This wasn’t even a game. From the very start, Duke steamrolled Maryland. I was jumping up and down while Duke was pushing up the score, but it wasn’t because Duke was getting an edge up on Maryland, it was because Duke was expanding on its blow out. Sometimes it is just cool to see a blowout, especially one against a conference rival. The first half was Duke just steadily increasing their lead and it ended with Duke up 40-15. I found the start of the second half as the most interesting moment of this game. Maryland scored first on a free throw attempt and then Duke came back with a three pointer by Jon Scheyer. Maryland scored on a lay-up and then Nolan Smith made a three pointer. Maryland then called timeout and afterwards scored on a lay-up. At this point Duke had outscored Maryland by only 6-5. Duke was starting the second half on another amazing run. Maryland appeared ready to keep the score respectable, but something happened because after that Maryland lay-up, Maryland appeared to give up. Soon afterwards there was an amazing play where Duke scampered up the court after a Maryland turnover. Jon Scheyer passed to Smith who passed to Gerald Henderson for a score. This was against only one Maryland defender. Maryland had simply given up. With about 12 minutes left in the game, Duke turned the game over to the bench players and about a minute later so did Maryland. What followed was 12 minutes of playground basketball. I think even the refs decided to take the rest of the game off; just calling the hardest fouls to make sure things didn’t get too rough out there. The ESPN commentators complained that the refs should call the game closer, but if they did they would have added another 15-20 minutes to the game and I don’t think anyone wanted that. In this case, I think the refs were right to just let play go on. It was interesting watching the Duke subs, specifically Miles Plumlee. I remember the Georgetown game. In that game he got extensive time and seemed to me to play fine. In this game, he appeared to have two left feet. Of course, in the Georgetown game he was used mostly for defensive purposes versus offensive. Also, it is hard to judge someone when it is garbage time and you’re getting mobbed just by touching the ball.
Greivis Vasquez. Before the game, it was well publicized that Greivis Vasquez said that Cameron Indoor Stadium was his house, “That’s my house.” Okay, he scored 4 points. The guys on ESPN were wondering early on about why the Duke fans weren’t given him more heat for what he said. ESPN decided to do their own “Cameron Crazies” verbal attacks. These aren’t exact quotes, but close: first, if this is his house, it got foreclosed on; second, if this is his house, he hasn’t come home yet; third, he should have done his talking after the game, not before. I actually felt sorry for the guy. It is one thing for the Crazies to go after you; it is another for ESPN to tear into you.
A coming number one ranking? In a way I hope they don’t get the number one ranking this coming Monday. I prefer to see Connecticut or Pittsburgh get the number one ranking. I hope this isn’t considered blasphemy. I would prefer that Duke gets some motivation from not being ranked number one – get a chip on their shoulder. When would I like to see them ranked number one during the season (of course, I want them ranked number one at the end of the season)? After a defeat of North Carolina on February 11th, of course.
Side note: This was Maryland's worst ACC loss ever.
No comments:
Post a Comment