Category Archives: Duke Basketball

Duke Basketball

Previewing the Terrapins

#7 Duke (20-4, 8-2 ACC) host unranked Maryland (16-6, 6-2 ACC) on Saturday afternoon at 1 pm in a game which will determine first place in the ACC standings. This will be the 1,000th game at Duke for Coach Mike Krzyzewski. Duke defeated Maryland three times last season and has won the previous five meetings. Maryland last defeated Duke on February 28, 2007.

Maryland is led by senior guard Greivis Vasquez (6'6" 190) who averages 18.1 points, 6.3 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game. Vasquez is a crafty player who likes to push the tempo and is a very good passer in Coach Gary Williams' flex offense. Vasquez plays 32.5 minutes per game.

Senior forward Landon Milbourne (6'7" 207) is Maryland's second leading scorer at 14.5 points per game. Milbourne also averages 5.4 rebounds and plays 30.3 minutes per game.

Senior guard Eric Hayes (6'4" 184) is a deadly 3-point shooter making 46.1 percent (47 of 102) on the year. Hayes averages 11.1 points, 3.4 assists, and 2.5 rebounds per game. Hayes plays 30.4 minutes per game.

Sophomore Sean Mosley (6'4" 210) contributes 11.5 points, 3 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game in 28.1 minutes of playing time.

Freshman Jordan Williams (6'9" 245) averages 8.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game in 22.9 minutes of playing time. Williams is touted as having great hands.

Off the bench, Maryland has four players averaging double digit minutes: Cliff Tucker (15.2), Dino Gregory (19.9), Adrian Bowie (16.5), and James Padgett (11.2). Maryland has more depth inside this season but they are a smaller team than Duke.

Duke and Maryland have had eight common opponents on the season. In out of conference games, both teams have beaten UNC-Greensboro and lost to Wisconsin. In conference, both teams have beaten UNC, Florida State, and Boston College. Maryland has beaten N.C. State who defeated Duke, while Duke has beaten Clemson and Wake Forest who both defeated the Terrapins.

The Blue Devils will be without starter and defensive specialist Lance Thomas who suffered a severe bone bruise in his right knee when he collided with Larry Drew II during the Carolina game. Replacing Thomas’ minutes will require Coach Krzyzewski to be creative with the rotation. Coach Krzyzewski has stated he expects Dawkins to play increased minutes with Kyle Singler rotating from small forward to power forward.

Another line-up which will surely see time together will be Brian Zoubek and Mason Plumlee together with Scheyer, Smith, and Singler. This is Duke’s most effective non-Thomas line-up from a +/- perspective.

The keys to the game will be:

1. Outside shooting: Duke is shooting .394 on the season from behind the 3-point arc. However, in the 13 games played in Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke is averaging .442. Maryland is eighth in the league in 3-point field goal percent defense. Duke needs to knockdown the long ball in this game.

2. Rebounding: Duke leads the ACC in rebounding margin at +6.6. Maryland is 11th at +1.2. Duke is second in the ACC in offensive rebounds averaging 14.6 per game. Duke is bigger and stronger and will need to be aggressive on the glass.

3. Assists and turnovers: Both Duke and Maryland take care of the basketball with a 1.3 assists to turnover ratio. Maryland is second in the ACC with 8.4 steals per game. Neither team can afford to give the other extra possessions in a game this analyst expects to be decided in the last couple of minutes.

With the celebration for Coach Krzyzewski’s birthday, his 1,000th game as head coach at Duke, and first place in the ACC on the line, the atmosphere will be electric inside Cameron Indoor Stadium. Both teams must be cautious of emotions to ensure the other team doesn’t jump out to an adrenalin fueled early lead. Once the teams settle in and commence execution of their game plans, this should be a very exciting basketball game.

Duke Basketball

Maryland at Duke Game Notes

Game 25  •  Coach K’s 1,000th game at Duke

[8 AP/7 Coaches] Duke (20-4, 8-2 ACC) vs. Maryland (16-6, 6-2 ACC)

Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010  •  1:00 p.m.  •  CBS

Cameron Indoor Stadium (9,314)  •  Durham, N.C.

The Opening Tip

Duke (20-4, 8-2 ACC), ranked eighth in the AP poll and seventh in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll, faces unranked Maryland (16-6, 6-2 ACC) at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 1:00 p.m. The game will air on CBS with Verne Lundquist and Clark Kellogg calling the action.

The Last Time Out

Duke registered a 64-54 road win over North Carolina on Wednesday to secure the program’s 14th straight 20-win season.

Senior Jon Scheyer went 5-of-9 from three-point range en route to a game-high 24 points. He also added five rebounds, four assists and two steals in the win.

