The biggest hole for each title contender....

[dukiejay]

Saw this pop-up on the ESPN feed last night and thought I would share. No surprise, but defense is our culprit, in their, and most of our opinions.

There isn't a 'great' team right now, per se. In fact, for the first time since 1948, there isn't a single remaining unbeaten team in the country as we entered January.

Reading this article makes me believe more and more that if we can become just a slightly better-than-average defense, then the opportunity to be playing in early April is very, very possible.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...-biggest-hole-national-championship-contender

 

[LongTimeDukeFan]

Even with blue-blood programs like Duke and the ever growing presence of the one-and-done mega teams, I find that there is a growing parity in college basketball. On any given night, any given team can beat the overwhelming favorite. It is amazing to see the close games that have already occurred.

It is weird in the article how it points to the fact that we are better when we play zone....that creeps me out a bit.

 

[ticket2ride04]

Weirdest year I can remember in college basketball. I feel like it’s gonna be a Witchta State year

 

[SwatX1]

It had not hit me that there were no unbeaten teams left.....wow.

 

[dukedevilz]

Psssh. This article is whack. UNC doesn't have any weaknesses. Let's just call them what they are, lesser-strengths.

 

[LongTimeDukeFan]

Weirdest year I can remember in college basketball. I feel like it’s gonna be a Witchta State year

That would be a fine second option for me.

 

[dukedevilz]

Okay, to be honest, don't we say the whole parity thing ever year? Yes, it's true every team is capable of losing. But some teams obviously have a much higher ceiling - or we can call it a greater margin for error. I would be absolutely shocked if the National Champs isn't one of four teams: Michigan State, Duke, Villanova, or Arizona... Sparty looks like the best team right now, IMO.

 

[Mac9192]

If we can just get our defense tightened up a little, we become THE favorite to cut the nets down. Heck we already are one of them and our defense is not there yet. We have 2 things no one else has, and that's the best player in college ball in Bagley, and a fearless Allen who is a star himself. The rest of the starting 5 aren't chopped liver, and a few guys on the bench that can help out.
I had no idea Bagley and Carter were going to be this good.

 

[chov1125]

This is why it frustrates me when we flip flop our defenses throughout the game. Does the change itself create additional stops, prolly. But we need to pick a defense and grow so that come March we are as far along as possible.

 

[nets on nets on nets]

It's too early to declare that "there are no great teams this year." Ultimately, I think that us, MSU, and Zona are above the rest, and we have the highest ceiling, the question is will we get there?
I actually think this year is a lot like 2015, where there was us, UK, and Wisconsin - then everyone else. My hope would be to be on the opposite side of the bracket as MSU and Arizona (which worked out in 2015, avoiding UK and Wisconsin)

If we get our defense figured out, than we are an "all-time great college team" IMO.

 

[dukiejay]

Okay, to be honest, don't we say the whole parity thing ever year? Yes, it's true every team is capable of losing. But some teams obviously have a much higher ceiling - or we can call it a greater margin for error. I would be absolutely shocked if the National Champs isn't one of four teams: Michigan State, Duke, Villanova, or Arizona... Sparty looks like the best team right now, IMO.

The only thing I'm cautious about with Michigan State is that 1) they haven't played much so far this season, and 2) the Big Ten is not strong again this year. They should coast to a #1 seed.

If we can just get our defense tightened up a little, we become THE favorite to cut the nets down. Heck we already are one of them and our defense is not there yet. We have 2 things no one else has, and that's the best player in college ball in Bagley, and a fearless Allen who is a star himself. The rest of the starting 5 aren't chopped liver, and a few guys on the bench that can help out.
I had no idea Bagley and Carter were going to be this good.

Agreed. And I feel our defense doesn't need to become elite. It needs to become competent first. From there, if we figure it out, there's no doubt we're one of the very strong favorites.

 

[dukedevilz]

For whatever reason, though, we sure seem to play well in the final 5 minutes of a game:

Michigan State: 15-8
Texas: 11-4
Florida: 17-4
Indiana: 16-6
Florida State: 16-5

 

[Liftee]

Eventually Coach K will decide whether to focus on defending the 3 or defending the basket. We have seen at least 2 teams shoot way above their norm. If that happens in the tournament, our team can be beat. Somehow Syracuse defends the 3 out of a zone. Maybe Duke does that this year against hot shooting teams.

