Game Thread: Illinois at Duke

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#2      
Calvin
Should be a good game. I don't see either team likely to blow the other out. Line favors Duke, but I think it's basically a toss-up.
 
#3      
AZHOHoops
I know nothing about Duke this year......anyone wanna give me the 2 minute breakdown?
 
#4      
mikeyo
AZHOHoops said:
I know nothing about Duke this year......anyone wanna give me the 2 minute breakdown?
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Just take a look at the last few recruiting classes and you'll know what we're up against.
 
#5      
JFGsCoffeeMug
AZHOHoops said:
I know nothing about Duke this year......anyone wanna give me the 2 minute breakdown?
Click to expand...
PREDICTION
If Duke's going to win Tuesday night's game, they would do well to review and duplicate the effort put on by Baylor against Ayo Dosunmu in the Jimmy V Classic. The Bears held the Illini guard to 6-of-18 from the field - and 1-of-6 in the first half and generally frustrated the potential All-American over and over. Can Duke do the same thing? If so it'll start with Wendell Moore the sophomore wing who has - to put it mildly - struggled at the start of the season. At 6-foot-5 and with a long wingspan, Moore should be able to team with Jordan Goldwire to make the Illinois star work and, depending on the lineup, funnel him toward a shot blocking (or at least altering) presence in the lane. And, should Duke force misses, it'll be imperative to rebound the ball and be strong doing so. On offense the team will need to figure out something in the half court. As the players and coaches said this week, efficiency and effectiveness will come with repetition and familiarity, but will it come soon enough to help Duke win on Tuesday? Right now Duke has shown a number of flashes of being an explosive and high ceiling squad. But there have been just as many extended displays of youth and inefficient play. Unlike Bellarmine and Coppin State, and perhaps even Michigan State, Illinois is more than capable of putting a lot of points on the board quickly and forcing Duke to speed way, way up. For a team that turns the ball over as much as Coach K's young group...that could be fatal. Overall we expect a close game but in the end without a home court advantage to speak of, we'd tend to lean toward a more disciplined and veteran team to come away with the W.

And so the pick...
Duke - 77
Illinois - 83

[Link]
 
#6      
whatahack
I worry about coach K vs BU. I know this may be blasphemy, but I am still not sold on BU coaching. Many games we are right there at halftime, but the other team seems to make adjustments that I just dont see us making.
 
#7      
Illini_05
If Johnson/Hurt don't go off, and Kofi doesn't foul out before tip off I like our chances.
 
#8      
logjam
I'm anxious to see the continued growth of our freshman, don't know why but feel fairly confident that we win as long as Kofi gets his minutes. Also would be great for Giorgi to have another good game.
 
#9      
PapaKvells
I think it will come down to secondary scoring and ball discipline on our part. If guys like Fraziet, Millet and DMW make Duke pay for selling out on Ayo and we don't carelessly turn over the ball, we can control this game.
 
#20      
skyIdub
logjam said:
Far as I know, should see a little Verdonk possibly too.
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I'm so excited for the first VerDUNK references!!

Not as exciting as a SCHMACK!....but still pretty exciting.
 
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