Game Thread [2023-24] at Miami

[DUKERULES14]

My two main takeaways from this game:

1) Norchad Omier has the best hair Duke has faced this season. Incredible hair game.

2) And not to brag or anything, but McCain dunks just like I used to many years and pounds ago - unexpectedly and barely getting the ball over the rim after a big running start.

What about his calves?

 

[physicsfactor]

The only downside from this game was that we were atrocious on the defensive glass (64%). Miami had 16 offensive rebounds. There were possessions where they got 2-3 offensive rebounds. They had 15 second chance points, otherwise our defense would have looked even better.

A downside of the switching for sure.

It’s hard to complain much about the defense in that game, but in general, I’m frustrated by how often Duke switches ball screens. I know it doesn’t require as much communication when you have a default, but there were plenty of screens last night where a switch wasn’t necessary but was done anyway without thought.

Maybe it’s too tough to implement without a roster of upperclassmen, but I would love to see a defense with more real-time decisions being made on whether or not to switch. I wouldn’t switch any ball screens set a certain distance past the 3-point line until that ball-handler proves he can make 25-footers off the dribble.

 

[rhfarmer]

Man, reading this thread, it's hard to get used to Pollyanna Rome.

Yes, I would feel better if we hadn't lost to GT and almost lost to them at home. Yes, I would feel better if we hadn't lost to Pitt (and Arkansas for that matter, but road losses are certainly expected). I would also feel better if we actually beat the shit out of some of these shit teams that we're playing, instead of getting up by 12 and then letting them back in the game.

Anyway, we are a much better team than we were 2 months ago and the development is lovely to watch, especially when you consider how many K teams peaked in game 1.

The Wake game is looming like a sobriety check point for us, so if we pass that one I'll be ready to get on the bandwagon a bit more.

 

[rome8180]

I don't look at it as Polyannaism. I look at it as a simple acknowledgement of how we're playing right now coupled with an admission that there may have been significant contributing factors to our poor play early in the season. A team like UConn would still probably crush us. I can still easily see us getting our ass kicked at Wake. That doesn't mean we haven't "turned a corner," if there was even any corner to turn.

 

[rome8180]

My two main takeaways from this game:

1) Norchad Omier has the best hair Duke has faced this season. Incredible hair game.

2) And not to brag or anything, but McCain dunks just like I used to many years and pounds ago - unexpectedly and barely getting the ball over the rim after a big running start.

Norchad should pursue a career in modeling or porn. In my objective opinion, he is a beautiful example of Man.

Gonna need to see a dick pic before I approve of the second part.