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Thoughts for Saturday

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ThemDukeBoys

Freshman
Jan 10, 2018
138
73
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Gents. Here’s my theory. When we played UVA the first time, I told myself we didn’t stand a chance without Tre. Plain and simple.

We all know the outcome of that game--we played one of the best, if not the best, game of the year.

Again, I keep telling myself we have no chance on Saturday without Zion (if he doesn't play)...can/will history repeat itself?

What are your thoughts?
 
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HeLooks2MuchLikeDave

All-Conference
Dec 1, 2010
2,458
2,151
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Honestly, I think its going down to the wire with or without Zion. Even without Zion, we have a lot of intangibles. We are the underdog, on the road, we have the revenge factor, and have been hearing "this team cannot win without Zion". Last game in Cameron, UNC had all those intangibles in their favor. You could hear all year how they were sick of Duke getting all the media coverage and they responded by playing their butts off. I think the script is flipped now. Barring another injury, we won't play shell-shocked and we will have a solid plan going in. Its HARD to beat a good team twice in one year, especially a bitter rival. Finally, I think everyone on the team knows if Zion is going to play or not and we are game planning accordingly. UNC has to gameplan for us with Zion and us without Zion.
 
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sheyduke

All-American
Apr 13, 2010
13,473
8,837
108
HeLooks2MuchLikeDave said:
Honestly, I think its going down to the wire with or without Zion. Even without Zion, we have a lot of intangibles. We are the underdog, on the road, we have the revenge factor, and have been hearing "this team cannot win without Zion". Last game in Cameron, UNC had all those intangibles in their favor. You could hear all year how they were sick of Duke getting all the media coverage and they responded by playing their butts off. I think the script is flipped now. Barring another injury, we won't play shell-shocked and we will have a solid plan going in. Its HARD to beat a good team twice in one year, especially a bitter rival. Finally, I think everyone on the team knows if Zion is going to play or not and we are game planning accordingly. UNC has to gameplan for us with Zion and us without Zion.
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The revenge factor will be different. A lot of the UNC players are still angry about the Zion injury over shadowing their win. But I can agree with what you said except UNC will let RJ score at will and just hold down the other four Duke players on the court. Outside shots have to fall
 
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D

Duke Blu

All-Conference
Nov 7, 2017
3,536
2,368
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RJ and Cam both go the heck off then Duke should win. Both are capable. In fact at this point it should be expected. I’m talking really go off. Like Rivers played in Chapel Hill. For reference, Rivers went 9 of 16 from the field and had 29 points. Both RJ and Cam are superior talents to Rivers IMO, so at this point they just have to find it in themselves.
 
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K

krzyzewskiville

Senior
Oct 7, 2004
11,113
724
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Can't win? - No, I don't agree with that. Fighting an up-hill battle without Zion? I can handle that.

BUT, as someone else said, this team has plenty of pieces without Zion. The bottom line is basketball is a game of matchups. Without Zion, I don't love how we matchup with UNC. However, if we shoot it like we're capable of, with our without Zion, we're pretty dang good.
 
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LetsGoDuke83

All-Conference
Feb 21, 2019
1,549
2,239
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IMO unc will let RJ have his points and defend everyone else. I just dont think we have the offense to keep up and without Z our D takes a massive hit.
 
D

DukeRulesBasketball

All-American
Aug 20, 2015
7,258
5,182
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Duke has been to play so much better on the road this year. I know it’s a totally different scenario and situation, but nobody gave our 2015-16 Duke team a chance at all when we down to unc to play them, and we ended up winning that game against a unc team that played for a National Championship. I think Duke will come out with fire with or without Zion and play a great game with a chance to win!
 
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LetsGoDukies

Senior
Jul 10, 2013
942
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If we can hold our own in the rebounding column then I think we have a chance. But if we give them 3 and 4 opportunities per possession and we get 1 opportunity per possession then we stand no chance. And that's definitely and uphill battle without Zion.
 
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nets on nets on nets

All-American
Jun 4, 2015
4,162
5,515
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-RJ will go for 30 because I think RJ can score 30 points while being blindfolded with his hands tied behind his back.
-We need Cam to come up big in this game. Cam's 3 best games this year: UK in what was a road environment, @ FSU, @ UL...anyone else sensing a pattern here?? I think Cam comes up huge and hits some massive three's.
-Need a 12 pt 10 reb type night out of Bolden, he was absolutely terrible the last game against UNC.

The biggest key for me in this game though is can we turn UNC over and get easy buckets in transition, easier said than done without Zion. But we need Tre hounding the ball all over the court.
The offense is gonna be off and on for Tre, I think we all get that, but if he can get a few steals for us, than he should still be a net-positive on the court.
 
