JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Duke advanced to the Sweet 16 with their win over Cal in Jacksonville and Kyle Singler played a key role in the victory. BDN caught up to Singler after the game to get his thoughts on advancing and the fact they'll face Purdue in Houston this coming Friday.
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- BDN brings you Brian Zoubek's locker room comments. Zoubs had a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds.
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We are headed back to North Carolina and will post four more interviews around mid day, so please check back into the Blue Devil Nation.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Duke Blue Devils punched their ticket to the Sweet 16 with a 68-53 win over the PAC 10 Champion California Golden Bears. The Blue Devils scored close to a season high 38 points in the paint and held an 18-5 edge on points off turnovers.
California's game plan was to not let Kyle Singler beat them as we alluded to in our preview and, while that worked for a while, Singler proved to be a load in the second half. Singler ended the game with17 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists.
Nolan Smith led the way for the Blue Devils scoring 20 points and playing great on ball defense on the California guards. Duke held PAC 10 player of the year, Jerome Randle, to 12 points and the Bears shot just 34.8% from the field.
It says a lot about how good this Duke team has become in that it's leading scorer, Jon Scheyer, shot a miserable 1 of 11 from the field and ended the game with just 7 points.
The Blue Devils were once again aided by senior center Brian Zoubek, who went 6 of 6 from the field for 14 points and added a game high 13 rebounds for his 3rd double-double of the season.
Duke also won easily while cold from the three point stripe where they went 3 of 17. Former Duke player Jamal Boykin led the Bears in rebounds with 11 to go with his team high 13 points.
Some of the Blue Devil players gathered in the locker room to watch Purdue clip Texas A & M in the final seconds of the game. So, the Dukies are set to play the Boilermakers on Friday in Houston, Texas in Sweet 16 action.
The Blue Devils boosted their record to 31-5 on the season while California fell to 24-11.
Stay tuned to Blue Devil Nation for interviews and be sure to check in throughout the week for maximum coverage of Duke's road to the Final Four.
Duke Student Athletes
Jacksonville, Florida
SECOND ROUND POSTGAME QUOTES
SUNDAY, March 21, 2010
Brian, can you talk a little bit about your dunk at the end of the game? I think it was your first dunk since the Maryland game. Could you talk about your enthusiastic response to that and what it did for the team?
BRIAN ZOUBEK: “For me two points is two points. Getting the dunk felt great. I haven't been able to get that many open ones where I could just go up without any contact, and I was excited. I knew that was a big point in the game where we just created a little separation there. So it felt good.”
Nolan, could you talk about the job that you did against their three-point shooters, what tactics you guys did that you felt were effective?
NOLAN SMITH: “We stuck with their shooters. We couldn't give them any breathing room, and we just really stuck with them. We really gave them no open looks on ball screens. Our big guys really helped us, and Jon and Kyle, their perimeter three-point shooters, they just stayed with them the whole game.”
Do you expect the physical play that you got tonight? It seemed like the bodies were kind of flying around inside tonight?
BRIAN ZOUBEK: “Yeah, it was a really tough game inside, a lot of elbows thrown, a lot of contact. Both teams were playing hard, and we knew that the rebounding was going to be an essential part of the game, so both teams were fighting for it. I know that Boykin and Sanders were really being physical underneath, and I know that for me without Lance being just as physical or more physical than them, I wouldn't have gotten a lot of rebounds, and I wouldn't have gotten a lot of stuff, so I've got to give a lot of props up to him. He did a hell of a job.”
For both guys, all the talk all the time is about the big three. Today Jon was 1 of 11, but yourself and the Plumlees and a lot of guys who don't get a lot of attention really played big games and had big roles. What does it say about this team that you can win and win going away with Jon going 1 of 11?)
NOLAN SMITH: “This team has so much talent and so much potential. Every game somebody steps up, and that's the exciting thing about this team. We might not shoot good every game, but we play defense and play hard, and any game somebody is going to surprise you.”
Nolan, did you sense any frustration from Randle as it became so clear that he was not going to get any open looks? And if so, when did that occur?
