***DUKE VS NC STATE OFFICIAL GAMEDAY THREAD***

[krzyzewskiville]

The second half of the game Wednesday in Winston-Salem felt a little more like the Duke team we've expected to see in January. If we can keep that mojo going, I like where this team is heading. That was a great bounce back and an even better road conference win. We played better up and down the lineup, but to see Griffin come out of his shell the way he has, and play the way he did against Wake, it was a thing of beauty.

Back in Cameron today against an NC State team we SHOULDN'T have any trouble beating if we play like we did Wednesday, I think we can continue to progress as a team and take another step forward.

Duke comes in favored by -13.5 and I'm confident we cover. Since the Covid return, I'm 3-0 against the spread with Duke picks (so now we won't cover lol).

Today's game is slated to begin at 2pm est and will air on ABC.

Duke 84

NC State 68

GO DUKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[The_Only_Blue]

Duke 79
NC State 65

 

[christophero]

I think we win by 10 and we see an improved Moore as he plays his way back into shape. Word is Keels is ready to go. There is no reason AJ should not start. Would like to see Williams play stronger like he did against Gonzaga.

 

[AlanInNJ]

One of these games soon we are gonna be clicking on all cylinders. I am hoping to see Moore return to early season form. I think we shoot well from 3 today and cover.

Duke 86
NCSt 64

 

[skysdad]

Duke 84
NCSU 68
OFC

 

[Fourteen44]

Duke 77
Woofies 69

 

[sheyduke]

Duke 80
State 69

 

[DBM0828]

DUKE 88
STATE 79

 

[JimboSlice00]

77-68 Duke

 

[christophero]

Excited to see AJ again. We were all hoping for Winslow type production; he might be better than Winslow.

 

[Liftee]

I'd like to see Keel start shooting like his HS reputation.

John get back to giving us 10 productive minutes.

Wendell get back his scoring mojo.

Williams become stronger with the ball on offense.

The score will take care of itself if these things happen.

 

[Duke1783]

Well looks like this is the annual NC St National title game

 

[christophero]

Why would we expect any different?
Baker and John coming to play! Williams as well.

 

[Fourteen44]

Baker is about 1/2 step slow for high level play

Roach with two money dishes setting up easy buckets. He is playing well early.

 

[christophero]

9 point lead at half. I'll take it. Keels and Mark with 10; Banchero with 8. Moore with 6. AJ has been quiet. Theo and Baker with 8 off the bench combined, which is nice.

 

[The_Only_Blue]

Looking decent so far. Baker disappointing as usual. At least make your free throws SMH

 

[christophero]

Williams a monster today 20 point lead.

 

[The_Only_Blue]

Ahead by 16 now but seemslike we should be ahead by at least 25. Maybe I'm just being hard on the team?

 

[christophero]

It beats Tatum dribbling the ball off his foot.

 

[denverexpat]

Feels like we are limping into the final here...we let NCst get back into the game a bit, or at least closer...would be great to see more of a killer instinct and finish teams

 

[christophero]

Great win. 5 guys in double figures. Theo John with 10. Williams dominant. Now there is our great frontcourt. Back to back ACC double digit wins should never be taken for granted.

 

[The_Only_Blue]

Good win. Williams played as well as he could. Free throws need some work. Should have won by 20 if we shot decent from the free throw line. One of these days it's gonna bite us in the ass.

 

[bullcity gamer]

Solid all around win by The Blue Devils. This Duke team is multi dimensional in terms of the different lineups and style of play they can produce. All 5 starters along with Roach, John, and Baker produced. Moving forward, hopefully these 8 stay in the rotation consistently.

 

[GAAP]

Fun stat: Bates Jones with 1 TO in 3 seconds. That’s 800 TOs per 40 minutes.

 

[Liftee]

Thank you Duke, you hit all the 4 factors I wanted to see.

Now make your foul shots and learn to seal off the guy underneath when Williams helps on the driver and you'll be just about perfect.

But why be negative with a nice win like this one!

 

[JimboSlice00]

I'll take a 15 point conference win any day of the week.

 

[christophero]

Nice to see us dictating. We had an obvious advatage inside, and we pounded them.

 

[Fourteen44]

Good W, as stated any conf win by double digits is good with me. I do worry about the bench depth but let’s see how it plays out.

 

[sheyduke]

Still lost with the hate for Baker. He hit shots on the second and plays with intensity. What more do you want from a guy who only came in as a specialist. He attacked and got fouled twice when he first got in. I actually liked how he played this game.

 

[timritterus]

Yeah I thought Baker played fine, just needs to hit his FTs. John had a nice game and I thought Roach played well too despite not scoring (and barely shooting). Our bench provided what we needed today.

 

[AlanInNJ]

Another nice double digit ACC win. I hate all those missed FT's, and I hope Moore gets back on track soon. We need him to be strong. But once again when NCSt threatened and cut it to single digits late we found ways to get baskets and pull away. I love that!! Let's Go Duke!

 

[Fourteen44]

Still lost with the hate for Baker. He hit shots on the second and plays with intensity. What more do you want from a guy who only came in as a specialist. He attacked and got fouled twice when he first got in. I actually liked how he played this game.

