***DUKE VS FLORIDA OFFICIAL GAMEDAY THREAD***

Oct 7, 2004
11,113
724
0
This should be another good one - and another battle against a top team that should continue to prepare us for the upcoming conference season.

Offensively, we're almost unstoppable. With our front court size and athleticism and our athletic backcourt, offense will continue to be where we hang our hat. Much like the 2015 NC team, defense, however, is where the biggest improvement needs to come. Once the 15' team bought in defensively, it never looked back. I see many similarities this year...

Today's championship game will be a late one - tipping at 10:30pm est and will air on ESPN HD. Duke comes in as a -1 1/2 point favorite and despite Friday's game going to OT in which Duke trailed much of the game, they covered again Friday leaving only the Southern and Portland State games as the two games it hasn't. I like our chances again...

Duke 88

Florida 83

GO DUKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: skysdad

duhondukie

All-Conference
Jan 12, 2010
1,901
1,038
0
Need to slow down their guards. I don’t know how this will turn out but our kids have shown a ton of fight. I am worried about the late start tonight and the travel home, then turning around and going to Indiana Wednesday.
Win or lose should be a great game tonight!
 

jcdevilfan

Senior
Jan 29, 2017
548
737
0
Really looking forward to the game tonight, should be a "white knuckler"! I really don't think a lot of people realize the significance of the comeback against Texas, that was huuuuuuge against a team playing their best. Don't know how many teams could have come back like that, given the way Texas was playing, but it wouldn't be many. So proud of these kids.
Lastly, I think the way Grayson played when he came back in the 2nd half, might be an omen of what is to come tonight. I really feel that he will be at his best tonight, and if Trevon can play even with Chiozza and limit turnovers, I like our chances. Duke will limit the Florida's 3's and pull this one out.
Go Duke!
OFC
 

sgrooms

All-Conference
Jan 27, 2010
11,201
3,103
0
Our defense isn't what it needs to be, yet, so we have to rely on our offense. Once Duval went out of the last game and Allen ran the point, he drove into the lane every single position and it completely changed the game. He fouls out and Duval goes back to swinging it around and trying to dump it down low. Hopefully Duval learned over the last 48 hours that this team can get anything it wants offensively if he just drives the lane and draws in the defenders.

At the end of regulation against Texas, a fan next to me told Bagley he "settled on that jumper." He definitely took notice, and dominated the first few possessions in OT. Hopefully he comes out with that same intensity from the beginning. No one can stop him.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PHXDukie

GTHC_ GTH!

Senior
Oct 5, 2011
1,326
700
0
Here’s what worries me. It’s not that Florida is better than we are. I just think we’re tired. We’ve already played 7 games. It seems like every team we’ve faced the past two weeks have played 2 or 3 less games. And a bunch of our games have been the past two weeks. I kinda think it’s why we’ve been sluggish to start games. Hopefully Duke wins but they need some rest.
 

OldasdirtDevil

Heisman
Nov 16, 2009
19,469
15,753
0
The Gators have the potential to make anyone look bad the way they can shoot the 3...just like some of our past teams have had. That said, to win they will have to make quite a few 3's ('cause they shoot a bunch), and we can win without making many. I like our chances especially with this being the 3rd game in 4 days...heavy legs. And I'm sure K and staff have shown them some film of their terrible transition D against Texas.

Oh, and I'll mention Texas just once more here. To emphasize what Duke accomplished in the 2nd half against the Horns is that they are the #5 rated defensive team in the country per Kenpom...and that's after the Duke game was included.

Duke 86
Florida 80

OFC
 

dukehokie

All-American
Jun 27, 2005
19,624
6,220
113


Duke is in for a battle. I’ll link the game from last season. Florida has a very similar team in terms of personnel, but they’re more seasoned and are a better shooting squad. We didn’t separate last season until Tatum and Kennard took over, so we’ll need a strong balanced effort again. I think we can beat them. I think we will beat them.

Duke - 89
Florida - 78

Side note: My daughter was born that night so maybe there was some helpful karma as well. :D
 

VaBlueDevil33

All-Conference
Feb 12, 2009
3,549
1,308
0
Is anyone actually going to be able to stay up and watch this entire game? I mean it won't tip off till sometime after 11:00 EST and won't be over until after 1:00am

I'd love to watch but 4:30 comes too early to stay up past 1:00am...don't understand why championship wasn't last night

Hope to wake up to a Duke win tomorrow...but this will be a tough game
 
  • Like
Reactions: dukehokie

dukesince91

All-American
Mar 16, 2012
3,603
6,610
98
I think the key is going to be rebounding Florida's missed 3's (I hope they're not red hot). If we give them multiple shots on their possessions, it's going to be a dog fight. Theyre not going to be able to check Bags and Wendell. I'm picking us to win 90-82.
 

dukesince91

All-American
Mar 16, 2012
3,603
6,610
98
Is anyone actually going to be able to stay up and watch this entire game? I mean it won't tip off till sometime after 11:00 EST and won't be over until after 1:00am

I'd love to watch but 4:30 comes too early to stay up past 1:00am...don't understand why championship wasn't last night

Hope to wake up to a Duke win tomorrow...but this will be a tough game
I'll be watching every second! I'm semi retired now. I use to take me a preface nap when Duke played a late game if I had to get up early the next day. I'm looking forward to watching the Holes lose and us win!
 