NOLAN SMITH: “Really no frustration, because obviously he's a great player and he's a great scorer, and looking at him, he stayed calm the whole game. But from the getgo, I really wanted to make it clear that I was going to be in his jersey the whole game. That was the game plan. I just stuck with him with the help of my big guys. They really helped me out, and I owe it all to them. They made my job easy fighting over screens and giving them no open looks.”
Mike Krzyewski/Duke Head Coach
Jacksonville, Florida
SECOND ROUND POSTGAME QUOTES
SUNDAY, March 21, 2010
“Okay. We played an outstanding defensive game tonight against a championship team. Cal with Mike Montgomery right away did something that no one has done for 50 years at Cal and their conference; they won the regular season. And we knew that they would have that pedigree, that air of a champion about them. And we had unbelievable respect for them, and especially their perimeter. Those three kids are such good shooters, and I thought the discipline that we had defensively was the difference in the ballgame.”
“Also we could match up a little bit better with them with Lance being on Robertson instead of a bigger guy, and so we -- the kids played really hard, and Brian and Miles on the highball screen with Randle stayed up there long enough so Randle couldn't measure Nolan until Nolan got back.”
“Just the kids played a beautiful defensive game. I'm really proud of them. And when it got down to seven points, then there's a lot of game pressure on you. We went to run motion and Brian got two big buckets. Zoubs was huge for us throughout the game, especially at that time. We know we beat a really good team, and we're happy to be moving on obviously.”
For those of us who haven't seen him all year, talk about the way Nolan has blossomed and matured this season.
“Good question. He has been probably the unsung hero, he and Zoubs, I think, because you knew that Kyle and Jon coming in were going to be -- and they have been really good. But Nolan, especially at the end of a clock, is our go-to guy. He's been our on the ball defender the whole year. So he's scoring and defending on the ball.”
“That's a great combination. You have to be a very, very good player to be able to do that. And he can still get a lot better. He can get a lot better. But he's playing great basketball for us all year.”
“His match-up against Randle was the key match-up of the game, just to make sure Randle -- Randle gives them such verve. I mean, I've watched tapes of him the last two days, and the first half against Oregon, I don't know if I've seen a kid play better. And Nolan sees all that, and he helped keep him under control while still scoring 20 points. That was a marvelous performance by Nolan.”
About Jon's shooting again, did you see anything other than what you were talking about earlier in the week, the responsibility load? And you took him out for about ten seconds --
“Well, I think he's -- Jon wants it so badly that I think he's making every shot bigger than they are. I really believe that. It comes from a good place.”
“In our business or in any business, you want people who have great attitudes. His attitude is so good that sometimes I think he just puts too much pressure on himself.”
“I will say this, that their kid Gutierrez is a very good defender. It's not just Jon missing shots. Gutierrez gets in on you, and that was the guy covering Jon all day. So to give that kid credit, Jon missed a couple open ones, but he had to work hard to get a look.”
“In saying that, Jon came up with one of the best defensive plays on their out of bounds under, and we got the three play. That was a huge play in the game.”
In past years if your team shot 3 for 17 from three, you probably wouldn't have won the game. What makes this team different from past teams that allowed you to do that today?
“Well, in past teams, meaning the last few years, those kids achieved as much as they could achieve. You know, I hate when somebody compares those teams of the last couple years with our national championship teams, and they say they under achieved. Are you kidding me? They won 30, 29 games. But they were limited teams, and they couldn't play the defense that this team can play because we have big guys.”
“That's the difference. We're a better team this year. I don't know if we'll go any further, but this is a better team because it can play total defense, and it doesn't have to rely on that other stuff. I mean, someone will say in the past, well, they relied on the three-point shot. Well, what else were we going to rely on? We relied on it enough to win 30 games. Just because then you lose, doesn't mean those kids under achieved. They maxed. They maxed. This team is better. It's not a great team, but it's a really -- it's an excellent defensive team that hopefully can be a little bit better offensively as we go forward.”
We watched Kansas lose as the No. 1 seed yesterday. Did you mention that at all to your players and kind of warn them of the dangers of possibly overlooking a team?
