AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > March > 15 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USNot one of coach K’s better performances
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Told you I’d be back for a bonus blog. Don’t have much to say about Tech, but what about Duke losing in the first round since 1996? Credit where it’s due, that’s awesome. And so is going to nine straight Sweet 16s like the Blue Devils.
But you don’t have to go far to find people pleased by Duke losing. Remember, that’s a young team, but they have five (I think) former McDonalds All-Americans on that roster. There are very good pieces on that team. DeMarcus Nelson is a very good player; I’d love him on my team. Scheyer is full-bore all the time. And McRoberts is going to be a lottery pick. They’re not the only fine players, though.
The Blue Devils don’t blend very well, though, and McRoberts has not had a good season. He’s nowhere near as assertive as he needs to be for his size, experience relative to his teammates, and skill set. Defensively, Duke is alright. Offensively, they had no personality this season. And their most determined player, the one best equipped to set their collective frame of mind, is poorly positioned to do it.
That’s Scheyer. Problem is two-fold; he’s a freshman, and he’s not a point guard (although he played it some early in the season when Paulus was injured). And I don’t know if it’s in his personality anyway.
Not one of coach K’s better performances this year. He’s as much to blame, in my opinion, as anyone. He recruited the players, and did a fine job doing it, but didn’t blend them very well.
As for Tech, if UNLV hits six or fewer 3-point shots, the Rebels have no chance. If they hit 10 or more, they’re in great shape. In the middle, anybody’s ball game. The Jackets have to beat the Rebs up in the paint and limit the damage by UNLV outside of the arc.
Comments
By Nerds suck
March 16, 2007 12:28 AM | Link to this
Tuck Fech!!!
By Orlando Rivera
March 16, 2007 12:43 AM | Link to this
Hey Winklejohn, mind actually giving a little credit to the team that actually beat Duke? It’s VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University to the rest of you) Give coach Anthony Grant some love as well. He outcoached Coach K and I bet with GT’s roster Grant would take them to the championship! Win or lose against Pitt, we’ve shown the world that the CAA has great basketball, no matter how badly the bigwigs of the NCAA committee won’t admit it.
By vRad
March 16, 2007 5:30 AM | Link to this
Great game by VCU. Who does not want Duke to lose!!!???
However, Orloando, one victory does not suddenly elevate a conference to elite (or even decent) status. This is basketball, and in basketball luck plays a far greater role than in pretty much any other sport. In basketball, any half decent team can beat even the best team in the country, of the conditions are right. That is why you see so many upsets in the Tournament (lead ing to the phrase March Madness). In fact, in my opinion the big story is why such few of the many expected upsets have materialized?
By Matt Winkeljohn
March 16, 2007 8:37 AM | Link to this
Orlando,
Props to coach Grant will come later today, as I relay valuable and explosive information about the former Florida assistant whose recruiting prowess was a nearly hidden key to Billy Donovan’s assembly of the Gator machine.
For now, though, this blog is about Duke, an ACC rival of the Techsters.
By jim70
March 16, 2007 8:53 AM | Link to this
loved seeing duke go out (although I do root for acc teams during the tournament) - but K has had a bad year although he has more talent than most other teams in the country.
why? maybe has something to do with the articles a while back about the NBA players who were on the USA Team not doing well, getting injured, etc. Could be affecting the coach also.
IF SO, then as a GT fan, I am very happy to see K coach this summer and again next summer in Beijing.
go tech - beat UNLV! watch the 3’s and the drives.
By GT_JJ
March 16, 2007 10:36 AM | Link to this
I always root for every ACC team in the tournament…except Duke! Just can’t do it; I just love watching them lose too much to stick with conference loyalty.
I LOVE watching Eric Maynor play. I watched the CAA conf. final (didn’t want George Mason to steal a bubble team’s spot) when Maynor single handedly willed his team to victory at the end. I KNEW Maynor was going to make that shot last night.
BTW, did anyone else catch the most embarrassing failed flop attempt ever last night? Paulus was defending on a 2 on 1 break and started falling backward before anyone got anywhere near him. Duke, in general, was flopping all over the court last night. Really embarrassing to me (our conference) that Duke doesn’t feel it can beat VCU on straight up talent; they have to resort to trying to buy calls from the officials. What a joke!
By Orlando Rivera
March 16, 2007 10:42 AM | Link to this
vRad,
I see you working, as Jim Rome likes to put it. This time of year is about those underdogs who get hot for one or two games, but it’s those that maintain consistency over years are the ones who rise to premiere status.
Matt, I heard that Grant has already been approached by Colorado for their head coaching position. From a VCU grad’s prespective I hope he doesn’t leave already, but you have to go where the money is. With his background as Donovan’s disciple he definitely has the pedigree to take any school to higher levels.
As for Duke I really think that they lacked the leadership capable to winning when times get rough. Paulus isn’t consistent enough behind the three point line, and McRoberts will need to toughen up if he wants to succeed at the next level. We all know Duke will be back next year, but for now I’m going soak in my Rams euphoria!
By WFC
March 20, 2007 8:54 AM | Link to this
TRUE: not one of Coach K’s best jobs but not bad. One of the most overlooked factors in a college team’s success is the work of the assistant coaches. No knock on the Duke assistants but they (and Coach K) were ALL point guards!!! McRoberts played decently but might he not done better if the Dukies had a “big man” coach? I was a “tweener” as a high school player, playing inside some and on the perimeter at other times. I know for a fact that it’s “a whole nother game” down low. Shelden Williams knew how to play down low when he got to Duke. McRoberts has both skills and ability but doesn’t know about “life on the blocks.” Just a thought.