UK v Duke Game
- Thread starter KYtotheCore
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I don't doubt this, but we have a few visitors to maybe keep it interesting for the sake of conversation.
Considering we have more experience, talent, depth and are better at literally every position, I'm going with UK.
I would prefer to see our team at least one time prior to making a win or lose decision. I think they will look as young as us early, who matures the quickest should be the favorite in this one. I would pick the CATS if Dukies had all their starters back.
Kentucky:
+ Slightly deeper
+ Slightly more talented
+ Slightly more experience.
+ Closer to home, Lot of blue in the crowd
Duke:
+ Officials.
Going to be tough. I'm not sure being marginally deeper, more experienced, and more talented will eras the 8on5 game. If Kentucky stays out of bench-clearing foul trouble, and their guards don't draw an exuberant amount of charges, we should win.
+ Slightly deeper
+ Slightly more talented
+ Slightly more experience.
+ Closer to home, Lot of blue in the crowd
Duke:
+ Officials.
Going to be tough. I'm not sure being marginally deeper, more experienced, and more talented will eras the 8on5 game. If Kentucky stays out of bench-clearing foul trouble, and their guards don't draw an exuberant amount of charges, we should win.
Also, after thinking about this the last few days... I think it's going to be very hard to replace Okafor and Winslow. Duke's first great true-center in a while and an MKG-type do-everything player. In a lot of ways, I think they will be like Demarcus/Wall and Davis/MKG... very very hard to replace.
Coach K's first foray into a true OAD format was a home-run. Couldn't have asked for better players to compliment each other, especially that flopping gremlin Jones. But this is hard to do every year. Some recruits need time, some need a few years.. some never really pan out. He's not going to strike gold every year. Just like we've seen with Calipari.
Cal is in a place he's been before, for the last 6 years. Coach K isn't.. And their 2015 class is not the 2014.
Coach K's first foray into a true OAD format was a home-run. Couldn't have asked for better players to compliment each other, especially that flopping gremlin Jones. But this is hard to do every year. Some recruits need time, some need a few years.. some never really pan out. He's not going to strike gold every year. Just like we've seen with Calipari.
Cal is in a place he's been before, for the last 6 years. Coach K isn't.. And their 2015 class is not the 2014.
I am going to come on here and post the number of bitch ass flops by
Allen, jones and kennard.
Throw in jeter (he just looks like an undersized, unauthletic big)
And bodies will be flying all over the court.
I feel the same way about Duke. Not that I'll know a ton about how Duke will do against a team like Kentucky when they're playing the likes to Siena and Bryant (unless they somehow struggle in one or both of these games), but it'll at least be something as opposed to not having anything but conjecture as we do now. All I'll say is I don't know how Duke will match up against Skal. They have big bodies, but none of them are gonna be mistaken for Okafor. Obviously UK's backcourt and wing guys will be very tough also w/Ulis, Murray, Briscoe, but at least with Thornton, Allen, Jones, Kennard and Ingram.. I have more belief Duke can hold up there.
They were a perfect match, but having a senior Quinn Cook who was an extra point guard on the floor and was also willing to move over to shooting guard to let Tyus be the main guy was vital.
Till last season, the only other home run Coach K really hit in regards to a OAD player was Luol Deng; and that was over a decade ago. Kyrie could have been, but he only played in 11 games and the team got smoked in the Sweet 16.
I'm biased so I chose UK. But like others have stated above, I think Duke is slightly overrated. And like others have said, the officials will keep this one close. Going with the C-A-T-S by 5.
I chose Duke. They are gonna be really good and K is an excellent coach.
While I get really tired of UK fans CONSTANTLY blaming the officiating (come on. Be honest. It is a theme in every game thread), in this case it is justified. Duke gets calls. They do. And we don't play them much, so this is not sour grapes. They get calls. Period.
Honestly, when UK plays Duke, I root for roof collapse. No offense.
I'm a total KU Homer. I want you both to lose. Again, no offense. I'm sure you understand my feelings
.
But I think, in this one, the refs hit Skal with two early giving Dook the advantage.
Oh. And Vitale having to carry a notebook covering his inflated man parts because Dook is JUST SO AWESOME BABY!!!!!!