I’m just not feeling it with Joey mainly because I thought he’d improve at least a little. I haven’t seen it. Serious question: am I missing something?

 

[bullcity gamer]

I’m just not feeling it with Joey mainly because I thought he’d improve at least a little. I haven’t seen it. Serious question: am I missing something?

I’ve seen a more aggressive Baker this season. He enrolled into Duke just known as a shooter and for his first 3 seasons at Duke he was streaky at best. This season his defense has improved. He also isn’t just settling for shooting 3s, he is doing shot fakes from the 3 point line and either taking a 2 point jump shot or attacking the rim and getting fouled. From my perspective it seems like he is playing with a little bit more confidence than he had shown his first 3 seasons at Duke.

As far at the bench depth goes, hopefully Roach, John, and Baker continue to get minutes. Coach K typically only goes with 8 guys on most of his teams. The latest season I can remember him going more than 8 in the post season was the 2010-2011 team. Even the 2009-2010 & 2014-2015 national championship teams Coach K went with an 8 man rotation for those post seasons.

 

[2 skerz 3]

Still lost with the hate for Baker. He hit shots on the second and plays with intensity. What more do you want from a guy who only came in as a specialist. He attacked and got fouled twice when he first got in. I actually liked how he played this game.

I agree with this. I think some people thought he was gonna be JJ Redick. He does a lot of good things for this team!

 

[sheyduke]

I’m just not feeling it with Joey mainly because I thought he’d improve at least a little. I haven’t seen it. Serious question: am I missing something?

Yes. He has improved . He’s not just standing around the perimeter. He’s attacking the basket and playing steady defense. What did people expect from a kid who has only ever been known as a shooter nothing more. He’s a bench player and plays his role. Score if he can, make hustle plays , defend best he can . He will be just like Goldwire when he leaves and if he decides to play his free year somewhere else where he can start.
Baker has never been on a team at Duke where he wasn’t looked at as simply a specialist.

 

[christophero]

To be fair those 2010/2015 bench guys were largely NBA guys, and/or McDonald's All Americans. (except for Miles Plumlee, who played in the NBA) Dawkins got some run with the Heat and was a top 20 guy before reclassing. Marshall and Amile were McDonald's guys.

 

[Fourteen44]

I agree with this. I think some people thought he was gonna be JJ Redick. He does a lot of good things for this team!

Meanwhile Roach had a solid game and the team had a bunch of assists lol

 

[Fourteen44]

Yes. He has improved . He’s not just standing around the perimeter. He’s attacking the basket and playing steady defense. What did people expect from a kid who has only ever been known as a shooter nothing more. He’s a bench player and plays his role. Score if he can, make hustle plays , defend best he can . He will be just like Goldwire when he leaves and if he decides to play his free year somewhere else where he can start.
Baker has never been on a team at Duke where he wasn’t looked at as simply a specialist.

I can agree on the driving point. He’s definitely attacking more.

Defense? He’s bad - like a step or two slow every time bad. He tries to make up with it with hustle which I applaud. Iirc, after one of the two standstill shots he made yesterday he was roasted defensively on the other end for the same by an nc state player. That wasn’t the only time he was roasted either.

Lastly, specialist? At what? Shooting? If that’s his specialty, then he’s weak in my book. Goldwire could at least D up and even run the team at some points.

To be clear I’m not hating on the kid, he’s just not very good (especially defensively) and sometimes he’s the first player off of the bench. That’s concerning to me. Is he a good kid who works hard? Absolutely from what I see, I just don’t see him as a high level D1 bball player....I’ll probably still be frustrated with him but I’m not going to say he “sucks” moving forward. I just don’t feel it with him on this team. Hopefully he can prove the doubters like me wrong lol.

 

[JimboSlice00]

I can agree on the driving point. He’s definitely attacking more.

Defense? He’s bad - like a step or two slow every time bad. He tries to make up with it with hustle which I applaud. Iirc, after one of the two standstill shots he made yesterday he was roasted defensively on the other end for the same by an nc state player. That wasn’t the only time he was roasted either.

Lastly, specialist? At what? Shooting? If that’s his specialty, then he’s weak in my book. Goldwire could at least D up and even run the team at some points.

To be clear I’m not hating on the kid, he’s just not very good (especially defensively) and sometimes he’s the first player off of the bench. That’s concerning to me. Is he a good kid who works hard? Absolutely from what I see, I just don’t see him as a high level D1 bball player....I’ll probably still be frustrated with him but I’m not going to say he “sucks” moving forward. I just don’t feel it with him on this team. Hopefully he can prove the doubters like me wrong lol.

Agreed. I love the fact Joey is a "Duke" type of kid. He gives his 100% at all times, is a great teammate and has stuck with the program for four years now. I will never say he sucks and I'm glad he's a rotational piece off the bench. He's just simply not a high end D1 player. I get more confused at the hate for Roach that I see here sometimes.

 

[HeLooks2MuchLikeDave]

Can we just talk about how Mark Williams dominated everybody in the paint? 8 dunks, 8 blocks (thought he was gonna get the triple double) 6 offensive boards, and ZERO fouls. It’s gonna take a lot for this team to lose when our starting frontcourt has 40-19-6-9.