Official game day thread- Duke at Arizona

[pisgah101]

⏰ 10:30
📺 espn2
📍 AZ


After a near week break we return to action for our 2nd ranked opponent in 3 games. The Arizona wildcats are 2-1 on the season with a fairly convincing loss to Wisconsin. The wildcats return everyone’s favorite guard.. especially Deja Kelly- Caleb love!! Arizona is coached by Tommy Lloyd in his 4th season

Duke is currently a 1.5 point favorite and I have a feeling we play well enough to win. I think we’ll look rough in the first half- at least the first 10 min and might even get a visit from koach but we right the ship and leave the desert with a W

Duke-85
Zona-79

 

[christophero]

I've longed for us to play true road games out of conference so here we are. The Kentucky loss makes this game seem more important. This is the type of game coach K would win. Time to step up Jon. I think we get it done; but this is gonna be a tough test. Would love to see Evans but Brown needs to step up for us. If we get rolled the critics will come out. Would be a great win to get under our belt for a mostly new team.
Duke 83
Arizona 79

 

[The_Only_Blue]

I know it's not and it's way early but it almost feels like a must win situation. Hoping no cramps/ injuries and we get to see some Evans in the game

 

[hart2chesson]

I know it's not and it's way early but it almost feels like a must win situation. Hoping no cramps/ injuries and we get to see some Evans in the game

I think you're on to something @The_Only_Blue ... It does "almost feel like a must win situation." I only say this because bracketology experts(including one little ESPN Fat Man), kept talking last year about Duke's WAY EARLY loss at home to Arizona. If the talking heads have another L to couple with Kentucky loss, I feel Duke can kiss a #1 seed goodbye.

Yes, this is pretty much a "must win" for said reason.I look for Kon to play quite well tonite, and rebound from a miserable showing vs Kentucky. Duke prevails, 91-86.

OFC

 

[Friction.]

Just don’t like this game for us and think we drop a close one with the difference being playing on the road (think we win on a neutral floor).

Watched the Wisc game and the Badgers played out of their minds and AZ got a really tough whistle. Seemed like every possession AZ was called for a foul so they struggled playing pressure D. HIGHLY doubt that will happen tonight which means they will play very aggressive and at best we would get an even-foul-count game. This means we need to be ultra aggressive to even it out.

We do actually match up pretty well. Proctor will get the assignment on Bradley. Huge test for Khaman against their bigs and trying to win the REB game. AZ really likes to run so will be interesting to see if Jon wants to go with his normal/slower tempo that he’s ran the last few seasons or if we try to run. Hot take - I think the X-factor will be Sion. He is literally built for this type of game. Hot take #2 - I don’t think we see Evans in this game b/c it will be a battle where defense is too much a premium.

Unfortunately if we drop this game, the rabid fans will be going after Jon. Still think we are a 30+ win team by the end of the season.

 

[Mac9192]

I want to see balance. I’m thinking Jon and the rest of the team learned from the Kentucky game. We have at least 9 guys that can play, so unless at least one of them are hot, no one should play more than 34-35 minutes.

 

[timo0402]

Went on an Arizona podcast this week to discuss the game. Check it out before tonight’s matchup!

 

[Neue Regel]

I know it's not and it's way early but it almost feels like a must win situation. Hoping no cramps/ injuries and we get to see some Evans in the game

It really does have a must win feel unfortunately. If you can’t beat ranked teams, then you’re not elite even though it’s super early but as has been mentioned, Jon hasn’t been impressive in name matchups like this thus far in his Coaching career and he’s gonna have a new team every year so the youth thing is a non-starter in this era. With the portal/NIL all the name schools are going to be in the same boat with much fewer returnees as well.

Love will try his hero ball crap with the usual chucking 3’s from the 3rd row.