tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21097386.post6166213222530626313..comments2023-10-11T01:01:22.020-07:00Comments on Blue Devil Hoops: Duke 90, BC 80Paul Ruganihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487406071512717216noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21097386.post-44542281711673802222008-02-15T08:51:00.000-08:002008-02-15T08:51:00.000-08:00Well, I guess my concerns about the defense were a...Well, I guess my concerns about the defense were a little unfounded (at least for one game). One other thing to keep in mind is that the ACC has been offense-heavy in conference play. I think the average efficiency has been around 1.04-1.05 points per possession. So in relative terms, Duke had been about average, rather than below average. And they were obviously well above average in the MD game.Paul Ruganihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17487406071512717216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21097386.post-68395089196261648962008-02-12T15:47:00.000-08:002008-02-12T15:47:00.000-08:00I agree completely. Watching the first half of th...I agree completely. Watching the first half of the Duke/BC game, I really wasn't concerned at all. Duke appeared to be playing extremely well, but just trailed in the scoreboard due to their own atrocious foul shooting, an inability to knock down open looks from deep, and some very good shooting by BC on contested shots. In the second half, however, even when Duke pulled ahead of BC, I was very concerned. I lost trust in the defense's ability to stop them, and it always looked like we were a turnover or two away from them springing the upset.<BR/><BR/>I also agree completely about Clem's being one of the top 20 teams in the country. However, I also think they would/will be upset bait in the NCAA's simply because their free throw shooting is so horrible. If college basketball games were to be stopped at an arbitrary, unannounced period, Clemson would be a real contender. But they aren't, meaning that in order to close out a game in which they have the lead, they are going to face an end game scenario in which they need to knock down free baskets. Clemson can't do this and it's a fatal flaw.<BR/><BR/>On a bitter note, I'm astonished that I haven't seen an article written in the mainstream press about the disparity in free throws and fouls called in the UNC/Clemson game. I'm also astonished that I haven't read a word about Nelson's mysterious fourth foul in the UNC/Duke game, in which somehow Hansborough's bucket counted AND UNC got the ball back, despite the foul not being an intentional or a tech. I had no idea that was even possible. Regardless, I suspect were the beneficiary team of either of these episodes wearing a darker shade of blue, there'd be a national scandal brewing.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18185957918631898274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21097386.post-39614980233615945932008-02-12T15:45:00.000-08:002008-02-12T15:45:00.000-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18185957918631898274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21097386.post-68769452782303655252008-02-12T08:51:00.000-08:002008-02-12T08:51:00.000-08:00I have found that defensive performance has varied...I have found that defensive performance has varied wildly from half to half. For instance, against Maryland I have the Terps' O-efficiency in the first half at about 123-124, whereas in the second half of that game I have it at 93. Similarly, against NC State I have their O-efficiency at 125-126 in the first half, and 85-86 in the 2nd. <BR/><BR/>On average, then, the defensive performance looks somewhat lackluster. I'm with you though, perhaps it is something to be concerned about seeing as how for the first 15 games of the year only 1 team (Illinois, because of a bunch of freak offensive boards and very few turnovers) had an offensive efficiency over 100 against Duke, and in the last 7 games, it has happened 5 times. Is it just better scouting? Are our guys playing with less energy on defense? I'm not sure. We seem to put together halves of excellent D and win games in a less than spectacular fashion, but it's hard to complain too much when we're 9-0 in the ACC I guess. <BR/><BR/>Hey the good news is the offense has been stellar the last 7 games!Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15567640542290211057noreply@blogger.com