After the game Jay Bilas said Duke is still top 10 quality but not a likely contender for the Final Four.

I concur with Bilas on this one.

By the way, anybody see the elbow lick Singler gave Hansbrough?

But let it be known, Singler does have a gentle side.

And don’t you forget it.

Post from: EveryJoe

The Dook Crew Prove They’re Not That Good

Ty Lawson led all scorers with 25 points. Tyler Hansbrough had 17 and Danny Green and Wayne Ellington had 15 points each.

Green and Hansbrough did something that’s never been done in the Mike Krzyzewski era – they went four for four at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Duke was led by Kyle Singler‘s 22 points. Jon Scheyer added 20 and Gerald Henderson tossed in 17 for the Blue Devils.

Honestly, after the Blue Devils (20-4, 7-3) took a 52-44 lead at halftime, I thought the outcome just might be different this time around.

But as I was switching between the game and a good rerun of “Two and a Half Men,” (it was a really funny episode) North Carolina (22-2, 8-2) just took over this game and really put it out of reach with a 14-0 run midway in the second half.

Part two of North Carolina vs. Duke is at North Carolina, and it should be another good one. It’s on March 8 and is the last game of the regular season.

Post from: EveryJoe

Just Call Cameron Indoor Stadium “Danny and Tyler’s House”

– Wisconsin escaped Iona by 2 in overtime. The Badgers managed only 7 assists compared to 19 turnovers.

–Duke put Michigan in their place with a 71-56 win in the Finals of the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer. Kyle Singler had 15 points and 10 boards.

–Xavier’s Dante Jackson hits half court shot with time expiring to beat the Virginia Tech Hokies. Jackson was 1-9 from the field.

–The Rollins College Tars (DII) disposed of Wisconsin-Green Bay by 17.

–Tyler Hansbrough returned from injury and scored 13 in a UNC victory @ Cal-Santa Barbara. Tyler struggled from the field going 2-10. Tar Heel Fan Blog has it all covered.

STAT of the DAY

UConn freshman guard Kemba Walker netted his second straight 20 plus point performance with 23 in a 8 point win over La Salle. Matt has all the goods in his post game wrap up.

Post from: EveryJoe

Friday November 21st Scores

– Corperryale “Manny” Harris scored a career high 30 in Michigan’s laugher against Michigan Tech. Michigan will play Northeastern today at 8pm.

– DawgBlog says to watch out for the nice touch of Massachusetts big man Tony Gaffney.

– UCLA opens up their season against the mysterious Panthers of Prairie View A&M at 7pm Kevin’s time.

STAT of the DAY

Duke’s 6′4 freshman Elliot Williams managed to grab 11 rebounds in 14 minutes of action.

Again, 2K Sports Classic bracket is here

Post from: EveryJoe

Manny Harris gets career high and Singler scores 19 again

Yesterday Dickie V. unveiled his pre-season top 40 teams for the upcoming college hoops campaign.

1. North Carolina. With Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green all returning, the Tar Heels are the clear-cut preseason numero uno.

2. Louisville. Rick Pitino’s squad is a legitimate Final Four contender. The addition of Samardo Samuels up front is a big plus.

3. Connecticut. Hasheem Thabeet will be a major force up front for Hall of Famer Jim Calhoun. Look for big things from A.J. Price in the backcourt.

4. UCLA. Coach Ben Howland is happy to have Darren Collison returning to the backcourt. The Bruins have one of the premier recruiting classes coming in.

5. Texas. A.J. Abrams and Damion James provide a solid 1-2 punch for the Longhorns. D.J. Augustin is gone, but this will still be a very dangerous team under Rick Barnes.

6. Notre Dame. Luke Harangody and Kyle McAlarney lead an experienced Irish team.

7. Michigan State. Tom Izzo will miss Drew Neitzel, but the Spartans will be among the best in the Big Ten.

8. Gonzaga. Watch out for Mark Few’s team. The return of Jeremy Pargo is a big plus.

9. Duke. The Blue Devils lost DeMarcus Nelson, but Kyle Singler, Greg Paulus, Gerald Henderson & Co. have something to prove.

10. Pittsburgh. DeJuan Blair will be tough to stop up front and the Panthers should enjoy another solid season.

11. Purdue. Matt Painter’s team sneaked up on a lot of people last season. With Robbie Hummel leading the way, the Boilermakers have high hopes.

12. Marquette. Tom Crean is gone, but Buzz Williams has the top-flight trio of Dominic James, Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews back.

