Keys For Duke

[youngman42]

1. For Duke I think a central key is, "Relax" - Duke has really stepped up most big games this year in their poise. They will have to play loose and aggressive to win. As a young team they will need a great deal of poise tonight and I think it will be a big factor in the outcome.

2. Team Defense - Duke's defense has been sensational. I thought that after the first four minutes of the MSU game, the D was great. More intensity in this tournament than perhaps the entire regular season combined. Particularly interesting could be Matt Jones vs Hayes.

3. Frontline Matchups (Jah v Kaminsky / Winslow v Dekker) - If our guys can hold their own in overall scoring I think this will go a long way to a Duke win.

4. Shooting the 3 - I think we'll need to take quality threes and shoot well. We won't need to go crazy early; just shoot consistently well as we have. There will need to be some clutch 3s at several points in this game. Quinn will need to hit some big shots, imo.

5. Duke Bench - we got great minutes against Mich. St. from all three players on the bench and this could be a big factor, imo, because title games often create a nervous exhaustion early on.

X-factor: Foul Trouble - Duke has done a great job of not getting into deep foul trouble but we don't want any one of the four key starters on the bench for an extended period. This could be a big factor for either team.

 

[madrussian]

to me this game comes down to one thing and one thing only. our guards need to take advantage. we need to pull the bigs away from the basket and drive the ball all the way to the hoop, draw contact, and finish.

if we sit back and become just a jump shooting team - we're done. thats what happened to KY, they got hooked on pull-up jumpers.

i watched the game against wisconsin again last nite, our guards outscored them. that was with jackson dropping 25 on us. i think jah and justice will play even with kaminsky and decker.

"gentlemen, this is what you were trained for..."

"there are no points for second place"

-Top Gun

 

[youngman42]

Yeah I think the guards will do well, I feel good about our guard play (especially if Matt and Grayson step up).

Another factor - FT shooting. Wisconsin is great. If Jah can hit over 60% that could be a factor in a close game.

 

[Laettner]

Quinn is our senior, help keep young guys focused in early mins. Help D on Dekker is huge as that guy has been insane last few weeks.

Play Marshall & Jah at same time, worked nicely Sat nite.

 

[Tim1515]

Are we convinced Winslow plays Dekker and not Hayes? I know Dekker is the more explosive player but I believe he is also more perimeter oriented and Hayes is listed at 250 where Sam is 220.

Matt is a good defender on the perimeter and if he is guarding Hayes I think Wisconsin goes right after that matchup inside.

When Amile is in I definitely see Winslow on Dekker.

 

[Crank_it_loud]

We will see more Cook/jones/Winslow/Amile/Jah tonight IMO.

 

[chov1125]

I like the original list, I really do. I will add that we need to come out with the intensity that we displayed the final 36 minutes of the MSU game, not the intensity of the first 4. Wisconsin is a dangerous team if they get out to a lead because they will take advantage of any team that gets the slightest bit desperate. Nothing we do will speed them up or make them take shots out of their comfort zone. We need to remember what got us here and play our game not theirs. They don't have the world's greatest shot blockers deep, but they are going to run us off the 3 point line. What worked so well for us in the first game was our ability to stay disciplined and work for good shots inside the arc rather than forcing 3's that weren't there. We struggled a little bit with our floaters against MSU, but someone like Justise should be able to get inside with ease and needs to seek out and finish through contact. Not only will that help us offensively, but it will make them a bit uncomfortable as they are not used to being in foul trouble.

I think we are capable of keeping Dekker in check with solid team defense. What scares me is the Jah/Kaminsky matchup because you know he's going to try and pull Jah out and if Jah doesn't come out he's going to pull the trigger on a 3. If you have noticed all tournament long Jah has very rarely come out beyond the paint defensively. He hasn't been matched up with a big who has anything resembling an outside game. That changes tonight. To be honest I don't recall how well Kaminsky did against Jah earlier in the year, but as everyone has been talking about that game means little to nothing going into the game tonight.