DukeDenver

All-American
Nov 21, 2010
8,249
8,451
0
Florida 81
Duke 76

If Duval has a great game on both ends, I could see us stealing it.
 

Mac9192

Heisman
Jan 25, 2017
9,547
13,808
107
Talent wise, Duke has the most in the country. What K and all of us fans are banking on is all our freshmen learning how to play team defense.
We have one senior, and he has to be good, better than he has been.
If Duke plays close to potential, we are hard to beat. The only reason we're worried is our d has been a little shaky.
Duke 89-83
 
  • Like
Reactions: OldasdirtDevil

JohnstonCDevil

All-Conference
Nov 10, 2012
3,037
2,270
0
If Grayson & Trent can hit a few 3's, with our inside strength, I think we win. It's going to be a battle! GO DUKE!!!
OFC
 

SwatX1

Heisman
Jan 4, 2011
8,339
10,583
68
Grayson leads all scorers and we win a nerve wrecking battle.
Duke 82
Fla. 79
 

Showenuff

Heisman
Nov 21, 2006
21,624
14,224
0
I know nobody wants to hear it, but this is our first loss. Our defense will get better down the road for all these freshmen, but right now, we ain't there. Florida by 8 -10. Our only hope is if Trent starts hitting the long ball and Grayson gets back to normal. Got my fingers crossed.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CRAZIE4LIFE

pisgah101

Heisman
Dec 26, 2005
15,643
13,538
113
So freaking late! I think we watch the final four tonight though honestly..

Duke-85
UF-77
 

Duke1783

All-Conference
Mar 23, 2017
3,038
3,117
0
Hopefully UNCheat will lose and their fans won’t wanna linger around and be Florida fans for 2 hours
 

Duke1783

All-Conference
Mar 23, 2017
3,038
3,117
0
I’m guess anyone not wearing Duke Blue will be rooting against us, but why should tonight be any different
 

skysdad

Heisman
Mar 3, 2006
42,753
22,653
0
I know nobody wants to hear it, but this is our first loss. Our defense will get better down the road for all these freshmen, but right now, we ain't there. Florida by 8 -10. Our only hope is if Trent starts hitting the long ball and Grayson gets back to normal. Got my fingers crossed.


I ain't staying up that late to watch us lose Show. We're gonna win for that reason. OFC
 

LongTimeDukeFan

All-Conference
Nov 20, 2009
4,424
1,714
97
Duke by +12....IF:

1. Grayson finds his groove AND
2. Duval plays the role of the pass-first PG we saw in the first two games AND
3. We play better defense. Especially on the perimeter — not seeing the zone on this game as much.

The shots will come. The FTs will get better. And the bigs will be fine.

I’m expecting a dominating game on our part.
 

HeLooks2MuchLikeDave

All-Conference
Dec 1, 2010
2,458
2,151
0
I think we lose this one. Things have been trending in that direction. Not a big deal tho. Hopefully UNC does too. Gonna be tired tomorrow.
 

Mpm277

All-Conference
Nov 23, 2010
7,445
2,669
0
I think tonight is a wake up call for this team. They haven't been playing to their potential the last 4 games (at least a significant portion of each game) and have still been rewarded with wins. I don't think that'll happen tonight. If we bring it from the opening tip and make good decisions with good defense, then we can definitely win. But the last few games makes me hesitant to say we come out firing on all cylinders. If so, Florida better watch out. If not, our guys will be getting their first L.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Showenuff

dukehokie

All-American
Jun 27, 2005
19,624
6,220
113
Duke by +12....IF:

1. Grayson finds his groove AND
2. Duval plays the role of the pass-first PG we saw in the first two games AND
3. We play better defense. Especially on the perimeter — not seeing the zone on this game as much.

The shots will come. The FTs will get better. And the bigs will be fine.

I’m expecting a dominating game on our part.

I don’t even think needs to be strictly pass first. If he attacks the basket to score AND facilitates, we will win probably 99% of the games we play.

If he wastes possessions practicing his 3 ball for the scouts, then we come down 2-3 notches.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LongTimeDukeFan

crazyduke3

All-Conference
Mar 28, 2010
40,929
2,564
0
Florida on this. Our current defense has not inspired me to believe we will win. But I love Duke and I'll be pulling for them hard!
 

Lavar5150

Senior
Oct 17, 2001
592
641
63
Hopefully in the off day some defensive concepts were discussed including “want to”. If they can chase Florida off of the 3 point line I like Duke 85-77