While I get really tired of UK fans CONSTANTLY blaming the officiating (come on. Be honest. It is a theme in every game thread), in this case it is justified. Duke gets calls. They do. And we don't play them much, so this is not sour grapes. They get calls. Period.
Honestly, when UK plays Duke, I root for roof collapse. No offense.
I'm a total KU Homer. I want you both to lose. Again, no offense. I'm sure you understand my feelings
. But I think, in this one, the refs hit Skal with two early giving Dook the advantage.
Oh. And Vitale having to carry a notebook covering his inflated man parts because Dook is JUST SO AWESOME BABY!!!!!!
I chose Duke. They are gonna be really good and K is an excellent coach.
While I get really tired of UK fans CONSTANTLY blaming the officiating (come on. Be honest. It is a theme in every game thread), in this case it is justified. Duke gets calls. They do. And we don't play them much, so this is not sour grapes. They get calls. Period.
Honestly, when UK plays Duke, I root for roof collapse. No offense.
I'm a total KU Homer. I want you both to lose. Again, no offense. I'm sure you understand my feelings
But I think, in this one, the refs hit Skal with two early giving Dook the advantage.
Oh. And Vitale having to carry a notebook covering his inflated man parts because Dook is JUST SO AWESOME BABY!!!!!!
I understand after Kentucky & Kansas games last year you would fill that way. So to make thing worst for you Kentucky owns Kansas.
I cannot express enough how much I would like to do to Duke in November what we did to Kansas last November.
I'll take the Cats by 4. Ulis is the most experienced PG in the matchup, Skal will be the best big man and Murray is a stone cold killer. Poy and Lee will check their best offensive player in Ingram. I like our chances.
Ulis gives UK the edge, IMHO. Having an experienced PG is big in the college game. He will harass Thornton on defense. Could be a long night for the Duke Freshman.
I think we win, but a lot hinges on whether Poythress plays and is 100%. With Poythress back healthy I really like our chances against Duke.
I think we win, but a lot hinges on whether Poythress plays and is 100%. With Poythress back healthy I really like our chances against Duke.
Even if I didn't like our personnel over theirs, you've got to remember everywhere but Cameron Indoor is kryptonite to Duke before January.
I chose Duke. They are gonna be really good and K is an excellent coach.
While I get really tired of UK fans CONSTANTLY blaming the officiating (come on. Be honest. It is a theme in every game thread), in this case it is justified. Duke gets calls. They do. And we don't play them much, so this is not sour grapes. They get calls. Period.
Honestly, when UK plays Duke, I root for roof collapse. No offense.
I'm a total KU Homer. I want you both to lose. Again, no offense. I'm sure you understand my feelings
But I think, in this one, the refs hit Skal with two early giving Dook the advantage.
Oh. And Vitale having to carry a notebook covering his inflated man parts because Dook is JUST SO AWESOME BABY!!!!!!
UK beats Duke and Kansas this year.
I chose Duke. They are gonna be really good and K is an excellent coach.
While I get really tired of UK fans CONSTANTLY blaming the officiating (come on. Be honest. It is a theme in every game thread), in this case it is justified. Duke gets calls. They do. And we don't play them much, so this is not sour grapes. They get calls. Period.
Honestly, when UK plays Duke, I root for roof collapse. No offense.
I'm a total KU Homer. I want you both to lose. Again, no offense. I'm sure you understand my feelings
But I think, in this one, the refs hit Skal with two early giving Dook the advantage.
Oh. And Vitale having to carry a notebook covering his inflated man parts because Dook is JUST SO AWESOME BABY!!!!!!
well, can't fault your honesty as a fan, LOL
The Vitale comment though - kudos
![[laughing]](http://l.yimg.com/j/assets/img/emoticons/classic/laugh.r191677.gif "Laughing [laughing]")
Duke's new PG Thornton will have a ton of pressure on him, especially this early in the year. He's not the stone cold shooter Tyus Jones was but is a better distributer and penetrator than Jones was, and is a legit 6'2" (Ulis is what, 5'9" on a good day). If Thornton can get into the lane and collapse the defense, he will have some big time shooters (Grayson Allen, Brandon Ingram, Luke Kennard, Matt Jones) to pass too and Duke will score.
