***DUKE VS UTAH OFFICIAL GAMEDAY THREAD***

[HuffyJB]

No loss is a good loss, despite what a UNC fan tells you. Duke did show some toughness. They were without their best defensive player and rebounder, and their best offensive player was sick. They shot 30% from the floor, 8-28 from three. Allen went 3-18. Yet they pushed it to OT and were an uncontested point blank shot by Ingram from going to a second OT.

Even so, it would have been great to find a way there, and they had opportunities.

 

[DukeDenver]

I'm not worried at all. We have much better in us. We will see it when it counts.

 

[LH24ND]

What was Ingram doing?

Yes what the hell was that with Ingram?

 

[Dukesince90]

Big concern with our front court depth. I would have thought Obi would be able to help out this year after his stat line from his freshman year. Here's to hoping K can push the right buttons.

 

[calibluedevil]

Not sure how anybody is complaining about DERRYCK. It was an all around team loss. Not even a bad loss, especially considering the other variables. The guards rebounded well for a stretch, gonna need that for 40 mins

Can't agree with you on this. Tyler was 2/13 with 4 assist. He looks lost to me. He and Grayson were 5/28. Now that is why we lost.

 

[calibluedevil]

Can't agree with you on this. Tyler was 2/13 with 4 assist. He looks lost to me. He and Grayson were 5/28. Now that is why we lost.

Sorry I meant Derryck.

 

[mo.st.dukie]

Can't agree with you on this. Tyler was 2/13 with 4 assist. He looks lost to me. He and Grayson were 5/28. Now that is why we lost.

I don't think Derryck "looks lost," he just didn't make shots today, he has made shots in previous games. He's played well this year but today it just wasn't there for him. He still looks engaged, focused, and plays hard. Obviously any player, no matter how hard they play will look better when they hit shots and look terrible when they don't hit shots, especially when that player is required by the team to be an offensive threat. I don't have a problem with the shots Derryck took today, just wish more of them would have gone in, same for Grayson.

In fact, I don't have a problem with what we did on offense today in terms of execution, decision making, or shot selection. We protected the ball well only committing 5 turnovers, we got 16 offensive boards and for the most part we got good looks. Today was just a make/miss game, everything was fine except the ball would just roll off the rim in the bad direction instead of rolling off the rim in the good direction. Sometimes you just have off days and today was definitely that for the Duke offense.

 

[Showenuff]

We looked horrible. But that doesn't mean I've lost hope by any means. Grayson with the flu and no AMILE is gonna be an ugly game. We'll bounce back.

 

[CRAZIE4LIFE]

Utah isn't a terrible team to lose to by any means, I'm sure they wanted this game to get back on track and for tournament resume. Duke will improve and bounce back. We really need Chase or Marshall to step up like on paw patrol

 

[K-oach Q]

I just don think this team looks that good, and we have not really beaten anyone of substance.

The two good teams Utah played handled them quite easily.

This team just doesn't seem to be constructed very well IMO.

Our PG play is lacking, Our Bigs are not good...we can't defend...and now Amile is out for an appeant long time. Put all that together with a 7 man bench and guys being totally gassed and we are going to struggle city...I don't believe this team has a very high upside this year. And that's ok, but if you think this team is going to turn all this around and be some contender in March then I think you have delusions of grandeur that will not be. We will struggle a lot in my opinion like today.

 

[skysdad]

Black Saturday. We lose, UNC wins. More about UNC later. Had to work today and we don't have ESPN but we do have CBS so I had to watch the UNC/OSU game with Tar Heel fans. That was special. I did however look at our game stats and I it's pretty obvious why we lost. Just 3 more free throws made ( one more in regulation)or one more 3 pointer or two more fg's ( one in regulation ) and we win. Despite how bad we played we lost by only two. So far Chase just isn't getting the job done. If he would have just scored 2 more points in regulation we would have won. Can't figure him out. One thing I am proud of this board is I haven't read any post blaming the ref's although THR cried about the officiating in our game . Our game. They even whine about the refs when we don't play them. Go figure. Getting back to UNC. I have to hand it to them. They played very well in coming from behind. Their second half was championship caliber. Even BIG LUKE MAYE contributed. Anyway we will be back and will be a contender. Next game. OFC

 

[calibluedevil]

I don't think Derryck "looks lost," he just didn't make shots today, he has made shots in previous games. He's played well this year but today it just wasn't there for him. He still looks engaged, focused, and plays hard. Obviously any player, no matter how hard they play will look better when they hit shots and look terrible when they don't hit shots, especially when that player is required by the team to be an offensive threat. I don't have a problem with the shots Derryck took today, just wish more of them would have gone in, same for Grayson.