“No, no. Our team hasn't overlooked anybody at year because we're not a great team. We've got to really prepare for every game, and every team in the NCAA tournament prepares that way. Kansas didn't lose because they looked ahead. Kansas lost because Northern Iowa played a great game. Kansas didn't play badly against them.”
“We didn't talk much about it, but we had our team meeting last night. It just occurred at 8:00, right after the game. So they -- obviously they knew it right away. And what we pointed out was that the reason Kansas lost was two of Northern Iowa's kids took charges in the last few minutes. So any one of you guys could take a charge and it might win a game. The other thing is I think the kid Cook got that offensive rebound and then dunked it. It was one of the great plays of this basketball season. And it wasn't a called play, and so that was our theme to our team is that those are the kind of plays that the winning teams will make going forward.”
“The other team didn't make losing plays; you have to make winning plays in this tournament. So that's what we talked about after the Kansas game.”
THE MODERATOR: Coach, thank you
“Thank you to the organizing committee and everyone here in Jacksonville. You all have been fantastic to all the teams. We won, so it makes it even better, but I would say that even if we lost, all right? Thanks.”
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Nolan Smith helped lead Duke to a 68-53 win over California by scoring 20 points and playing solid defense on the Cal guards. BDN is on the scene in Jacksonville and here is Nolan's post game comments that you will not see on local television.
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Duke will be looking to punch their ticket to the Sweet 16 with a win over California but a trio of three point shooters lie in their way. Make that a that a trio and former Duke player Jamal Boykin. The Golden Bears have already knocked off one of the nations top programs in Louisville and now they are chomping at the bit to slay Duke.
California Coach Mike Montgomery will send four senior starters into battle, so they do have experience and that generally makes for a tough out. Make no mistake, California is still seeking to make a name for itself and a win over Duke would make their season regardless of what happens after.
Montgomery has been quick to elude to the fact that he has coached twice against Mike Krzyzewski. He stops short of saying he won both games but the implication is seemingly there. For what it's worth, both coaches have been verbally pleasant to one another in press conferences.
One of Montgomery's strategies has been to have his team pumped up to hit the other team in the mouth. That's what happened when Louisville went down by a score of 24-6 before they realized what hit them. The Golden Bears blitzed Louisville at the start of the game and they closed it out by holding the Cardinals to mere two points in the last 6:37 of the game.
Keep in mind that game was more of a home game for Louisville in that their fans traveled well. In short, California certainly didn't look like an eight seed with their convincing win and with Washington winning again as well, the PAC 10 doesn't look so bad now, does it?
The Bears have 4 double figure scorers starting with the aforementioned Boykin [11.0 ppg, 6.6 rpg] and fellow senior Patrick Christopher [16.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg]. Then there is there is Theo Robertson [14.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg] and their spark plug and all time leading scorer, Jerome Randle [18.8 ppg, 4.3 apg].
California looked for opportunities to run against Louisville and they rebounded well from the guard spots. That means Duke must get back on defense. Duke will try to defend the three point shot by pushing the shooters off the stripe, for the Bears are proficient from beyond the arc and they quickly move the ball around on offense.
The Bears will try to drive and dish or kick the ball back out. It's basketballs version of the triple option and it can be effective. But the Bears will have a pardon the pun, bear of a time against a Duke team that is just as hungry for victory.
Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski has an NCAA best 71 victories in tournament play and he is looking for his 19th Sweet 16 appearance. The Blue Devils have now won 30 games for the 11th time in school history and there is a hunger in the entire Blue Devil Nation for more.
The Blue Devils are a hungry bunch themselves and Kyle Singler is as tough a customer as they come and he'll be a load for whomever matches up with him. Jon Scheyer also knows whats at stake and he in no way wants to close the season out just yet. And let's not forget Nolan Smith who rounds out a pretty darn good guard tandem.
The Blue Devils have defended the three point shot well this season and defense will be as vital as ever for a team which has held opponents under 60 points 18 times which is now the all time school record. Krzyzewwski's troops also hold a huge edge in front court depth. It'll be important for Lance Thomas and Brian Zoubek to establish themselves offensively early on for getting their opponents in foul trouble around the blocks could put the Blue Devils where they want to be, the free throw line.
