(PRE-GAME) @Duke, Sat. Feb. 2, Noon, ESPN / 570AM

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[quote="SLYFOXX1968" post=319200]Shame if Duke -St John’s Series ends but, maybe it won’t with Cragg here .. candidates for future seasons to play OOC could be , ND with home and Home , Kansas , Gonzaga with home and home , UCLA , Indiana , NC... as for this Saturday’s game vs Duke , was there any chance we would last year after the 0-11 January ? Hardly . But, this Dukie team might be better than last year .. Syracuse beat them earlier this year at Cameron so , there is always a chance . Ponds would need another 30-40 point game . It’s probably more important for post season to Win at Marquette than win at Duke . Let’s Go Redmen .[/quote]

Syracuse also beat Duke minus Tre Jones and Cam Reddish. A win nonetheless, but those are two serious missing pieces. Jones is a tough defender that makes things 'go' for Duke.
 
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[quote="SJU1512" post=319025]Foul trouble obviously key as Duke has 4 guys that really go at you off the bounce and make all sorts of plays through contact. In their building with the calls they get and our short rotation that could become a problem quickly. If our first 5 can stay on the court let's see what happens.

House money, fun game. Think we'll give it a good crack. That said, if things are going sideways in second half, need to be realistic and fast. 2 day turnaround for Marq to end 4 games in 10 days with the last 3 on the road. Don't want to compromise Marq game to chase a 10 point loss instead of 20. While it would be great not to get blown out, winning at Marq and getting blown out at Duke a better 2 game outcome than emptying tank to keep Duke marginally close and not being ableto bounce back for Marq.

While much more talented than Creighton, Marq is another team we match up well with in this insanely quirky conference this year. Concerned about adjustments they'll make as Wojo is borderline elite, but ability to contest Howard with Simon/Figgy and overwhlem the Hausers physically was fundamental to last win and positions us uniquely to play their best players. Sweeping McDermott who is definitely elite was a statement and injects some hope in our ability to win a second time playing to our strengths, on the road no less, not easy to do. Would be great to not be wiped and ready to go after Marq similarly.[/quote]

I agree with your post. Winning at Marquette seems realistic where as winning at Duke seems like a pipe dream. I don’t see the team throwing in the towel even if it might makes sense at some point.
 
One thing that gives me hope is that when we are on the top of our game, we can score with anyone. Even if our defense isn't great we can keep up with anyone if our shots are falling.
 
This one we are going to need defense too. Number one goal of ours has to be preventing dribble penetration and fast breaks. Make Duke shoot over us to win. They are very streaky when having to do that. We need to be on our offensive game which is obvious but it can be done. Duke’s primary goal is going to be shutting down Ponds. Coach K knows that. We have to be ready as a team to counter that. I think from last year, coach K knows how difficult Ponds is. He will try to make it much more difficult this year... gotta exploit that.
 
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In order to have any hope of winning this game, defensively, we have to force Duke to shoot from the outside. That is their only Achilles heel. I think Williamson will try and drive anyway because he's so big and athletic he normally able to do it with ease. We have to try and take some charges on him and get him into foul trouble as he can be overly aggressive when doing so.

Offensively, we have to shoot 45% from three, and limit our turnovers to 12 or less for the game.
 
Defense was terrific after the first 5 minutes the other night. Have to bring that to this game. Can't go in hoping to out-run or out-athlete them. Have to play a smart, tough defensive game and hope the offense is humming. And avoid fouls.
 
Was checking the secondary market regularly and got "lucky" when two tickets for $200 each (plus ridiculous fees of course) popped up on Seat Geek yesterday afternoon so my son and I will be in Cameron tomorrow. Hoping to improve my 1-3 record there.
 