In fact, I don't have a problem with what we did on offense today in terms of execution, decision making, or shot selection. We protected the ball well only committing 5 turnovers, we got 16 offensive boards and for the most part we got good looks. Today was just a make/miss game, everything was fine except the ball would just roll off the rim in the bad direction instead of rolling off the rim in the good direction. Sometimes you just have off days and today was definitely that for the Duke offense.

Mo we can just agree to disagree on Derryck. 2.8 assist per game for a pg isn't playing well. It wasn't that he missed his shots today it was how he missed them. Many of the shots were altered or blocked near the rim. I expected a more explosive player. The season is young and Kennard will start taking over in my opinion.

 

[BOOGIEMAN1914]

dt is a pg...but he has low assists because grayson and BI dominate the ball off the bounce........tough loss, we hung strong w/o amile and a sick grayson....poor shot choice by BI on our last possession in regulation and utah got a ton of blocks from behind at the rim....9-2 at the break....chase/vrank need to be played in the lbs and elon games...we will need their size

 

[Dad2ze]

Yes what the hell was that with Ingram?

Wide open lay up and it was like he froze in mid-air.

 

[DukeDenver]

Mo we can just agree to disagree on Derryck. 2.8 assist per game for a pg isn't playing well. It wasn't that he missed his shots today it was how he missed them. Many of the shots were altered or blocked near the rim. I expected a more explosive player. The season is young and Kennard will start taking over in my opinion.

I feel like the tools are there. Endurance, speed, handles and shot. He just needs experience to start seeing the floor better (may be a slow progression like Quinn) and to gain natural weight. He is very promising, as are all our frosh. Imagine if Quinn had to do this as a freshman. We're asking a lot. He's not Tyus and we don't have a Senior pointguard to help him along.

On a side note, what if Tyus had stayed...

 

[Dukesince90]

Wide open lay up and it was like he froze in mid-air.

I guess when you have arms that are near 4 feet long, everything seems like a finger roll.

 

[mo.st.dukie]

Mo we can just agree to disagree on Derryck. 2.8 assist per game for a pg isn't playing well. It wasn't that he missed his shots today it was how he missed them. Many of the shots were altered or blocked near the rim. I expected a more explosive player. The season is young and Kennard will start taking over in my opinion.

Yeah, I definitely view it differently. Every player has their positives and negatives and every player, especially young players, is trying to develop a more complete game. I don't really subscribe to the idea the idea that if a PG doesn't have a certain number of assists it means he's a bad PG or bad player. There's just so many ways a PG and player can impact the game that one statistical category shouldn't define a player regardless of his position. I feel the same way about points, I think that a player who doesn't put up a lot of points can still be considered a good, valuable player (like Lance Thomas his senior year)

He actually has gotten better from the very beginning of the year when he was more turnover prone and erratic. He's doing a better job protecting the ball. And really, this was his third straight game with 4 or more assists. He had 4 of the teams 10 assists today with only 1 turnover. And while 2.8 doesn't seem like a lot it is 2nd on the team behind Grayson's 3.2. The offense is built around guys creating their own offense rather than players creating for others. But yes, creating for others and seeing the court are a few of several areas Derryck can improve including the ability to finish at the rim on a more consistent basis.

Overall he's played well and has shown some progress. His jumpshot has been much better than most expected. He plays hard, seems to have a good attitude, and has some really promising physical tools.

 

[pisgah101]

Geez koach q why are you a Duke fan??

 

[Dad2ze]

I just don think this team looks that good, and we have not really beaten anyone of substance.

The two good teams Utah played handled them quite easily.

This team just doesn't seem to be constructed very well IMO.

Our PG play is lacking, Our Bigs are not good...we can't defend...and now Amile is out for an appeant long time. Put all that together with a 7 man bench and guys being totally gassed and we are going to struggle city...I don't believe this team has a very high upside this year. And that's ok, but if you think this team is going to turn all this around and be some contender in March then I think you have delusions of grandeur that will not be. We will struggle a lot in my opinion like today.

What kinda Duke fan are you!?!?!? Duke was written off last year and all the skeptics and haters including the morons at ESPN said no way Duke would make it passed the second round. There is a banner hanging in Cameron right now proving all the haters wrong. All they did after was sing Coach K praises and how they knew that Duke could do it. If you don't have faith them please do us all a favor and exit stage right.

 

[Devilicious]

This Duke team isn't that good whether people want to believe it or not. Luckily for them, there really isn't a dominant team like last year. They guys are young...talented but young. I believe this team is Top 3 in the ACC. ND lost to Indiana today and UK lost to OSU. Anything is possible.

