BLUE DEVILS IN NYC
DUKE DEVELOPS ID IN NYC
Toughness, Will, Strength Propels Duke in Dogfight vs. UConn
ESPN was running the pre-game promos hyping up
the game every 10 minutes.
Dick Vitale was in the building and the building
happened to be the world’s most famous arena.
The two winningest active coaches in the game
were set to face off, with the most combined wins
between two opposing coaches in NCAA history.
The stage was set, with TV and Internet media
frequently debating who would win. Could Duke
contain UConn’s outstanding guards? Could UConn
limit Duke’s great outside shooters? Both teams have
lots of size inside — Who would win the battle in the
paint?
By the time the game tipped off, just about every
scenario had been discussed except the one that
played out on Black Friday in NYC. Certainly, if you
had told anyone, from the media to the Duke coach-
ing staff, that the Blue Devils would shoot under 30
percent for the game and the trio of Singler, Scheyer
and Smith would convert 13 of their 52 shots attempts
(with Kyle in foul trouble early), the obvious predic-
tion would not have been favorable. Duke hadn’t won
a game shooting under 30 percent since a stamp was
available for fewer cents (three) than the number of
NIT Season Tip-Off titles won by Duke all-time (four).
After an initial offensive flurry with both teams
coming out swinging and the ball clubs on pace to
score over 100 points apiece around five minutes in, it
became clear this one wasn’t going to be pretty with
both teams locking in on D. The door was open to the
tougher, hungrier team and the Blue Devils strapped
the hard hats on and went to work.
Before the game, Jon Scheyer had said, “I just want
to be known as a competitor and I want to be known
as a winner and this year obviously we have a lot to
do, but I want to go out winning and just be known
for being a competitor.” Jon then went out and made
winning plays all night, handling the ball with confi-
dence, leading the team, and playing great defense.
He showed consistent control and poise, even when
shots weren’t falling and the game was becoming
increasingly physical.
With Jon providing great leadership and stability in
the backcourt, the Duke bigs were relentless in the
paint. In a combined 71 minutes on the floor, Zoubs,
LT and Miles combined for 27 boards (15 offensive)
and six blocks.
“Myself, Zoubs, and Miles played really big against
32 DUKE BASKETBALL
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