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A

AlanInNJ

All-Conference
Feb 25, 2014
1,665
2,462
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Laettner said:
Dress Zion & have him warm up whether he's playing or not, play with UNC heads.
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Everything about Zion is different, but I am surprised the way K is announcing well before games if he is playing or not. Why share your game plan with your opposition before you have to? I told my son the other night against VT that they should have had Zion in a tear away warm up suit, so he could stand up on the bench, and rip it away to show he was in uniform just to freak out the VT crowd. :D

"No chance" is WAY too strong IMHO. Our margin of error shrinks, but we can still win. I think keys are;

Rebounding - on both ends, but especially limiting them to one shot
Cam - have a good general game and shoot 45%+
Someone else steps up among Tre, Jack, Alex to score 15+ points. Bolden maybe?
3's - 35%+

That may seem like a lot, but it really isn't unrealistic. If we do those things I think we have play a close game and win in the end by 3 points or less.

Alan
 
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christophero

Heisman
May 2, 2017
16,640
20,004
113
I think we may lose but we keep it close. We could win of course but we'd have to play our A plus game. RJ needs help. At least we can gameplan without Zion now.
 
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IPSYCHOSIS

All-Conference
Dec 22, 2016
4,095
1,828
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SoCal_Dukie3 said:
Zion plays? Duke in a close win.

No Zion? UNC by 10-20 points. I say that because K will go with Javin at the 4 or 5 and it’s a matchup nightmare for Duke.
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Javin is a matchup nightmare for Duke period. All I hope for with him is 5 (good) fouls. Sometimes that’s to much to even ask....
 
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layneja

Sophomore
Nov 11, 2005
179
195
0
I don't think Zion plays but this time K can game plan for not having him. I do believe in game #1, we were knocked back when we lost him early and the team never recovered and adjusted. This time will be different with the proper preparation. Duke wins.

We get Zion back for the tournament and we run the table and don't lose another game. My humble opinion !!!
 
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Mpm277

All-Conference
Nov 23, 2010
7,445
2,669
0
Can we win without Zion? Yes. Do I think we win without Zion? Definitely not.
 
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VaBlueDevil33

All-Conference
Feb 12, 2009
3,549
1,308
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I see about the same as in cameron if Zion sits...probably a little closer

Honest I don't care about this game or the ACC tournament...im worried about the one tournament that counts

Would suck to get swept by the holes though
 
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gottagonow

All-Conference
Apr 14, 2010
4,838
2,739
0
There is so little we can do poorly in this game and still win. The most important is shooting 3's and we'll need to shoot them much better than normal to win. I think we can win but only if we play our very best.
 
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Mac9192

Heisman
Jan 25, 2017
9,133
12,943
107
RJ can’t do it alone. Everyone else needs to play to prove. Alex needs at least 10 shots. Bolden, Javin, and White need to man up and be productive. We also need the good Cam on offense. Not the out of control, run over players. Can’t have a 2-10 game out of him. Play like your ranking Cam. Tre, frustrate Coby, please.

We can win this game.
 
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dukegrad02

Sophomore
Apr 3, 2006
1,203
146
0
I typically say I care more about 4 games each year than any other of our games
Game 1: v UNC
Game 2: @ UNC
Game 3: the last game we play in the ACC tournament
Game 4: the last game we play in the NCAA tournament

I'm come to terms with removing all expectations for Game 2 for 3 and 4 to be trophies
 
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K

Kobe #1

Sophomore
Feb 9, 2008
1,028
156
0
without Zion it is a bad matchup, they will destroy Duke again in transition.........

it would take a really good shooting night for Duke to win, could happen, I would not bet on it
 
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jcdevilfan

Senior
Jan 29, 2017
548
737
0
CRAZIE4LIFE said:
Depends on if we have more than RJ contributing, if not we lose by 15-20.
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^This. They will not let RJ have his and try to shut everyone else down. They know he is the key, Cam and at least one other player must come up big, and Bolden is way overdue!
But the key to this game will probably be our half court defense (everyone talking) and stopping their transition game.
The Holes are Final Four good, but if you think these kids can't beat them without Zion, you are badly mistaken. Granted, everyone must be 100% invested in this game, best defensive game of the year, and we can win.
Go Duke!
OFC
 
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Liftee

All-American
Mar 6, 2011
3,199
5,513
0
Sure Duke can win. I mean it's Duke! And we tend to think UNX is an all time team when they have looked very pedestrian at times, even recently.

In my mind, Duke has to do the following:

1. Get back on defense, after foul shots, made shots, and missed shots. If it means 3 guys don't think about offensive rebounding, so be it.
2. 5 guys need to shoot the ball. I have vivid recollections of plays where 4 defenders were grouped around Barrett. AOC, White, Cam all have to shoot with confidence.
3. BOX OUT! Yes you are allowed to box out. Put a body on Maye on every shot.
4. Have to make foul shots. Can't lose 10 points at the line.
 
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