The Next Four Games....

[dukiejay]

Well, it worked in the 'The Next Five Games' thread...so let's give it another shot, shall we?

But seriously, this is the toughest stretch of the season. One of the many words to define this bunch the last 3+ weeks has been toughness. That will be on display going forward. We finish the season @ Syracuse, @ Miami, home vs. FSU and then @ UNC for their senior night. I'm feeling much better about our chances than I did prior to the last thread.

In all honesty, I feel Duke comes out of this 3-1 somehow, someway. I feel confident in winning at Syracuse and at home against FSU. The games that give me the greatest pause are Miami and UNC....but even there I feel like I'm hedging a bit. While UNC is bigger than us, I just feel we're equally a bad matchup for them as they are for us. And Coral Gables always seems like a place we struggle....I'd be thrilled getting out there with a win.

Should be a fun closing stretch. Let's get the first at Syracuse tomorrow night.

 

[dbav]

This also worked in the other thread:

I like us to win all 4. Just saying.

 

[crazyduke3]

3-1.

The question is will K rest Grayson and Amile?

Will HG3 and Bolden PT increase?

And will our defense become a consistent thing?

Go Duke!!

 

[Mac9192]

I have no fingernails left, wife thinks I'm nuts, my daughter wonders why I talk to tv and it's not even March. Tough games this week. Tighten your shoes boys, the Carrier Dome will be rocking

 

[chov1125]

I will be in attendance tomorrow night, so there's at least one Duke fan in the house.

Duke 3-1 over the last 4. Only loss being @ Miami.

 

[skysdad]

I will be in attendance tomorrow night, so there's at least one Duke fan in the house.

Duke 3-1 over the last 4. Only loss being @ Miami.

Don't get thrown out of the dome. Oh that's the Carrier Dome you are in not the dean banner dome. You should be fine. OFC

 

[chov1125]

Don't get thrown out of the dome. Oh that's the Carrier Dome you are in not the dean banner dome. You should be fine. OFC

One of the few college bball venues where they serve adult beverages so I may still test those waters....

 

[MyDudeG_rivals]

I feel like so many of us have been waiting for the Bolden and Giles breakout where they become consistent contributors in the rotation. It either happens before the next UNC game or it's not happening this season. I just think that the chances of winning a national title with a 6 man rotation are very slim so hopefully we see those guys step up during this last stretch!

 

[pisgah101]

4-0

 

[timo0402]

3-1.

The question is will K rest Grayson and Amile?

Will HG3 and Bolden PT increase?

And will our defense become a consistent thing?

Go Duke!!

If the answer to the first question is yes then the second question is also yes. I hope both happen, but unfortunately we cannot do it at the expense of winning.

Duke has won before with a 6 man rotation- no disputing that as Duke Denver pointed out in another thread. However those squads did so with a PG- and pretty elite ones at that. 2001 most notably.

Look it is a one game at a time scenario. I was hoping we would go 4-2 in our last 6. In order to do that we have to go 2-2 in our last 4. As DJ said, best chances are tonight and at home against FSU.

Let's get it done tomorrow night.

 

[nets on nets on nets]

We still have 4 weeks till the opening NCAA weekend. That is ALOT of time for Giles/Bolden to improve and get our rotation up to 8.

Look at how much Tatum has improved these last 4 weeks.......

 

[Mac9192]

We still have 4 weeks till the opening NCAA weekend. That is ALOT of time for Giles/Bolden to improve and get our rotation up to 8.

Look at how much Tatum has improved these last 4 weeks.......

You are right but a guy needs minutes to be able to improve. Not so much complaining as stating a truth.

 

[Mac9192]

If the answer to the first question is yes then the second question is also yes. I hope both happen, but unfortunately we cannot do it at the expense of winning.

Duke has won before with a 6 man rotation- no disputing that as Duke Denver pointed out in another thread. However those squads did so with a PG- and pretty elite ones at that. 2001 most notably.

Look it is a one game at a time scenario. I was hoping we would go 4-2 in our last 6. In order to do that we have to go 2-2 in our last 4. As DJ said, best chances are tonight and at home against FSU.

Let's get it done tomorrow night.

In 01 Duke had pretty much a 6 man rotation until Boozer got hurt, then K inserted Sanders and Love into mix until he came back. That made Duke a little deeper and better cause those 2 got minutes and did so good in their roles that they got minutes after he came back

 

[dukiejay]

You are right but a guy needs minutes to be able to improve. Not so much complaining as stating a truth.

I don't think improving happens just because you get in a game. Confidence, sure. Improvement, no.

Improving happens by being a constant....working hard in practice with your teammates, working on the side with your coaches, but most importantly, working hard by yourself so that you are ready when called upon.

