UrinalCake]

How about a MOTM for the Duke training and medical staff for getting Maliq back onto the court and able to play 16 crucial minutes; not to mention Proctor looking fully recovered as well.

 

[gep]

As someone who voted for Brown, it wasn’t the 3s that got my vote. It was his defensive impact in eliminating the offensive advantage UNC had.

That, and he had the best BPM and best +/- on the team. The 3s were icing on the cake.

THIS... for me

 

[kshepinthehouse]

the game totally changed on Maliq's entry to the game in the 2nd half. The defense got way better and then he hooped it up for 8 with 2 3s! Amazing

33-13 to end the game

 

[Ian]

I voted for Maliq as well. Felt like UNC was abusing KM on the switches and really shredding our defense, until Brown came in at center and completely shut that down.

That's what I love about this team, it is the most complete team I think I've ever seen. They have spare parts that can handle just about any match up the opposition can throw at them.

 

[azzefkram]

Maliq though I was very tempted to go with Caleb.

 

[SavDukeGrad]

I thought Kon, Sion, and Tyrese were steady the whole game, and kept the ship afloat in the 1st half when Cooper got in foul trouble and things could have gone south. Voted for Kon because he played 39 minutes. And scored 17 on 7-10.

 

[wavedukefan70s]

So many choices .I feel like I'm doing another player a disservice when I vote.

 

[kako]

As someone who voted for Brown, it wasn’t the 3s that got my vote. It was his defensive impact in eliminating the offensive advantage UNC had.

That, and he had the best BPM and best +/- on the team. The 3s were icing on the cake.

Brown played a superb 2nd half. Duke doesn't win without him. But I just thought James played sharp all game. His scoring was steady, with bull drives to the basket. I don't know how that one where he got fouled and fell to the floor actually went in. 3 steals (though one was on the last play of the game, so kind of inconsequential). And getting 8 defensive boards in a game where one of Carolina's only ways to win was being competitive on the glass was really important. I don't think Duke wins without James, either.

I will also say that one of the worries I had about James moving to starting point guard was his FT% history. He wasn't a guy that I would have wanted on the line, judging last year's FT performance. Tonight he was 4-5, which is basically his season average. At Tulane, he was sub-70%. Being able to trust your PG on the line is so important.

In any case, it's great to go back-and-forth about who had a better game beating Carolina!

9F

 

[jv001]

As someone who voted for Brown, it wasn’t the 3s that got my vote. It was his defensive impact in eliminating the offensive advantage UNC had.

That, and he had the best BPM and best +/- on the team. The 3s were icing on the cake.

From Hubert's postgame presser, I believe he might have voted for Maliq if he was allowed. I voted for Sion but could have easily voted for Tyrese, Kon or maybe a support vote for Caleb.

GoDuke!

 

[LasVegas]

Brown played a superb 2nd half. Duke doesn't win without him. But I just thought James played sharp all game. His scoring was steady, with bull drives to the basket. I don't know how that one where he got fouled and fell to the floor actually went in. 3 steals (though one was on the last play of the game, so kind of inconsequential). And getting 8 defensive boards in a game where one of Carolina's only ways to win was being competitive on the glass was really important. I don't think Duke wins without James, either.

I will also say that one of the worries I had about James moving to starting point guard was his FT% history. He wasn't a guy that I would have wanted on the line, judging last year's FT performance. Tonight he was 4-5, which is basically his season average. At Tulane, he was sub-70%. Being able to trust your PG on the line is so important.

In any case, it's great to go back-and-forth about who had a better game beating Carolina!

9F

Yeah, no one has an issue with a Sion vote. The issue was with you calling a Brown vote an emotional vote which was strongly rebuked.

 

[CDu]

Yeah, no one has an issue with a Sion vote. The issue was with you calling a Brown vote an emotional vote which was strongly rebuked.

This.

There is nothing wrong with a vote for James. Or for Knueppel. Or for Flagg. The only issue I had with mako’s original post was the characterization that a vote for Brown was merely an emotional vote. That simply isn’t accurate, as the stats clearly show Broen was a worthy candidate.

 

[Edouble]

From Hubert's postgame presser, I believe he might have voted for Maliq if he was allowed. I voted for Sion but could have easily voted for Tyrese, Kon or maybe a support vote for Caleb.

GoDuke!

I’ll allow Hubert a vote.

I voted for Caleb, but not as a “support vote”. I genuinely thought his defense got us back on track. I know he didn’t do much on the stat sheet but I thought him getting in the game turned up the heat and turned the tide. He played better defense on Davis then even Tyrese did, which was actually a little shocking.

 

[CDu]

This.

There is nothing wrong with a vote for James. Or for Knueppel. Or for Flagg. The only issue I had with mako’s original post was the characterization that a vote for Brown was merely an emotional vote. That simply isn’t accurate, as the stats clearly show Broen was a worthy candidate.

Uggh, my phone autocorrected kako to mako. Sorry about that, I wasn’t trying to mess up your name!

 

[Maged]

One interesting thing I noticed was that when Brown switched on to Davis, Davis stopped looking for his shot and looked to pass. He did not want any part of brown.

 

[Alan_Wilson]

I voted for Foster but it’s a bit absurd that Proctor hasn’t picked up votes. He and Kon carried Duke in Flagg’s absence, got us going out of halftime, clutch player in crunch times. 6-10 and 2-4 from three. Give it up for Tyrese folks.

Tyrese was good but I thought Sion might have been the most consistent player. Tyrese dropped away for a stretch. Sion set the tone from the get go attacking the basket and never backed off.

 

[OldPhiKap]

One interesting thing I noticed was that when Brown switched on to Davis, Davis stopped looking for his shot and looked to pass. He did not want any part of brown.

This. Maliq at the top of the key on D is a beautiful thing.

 

[Native]

I voted for Caleb. To have his name called after a DNP and deliver was big time. It also was a different kind of game from him—impacting the game with defense, hustle, and even a block! Totally recognize Maliq's contributions to the overall game but I thought Caleb provided a spark when we needed it.

 

[Papa John]

Solid game by so many guys worthy of MotM, but I gave it to Sion who embodied the attack mentality from the get-go and I thought really set the tone.

 

[OldPhiKap]

I voted for Caleb. To have his name called after a DNP and deliver was big time. It also was a different kind of game from him—impacting the game with defense, hustle, and even a block! Totally recognize Maliq's contributions to the overall game but I thought Caleb provided a spark when we needed it.

Jon singled him out in the post-game presser.great to hear.

 

[NYBri]

Tyrese was good but I thought Sion might have been the most consistent player. Tyrese dropped away for a stretch. Sion set the tone from the get go attacking the basket and never backed off.

Sporks for the "from the get go" reference. One of my all-time favorite expressions. It has everything. Nonsensical grammar, few words but the meaning is clear even to those who have never heard it. The only thing that would have made it better would have been if you said, "git go," but I took it as it was implied.