***DUKE VS NC STATE OFFICIAL GAMEDAY THREAD***
- Thread starter krzyzewskiville
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Just finished the game and I was impressed with our defensive intensity. Mark had a very nice game today. Tickled pink for him. He just keeps getting better each week. Brakefield had an unexpectedly productive game for us today off the bench. Poor guy missed a few bunnies though. Matt was on fire, if not for picking up his 2nd foul so quickly I think he ends up scoring even more. I love Coleman's energy. No matter how long he's in there he brings all he has.
Moore, Goldwire, and Steward all had nice games to varying degrees. Loved seeing the aggressiveness we're seeing from our guys who played on both ends of the floor. Roach was better passing today and his defense was improved.
Jalen is struggling. It's clear he isn't playing anywhere near to the level we all expected him too. He had a couple moves in the first half, (didn't play in the second half), that I wish he would've been more aggressive at the rim with. I'm just not sure what we do with Jalen right now. K said they'll continue to encourage him and put him in positions to succeed. That's all they can do, it's on Jalen to translate it to the court.
I'd like to add that Coach K was fired up during this game. It's pretty freaking clear he gives a shit. The whole coaching staff is behind the guys win or lose. And I love that.
Also, did anyone catch Corey's shade at Matt's defense? Ouch, haha
Love these kids. They're trying, improving, and that’s all we can expect from them. Glad to see it finally translate into a win for them.
Moore, Goldwire, and Steward all had nice games to varying degrees. Loved seeing the aggressiveness we're seeing from our guys who played on both ends of the floor. Roach was better passing today and his defense was improved.
Jalen is struggling. It's clear he isn't playing anywhere near to the level we all expected him too. He had a couple moves in the first half, (didn't play in the second half), that I wish he would've been more aggressive at the rim with. I'm just not sure what we do with Jalen right now. K said they'll continue to encourage him and put him in positions to succeed. That's all they can do, it's on Jalen to translate it to the court.
I'd like to add that Coach K was fired up during this game. It's pretty freaking clear he gives a shit. The whole coaching staff is behind the guys win or lose. And I love that.
Also, did anyone catch Corey's shade at Matt's defense? Ouch, haha
Love these kids. They're trying, improving, and that’s all we can expect from them. Glad to see it finally translate into a win for them.
this!!!! Our guys are trying to win, give them credit. Who the hell likes losing? Pretty sure these guys don’t.
Proud of the Duke boys! They really responded to the adjustments K made on defense and they smacked the Pack in Raleigh today! Happy 74th Coach K, and good job! Mark Williams put the "HURT" on State.
Meanwhile in C-ville, UVA whooped up on the 'Holes and sent Roy and co. on a long bus ride home!!!! OFC
Meanwhile in C-ville, UVA whooped up on the 'Holes and sent Roy and co. on a long bus ride home!!!! OFC
Player needs to play like every game is Coach K’s birthday!
Finally a game where we came out and knocked someone else back. Hurt was big and Williams looked really good. What’s up with Jalen??
I was going to ask are we better without Jalen a week ago, but didn't want to go there. Everyone seems to describe him as "he's talented, but. .." The potential is there but they may have to limit his minutes until he figures it out. They already did the last few games, and he played 8 minutes yesterday. If he had a nagging injury that would explain a lot. Wendell did figure it out, so there is always hope I guess.
I’m not buying the injury excuse. Duke never rushes its players back from an injury. If he’s injured, he doesn’t play at all. Period. I believe this is performance related and K is being kind to him to lay that out as an explanation.
K didn't say that. He said that it was a physical game and people like Mark have adapted to the physicality, so he got the minutes.
I believe K has said several times over the last two weeks that Jalen’s injury was the reason he wasn’t getting more PT, they were bringing him along cautiously.
Right, but he went from minutes in the mid-low 20's to 8 yesterday, and he sited physicality as the reason. So you are right about it being performance related.
Williams emerging is a factor as well. And Moore becoming a guy you need in there. And Coleman giving a spark. This team needed a spark; and it was going to come at the expense of someone's minutes. It is just more pronounced since he is a perceived lottery pick and a guy we assumed would be our best player this year. With the 3 game losing streak some tinkering was needed. if Johnson starts dunking/scoring all over the place his minutes will go up.
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Jalen has been put in a terrible position this year. He should’ve been given primary ball handling duties from the time he stepped on the campus. The reason he was so highly regarded before he got injured in high school is because he was a 6’9 point guard that was probably the best passer in the class. His best attribute is passing. Team USA he was a point guard. I understand Roach is the future but if we were playing to win there’s no way Jalen shouldn’t have gotten the keys. Now his confidence is shot. He doesn’t play relaxed. You can tell because every time he does something he looks to the sideline to see if Coach K will take him out. You can’t be effective playing that way.
I could not agree with that more. We have had 2 really great players who were 6'8" or more and could play the point really well, Grant Hill and Mike Dunleavy. I cannot understand why K does not try using Jalen as he used them. Jalen would be a matchup nightmare at the point. My main criticism of Jalen is that he does not seem to exert a lot of effort defensively. OFC
Jalen can’t handle ball pressure at this level yet. Has no one seen how many times he’s turned it over against pressure and double team situations?
He hasn’t adapted to the physical nature of college ball so how is he gonna be lead guard? When he does bring it up it’s either a lazy pass or turn over .
He hasn’t adapted to the physical nature of college ball so how is he gonna be lead guard? When he does bring it up it’s either a lazy pass or turn over .
He's already a walking turnover, and we should have him as our primary ball handler? He averages the most TO's per game on the team already without being our pg. He might be able to do that in the future, but not right now. I do think he could be better utilized but not in that role.
You not understanding what I’m saying. He’s playing scared right now because he’s always looking over his shoulder. Just watch him. After every play, make or miss, he looks over at the bench. That tells me he has no confidence. When they first hit campus he should’ve been given the ball. He is a point guard. By now he would be fully comfortable with having the ball in his hands. He feel like he has to press to get the approval of the staff. Every scouting report said his best talent is playmaking and passing. Then we put him at the 4 and have him guarding centers. That’s not smart
I don't know man, that sounds like a fantasy. He has the ball in his hands a lot. Has every game he's played. Started the year with 7 turnovers against Coppin St, and that was in one his best games of the season. I get that he's a playmaker, and I do think he is really talented. But guys can be playmakers without being the primary ball handler or the guy who brings the ball up the court. Like Jokic' for example.
Not to pile on the guy but I just don't see this point guard/point forward thing out of Johnson. I've been watching college BB a long time and I just don't see why this guy is a lottery pick. (I've been wrong before ha)A lot of guys have talent. He doesn't seem to have an elite skill set. Maybe Battier without the motor.
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