I'm also not aware of who wrote of Duke last year as a contender. Their defense was the only thing in question and they ended up getting better as the season went along. This team is just too young and without a senior like Amile, their Adjusted Defense just keeps getting worse. I believe Utah was shooting over 50% by the end of the first half so defense continues to be an issue. Duke also forced Utah into 19 TOs while only committing 5 but still lost in OT. That just tells me that they aren't really converting on TOs while shooting 30%.

They'll have good days and bad days but with a title last year, I can enjoy this year a little better. I'm guessing S16 team.

 

[Showenuff]

You newer guys are just gonna have to get use to KoachQ, he'll get tougher to take as the season rolls on. Hey, I can take anything that comes our way this year, we just came off of a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, and next season , it's not a far stretch to say we will definitely be in the hunt for another. Life is good.

 

[pisgah101]

Where the flip do people get off saying this Duke team isn't very good?! We are just as good as EVERY other team out there. UK Lost to OSU today and they're awful. This is a down year and nobody is going to "look good" every night. I thought we looked good today considering the circumstances. Probably 15-20 teams have a shot to win the ship and we are one of them so all you Debbie downers need to chill or post some when we win and brag on the team some. I'm really ok with this team and ready to see how much more we grow!

 

[Crank_it_loud]

It's wide open this year - I said 10-8 ACC without Amile but the way college ball is this year, that same 10-8 team could make a serious run!

 

[ChapelTower]

Anyone has some insight on why TD gets his shots blocked so much? Tyus was not any bigger or more explosive but he rarely got stuffed when he took it to the rack. Need to go back watch some old you tube. Maybe TD leans towards the basket too early. He probably should lean into the defender more (to shield) and only release the contact at the last moment (for separation). But I am not really sure.

 

[Devilicious]

Where the flip do people get off saying this Duke team isn't very good?! We are just as good as EVERY other team out there. UK Lost to OSU today and they're awful. This is a down year and nobody is going to "look good" every night. I thought we looked good today considering the circumstances. Probably 15-20 teams have a shot to win the ship and we are one of them so all you Debbie downers need to chill or post some when we win and brag on the team some. I'm really ok with this team and ready to see how much more we grow!

I think the comparison is against previous Duke teams as opposed to the current field. Against the current field, I think they are Top 10. Against the field last year, maybe Top 20 without Amile. It just shows how good and valuable Amile is.

 

[K-oach Q]

So to clarify...if I'm a Duke fan I automatically have to think they are good and title contenders and if I don't think they are that good and not title contenders I am clearly not a Duke fan...ok

Last years team was obviously talented and you could tell if they put it together they had a shot. Anyone watching last years team and especially the teams we beat continually could see it. Only true haters said Duke didn't have a shot. And their only real problem was defensively...

This years team has a lot of real problems...defense is only one of many on the list. And there are many.......

 

[ChapelTower]

I think this season has shown a couple of flaws to our roster management. Would have loved to have seen Gbinije get enough minutes early on so his good junior and excellent senior seasons were spent at Duke instead of Syracuse. With recruiting, we identify very early our top candidates and focus only on them. The downside is when you have guys leave unexpectedly (like this past year, when we had to scramble for a PG), or when the recruits don't develop over their junior / senior high school season (like Jeter, who went from top 10ish as a junior to 20ish as a senior), we haven't cultivated other options. We've seen at least 3 years in the past 6 where lack of depth has meant even a single injury hurts us a lot.

I think you have an interesting point.

 

[CRAZIE4LIFE]

Save the Duke isn't good crap till after march, if they don't make the tourney , then we can say they weren't good

 

[mo.st.dukie]

I'm also not aware of who wrote of Duke last year as a contender. Their defense was the only thing in question and they ended up getting better as the season went along. This team is just too young and without a senior like Amile, their Adjusted Defense just keeps getting worse. .

Last year's Adjusted Defense kept falling as the season went along as well, it really wasn't until February that it turned around a bit and then in the NCAA Tournament the defense skyrocketed. I think it was ranked in the 70's or 80's, especially in the aftermath of the Miami game. The defense was ranked #57 heading into the Tournament and finished 12th.

And there were plenty of people writing Duke off as a contender last year, questioning our terrible defense and questioning whether Coach K could actually have great success with a freshman dominated team. After those back to back losses with Miami making our defense look like a middle school team there were plenty of doubters.