And for the first time in a long time, Duke will have a lot of fouls to give in the post. Plumlee, Jefferson, Sean Obi, Jeter and Vrank the Tank can all bang inside and not worry about foul trouble. That may wear Skai down as he has not had the physical play of a college game yet and will be going against men.
Murray will be a handful but K has loved Matt Jones defensive play and he'll spend the first 2 months of practice challenging Matt. Jones defense was key playing against Wisconsin's Sam Dekker (remember him?) holding him to 12 pts and 0 of 6 from 3 pt range. He won't be awed by Murray.
Poythrees may be key for UK in this game (if he's back and 100% healthy). Ingram can't handle him physically and Jefferson will draw the assignment but that hurts Duke's offense.
And for the first time in a long time, Duke will have a lot of fouls to give in the post. Plumlee, Jefferson, Sean Obi, Jeter and Vrank the Tank can all bang inside and not worry about foul trouble. That may wear Skai down as he has not had the physical play of a college game yet and will be going against men.
Murray will be a handful but K has loved Matt Jones defensive play and he'll spend the first 2 months of practice challenging Matt. Jones defense was key playing against Wisconsin's Sam Dekker (remember him?) holding him to 12 pts and 0 of 6 from 3 pt range. He won't be awed by Murray.
Poythrees may be key for UK in this game (if he's back and 100% healthy). Ingram can't handle him physically and Jefferson will draw the assignment but that hurts Duke's offense.
Its painful to write this.
Most will know how much I despise Puke and Rat Face, who I think is grossly over rated as a coach. That said, I have to admit that he does a few things extremely well. First, he teaches passing as well or better than any coach alive. Rat Face's team can really move the ball in half court. This will give a young defense fits. Second, he matures a team quickly. They play well in November but improve less than other teams through out the season. I think this accounts for some of their good seeds in March. I also think it accounts for some of the exquisite early exits they have made from the tournament. I still consider their embarrassment by a 15 seed a perfect moment in time.
These two things will work against us in mid November along with Rat Face constantly relieving himself on the officials. Fortunately, Rat Face can't coach defense for spit and that is a Cal forte. All in all, I think it will be a very tough game for November. Regardless of the outcome, I hope to meet them again in March.
Most will know how much I despise Puke and Rat Face, who I think is grossly over rated as a coach. That said, I have to admit that he does a few things extremely well. First, he teaches passing as well or better than any coach alive. Rat Face's team can really move the ball in half court. This will give a young defense fits. Second, he matures a team quickly. They play well in November but improve less than other teams through out the season. I think this accounts for some of their good seeds in March. I also think it accounts for some of the exquisite early exits they have made from the tournament. I still consider their embarrassment by a 15 seed a perfect moment in time.
These two things will work against us in mid November along with Rat Face constantly relieving himself on the officials. Fortunately, Rat Face can't coach defense for spit and that is a Cal forte. All in all, I think it will be a very tough game for November. Regardless of the outcome, I hope to meet them again in March.
Over rated huh?
5 National Titles - only one man in the History of this great game has more.
12 Final Fours - tied with Wooden for the most all time. Has taken multiple teams to Final Fours in 4 different decades (80's 90's, 00's 10's) Think about that!! And all of K's Final Fours have come in the 'modern era' of the College Basketball Tournament, 1985 forward. 64 teams. Multiple teams from the same conference. Seeding and balancing the brackets. Teams not getting to play games in their home arenas. If it was so easy, wouldn't a lot more coaches have done it!! Sure, a slip up now and then (Mercer, Lehigh), but who hasn't?? Over Rated. I think not!!
5 National Titles - only one man in the History of this great game has more.
12 Final Fours - tied with Wooden for the most all time. Has taken multiple teams to Final Fours in 4 different decades (80's 90's, 00's 10's) Think about that!! And all of K's Final Fours have come in the 'modern era' of the College Basketball Tournament, 1985 forward. 64 teams. Multiple teams from the same conference. Seeding and balancing the brackets. Teams not getting to play games in their home arenas. If it was so easy, wouldn't a lot more coaches have done it!! Sure, a slip up now and then (Mercer, Lehigh), but who hasn't?? Over Rated. I think not!!
