Duke finally looked a bit more like the team that had been hyped in the preseason but as to date, had not quite lived up to that billing. However Tuesday night’s 79-69 victory saw the Blue Devils get back to solid play on both ends of the court.
The Blue Devils were led by Quinn Cook who scored 24 points on 6 of 11 shooting. Cook also had 9 assists and only two turnovers. Despite losing his cool and drawing a technical foul the Blue Devils point guard was as solid as they get.
Duke also used a more modest performance from their super freshman Jabari Parker who scored a season low 15 points but was no less impressive in doing so. Rodney Hood chipped in 14 for the Blue Devils who led throughout the game and fended off a couple Michigan runs.
I have to admit that I had prepared myself for another disappointment tonight, which fortunately never came. In Italian, we’d say “Molto Fortunato” meaning “very fortunate”… and it certainly was:
It was very “molto fortunatato” that:
- Duke played like a more cohesive unit tonight.
- Michigan did not play up to their expectations.
- While it was the first time this year that neither Jabari Parker nor Rodney Hood led the team in scoring, Quinn Cook did, with 24.
- While only four (4) bench players got into the game, they made a very significant contribution to this win.
Each game can always be divided into a series of vignettes and tonight was no different.
- Mitch McGary, who had been heavily recruited by Duke and then made a disparaging comment about what is expected of Duke “big” men, might have led Michigan’s scorers, but was lackluster at best.
- Quinn Cook demonstrated that he could both lead this team, but also score prolifically when necessary, and was deadly from the Charity Stripe.
- Nik Stauskas, who is usually a deadly shooter, proved that we all have those nights when it doesn’t pay to get out of bed.
- Andre Dawkins proved that he is still the “Assisano” of old, and has added driving the lane to his repertoire.
- Glenn Robinson III was physically present tonight, but his game was somewhere else.
- Josh Hairston proved that he needs to go to a hypnotist to be “cured” of taking shots unless there is a coloured floor under his feet.
- Caris LeVert, whose name in French means “curries, green,” was really the only “money” player to show up tonight for Michigan scoring 24 and working hard for each basket.
- Tyler Thornton proved that, besides being a defensive stalwart, he can still score when the opposition least expects it (AKA: leaves him wide open)
Rasheed Suliamon joined Alex Murphy, Semi Ojeleye as well as , Todd Zafirovski, and Nick Pagliuca perfecting their splinter extraction techniques tonight. When questioned about it, Coach Mike Krzyzewski commented that he has: “… got to play better than the guys who played tonight”
I was not blown away by Duke’s performance tonight, but I was left slighty more optimistic than when I sat down in my recliner. Duke looked like a more cohesive unit tonight.
Afterward, Coach K would comment that: “Each of the teams I’ve coached here has to develop its own identity, even though we’re given a place that’s very high before we ever accomplish anything because of our history . We’re not a great basketball team. We have great kids and they’re trying hard. We have a really tough schedule and we have to just keep trying to get better.”
Tonight’s game was part of the annual ACC-Big 10 Challenge. In the game before, Syracuse earned their first win as an ACC Conference member in the challenge. They also proved that they will be a formidable opponent for Duke once conference season begins; twice in February. If Coach K is correct, then Duke needs to get better fast, and use all the time – aside from exams and the three remaining games – they have in December so to do.
