CHAPEL HILL — Duke spent so much of the first two months of the season trying to prove it could win without the 3-pointer, it has forgotten how to win with it.
And that's not a bad thing.
The Blue Devils stayed neck-and-neck with UNC in the first half because they hit five 3s (out of 11 attempts) but faded in the second half when the 3s stopped falling (3 of 10).
Kyle Singler, taking advantage of UNC's inability to guard him on the perimeter with a big man (either Tyler Hansbrough or Deon Thompson) hit four 3-pointers but like his teammates, was hot in the first half (3 of 5) but not in the second (1 of 5).
Telling of how far Duke has come this season, in terms of diversifying its offense, the Devils only lost by eight points. That wouldn't have happened last season when Duke was solely-dependent on the 3-ball.
Of course, with progress comes the growing pains. Duke beat UNC at the Smith Center last February when it was a just a 3-point shooting team. The Devils left Chapel Hill on Sunday on the wrong end of the scoreboard.
Still coach Mike Krzyzewski seemed encouraged by the effort. He knew they shot poorly in the second half but he also knows they played better than the last time they saw UNC, giving up 22 fewer points.
"We played well," Coach K said. "We didn't shoot well, but I thought we played well."
Actually, with just a little more production from Gerald Henderson, who was held to 14 points by Danny Green, Duke might have won on Sunday. Singler did his part with 23 points and Jon Scheyer was flawless with 24 points, five assists and zero turnovers.
Henderson, who has been carrying Duke for the better part of two months, finished 4-of-11 from the floor with 14 points and five turnovers.
"G can play better," Coach K said, quickly adding, "we're fine with G."
That's why the final score didn't crush K. He knows his team is better equipped for the posteason than the previous two editions, neither of which lasted through the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
"I'm good with where my team is at," Coach K said.
With Henderson, Singler, Scheyer and Elliot Williams all able to take the ball to the basket, Duke's March fortunes won't be at the whim of the shooting gods.
That's a trade K will take.
Comments
Take a look at the box score from the UNC game.
Mon, 03/09/2009 - 11:22 — JPDOhioIt reminds me of Sid's first year at State when he had no bench at all. At least Sid had an excuse.
You would think a HOF coach would be able to manage a game better.
Duke may be better prepared for NEXT March
Mon, 03/09/2009 - 10:54 — Penny_WiseC'mon jpg ... the headlines before yesterday's game was that Duke was poised to share the ACC top-spot ... now, you are saying they are better prepared for March Madness .... that, in itself, is madness.
Actually
Mon, 03/09/2009 - 11:42 — jpg (author)I just think with Scheyer, Singler, Henderson and Williams they can get the ball to the basket and not just sit out there and gun 3s.
That's progress from last month — when UNC crushed them — and from last season.
And if/when Henderson leaves (and I suspect he's gone), Duke takes a step back. So it better be this March and not the next one.
— JPG
Blah Blah Blah
Mon, 03/09/2009 - 04:04 — devonmooreDuke needs a center, Duke doesn't develop its depth, Duke can't beat a team with good big men, Blah Blah Blah...
You know, when you don't want to see something, it's amazing how easy it is to overlook it. Duke lost because they ran into a better team today, one of the top 2 teams in the country. In the NCAAs, Duke won't have to face Carolina unless they reach the final four. If Duke makes it that far, that's an amazingly successful season even by Duke standards.
This game excepted, Duke has rebounded very well. They score plenty of points inside the paint. 10 players have started and gotten significant playing time in big games. They have players who are consistently delivering at the end of close games so they can pull out the win. None of those things have been true the previous two seasons.
This is my favorite:
"if they run into a team with some decent bigs and a team that shoots well that night, they are done"
Are we watching the same basketball season? Teams with decent bigs are in the NBA! Even in the ACC, how many teams have a real center? Wake and who else? If having a true center was a requirement, then even Carolina would have no shot at a national championship! Come on! Hansbrough, Thompson and Davis are FORWARDS!
You guys need to watch more hoops, and you need to give UNC more credit for how good this win was and how good they really are.
decent bigs
Mon, 03/09/2009 - 11:24 — gvillegatrmaybe we have a different definition of the word "decent."
to me "decent" does not mean great, just that they are there and are good enough to cause havoc. big men, now, are guys who play forward as well.
what you need to do is not infer ... of course we all have made that mistake before. so I forgive you, DOOKIE!!
the argument you could have made was I made too broad a statement as most teams would lose against some decent bigs and a team who shot well that night. but you did not.
Duke Needs a Center
Sun, 03/08/2009 - 23:58 — topping241Duke had very little inside game in my opinion and Carolina pounded the boards on Duke in the second half. Brian Zubek is an embarrassment to Duke. He is far to slow moving up and down the court, he rarely scores (or is looked to by the team to score) and he fouls consistently when he is in the game. Until Duke can get a good big man and a true point guard (although Scheyer had a very good game), Duke will not in my opinion do well in the NCAA Tournament. Carolina did a good job of keeping Henderson under control and at the end UNC wanted the game more than Duke. It's another ACC regular season win for UNC and now on to Atlanta!
Dumb analysis
Sun, 03/08/2009 - 22:18 — jblues1969Same 'ol, same 'ol.
Carolina beats dook the same way every time. K always fails to build any depth on his team, and they shoot the lights out in the first half, managing to stay with the Heels, however, their legs lock up from fatigue at halftime and the shots won't fall in the second half.
Same story, different week. Dook isn't improving.
Coulda Woulda Shoulda
Sun, 03/08/2009 - 21:26 — deanjohnson1967Better equipped? Come on JPG. Carolina's performance was subpar at best. Grant it Duke did control tempo. However when it matterd the Heels did what they needed to do to win. At this time of the year thats ALL that matters. Duke (I predict) will go out fairly early because they cannot afford foul trouble, have no bigman to post up, and really have no "true" point gaurd. If predictions hold, Duke will be very lucky to get past Illinois, West Virginia, or Missouri. The problem is not equipped ~ its equipment!
Dook
Sun, 03/08/2009 - 21:00 — gvillegatrit is all about match-ups, JPG. you know that. if they run into a team with some decent bigs and a team that shoots well that night, they are done. this Dook team would have lost to WVa year as well.
I do like what Elliot Williams can bring to the table, but he didnt offer too much today.