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Excerpt from Rumble in the Garden article on tomorrow's game:

Keys to the Game
Hero ball. St. John’s has to be quick and decisive with the ball, sharing without oversharing, and making sure that Shamorie Ponds gets touches early. Those touches will, hopefully, lead to enough passes that Duke will need to key in on other players (such as the slashing Justin Simon or the shooting Marvin Clark II) and give Ponds room to operate. Its a fun game — it means little to the standings and it’s a chance for the players with pro prospects, like Ponds and Mustapha Heron, to ball out against each other.
Half court ball. In transition, Duke is a great offensive team. They will get some chances; but the Red Storm have to make sure to not give up live ball turnovers, to try not to take shots while the team is unbalanced, and to be diligent and mistake free when getting back in transition. Making Duke’s players actually slow down and/ or change direction will be key after misses and makes. Make them shoot.
Minimize offensive rebounds. Duke is going to get some offensive boards. St. john’s needs to anticipate those chances and get in the way, perhaps drawing some [painful] offensive fouls along the way. The Red Storm, behind LJ Figueroa and the emerging Sedee Keita, have been fighters on the glass despite their size.
Prediction
St. John’s makes a game of it. But the talent disparity looms large late as the Johnnies get tired and allow run outs. 91-80, Duke win.
 
Coach K respects St. John's and its HC, but I am not sure his young team will see us as a worthy adversary, so here's hoping that they take us lightly, we build up a nice lead and "hold on for dear life". I've seen it happen before.

Rowan didn't have his son even sniff our Program, is that right?

Glued to the tube tomorrow.

When we win I hope the camera pans wide to Mr. Rowan Barrett.
 
Cant' blame the Barretts for wanting to play at Duke and possibly play for a championship in the short time he's expected to be in college. Woulda been nice though.
 
As mentioned in prior posts- none of us thought we had a realistic chance last year, yet...somehow, at MSG, we were able to pull out an improbable upset.

That Duke team featured two lottery pick bigs (Bagley and Carter) / two decent to good 3 point shooters in Allen/Trent Jr and a very athletic PG in Duval. SJU beat them.

This years team features the obvious- generational sensation Zion / RJ, #1 pick any other year / Reddish - top 10 pick and number 1 option on any other team aside from duke and maybe 3 others. This team is an impressive upgrade (without even mentioning JOnes...yet so is SJU... if they show up... (even though I miss Owens, id still trade him for Heron and LJ any day)

The only game i feel where we were over matched and had absolutely no answer was vs Femi /Depaul, maybe it just resonated more cause i was 20 feet away watching him abuse out best "bigs" Clark and Keita. And Duke has two guys that are bigger and more skilled than Femi with Zion and Bolden. Cant help but watch duke games cause they are always on, but Bolden is improved- nice touch and good footwork, also helps being 7ft.

Don't know how SJU keeps this within 10...unless Shamorie puts on his cape and we make the game chaotic as hell.

Prediction:
Line: Duke -14.5
Score: Duke 95 - SJU 78

Hope im wrong
 
[quote="Mean Gene" post=319231]In order to have any hope of winning this game, defensively, we have to force Duke to shoot from the outside. That is their only Achilles heel. I think Williamson will try and drive anyway because he's so big and athletic he normally able to do it with ease. We have to try and take some charges on him and get him into foul trouble as he can be overly aggressive when doing so.

Offensively, we have to shoot 45% from three, and limit our turnovers to 12 or less for the game.[/quote]


He won't have to drive if coach K watched any of our games. If we continue to switch after a pick then Z.W. will wind up guarded by a Ponds or a Simon down low. First of all it is extremely difficult guarding him in the pivot area, especially as he wheels left and right for easy layups. I am really worried about picking up fouls against him once he's down low. Got to do everything to prevent him from getting the ball..
 
[quote="JackofVirginia" post=319259][quote="Mean Gene" post=319231]In order to have any hope of winning this game, defensively, we have to force Duke to shoot from the outside. That is their only Achilles heel. I think Williamson will try and drive anyway because he's so big and athletic he normally able to do it with ease. We have to try and take some charges on him and get him into foul trouble as he can be overly aggressive when doing so.

Offensively, we have to shoot 45% from three, and limit our turnovers to 12 or less for the game.[/quote]


He won't have to drive if coach K watched any of our games. If we continue to switch after a pick then Z.W. will wind up guarded by a Ponds or a Simon down low. First of all it is extremely difficult guarding him in the pivot area, especially as he wheels left and right for easy layups. I am really worried about picking up fouls against him once he's down low. Got to do everything to prevent him from getting the ball..[/quote]

Ponds is no slouch in the post. His hands are impossibly good and he will get strips and steals that lead to fast breaks.

I'm interested in seeing Trimble on Zion. He hasn't given an inch to anyone all year with his strong base. He just has to avoid the unnecessary over-aggressive defense when he gets the advantage.
 
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