Now, if you're talking about confidence, then I somewhat agree with you. But Harry and Marques have both had segments of the season where the time has been there for them to gain confidence, and in some aspects both have shined. We might not win at Notre Dame without Harry playing his role down the stretch. We might not beat Miami if Marques doesn't play like he did. Those aren't the only two examples, but they're probably the best for each of them.

Both are going to continue to get ample opportunities going forward. Sometimes it might be for five minutes in a game, or it could increase to 15-20 on some nights. Like I said, they've had moments to gain confidence all season....this isn't grade school anymore. It's time to buy into your role, continuing improving yourself, and do what you can when called upon. Neither should be lacking confidence and both have had chances to prove themselves.

 

[gottagonow]

dj I don't see Bolden getting very much play time the remainder of this season. Giles certainly more than Bolden maybe but we know K's recent rotation history so I don't see great change unless we have foul trouble or Giles gets healthier quickly.

 

[Baller224]

I'd be pleased with 3-1...

 

[DukeDenver]

I feel like so many of us have been waiting for the Bolden and Giles breakout where they become consistent contributors in the rotation. It either happens before the next UNC game or it's not happening this season. I just think that the chances of winning a national title with a 6 man rotation are very slim so hopefully we see those guys step up during this last stretch!

Bolden is pretty useful in the way a junior Marshall was. I don't think he'll have anybig performances but he provides depth and rebounding in case Amile or Tatum get in foul trouble. Harry could break out at any time, but he'll have to realize that his lateral movement limits his perimeter defense. He can't guard at the 3pt line at all. He'd be best not switching or in a zone look. He has shown some nice touch on offense. If we make it deep in the dance, it's because of Grayson, Luke, Matt, Tatum, Amile with some solid minutes from Frank. That 6 will have to go the distance shooting well and defending like mad men. We can play with anyone if we're knocking down three balls.

 

[timo0402]

I don't think improving happens just because you get in a game. Confidence, sure. Improvement, no.

Improving happens by being a constant....working hard in practice with your teammates, working on the side with your coaches, but most importantly, working hard by yourself so that you are ready when called upon.

Now, if you're talking about confidence, then I somewhat agree with you. But Harry and Marques have both had segments of the season where the time has been there for them to gain confidence, and in some aspects both have shined. We might not win at Notre Dame without Harry playing his role down the stretch. We might not beat Miami if Marques doesn't play like he did. Those aren't the only two examples, but they're probably the best for each of them.

Both are going to continue to get ample opportunities going forward. Sometimes it might be for five minutes in a game, or it could increase to 15-20 on some nights. Like I said, they've had moments to gain confidence all season....this isn't grade school anymore. It's time to buy into your role, continuing improving yourself, and do what you can when called upon. Neither should be lacking confidence and both have had chances to prove themselves.

I do think both need to play more. Both to continue to gain confidence in game situations and secondly and perhaps more importantly so that some of our guys can get a blow. Amile being the most important there. Frank is helping out great in this role for Grayson. He came up huge sat. I know it's not apples to apples but for us to be our best one of those two will have to play well and contribute 10-15min when we are playing 2 games in 3 days, not to mention the acc tourney where you're playing consecutive days when you win.

 

[Mac9192]

I don't think improving happens just because you get in a game. Confidence, sure. Improvement, no.

Improving happens by being a constant....working hard in practice with your teammates, working on the side with your coaches, but most importantly, working hard by yourself so that you are ready when called upon.

Now, if you're talking about confidence, then I somewhat agree with you. But Harry and Marques have both had segments of the season where the time has been there for them to gain confidence, and in some aspects both have shined. We might not win at Notre Dame without Harry playing his role down the stretch. We might not beat Miami if Marques doesn't play like he did. Those aren't the only two examples, but they're probably the best for each of them.

Both are going to continue to get ample opportunities going forward. Sometimes it might be for five minutes in a game, or it could increase to 15-20 on some nights. Like I said, they've had moments to gain confidence all season....this isn't grade school anymore. It's time to buy into your role, continuing improving yourself, and do what you can when called upon. Neither should be lacking confidence and both have had chances to prove themselves.

All that is true in a perfect scenario. The one thing you're not taking into account is its kids you're dealing with. Nothing is absolutely truth, but sometimes confidence equals improvement. What is it saying to a kid who has a good first half then doesn't play 2nd half? Some kids practice good then don't perform when it counts. There's more variables than just "well he doesn't practice good so he's not playing." I'm not saying that this is what's happening with Bolden & Giles, but I fully believe that what I'm saying happened in 01. Sanders and Love made most of their time when Boozer went down. K was forced to play them. Were they bad in practice? Were they not improving? Did their confidence grow with increasing minutes? Kids don't all respond the same way. Some screw up when they finally get in game due to knowing they'll get yanked on first mistake, and some thrive to show they belong.