everything that's on my mind
(as if there's not already enough people doing this)Thursday, January 19, 2006
Duke holds off State
The way N.C. State had been playing this year, I came to believe that if Duke was going to lose a game at home this year, it just might be last night's game with State. It was a huge game between what are probably the two best teams in the league (although Miami and Carolina might have something to say about who's #2). And it was particularly huge since, with the ACC expansion, Duke and State only play once a year.
Duke managed to pull away late and win what was a very close game throughout (despite the final score of 81-68). State went up 62-58 with about 6 minutes to go, then Duke finished the game on a 23-6 run to end it.
A key play (probably the key play) in the game was a "6-point play" late in the second half. With the score tied at 65, Sean Dockery made a 3-pointer and was fouled. He missed the free throw, but got his own rebound and kicked it out to Lee Melchionni, who dropped his own 3-pointer and suddenly Duke was up six, and never looked back.
State's big man Cedric Simmons had a great game, benefiting from Duke's defensive strategy of taking away the three-point shot. He scored 28 points, pulled 9 rebounds, and had 7 blocks. It reminded me of the Indiana game, where Duke also tried to take away the three-point shot and it helped Marco Killingsworth have a career game, too. However, Duke countered with the usual suspects - J.J. Redick (28 points, 6 assists) and Shelden Williams (21 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocks, 5 steals).
I thought Duke took a lot of bad shots in the game, especially in the first half. Some of it may have been State's defense, but I thought they just rushed shots at times and took some long (and unnecessary) three's. I thought a little better shot selection would have helped maintain a lead, which they could never do for long. State also was shooting well - 53% in the first half, and 52% for the game (to Duke's 38% in the first half, and 45% for the game).
But a win is what matters, and now they're 17-0, tying the best start in school history (the 1992 team started 17-0 as well.) A win at Georgetown this weekend would give them the record. They won't remain undefeated - a difficult stretch of road games is on the horizon - but it would be nice to see them set the "best start" record.
Speaking of being undefeated, I've seen several articles this week where this possibility was discussed. The people saying it could happen have lost their minds. The age of a team finishing undefeated is over, in my opinion. It's just not going to happen anymore. Here's a quote from Coach K last night, speaking to that and to the Duke hype (which, as I've noted before, I don't like, either):
Intimidation
Along the same lines, a note about Mike Patrick - who I love as a play-by-play guy. However, I kept getting a little annoyed about him going on and on about how State was "not intimidated in the least" playing against Duke. The thing is this - this is ACC play. It's not like Duke is going to intimidate anyone in conference play. Maybe they intimidated Seton Hall or Bucknell, but not in conference play against teams that see them every year. And definitely not against a good team like State.
So, enough already with expecting teams to be intimidated by Duke. They won't be, and if they're a good team, they shouldn't be. In fact, in most cases, I think teams not only are not intimidated, but have greater motivation to play well and attempt the "upset" (which is a relative term anyway). Duke gets everyone's best shot. You can't do that if you're intimidated, so these guys need to stop being so astonished that a team plays well against Duke.
Duke managed to pull away late and win what was a very close game throughout (despite the final score of 81-68). State went up 62-58 with about 6 minutes to go, then Duke finished the game on a 23-6 run to end it.
A key play (probably the key play) in the game was a "6-point play" late in the second half. With the score tied at 65, Sean Dockery made a 3-pointer and was fouled. He missed the free throw, but got his own rebound and kicked it out to Lee Melchionni, who dropped his own 3-pointer and suddenly Duke was up six, and never looked back.
State's big man Cedric Simmons had a great game, benefiting from Duke's defensive strategy of taking away the three-point shot. He scored 28 points, pulled 9 rebounds, and had 7 blocks. It reminded me of the Indiana game, where Duke also tried to take away the three-point shot and it helped Marco Killingsworth have a career game, too. However, Duke countered with the usual suspects - J.J. Redick (28 points, 6 assists) and Shelden Williams (21 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocks, 5 steals).
I thought Duke took a lot of bad shots in the game, especially in the first half. Some of it may have been State's defense, but I thought they just rushed shots at times and took some long (and unnecessary) three's. I thought a little better shot selection would have helped maintain a lead, which they could never do for long. State also was shooting well - 53% in the first half, and 52% for the game (to Duke's 38% in the first half, and 45% for the game).
But a win is what matters, and now they're 17-0, tying the best start in school history (the 1992 team started 17-0 as well.) A win at Georgetown this weekend would give them the record. They won't remain undefeated - a difficult stretch of road games is on the horizon - but it would be nice to see them set the "best start" record.
Speaking of being undefeated, I've seen several articles this week where this possibility was discussed. The people saying it could happen have lost their minds. The age of a team finishing undefeated is over, in my opinion. It's just not going to happen anymore. Here's a quote from Coach K last night, speaking to that and to the Duke hype (which, as I've noted before, I don't like, either):
Some of the things that are being written are just overdone about our team, and that's the world they live in. Are they going to go undefeated? Are they going to do this? We're starting Lee Melchionni and Sean Dockery. You didn't even say that when we had Bobby Hurley, Christian Laettner and Grant Hill, so it's just extreme. It doesn't represent who we are, but we deal with it. You write whatever you want, but I think sometimes our kids play to that. They didn't have good looks on their faces. There's a lot of pressure on them, so that's why I told them, 'Just have fun and play. The outcome of this game will be determined on how well we have fun in the second half.' And we did.
Intimidation
Along the same lines, a note about Mike Patrick - who I love as a play-by-play guy. However, I kept getting a little annoyed about him going on and on about how State was "not intimidated in the least" playing against Duke. The thing is this - this is ACC play. It's not like Duke is going to intimidate anyone in conference play. Maybe they intimidated Seton Hall or Bucknell, but not in conference play against teams that see them every year. And definitely not against a good team like State.
So, enough already with expecting teams to be intimidated by Duke. They won't be, and if they're a good team, they shouldn't be. In fact, in most cases, I think teams not only are not intimidated, but have greater motivation to play well and attempt the "upset" (which is a relative term anyway). Duke gets everyone's best shot. You can't do that if you're intimidated, so these guys need to stop being so astonished that a team plays well against Duke.
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Good response to Mike Patrick's commentary on NC State not being intimidated. In any part of the country, once conference play begins, the chance to knock out the alpha dog of the conference just pumps up a team up more.
With Duke playing five of their next seven on the road, there's probably a loss in there somewhere, so I can see why Coach K is tempering expectations. But don't high school players sign on to Duke so that can have a chance for greatness? Or is it just for the free iPods?
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With Duke playing five of their next seven on the road, there's probably a loss in there somewhere, so I can see why Coach K is tempering expectations. But don't high school players sign on to Duke so that can have a chance for greatness? Or is it just for the free iPods?
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