Yeah, that's a big IF going against Tyler Ulis. At 6'2 I guess he could post Tyler up, but getting past him isn't going to happen. Thorton's effort would be better spent trying to make sure Tyler doesn't pick his pocket. And don't kid yourself, Duke has been jacking threes since the beginning of time. Unfortunately it's not as easy to shoot threes when you're playing against BY FAR the best backcourt, both offensively and defensively, in the country.
It's telling that you mention slugs like Plumlee the 9th and Obi as valuable pieces, but completely neglect to mention junior defensive phenom Marcus Lee or 7'0 265lb Humphries as even on the roster. And wear "Skai" down? You mean, to the point he doesn't go for 25/12/4 against you? I guess everyone is allowed wishful thinking.
I do remember Sam Dekker totally blowing is load against UK and then throwing a deuce in the title game, thanks for the reminder. That said, if you think it was because Matt Jones was some all-world defender, you didn't watch the same game I did. 5 of those 6 3's Dekker missed were virtually uncontested. That said, let's "pretend" that Jones could shut down top-5 draft pick Murray (again, wishful thinking on your part, but I'll bite)...who on Duke's perimeter is equipped to handle Ulis or Briscoe? Even if Thorton and Jones play their best possible defensive game, we're going to have Ulis/Murray/Briscoe on the court at the same time...who are all supreme talents. Is there some other Plumlee I don't know about who plays the 3?
"Poythrees" will eat your lunch. In fact, you can thank his knee for the title that was gifted to Duke last year. You better pray the guy can't go at all, or else you are going to have positively zero interior opportunities.
The fact is K has succeeded with OAD precisely one time, and even then it took the biggest joke of a draw ever to get there. Now all of a sudden the Duke cockroaches come out and act like he's this pioneer who has mastered maximizing the system. You guys are going to see its not so easy, and reality is that you don't have seasoned veterans like Ulis, Poythress, and Lee to combine with the future #1 pick Labissiere, future top 5 combo Murray, and future lottery pick Briscoe. Your role players are no better than guys like Mulder, Matthews, Hawkins, and Humphries. And this game ain't in Cameron.
Cats by 14.
Poythress is going to make Ingram question his commitment to basketball
Bout what I'd expect from a Puke boy. Probably got that gibberish straight from the Puke advertising agency site, ESPN.com. Never the less, you guys have fun licking the cake off his feet and enjoy that beating at the hands of a 15 seed. How did that feel by the way?
Balanced brackets? ROFL!!! You guys would scream bloody murder if you had to play in a properly seeded bracket. Heaven forbid you get stuck in a bracket like we did in 2014. You forgot to mention the cherry picked refs, the ESPN sponsored recruiting service and the other "hardships" that puke enjoys. Heck, I even have a Puke fan I work with that admits the ESPN suckling of Rat Face and Puke gets embarrassing at times.
You probably don't want to pursue this because it will get ugly. Bottom line is that I think your team sucks and your coach even more. Absent the silver spoon and cake paved paths, both would be also rans. We do have common ground though. I agree completely with your last sentence.
You don't think, otherwise you'd know, like the rest of us, what a propped up rat looks like.
Calling coach K overrated is not being objective. He's arguably the GOAT in college basketball and he's certainly been by far the best in the modern era.
Now, at one point in time I would have agreed with you about defense. But they won the ship last season because their defense during the tournament was outstanding.
Before the tourney started they were somewhere in the 60's of pomeroy's adjusted defensive efficiency rankings. Well below the previous low for a national champion. By the end of the tourney they were 12th. And his efficiency numbers are mostly an average across the whole season. So for 6 games their defense was good enough to raise their season average from 60+ to 12th.
Now, at one point in time I would have agreed with you about defense. But they won the ship last season because their defense during the tournament was outstanding.
Before the tourney started they were somewhere in the 60's of pomeroy's adjusted defensive efficiency rankings. Well below the previous low for a national champion. By the end of the tourney they were 12th. And his efficiency numbers are mostly an average across the whole season. So for 6 games their defense was good enough to raise their season average from 60+ to 12th.
