Hoops - Jackets Down the Devils

I don't care how bad your day is going. When you beat the Dukies in hoops.......... it's a good day. In a game that really showcased the potential of this team to finish games, they pulled away in the end.................... jjjjjjuuuuuuuusssssssssstttttttttt when you thought they were going to blow it............ again.


........... but they didn't. The team made plays. ..........at the end of the game. It wasn't a perfect game, but they gave great effort. The final - 74-63 ............ here are some key points


DEFENSE............. A-
Duke shot 43% overall and only 20% from long range (4-20)....................... Duke turned the ball over 17 times, 11 of those coming on Jacket steals...................... I liked the defensive effort overall. The switching defense up top was very good, and they consistently prevented guys from penetrating. Double teaming down low was pretty good. There were a number of breakdowns during the game that resulted in easy buckets for Duke, but overall the guys were active, kept their feet moving and their hands in the passing lanes........................


The REAL key defensively was making plays - particularly at the end of the game. There was a key sequense at the 3:44 mark left in the game. The Jackets had squandered away a 10 point lead and it was 55-53. Deep in my heart I was saying - here we go again. I was starting to protect my fragile vulnerabilities by starting to assume we were going to lose................. There was a tv timeout. Hewitt told the team that they could win the game, but it was going to take making plays on defense. On the inbounds play, Morrow attempted a 3pt shot but it was blocked by McRoberts. Duke grabbed the miss, but then Javaris Crittenton just ripped the ball away from the Duke player, sees a wide open path the basket and proceeds to drive and flush the ball............ 4 point lead.................. Duke comes down and McRoberts tries to get to the lane but Ra'Sean Dickey absolutely denies him in a one-on-one post play. He passes out to Paulus who attempts to drive and score. The shot misses and Dickey RIPS away the rebound with absolute force................... Crittenton pushes the ball down the floor, lobs to Thaddeus Young who goes under the basket for the reverse layup......... 6 point lead............... 3:05 left................. Duke gets the ball underneath to McRoberts, but he's double underneath the bucket, can't get the ball over the rim, it squirts out and Mario West comes out running the break, feeds Crittenton on a bounce pass for the 2-and-1 layup. Mama Critty going wild on the sidelines........ 8 point lead........ 2:47 left............... JC hits the free throw.......... 9 pt lead................ Then Scheyer tries to drive in the lane, the Jackets get a hand on it, and once again West comes out with the ball and unfortunately passes the ball too hard to Critty for the to............ Paulus misses a long 3pt shot, Muha the board.................... 2:28 left............. The Jackets make a bad pass while trying to run down the clock, Duke fast breaks and Mario West makes an outstanding block to prevent the easy hoop............... from that point is was the hack-and-free throw game, and we hit our shots.


What you see there changing this game was defensive playmaking at the critical points. A steal by Crittenton. A denial against McRoberts by Dickey. A steal by West. A block by West. Folks, the defense won this game.


REBOUNDING
The Jackets outrebounded Duke 32-23. It was a solid effort as they grabbed 6 of 18 possible offensive rebounding opportunities and 26 of 38 defensive boards. Solid effort with guess who leading the team - our point guard JC. Yup, he had 7 boards to tie with Faye for team lead.


OFFENSE
Hard to criticize when your team shoots 56% overall including 58% from 3pt range and shoots 79% from the charity stripe (23-29) - all against Duke. However, when you have 28 - count'em 28 turnovers, you had BETTER hit the shots you do get.


Folks, think about this for a second. The Jackets took 39 shots. Duke took 60. You turn the ball over 28 times and you are NEVER supposed to win........... but they did. This team had better learn to protect the ball or things will get ugly........... and it wasn't just one guy. JC had 6, JS 6, Dickey 4, Young 4, Faye 3, West 3 - shall I go on?


The other disparity in this game was free throws. The Jackets went 23-29 and Duke went 7-11. When would you EVER expect to see that in a Duke game. Heck, you'd think we had home court advantage or something. Amazing actually. I actually surprised Coach K wasn't dropping his f-bombs on the refs by the end of this one.


DICKEY FINDS FOCUS
At halftime Ra'Sean Dickey had about 18 points. At one point, he scored about the team's first 10 points. He was a man possessed tonight. He displayed his post moves, his semi-long range jump shot, he rebounding with passion and he defended as well as I've seen him. However, I think his most impressive play as a diving defensive play to knock a ball lose and create a steal in the 2nd half. I was proud of him for that.


CRITTENTON IS A WINNER
Some guys have it....................... that will to win................. that passion and drive that allows them to carry a team on their backs. Javaris has it. You can see it in his eyes........ in his demeanor........ he wants to be the guy making the plays and leading his team...................... and you can see these upperclassmen LETTING him lead. You can see their belief in this freshman............ He's still got a lot to learn, but he is an absolute joy to watch. That guy is glued to every word that comes out of Coach Hewitt's mouth. He wants to learn........ He wants to lead............. he wants to win...................... and the guy makes plays.


A-MO - GLAD TO HAVE YOU BACK
You know, I really like Anthony Morrow. Why? Not for his jump shot. Definitely NOT for his defense. I like him because of his passion. That guy gets as much joy at having a teammate hit a bucket or make a steal as when he gets one. It is really great to see him get his "legs" back. He's getting back that assassin marksmanship accuracy again - and ACC foes better watch out.


WEST............ MVP
With all the fanfare, and the flashy freshman, there is one guy that is the CLEAR team MVP at this point. That would be a former walk-on. A guy who just goes out there and does what he is asked to do. A guy who takes more pride in a steal than a basket. A guy who is this team's lone senior. If there is one guy that is showing ALL these guys what winning hoops is all about it is Mario West. When we have a run, he's there. When there's scrapping going on, he's there. I absolutely love the fact that a walk-on senior is the unquestioned MVP as it hopefully sets a clear tone as to what it takes to win.


STOP WITH THE CLICHES
Is this a turning point? Who knows? The fact is that this team started playing a higher level of defense about 6 games ago, and it shows. They still have not won on an opponents home floor. That monkey is still dancing. But I think these guys know now that they can do it............... and they will.......................


WELL DONE AND..................


GO JACKETS !!!!!