(box score) Thrilling Preseason NIT action before a relatively sparse crowd at the World’s Most Famous Arena. This is the first Blue Devils game I’ve seen this season, but I don’t think I learned anything I didn’t already know: this club has three players, unless Andre Dawkins turns into Elliot Williams 2.0.
Scheyer, Singler and Smith each played 40 minutes. They were the only players with more than five field goal attempts — the rest of the club was 6-for-12 from the field. Zoubek, Thomas and Plumlee are offensively useless, although Plumlee at least has potential (and Zoubek kind of looks badass with the beard).
Nolan Smith had some nice drives to the basket, but managed one assist and three turnovers while being repeatedly abused by Arizona State’s relentless high screen play. Sure, that high screen was illegal 90% of the time, but when Nolan couldn’t get around it, Duke was left with Zoubek/Plumlee marking ASU’s point guard and Nolan trying to cover the Sun Devils’ big men (who, fortunately, sucked).
Speaking of sucking, how about Eric Boateng: four points, four rebounds and nine turnovers in 31 minutes. I don’t know how he ended up with only two fouls — even apart from the illegal screens, he was a flailing thug in the paint. And yet, he is one of five McDonald’s All-Americans in the entire Pac-10 conference.
Herb’s team otherwise was very solid. The high pick and roll confounded Duke for much of the game, and the Blue Devils never found the weaknesses in ASU’s aggressive matchup zone. There were no easy layups. And that one dude (6’3″ reserve guard Ty Abbott, I think) had a sweet dunk off a rebound.
If Brian Zoubek were a key, he would be D minor, the saddest of all keys. Guy is 7’1″, he’s obviously worked hard, he seems to be trying, but he just isn’t significantly better than he was three years ago. He still brings the ball down, he still travels, he still reaches in. When he actually did put back a rebound in the second half, I cheered. But it was a cheer fraught with knowledge of the disappointment to come.
Next up is UConn in the final on Friday. They have quick guards and an enormous, offensively challenged front court that both rebounds and fouls something fierce. If you thought Boateng was a goon, wait till you see 6’9″ freshman Alex Oriakhi (#34). Not to mention 7’1″ center Charles Okwandu, who recorded five rebounds, two blocks, no points and five fouls in 13 minutes against LSU tonight. The key matchup should be Singler (as ever) against Stanley Robinson, and hope that Nolan can check his man somewhat.
Shaolin Hoops 