Kyle Singler added 19 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals for the Blue Devils. The junior forward finished 4-of-5 from three-point distance and grabbed seven of his nine rebounds in the second half of play. Junior Nolan Smith also scored in double figures with 10 points to go along with six rebounds and a steal.

Freshman Mason Plumlee came off the bench to collect seven points, a season-high nine rebounds and two assists. Duke outrebounded the Tar Heels, 51-42, including a 23-14 edge on the offensive glass. Six Blue Devils grabbed five or more rebounds in the contest.

Duke held North Carolina to just 34.5 percent (20-of-58) shooting from the field, including 26.3 percent (5-of-19) from three-point range. The Blue Devils are now 12-0 on the year when holding the opposition below 40 percent shooting.

Numbers Game

l Saturday’s game marks the 1,000th career game on the sidelines at Duke for Mike Krzyzewski. He is just the eighth coach in NCAA Division I history to coach 1,000 games at a school.

l Duke is ranked eighth in the AP poll, marking the 50th consecutive week ranked in the top 10. The Blue Devils are 67-16 all-time when ranked eighth in the AP poll.

l The Blue Devils have won 15 consecutive games at Cameron Indoor Stadium, including their last seven ACC home contests.

l Jon Scheyer, Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler are the top scoring trio in the NCAA at a combined 53.5 points per game. The threesome has accounted for 30 of Duke’s 31 individual games with 20 or more points scored.

l Jon Scheyer leads the ACC in four statistical categories and is the only player in the league to rank in the top 5 in seven statistical categories; scoring (second, 19.1 ppg.), assists (fourth, 5.5 apg.), free throw percentage (first, .891), three-point field goals (first, 2.8 3pg.), three-point percentage (fifth, .404), assist-to-turnover ratio (first, 3.16:1) and minutes (first, 36.6 mpg.).

l Kyle Singler is averaging a team-best 7.0 rebounds per game and is attempting to become just the third Blue Devil to lead the team in rebounding as a freshman, sophomore and junior.

l Jon Scheyer (19.1 ppg.) and Nolan Smith (17.7 ppg.) are averaging a combined 36.8 points per game. The duo ranks fifth among the top scoring backcourts in Duke history and tied for ninth in ACC history.

l Jon Scheyer has scored 20+ points in five of the last seven games. He is tied for first in the ACC with 12 games with 20 or more points.

l Brian Zoubek ranks sixth in the ACC in offensive rebounds (3.0 orpg) and 18th in total rebounds (6.2 rpg.). He is averaging 7.9 offensive boards and 16.3 total rebounds per 40 minutes of action. Zoubek is the only non-starter in the ACC to rank among the league leaders in total rebounds and offensive rebounds.

l Jon Scheyer is averaging 21.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.0 steals per game over the last five games. He is shooting 50.0 percent (17-of-34) from three-point range in that span.

l Kyle Singler and Jon Scheyer are a combined 23-of-40 (.575) from three-point range in the last three games.

Checking in on ...

#2 Nolan Smith - +9.3 ppg. increase from a year ago leads the ACC ... shooting a career-best 42.5 percent from three-point range ... second on the team with 10 games with 20+ points scored ... double figures in 21 of 22 games played

#5 Mason Plumlee - Second on the team with 17 dunks ... tied for third with 16 blocks ... season-high nine rebounds vs. North Carolina

#12 Kyle Singler - 21 double-figure scoring games this season ... attempting to lead the Blue Devils in rebounding for the third straight year ... averaging 19.8 points per game in the last five contests

#20 Andre Dawkins - Fourth on the team with 28 three-point field goals ... shooting 40.0 percent from three-point range

#21 Miles Plumlee - Leads the team with 27 dunks ... shooting 57.0 percent (61-of-107) from the field

#30 Jon Scheyer - 20+ points in four of the last five games ... ranks in the top 10 of the ACC in nine statistical categories ... leads the league in minutes, free throw percentage, three-point field goals and assist-to-turnover ratio

#34 Ryan Kelly - 14 blocked shots ... one of five Blue Devils with 10+ blocks

#42 Lance Thomas - Five or more rebounds in seven straight games ... leads the Blue Devils with 11 charges taken ... suffered a severe bone bruise to his right knee and is doubtful for Saturday’s contest

#55 Brian Zoubek - Five or more rebounds in 16 of 24 games ... four or more offensive rebounds nine times

Duke Basketball

It’s time to recognize Krzyzewski’s [Coach K’s] accomplishments

Coach K to be honored for his 1000th game
Duke Coach Mike Kryzewski has had quite a week to date and Saturday is his birthday and 1000th game as a coach

Durham, N.C. - By Sunday morning this will have been quite a week for Duke Basketball Coach Mike Krzyzewski.  Before he took his team eight miles down the road to face their arch rival, Krzyzewski addressed the national media and their questions pertaining to Team USA and the roster selections.