That said, this year's team is not last year's team but that doesn't mean this year's team is not very good. At full health it's a pretty good team with a potent offense and, like last year, a questionable defense that will have to improve. It could be like some of those late 80's teams where we have 8 or 9 losses (maybe more) and then get hot a make a Final Four run. There's nothing that says Final Four teams can't have that many losses. UK has made a few FF runs with young teams that had double digit losses. MSU and UConn have had recent FF's as 7 seeds. Maybe it's Duke's turn to have a less than stellar regular season then make a surprising run to the FF.

 

[Devilicious]

Last year's Adjusted Defense kept falling as the season went along as well, it really wasn't until February that it turned around a bit and then in the NCAA Tournament the defense skyrocketed. I think it was ranked in the 70's or 80's, especially in the aftermath of the Miami game. The defense was ranked #57 heading into the Tournament and finished 12th.

And there were plenty of people writing Duke off as a contender last year, questioning our terrible defense and questioning whether Coach K could actually have great success with a freshman dominated team. After those back to back losses with Miami making our defense look like a middle school team there were plenty of doubters.

That said, this year's team is not last year's team but that doesn't mean this year's team is not very good. At full health it's a pretty good team with a potent offense and, like last year, a questionable defense that will have to improve. It could be like some of those late 80's teams where we have 8 or 9 losses (maybe more) and then get hot a make a Final Four run. There's nothing that says Final Four teams can't have that many losses. UK has made a few FF runs with young teams that had double digit losses. MSU and UConn have had recent FF's as 7 seeds. Maybe it's Duke's turn to have a less than stellar regular season then make a surprising run to the FF.

I don't remember anyone writing Duke off. I do remember questioning whether they could play defense well enough to win a championship. I can see the defense improving but not to a level that will win a title. Those teams in the 80s and 90s had senior leaders who were major contributors. Amile is a solid role player but Duke will depend on their freshman and sophomore to win games. Will they shoot 30% every game? No but I don't see this team past the S16 this year but that doesn't mean they suck. A lot of Duke teams that were better than this one didn't make it past the S16. I'm ok with that.

 

[pisgah101]

I think the comparison is against previous Duke teams as opposed to the current field. Against the current field, I think they are Top 10. Against the field last year, maybe Top 20 without Amile. It just shows how good and valuable Amile is.

Well I guess it's a good thing we aren't competing against past teams!!

 

[Hofman19]

You have to make your lay-ups; it's that simple.

Other than LK, I don't think a single person made one down the stretch.

 

[K-oach Q]

I think the comparison is against previous Duke teams as opposed to the current field. Against the current field, I think they are Top 10. Against the field last year, maybe Top 20 without Amile. It just shows how good and valuable Amile is.

I think this is a fair statement. I'm definatly guilty of thinking of past Duke teams when watching this one. Maybe we have a shot against the current field...I don't know. I just don't like the way this team looks.

I've seen K do a lot more with a lot less though, I'll say that. We have got to figure out how to play some guys while Amile is out, we can't rely on seven guys for the next 1-2 months.

P.S. Run don't walk to the new Star Wars movie it's excellent!

 

[dukiejay]

This team has some obstacles to overcome. I don't think it's as rosy as some want to think, but it clearly isn't as bad as Koach thinks either.

1.) Everybody and their brother or sister knew struggles would be prevalent this season. We simply lost too much for there not to be a drop off.

2.) We lack playable size. When that's coupled with losing our best rebounder, best post scoring option and team leader --- both vocally and mentally --- there will be problems initially.

3.) Defensively we looked lost at times today. Particularly Brandon early on in that zone. He missed one rotation after the other. And even Marshall lacked intensity. He was beat down the court countless times.

By Duke standards this team is down. But I don't think it's dire. Offensively there's going to be nights where we look unstoppable...and probably against a few pretty good teams. Other nights....probably not so good.

 

[gottagonow]

I have not given up on this years team but I have a need to be realistic so as not to be overly disappointed. Many truisms have been made as to our flaws this season but nothing is more evident than our youth and lack of senior leadership (did Quinn ever miss a lay up drive to the basket) and now especially lacking an Amile Jefferson. Last year our youthfulness was offset by pure freshman talent, especially an unstoppable Okafor and great Quinn Cook leadership. We are nowhere near last years team and everyone should have known that coming in this season. If you didn't realize that you are a true optimist looking through Duke blue colored glasses. Like someone already said, we are the National Champions and that can sustain us if necessary because we have some great help on the way. You know what though, anythings possible, just like the end of the game COULD have turned out today and we would all be saying what a team of destiny we were.