People can criticize us all they want, but our defense has been phenomenal this tournament. Yes our opposition has missed some open looks which has helped, but IMO a lot of that has to do with how hard we make teams work every single possession. An open shot is an easy shot if you don't have to work hard to get it. If you have to work hard for 3 straight possessions before getting a decent look, the physical and mental anxiety it took to get to that point will take it toll on the shooter. Teams almost feel like they have to make an open look against us because we have controlled the flow of the game so well and made teams work so hard that they know they may not get another good look for several minutes. The efficiency of our offense coupled with our team defense has undoubtedly rattled the opposition and I hope we can push forward for 40 more minutes and put the greatest looking bow on one of the most exciting and enjoyable seasons a Duke team has ever provided to its fans.

 

[DukiesDohK]

Originally posted by Tim1515:
Are we convinced Winslow plays Dekker and not Hayes? I know Dekker is the more explosive player but I believe he is also more perimeter oriented and Hayes is listed at 250 where Sam is 220.

Matt is a good defender on the perimeter and if he is guarding Hayes I think Wisconsin goes right after that matchup inside.

When Amile is in I definitely see Winslow on Dekker.

My guess, it starts off with Matt on Dekker, but Jefferson, much like in the Gonzaga game on Wiltjer, will see a lot of time throughout the game coming in to guard Hayes, allowing Winslow to match up with Dekker.

 

[Yasuo3750]

I think KY made a crucial mistake by not feeding Towns late in the game. The kid was almost automatic against Frank. I don't really think Frank has anything for Jah, and I would bet we feed him if the game is close, or if he's absolutely dominating.

I also think Ky had success driving the ball against Wisconsin. And we have 3 guys who can really get to the rim with Tyus, Q, and Justise (also shout out to Matt for being as aggressive as he has been lately).

Someone above me mentioned KY settling for jump shots late, and that's exactly what happened. I think if Jah gets his touches, and we take advantage of our slashers, we win.

 

[bleediteveryday30]

I think we should only take jumpers if they are not well contested or we are just wide open. Which I don't see happening much against Wisconsin. I am so nervous about this game. Everyone on tv and social media is picking Wisconsin and it is making it worse.

 

[JCColsCane]

1. Focus, and on "D" talk, switch, and help one more time! Duplicate the last 36 minutes of the MSU game, meaning the "D" intensity.

2. I really believe the guards, especially Quinn & Tyus, are the keys again, like the first game. They must be fearless and penetrate, take the pressure off Jah. Quinn, if you want an NC, go get it.

3. Foul trouble will probably dictate a lot of how this game will play out. Who gets careless.

4. This is the last chance for the "switch" to come on for Jah. He must be dominant, don't try to outplay Kaminsky, just be yourself. Focus and be decisive.

5. We must not let Dekker get hot, keep him under control.

6. God be with these Kids, just let them play the best they are capable of, one more time. Amen

Go Duke!!


JC-OFC

 

[shicashicu]

Boy, soon as work was over and there's nothing left to take my mind off the game I'm turning into a nervous wreck!

For some reason its really concerning me that Duke has never won a Title facing a #1 seed. Why is it that the really good teams always get us in Title games!?

Really just praying for our guys to play as hard and to the best of their ability and if that's not enough so be it.

Can we actually win #5 tonight!? It feels like Wisconsin being the big veteran bunch that all came back to win a Title is kinda like a team of destiny. Really hoping our quickness advantage at most positions just has Wiskys head spinning trying to keep up.

Let's Go Devils!!!

 

[madrussian]

relax shic!, yes we never beat a one seed for the title, but have beaten one seeds all over the ncaa tourney, including an undefeated UNLV team.

thats a bogus espn statistic that means almost nothing.

This post was edited on 4/6 7:51 PM by madrussian

 

[acc hoops]

We know enough about Coack K that he will have the defense set the tone for the game. Look for Duke to pressure the ball and hopefully play the high screen well. Jah has to come out and guard against the 3.
We may see zone in first half.
T Jones will be taking the ball to the basket.

 

[madrussian]

As I stated
Our guards got it done.

Go Duke!

 

[bleediteveryday30]

Originally posted by madrussian:
As I stated
Our guards got it done.

Go Duke!

Mad props to you my man!