The Blue Devils have been a good free throw shooting team all season and if they take care of business there, they'll be in good shape. Of course, Duke is a good rebounding team as well and this should enable them to control the boards if they can block out Cal's quick guards out.
There is a look in the eyes of these Blue Devils and that look is one of take no quarter. But Duke knows they'll be in for a tussle with a game California team, so there is no chance they will overlook the Bears. Besides, all Duke fans hate to remember what happened in 1993 when Jason Kidd helped the Bears pull an upset, one which resonates in pain to this day for Duke faithful.
The Blue Devils may well shrink their rotation in this one, but it'll be important for the Plumlee's and Dawkins to add some spark off the bench for their game plan to work. And with the nations number one team Kansas going down, not to mention Villanova you never know what might happen.
While Cal is probably the quicker team and Jerome Randle is as good a guard as Duke has faced all season, I still look for Kyle Singler to play as tough as it takes and Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith to play with their usual passion and for them to lead Duke to an exciting hard fought win.
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Jasmine Thomas went behind her back during a steal and layup, then lofted a perfect alley-oop pass to a teammate. Everything was coming easy for her and for Duke - just as it seemingly always does during NCAA tournament games at home.
Thomas scored 11 of her 13 points during the decisive first half of the Blue Devils' 72-37 rout of Hampton on Saturday in the first round of the Memphis Regional.
Keturah Jackson's 13 points were a career high and Karima Christmas also scored 13 for No. 2 seed Duke (28-5), which dominated nearly every stat category, outscored Hampton 35-6 during the final 15:45 of the first half and cruised into a second-round matchup with No. 7 seed LSU on Monday night.
"Everyone was engaged," Jackson said. "Everyone contributed. And we were all in tune."
Choicetta McMillian had nine points to lead the 15th-seeded Pirates (20-12). The outmanned Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champions had a season-low point total, were held to fewer than 40 points for the first time since November 2005 and had their six-game winning streak snapped with their most lopsided loss of the year.
The Blue Devils led 40-14 at halftime and were never threatened after that in extending their dominance at Cameron Indoor Stadium, where their only loss since 2008 came earlier this season to top-ranked Connecticut. They've won 13 straight NCAA tournament games here, and the average margin of victory in the first 12 was 27.
Duke shot nearly 46 percent, held a 47-31 rebounding advantage and forced 16 turnovers in winning its fourth straight and 10th in 11 games.
"They were very aggressive. I thought they were going to be aggressive, but they were, like, really aggressive," Hampton forward Quanneisha Perry said. "Once we broke it, I guess we tried to relax. But with their press, you can't really relax. You have to be strong with the ball, take care of the ball and look for the right passes, and we didn't do that at all."
It took the Blue Devils a few minutes to get rolling, but not because they were rusty after being off for two weeks following their first Atlantic Coast Conference tournament title since 2004.
"I think we started out going too fast and rushing some things on offense," Thomas said. "We just settled down and got into the flow of the game."
Once that happened, they started playing like a No. 2 seed - and this one was no contest.
Duke took the lead for good on Allison Vernerey's layup 5 minutes in, Christmas pushed it into double figures to stay with roughly 9½ minutes left and Thomas stretched it into the 20s for good with her highlight-reel steal and layup just inside the 4-minute mark.
That had them well on their way into the second round yet again; the Blue Devils have won at least one game in each of their 16 appearances in the NCAAs.
The undersized Pirates gave themselves a few snapshot moments at one of college basketball's most famous arenas, spending roughly 3 early minutes in the lead. But after Laura Lewis' runner off the glass put them up 8-5 with 16 minutes left, they missed 18 of the 20 shots that followed while turning it over 10 times during the rest of the half.
"You have to take baby steps, and I think this is one of them," coach David Six said. "I think now we know what it's like. I think there were times during the game that we belonged on the floor. I don't think for one second that we were intimidated. We didn't execute well, but we weren't intimidated."
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