Of course, later that evening, Krzyzewski guided his team to their 20th win of the season with a 64-54 win over North Carolinam breaking a mini drought for the Blue Devils in the series.  While it wasn't always pretty, the Duke coach has his team playing lock down defense and that eventually led to his team's 8th win in conference.

So, with all the hype and duties he had during the much anticipated first game of the season between the two rivals, he still had time to talk a bit about how he intends to go about winning another Gold Medal.

During last evening's press conference, an elated Krzyzewski must have been thinking about what is next.

Let's start with the game versus Maryland on Saturday afternoon, where they face the second place team in a game which means much more than the UNC game did in the ACC standings.

One might think that is more than enough on your platter, but the game is Krzyzewski's 1000th game of his career, a special milestone that few men have seen.

But there is more than the aforementioned, for a bevy of former Duke players will be in attendance as well.  And why are they there?

Well, it is also Mike Krzyzewski's birthday and what an emotional affair it will be for Krzyzewski and the Duke fans and family.

There are times when Duke fans need to slow down a minute and recognize all that Krzyzewski has done at Duke.  There are three national titles, a bushel of ACC championships, a long road of All ACC, All Americans and Players of the Year, and a Gold Medal for the country he loves.

In short, Krzyzewski's whole life and love other than family centers around the sport of basketball.  The man is constantly lobbying in ways to make the game better and is never at a loss for words when talking hoops politics.

But the man they call Coach K, which is now a brand name, has done more than just help Duke and fans of all schools or the sport should recognize that.

He's has made the ACC better and helped guide Team USA back to the top of World Basketball.

Now, I know there are some of you who recognize or feel what I am saying, but there are still some worried that Duke may not get so and so recruit or harp on a kid's playing time instead of waking up and enjoying the here and now and a good team seeking it's 21st win.

This weekend's ticket to the Maryland game is worth it's weight in gold.  Those lucky enough to go will have the opportunity to celebrate with Krzyzewski and it should provide golden memories for all involved.

Quite simply, this is a major milestone and we need to stand up and recognize all the joy he has given to us as fans or those who simply follow college and Olympic basketball.

On Saturday, his team should want to play hard and come away with the win and when he is honored after the game or even before, maybe the Cameron Crazies will sing Happy Birthday to one helluva coach.

Who knows?  The media members may actually recognize how good a job he has done one day and actually award with him an ACC Coach of the Year Award.

Whether they do and give him a strangely elusive reward is one thing, fans cannot control that, but Duke fans can stand up and recognize that they are in the midst of an era of Duke Basketball that will always be golden in our memories.

Duke Basketball

Mason Plumlee’s dunk puts Duke ahead for good vs UNC

Mason Plumlee leads Duke past UNC
Mason played like no freshman down the stretch in Duke's 64-54 win over UNC

Chapel Hill, N.C. - As you well know by now, Duke defeated North Carolina last night and starter Lance Thomas went down with an injury.  A player who really stood up to the challenge was freshman Mason Plumlee who tallied 7 points and a team high 9 rebounds.  With the game tied at 45 apiece with 8:20 to go, Mason threw down a reverse jam where the backboard and basket all moved giving Duke a 47-45 lead putting the Blue Devils ahead for good.

Listen to Mason Plumlee's post game comments by pressing play below -

Duke Basketball

Duke holds UNC to their lowest point total during the Williams era in 64-54 win

Scheyer leads Duke past UNC
ESPN's Erin Andrews talks to the game's MVP, Jon Scheyer, after Duke held UNC to their lowest point total under Roy Williams - BDN Photo

Chapel Hill, N.C. - The Duke Blue Devils defeated their arch rival North Carolina 64-54 on Wednesday evening.  It wasn't a pretty win but, if you are a Duke fan, the result was quite lovely.

Duke held the Tar Heels to their lowest point total during the Roy Williams era.  North Carolina shot just 37% from the field as they dropped to 2-7 in conference and 13-11 overall.

The Blue Devils knocked down four buckets in a row down the stretch and that propelled them to their 20th win of the season against 4 losses.  More importantly, Duke is in first place in the ACC with a 8-2 mark.

Duke senior standout Jon Scheyer nailed 5 of 9 three pointers while the Tar Heels were just 5 of 19 beyond the stripe.  When Duke needed a score, Scheyer seemed to be there.

Kyle Singler continued his torrid three point shooting as well, missing just 1 of 5 enroute to 19 points and 9 rebounds.  Nolan Smith was the only other Blue Devil in double figures, with 10 points to go with his team high 4 assists.

North Carolina was led by Will Graves with 13 points but Ed Davis was shut down by the Blue Devil defense, scoring just 4 points.

We'll have much more coverage coming, including interviews, so check back in a bit later.