Frustrating loss when you have such a great stretch of play.
Obviously, #1, FT shooting was horrible. 5-11, 45.5% is really bad but, what is arguably the most frustrating aspect in college basketball - and a team killer - is missing the front end of 1 and 1. That's the Cardinal Sin in CBB. And we missed the front end of all 3 1 and 1s we had in the 2nd half. Just atrocious. They should be shooting 200 a day this week, lol. I mean, K needs to state it plainly: you miss FTs and you will not win the NCAAs.
The turnovers are not as frustrating against UVA as two other items:
#2 - need to take better shots. Especially against a good defense. While Carter and Bagley are great players you just can't waste possessions by bad 3s - particularly Carter and Bagley. We aren't playing Northern Illinois St.
#3 - The defense of Gary Trent, Jr. Not everyone played well (Grayson is in a shooting slump; but, then so was Trent in this game - that's a concern but that can change quickly). However, I saw some bad D by Trent early and started watching him carefully the rest of the way - not only is he more often than not just lazy on D, he just stops playing D and doesn't even think about boxing out when he's on backside D. UVA got a number of 2nd chance points, and back door plays because Trent is just lazily watching the play. He just doesn't have consistent intensity on D. He doesn't look to box out on shots (esp. when he's on the backside of the zone). Trent may be a 1st round draft pick but whoever drafts him needs to let him know if he wants to get on the court he needs to wake up on D. It actually might be a good idea for K to give him a good chewing out and not start him against ND - then get him in about 2-3 minutes in. He needs to realize that what he does, wherever the play is
In a two point loss, a series of lazy plays on D or rebounding, combined with FTs, make a big difference.
Positively, I don't know that Marvin Bagley, Jr. will be the best player to come out of Duke but imo he's the best freshman Duke has ever had. And, Wendell Carter is an awesome player as well (but, hell, make your FTs, young man!). What I love about both those guys for freshmen, is their intensity on both the offensive and defensive ends. You really can't ask for much more from those two. Arguably the best two rebounders of any freshmen Duke has had since ... well ... since I can remember.
I really love that K is willing to go to the zone. We play much better when we go zone, imo. And, we flashed a lot of good play against the #2 team in the nation. If Grayson can get out of his shooting and offensive funk, if Trent can play with intensity on the D end, and we can improve at FT shooting ... we'll have a shot.
Obviously, #1, FT shooting was horrible. 5-11, 45.5% is really bad but, what is arguably the most frustrating aspect in college basketball - and a team killer - is missing the front end of 1 and 1. That's the Cardinal Sin in CBB. And we missed the front end of all 3 1 and 1s we had in the 2nd half. Just atrocious. They should be shooting 200 a day this week, lol. I mean, K needs to state it plainly: you miss FTs and you will not win the NCAAs.
The turnovers are not as frustrating against UVA as two other items:
#2 - need to take better shots. Especially against a good defense. While Carter and Bagley are great players you just can't waste possessions by bad 3s - particularly Carter and Bagley. We aren't playing Northern Illinois St.
#3 - The defense of Gary Trent, Jr. Not everyone played well (Grayson is in a shooting slump; but, then so was Trent in this game - that's a concern but that can change quickly). However, I saw some bad D by Trent early and started watching him carefully the rest of the way - not only is he more often than not just lazy on D, he just stops playing D and doesn't even think about boxing out when he's on backside D. UVA got a number of 2nd chance points, and back door plays because Trent is just lazily watching the play. He just doesn't have consistent intensity on D. He doesn't look to box out on shots (esp. when he's on the backside of the zone). Trent may be a 1st round draft pick but whoever drafts him needs to let him know if he wants to get on the court he needs to wake up on D. It actually might be a good idea for K to give him a good chewing out and not start him against ND - then get him in about 2-3 minutes in. He needs to realize that what he does, wherever the play is
In a two point loss, a series of lazy plays on D or rebounding, combined with FTs, make a big difference.
Positively, I don't know that Marvin Bagley, Jr. will be the best player to come out of Duke but imo he's the best freshman Duke has ever had. And, Wendell Carter is an awesome player as well (but, hell, make your FTs, young man!). What I love about both those guys for freshmen, is their intensity on both the offensive and defensive ends. You really can't ask for much more from those two. Arguably the best two rebounders of any freshmen Duke has had since ... well ... since I can remember.
I really love that K is willing to go to the zone. We play much better when we go zone, imo. And, we flashed a lot of good play against the #2 team in the nation. If Grayson can get out of his shooting and offensive funk, if Trent can play with intensity on the D end, and we can improve at FT shooting ... we'll have a shot.