The other thing is injuries. Which top team gets healthy in March? That is always a determining factor.

 

[LetsGoDukies]

For whatever reason, though, we sure seem to play well in the final 5 minutes of a game:

Michigan State: 15-8
Texas: 11-4
Florida: 17-4
Indiana: 16-6
Florida State: 16-5

This is what has me the most optimistic. It seems like we can play lock down defense when panic sets in. If we can learn to play it for 40 minutes, watch out!

 

[crazyduke3]

defense and free throws for us!

 

[skysdad]

I didn't see anything different about Duke's weakness' other than what we have discussed here. Does that make many of us guru's .OFC

 

[LouisiAaron]

This is what has me the most optimistic. It seems like we can play lock down defense when panic sets in. If we can learn to play it for 40 minutes, watch out!

if we can play it for 25-30 minutes we're good. nobody would beat us if we played 25 minutes of good defense because the offense and rebounding is so elite

 

[LouisiAaron]

I was just thinking and would like to see if any of you think Marvin Bagley will hit the FRESHMAN WALL. Honestly I just don't see it happening just based on how he plays. Hitting a freshman wall rebounding and dunking is almost impossible right?

 

[dukiejay]

I was just thinking and would like to see if any of you think Marvin Bagley will hit the FRESHMAN WALL. Honestly I just don't see it happening just based on how he plays. Hitting a freshman wall rebounding and dunking is almost impossible right?

I don't think it's a huge concern. He's going to have some less-than-stellar nights, but I don't think it's anything that will hold him back long term. Jabari went through a minor stretch his freshman year, but I thought that was partly due to him being forced to be the main catalyst every night. Heck, we've already seen Marvin have some 'off-nights', but the talent around him picks him up more....if that makes sense.

 

[LouisiAaron]

I don't think it's a huge concern. He's going to have some less-than-stellar nights, but I don't think it's anything that will hold him back long term. Jabari went through a minor stretch his freshman year, but I thought that was partly due to him being forced to be the main catalyst every night. Heck, we've already seen Marvin have some 'off-nights', but the talent around him picks him up more....if that makes sense.

true... an off night for him is like 10 and 10. when he doesn't have big nights it's more of one of the other players just got hot and that's who we rolled with

 

[nets on nets on nets]

true... an off night for him is like 10 and 10. when he doesn't have big nights it's more of one of the other players just got hot and that's who we rolled with

This. Marvin can still have a 10 point game, but he's still gonna dominate the glass, and probably draw countless double-teams that opens up easy shots for others.
Jabari, for example, if he wasn't scoring 20 a game, didn't do much else to help us win. Love Jabari, but Marvin is just on another level.

 

[Mac9192]

This. Marvin can still have a 10 point game, but he's still gonna dominate the glass, and probably draw countless double-teams that opens up easy shots for others.
Jabari, for example, if he wasn't scoring 20 a game, didn't do much else to help us win. Love Jabari, but Marvin is just on another level.

The neat thing with this years team is we have 2 beasts down low. Bagley is out of this world and Carter is a man child. We work inside out, and improve a tad defensively, we can only beat ourselves I think.

 

[Liftee]

The thing about Duke's defense is look at how many points the other top teams are giving up. Villanova gave up 101 points to Butler. Kansas gave up 95 points to Ariz. State. MIchigan State gave up 88 points to a team called Duke. I mean everyone is giving up a lot of points but I'm not reading that those teams have horrific defenses. Just a little tinkering might do the trick.

 

[nets on nets on nets]

The thing about Duke's defense is look at how many points the other top teams are giving up. Villanova gave up 101 points to Butler. Kansas gave up 95 points to Ariz. State. MIchigan State gave up 88 points to a team called Duke. I mean everyone is giving up a lot of points but I'm not reading that those teams have horrific defenses. Just a little tinkering might do the trick.

We put up 88 against MSU, without Bagley most of the game, and he's pretty good.
However, we have yet to shut any teams down. For example, MSU completely shut down UNC, that game was over at the 10 min mark first half. UNC scored 45 points...for the game. Teams are scoring 45 a half on us. Arizona is also further along defensively than us.