 

[mo.st.dukie]

. I don't remember anyone writing Duke off. I do remember questioning whether they could play defense well enough to win a championship. I can see the defense improving but not to a level that will win a title.Those teams in the 80s and 90s had senior leaders who were major contributors. Amile is a solid role player but Duke will depend on their freshman and sophomore to win games.

Your second sentence kind of contradicts your first. People questioning if their defense was good enough to win a championship was people writing them off. There were plenty of questions about that defense not only being championship caliber but even questions about it being S16 caliber. You said, there were questions that last year's defense wasn't good enough to win a title and then the next sentence you question whether this year's defense will be good enough to win a title. I don't know if we'll win the title, that's hard to do, but I do think a Final Four is within reach. And yes, a Sweet 16 would be good as well and far from "this Duke team isn't very good" which is what you said in your original post.

Amile averages a double-double and Matt is third on the team in scoring, they are 2 of our top 4 players, major contributors and really good leaders. And in any case, it's a different era in college hoops where you can rely on a freshman and a sophomore.

 

[skysdad]

So to clarify...if I'm a Duke fan I automatically have to think they are good and title contenders and if I don't think they are that good and not title contenders I am clearly not a Duke fan...ok

Last years team was obviously talented and you could tell if they put it together they had a shot. Anyone watching last years team and especially the teams we beat continually could see it. Only true haters said Duke didn't have a shot. And their only real problem was defensively...

This years team has a lot of real problems...defense is only one of many on the list. And there are many.......

What if I told you this team will win the 2016 national championship. What is your answer.

What if I had told you at the same time last year that team would win the national championship for 2015.What would your answer have been.

What if I had told you in 2009 that team would win the 2010 national championship. What would you answer have been.

K-oach Q I do respect you as a Duke fan and understand your frustrations. Hopefully I don't think Coach K feels the same way you do. Maybe it's just because we didn't play well that spurned your comments today. A good friend of mine used to say this often. Evey things gonna be alright. OFC

 

[K-oach Q]

What if I told you this team will win the 2016 national championship. What is your answer.

What if I had told you at the same time last year that team would win the national championship for 2015.What would your answer have been.

What if I had told you in 2009 that team would win the 2010 national championship. What would you answer have been.

K-oach Q I do respect you as a Duke fan and understand your frustrations. Hopefully I don't think Coach K feels the same way you do. Maybe it's just because we didn't play well that spurned your comments today. A good friend of mine used to say this often. Evey things gonna be alright. OFC

I'm not frustrated at all...this team is limited like I said..

PG play is spotty at best
Bigs are not very good.....or don't play because they are not very good
Defense is bad....real bad
Amile is hurt by all indications for awhile
Bench is non-existent limiting us to a seven man rotation...because we won't play others...because they clearly are not good enough.

Why would you be frustrated with a team with all of these weaknesses...we are limited
..severely.

It's an ok team like I said but I don't think a very good team..frustrated not at all. I can't see this team making a run, I think it's pretty obvious. I'd love to be wrong...I would admit that would be one hell of a coaching job by K!

Somehow because I think this team isn't that great I shouldn't be a fan I guess. Im pretty sure you can think your team isn't that good and still like them.

 

[skysdad]

I'm not frustrated at all...this team is limited like I said..

PG play is spotty at best
Bigs are not very good.....or don't play because they are not very good
Defense is bad....real bad
Amile is hurt by all indications for awhile
Bench is non-existent limiting us to a seven man rotation...because we won't play others...because they clearly are not good enough.

Why would you be frustrated with a team with all of these weaknesses...we are limited
..severely.

It's an ok team like I said but I don't think a very good team..frustrated not at all. I can't see this team making a run, I think it's pretty obvious. I'd love to be wrong...I would admit that would be one hell of a coaching job by K!

Somehow because I think this team isn't that great I shouldn't be a fan I guess. Im pretty sure you can think your team isn't that good and still like them.

You totally missed the point I am trying to make and I did not in any way you shouldn't be a fan, I'm not one to go on about some thing. You feel the way you seem fit and I so do I and I'll leave it at that without any further comment so you can have the last word if you wish. OFC

 

[K-oach Q]

You totally missed the point I am trying to make and I did not in any way you shouldn't be a fan, I'm not one to go on about some thing. You feel the way you seem fit and I so do I and I'll leave it at that without any further comment so you can have the last word if you wish. OFC

It wasn't you..and I didn't mean to come across confrontational if I did so. It was some above "why are you a fan" and "what kind of fan are you?" Because I stated such. That's just silly. I totally respect differing opinions and yours. And I certainly didn't post anything that's absurd about what we've seen thus far.