***Updated***
Now that I am a little more awake (wrote the first stab at this about 1 am), I wanted to spend a few minutes focusing on Duke's losses this season. Duke has fallen six times, losses to #5 Kansas (94-83), #3 Arizona (72-66), #4 Syracuse (91-89, OT) and #19 UNC (74-66) all are talent on talent type games, but their losses to Clemson (72-59) and Notre Dame (79-77) are more noteable. Unfortunately, all six losses were either neutral site or away games, so Duke is undefeated at Cameron so far this season. Duke's final score in all but the Clemson game is above our season average 65.2 PPG, so we have a challenge regards of keeping Duke off the board. In the Clemson game, Duke took a 10 point lead into halftime, but Clemson stepped up their perimeter shooting in the second half while forcing Duke into bad shots most of the entire second half. Duke shot a season low 34% from the field and 32% from behind the arc in this game. If the Hokies can force the ball away from Duke's two main scorers, they will stand a chance of competing in this game. Duke was also badly outrebounded in the loss to Clemson, 48-30 which played a major role in Clemson climbing back into the game. They limited Duke to eight offensive rebounds while grabbing fourteen of their own, leading to 27 points. Tech's big men need to be ready to get the ball and put it back up strong.
The Hokies head to Cameron Indoor Arena after a tough loss to NC State 71-64. You don't want to call this GroundHog Day
(in honor of the passing of Director Harold Ramis), but the same mistakes seem to repeat themselves game after game, even in the recent win. Poor free throw shooting, poor defensive rebounding, turnovers, and second chance points. The Hokies need to pick one of the two area's to focus on in either the turnovers or rebounding to show some credible improvement if they have a hope of beating Duke on the road. If they can limit possessions, and play solid ball control offense with high percentage shots, than they will stay competitive. If they don't, then this game could quickly revert to one of the twenty plus point losses.
Duke is led by freshman sensation Jabari Parker and sophomore Rodney Hood on the offensive side of the ball. They combine for about 35 points per game, 13 rebounds and 6 assists from the three and four spots on the floor. Slowing down this pair of phenoms will be critical, as Duke comes in averaging over 80 points a game right now. For the Hokies to be competitive they need to find a way to limit that to somewhere in the 50's.
This isn't a game where Tech will be able to rely on its passive defensive process that has worked in recent games because Duke is too good of a shooting team for that, averaging 45% from the floor and over 40% from behind the arc. Duke attempts almost 23 three pointers a game, so they get 28 points a game strictly from behind the arc on average. Boxing out once Duke attempts a shot will play a huge role, because if we give them 12-15 second chances, they will likely turn that into 15-20 points.
Hopefully Duke comes in with a little overhang from their recent win over #1 Syracuse and the Hokies punch them in the mouth early and often. Duke needs this win though to keep them in the top seeds for the ACC tournament and a hope at a top four seeding in the NCAA's so expect Coach K to have them ready. Hopefully we don't get to see JJ pull a Jim Boeheim in the waning seconds of the game to cost the Hokies a chance at a win.
Game can be found on television on ESPNU or
HERE on the radio
Comments
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.