Duke Vs. Arizona

[CameronBornAndBred]

I don't know squat about Arizona. I know they've made it as far as we have.

[devildeac]

Won the PAC 10/11/12
Derrick Williams is conference POTY and averages ~19/9 at 6'8" and 240 lbs.
They shoot ~40% 3FGs and Williams is at 58%
Not real big. Expect to see 2G, 2 wings and Williams, their tallest player who sees significant minutes.
WIlliams may get the Plums in foul trouble and will draw them away from the rim some but we have 15 PF to give with our bigs, hopefully need less.
We might get Williams in trouble with Nolan and Kyrie driving.

[CathyCA]

Tucson is in the same time zone as Anaheim. The AZ players will be well-rested.

[robertduke32]

Jones, guard, is an excellent on-ball defender and may give us issues, but I imagine he hasn't seen someone quite the caliber of Nolan and Kyrie.

Also, they evidently like to talk a lot of smack, as evident of the breakdown OY.

They're not a big zoning team, which is to our advantage. Singler will need to be a beast in this game driving to the basket. Please don't parade to the 3-pt. line.

[Bob Green]

Won the PAC 10/11/12

Arizona won the regular season but lost to UW in the PAC10 Tournament Championship Game. Here are my key points (I love doing this because it amazes me how I can consistently be so wrong) :

Duke's defensive game plan:

1. Fierce on ball pressure and denial of the entry pass. Arizona does not have a true point guard so we need to turn them over.
2. Contain Derrick Williams. He will get his points but we just need to ensure he doesn't have a career night tonight. He is no different than Jordan Williams or Reggie Johnson.
3. Rebound the basketball.

Duke's offensive game plan:

1. Smith and Irving need to penetrate and pass. Interior passing will be key. Arizona's 2 point fg defense is a weakness so we need to attack inside the 3 point line with Singler on curls and Kelly's midrange jumpers.
2. Curry and Dawkins are going to take some 3 pointers so we need them to go down at an acceptable rate but I'd really like to see those two work the baseline for short jumpers or open backdoor cuts.
3. While it will not be a primary option, dumping the ball into Mason and Miles for jump hooks could result in a foul or two on Williams as could Smith and Irving taking the ball to the rim. Derrick Williams in foul trouble would be a good thing.

Bob " " Green

[devildeac]

Won the PAC 10/11/12

Arizona won the regular season but lost to UW in the PAC10 Tournament Championship Game. Here are my key points (I love doing this because it amazes me how I can consistently be so wrong) :

Duke's defensive game plan:

1. Fierce on ball pressure and denial of the entry pass. Arizona does not have a true point guard so we need to turn them over.
2. Contain Derrick Williams. He will get his points but we just need to ensure he doesn't have a career night tonight. He is no different than Jordan Williams or Reggie Johnson.
3. Rebound the basketball.

Duke's offensive game plan:

1. Smith and Irving need to penetrate and pass. Interior passing will be key. Arizona's 2 point fg defense is a weakness so we need to attack inside the 3 point line with Singler on curls and Kelly's midrange jumpers.
2. Curry and Dawkins are going to take some 3 pointers so we need them to go down at an acceptable rate but I'd really like to see those two work the baseline for short jumpers or open backdoor cuts.
3. While it will not be a primary option, dumping the ball into Mason and Miles for jump hooks could result in a foul or two on Williams as could Smith and Irving taking the ball to the rim. Derrick Williams in foul trouble would be a good thing.

Bob " " Green

Funny intro, Bob .


3a. Hope the refs are not wearing their PAC 10 eye glasses/contacts OR their Okafor lenses tonight .

[robertduke32]

3a. Hope the refs are not wearing their PAC 10 eye glasses/contacts OR their Okafor lenses tonight .[/quote]

Amen brother!!

[CameronBornAndBred]

Looking back...

The Wildcats' Jason Gardner outraced the Blue Devils' Jason (now Jay) Williams for a loose ball in the first half. As Gardner pulled it in and bent over, Williams wound up lying on top of his back -- basically bodysurfing on the little point guard.

It looked for all the world like a cataclysmic third foul on Duke's star. Instead, it was a no-call and Gardner dribbled out from underneath him as Billy Packer lost his mind on TV about the officials taking care of the Devils.

That refrain has been heard a few thousand times in the 10 years since. But here's what hasn't been heard often enough:

The 2001 Blue Devils are generally regarded as one of the greatest teams of the decade.
Duke '01 has been the best college basketball team of the 2000s.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/tournamen ... id=6253110

[robertduke32]

So glad Packer is off the airwaves...bastard...

[DukieInKansas]

Is anyone else starting to get really nervous?


Let's Go, Duke!

[wilson]

Is anyone else starting to get really nervous?

Yes.
I have commenced drinking.

[DUKEBLUE252]

Is anyone else starting to get really nervous?

Yes.
I have commenced drinking.

a little worried,
not too far behind you Wilson haha, playing catch-up
LGD LGD LGD

[robertduke32]

Is anyone else starting to get really nervous?


Let's Go, Duke!

I too have joined Wilson with my choice in beverage. My chatting later may be a little delayed due to habitual backspacing to correct my spelling

[Bob Green]

Is anyone else starting to get really nervous?

Yes.
I have commenced drinking.

I just arrived home from work so I'll be popping the top on my first beer momentarily!

[ArkieDukie]

I have to go back to work for a short while tonight. Hopefully it won't be too long. My DVR is set, so I'll be joining all of you in Section 21 as soon as I catch up to live coverage.

[captmojo]

All the game plan ideas above, are sound. I'm gonna add one really fuckin' big one...

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!HIT YOUR DAMN FREE THROWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How many points were left behind at the stripe last sunday? Oh! I know! Too damn! We missed out on ten points worth of opportunity in the first half, alone.
Kyle. You blew the front end of one-and-one chances, twice in the first half. That's 4 missing points from the scoreboard. Take a deep breath, relax your shoulders, envision the shot, keep your eye on the front of the rim for a two second count before beginning your motion, don't look at Lesley Visser. Your eyes will bleed and you'll turn to stone.

LET'S GO DUKE!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ima Facultiwyfe]

Slurping Pinot Noir as we speak.
Go You Devils GO! Take no prisoners!!!
Love, love, love, Ima

[Very Duke Blue]

I just popped open a cold one. Yes, I'm nervous. 99.9, ESPN radio has picked Duke to win it all. THAT makes me nervous.

[CathyCA]

I'm scared. My belly hurts. I'm not sure whether it's my gallstones or nerves, but I'm torn up.

[CathyCA]

Lesley Visser looks awful. That hair color is so wrong. Someone apparently found her a brush, but if you're going to wear your hair THAT blonde, you don't need to darken the eyebrows THAT shade of brown. And she needs to touch up her gray roots.

For crying out loud, she's two mega blocks from Disney. There are more hairdressers and makeup artists around there than most anyplace else on earth. You'd think she could find one.

That purple would look better on her if she were a brunette with blonde highlights.

Steve Fisher has a turkey neck.