Duke VaTech locked in second half

• swamisez

  

  Poor shooting, and fouls all over the place for both teams.
  
  Real tight contest, Malcolm Delaney is starting to heat up for the Hokies. He has three fouls though, two on charges.
  
  Singler, Scheyer, and Smith all hit double figures in the first half for Duke. Problem is, no one else on the roster scored.
  
  Hard to watch this game and the USA Canada game, but I'm trying.
• swamisez

  

  Bloggers from wral say it is pretty loud tonight. Over the radio it sounds loud as well. Maybe the TV isn't doing the Crazies justice.
• wildcats20

  

  How's the weather down there guys??
• swamisez

  

  Starting to stretch it out a little bit 57-49 with 5:30 to play.
• swamisez

  

  Zoubek has 15 or so rebounds tonight. Huge again for the Devils. Only 2 points, but i think he's only taken one shot.
• swamisez

  

  Weather in the Triangle, it was 65 and sunny today. More of the same tomorrow.
• swamisez

  

  23 offensive rebounds tonight for Duke.
  
  Held VaTech to 4 assists. Delaney carried them in the second half.
  
  10-30 from three, Scheyer missed 7 WIDE OPEN threes.
  8-32 from the field.
  Yikes. Winning ugly.
• reclegend22

  

  swamisez wrote:10-30 from three, Scheyer missed 7 WIDE OPEN threes.
  8-32 from the field.
  Yikes. Winning ugly.

  This is why [^] that didn't matter:
  

  swamisez wrote:23 offensive rebounds tonight for Duke.

  Duke has a legitimate shot to contend for a national championship this season. The inside emergence of Brian Zoubek, by god Brian Zoubek, has made this a reality. With the way he and Lance Thomas and Kyle Singler are boarding inside, and the Plumlee Brothers when they see time, the Blue Devils are really playing strong on the interior and in the second chance points department. This is something that really hindered Duke more than anything the past few seasons, the inability to regain offensive boards and keep outside shooting struggles from dooming the team.
  
  Zoubek with 38 rebounds in the last three games, 20 offensive.
  
  Singler and Smith went for 25 and 23 tonight, respectively, combining for 7-of-15 shooting from downtown. Scheyer had a tough night shooting the basketball, scoring just 15, but he also dropped seven dimes versus just two turnovers.
  
  Duke looking like a team on a mission right now. I love it.
• swamisez

  

  ACC tournament is gonna be a free for all.
  Clemson, VATech, GaTech, FSU all can beat Duke on a neutral floor.
  
  Need to finish strong with wins @UVA, @Maryland, and vs. the Heels.
  
  also, kiss of death?
  http://kenpom.com/rate.php
• ironman02

  What the hell has gotten into Zoubek?
  
  He probably should have been doing this his whole career. Better late than never, I guess.
  
  swami,
  
  I agree. Gonna be a wild ACCT. Should be fun to watch.
• reclegend22

  

  Your guess is as good as ours, iron.
  
  I also think this could be an ACC Tournament to remember. When it's in Greensboro, it always is. I like Duke's chances to take home another ACC title, but there are seven or eight teams in the conference with a legitimate shot of doing so. Of Duke's last two or three ACC championships, I think this would be the toughest.
• swamisez

  

  Zoubek has been a valuable screener and rebounder all season for Duke. The difference is his hunger for getting to the offensive glass. He makes great decisions when he gets the ball he doesn't force shots, he gets it out to set up the offense again or finds an open shooter. At least twice last night he rebounds and finds Nolan Smith for the wide open three.
  
  He has earned his playing time this year, and is playing very confident right now.
  
  One of these games, Andre Miles and Mason will break out and Duke will get production through the entire lineup. I think the NCAA tournament should be a place for that, the ACC teams are so well scouted and vice versa they do a good job of limiting other players. Which is why the big three had to do all the scoring tonight.
  
  Duke fans need not forget VaTech came in with 21 wins. They are a great team irregardless of who they play in the non-conference.
• mattinctown

  At least we got 1/2 a season out of Zoubek in his four year career K quoted as saying "one of these games we are going to break out." Just hoping it's in the NCAA tournament during a Sweet 16 or Elite 8 game. Liking this team more and more, Va. Tech was no slouch even though they are/were slightly on the bubble even with 21 wins. Totally agree, the ACCT is going to be really fun to watch, hoping to score some tickets for it and take off work. Duke could go out in the quarters or they could win it, just as long as UNC doesn't win it The difference in this team is that even though they don't have a dominate inside presence, they have four guys that can produce decent numbers and also have fouls to give. Duke leads the ACC in offensive rebounding, how long has it been since they could say that?