Our ceiling is so much higher than everyone else it's scary, but we aren't on the same planet defensively right now as MSU.

 

[dukiejay]

This. Marvin can still have a 10 point game, but he's still gonna dominate the glass, and probably draw countless double-teams that opens up easy shots for others.
Jabari, for example, if he wasn't scoring 20 a game, didn't do much else to help us win. Love Jabari, but Marvin is just on another level.

Jabari was pretty damn special. He just didn’t have the talent around him that Marvin has....specifically a big to take some pressure off him. Jabari was forced in to doing things, a lot like Kyle as a freshman, that didn’t fit his expertise. They both did it incredibly well, but they could only do so much.

 

[timo0402]

Jabari was pretty damn special. He just didn’t have the talent around him that Marvin has....specifically a big to take some pressure off him. Jabari was forced in to doing things, a lot like Kyle as a freshman, that didn’t fit his expertise. They both did it incredibly well, but they could only do so much.

Agreed, no need to short change Jabari to try and prop up Marvin. Jabari was fantastic and should have been the first player to win both ROY & POY in the ACC. He averaged nearly 20&10. Made a ton of big time plays and nearly carried us to the ACCT crown.

Onto the subject at hand, i agree with Crazy3 above- FTs and obviously defense are the two biggest keys for us going forward. Fix those or at least be more consistent in both areas and we are nearly unmatched.

 

[DukeDenver]

For whatever reason, though, we sure seem to play well in the final 5 minutes of a game:

Michigan State: 15-8
Texas: 11-4
Florida: 17-4
Indiana: 16-6
Florida State: 16-5

They play better D in crunch time. We D’d up BC well in the last 5 minutes too, but their guards just made plays anyway. It’s dangerous to lollygag 60-70% of the game.

 

[DukeDenver]

Btw, guys, we’re going to win the championship so no worries. 6th banner coming.

 

[tripleb71]

The defense is either going to show up one day like it did in 2015 or it doesn't.

 

[GTHC_ GTH!]

The biggest ******* for Carolina is Guru Gary.

 

[skysdad]

The biggest ******* for Carolina is Guru Gary.

Now that's funny. Wish I had thought of that. OFC

 

[GTHC_ GTH!]

Now that's funny. Wish I had thought of that. OFC

You’re welcome.

 

[Quavarius]

For whatever reason, though, we sure seem to play well in the final 5 minutes of a game:

Michigan State: 15-8
Texas: 11-4
Florida: 17-4
Indiana: 16-6
Florida State: 16-5

I wonder, because of our 8-man rortation, if some of the freshman are conserving their energy until the last part of the game.

Also, playing zone seems to be the best fit for this team, but it doesn't prepare the guys for the next level, which could certainly be used against us on the recruiting trail.

I think K will whip out the zone when needed (he did it all game against MSU) but hasn't done it all game since.

 

[Mac9192]

I wonder, because of our 8-man rortation, if some of the freshman are conserving their energy until the last part of the game.

Also, playing zone seems to be the best fit for this team, but it doesn't prepare the guys for the next level, which could certainly be used against us on the recruiting trail.

I think K will whip out the zone when needed (he did it all game against MSU) but hasn't done it all game since.

Agree Q on the zone part. We know he doesn't want to play zone, but he will probably continue throwing zone out there from time to time until the boys get the man d better.

 

[OldasdirtDevil]

Defense is our biggest hole, but it's still not quite as big as the donut hole for the OFC'ers. Our guys are young, very young, and our defense is going to get better.
I thought in the first half against FSU, especially the first maybe 8-10 minutes we played really good defense. We shut down drives to the basket, and made them take some tough shots. Then some of those 3's started dropping, and they gained a lot of confidence. I mean, we gave up 93 points, but I still believe our defense showed some signs of being better in spurts. As said by several posters, we don't have to be a juggernaut defensive team, just solid. We're going to get there, bank on it.

OFC

 

[Quavarius]

Luckily, we don't have to be a juggernaut on defense since we are already a juggernaut on offense. Like someone said, a slight improvement will make us unbeatable.