13. Memphis. No Derrick Rose, no Chris Douglas-Roberts, no problem. John Calipari has a lot of talent returning plus several standout recruits.

14. Tennessee. Bruce Pearl will rely on Tyler Smith inside to key his SEC challenger.

15. Georgetown. Adding Greg Monroe up front will make this a team to keep an eye on in the rugged Big East.

16. Villanova. Jay Wright has his key players returning, led by Scottie Reynolds.

17. Florida. Billy Donovan’s Gators will return to the Big Dance, keyed by Nick Calathes.

18. Arizona State. James Harden will be one of the premier players in the Pac-10. The Sun Devils will go from surprise team to conference challenger.

19. Davidson. Stephen Curry will carry this team to another big season. Forget about the Cinderella tag this season.

20. Virginia Tech. Seth Greenberg’s team fell short of the Big Dance last season. That won’t be an issue this time around.

21. Miami-Florida. Jack McClinton is one of the best players that America has not heard enough about. Frank Haith does a fine job with the Hurricanes.

22. Wisconsin. Bo Ryan will always have the Badgers in the hunt in the Big Ten.

23. Arizona. The return of Chase Budinger makes Lute Olson very happy. If Brandon Jennings didn’t go to Europe, this would be a top-10 team.

24. Kentucky. When Patrick Patterson is healthy, watch out. Billy Gillispie’s club will be returning to prominence.

25. Kansas. Bill Self lost five players to the NBA draft. He has a young but talented team that should still make noise.

26. Syracuse. In a different league, the Orange would be a contender. In the Big East, it is so, so tough…

27. Oklahoma. I know people are talking about football down in Norman. Jeff Capel’s club, led by Blake Griffin, will give fans something else to cheer about.

28. West Virginia. Bob Huggins will have his team battling, scrapping and clawing again.

29. Wake Forest. This young team is talented. You will hear a lot about super sophs Jeff Teague and James Johnson.

30. Baylor. Scott Drew has rebuilt this program in a short time. Remember the name LaceDarius Dunn!

31. USC. Even without O.J. Mayo, the Trojans will be a tough team. Taj Gibson & Co. will not be an easy touch.

32. Clemson. Oliver Purnell lost a lot of senior talent, but K.C. Rivers is back.

33. St. Mary’s. As long as Mr. Mills comes back to school, this team will make noise in the WCC.

34. Alabama. If Mark Gottfried gets back a healthy Ronald Steele, the Tide can reverse last season’s misfortune.

35. UNLV. Lon Kruger has won 91 games in his four seasons with the Runnin’ Rebels.

36. Mississippi State. If Jamont Gordon had stayed in school, this team would be in the top 20.

37. UAB. Robert Vaden is back. He flirted with the NBA draft but withdrew before the deadline.

38. Ohio State. A lot will depend on the big diaper dandy, B.J. Mullens. Thad Matta is a flat-out winner, my friends.

39. San Diego. Last season was not a fluke … just ask Connecticut.

40. Xavier. Sean Miller’s team lost a lot of talent, but the newcomers will make a difference.

My college basketball forecasting self esteem took a serious nose dive when I saw the list and not only was Oklahoma absent from the top 25, but Gonzaga checked in at #8. It’s not like I haven’t had a couple Wilson Sandwich’s back in the day, and recently too, but to get disrespected on the interweb like this before it’s even October is sufficient enough reason to make me pitch my Dickie V bobblehead and T-shirt into the garbage. Does Dick not think enough of my analytical prowess to at least contact me and seek out my advice?

Oklahoma at #27?

I have the Sooners at #4. That’s quite a discrepancy. Quite a spread. Odd.

Apparently Dickie V forgot that OU is returning just about everybody from last year’s NCAA tourney team. Add freshman guard Willie Warren and some intriguing transfers to Blake Griffin’s squad and what do they get?

Shit.

Am I missing something here?

Dick, Gonzaga at #8?

What is that?

Come on, unless Blake Stepp still has some elgibility left or Matt Bouldin is actually Adam Morrison 2.0, this ranking is quite optimistic.

I mean, I like Jeremy Pargo and Austin Daye too, but what did Gonzaga do to warrant this type of Dickie V slobber?

And how in the name of Awesome diaper dandies did Duke not somehow still get the benefit of the doubt and get a position in front of the Zags?

I’m also surprised that he has refrained from nominating Kyle Singler for Player of the Year.

But this is just pre-season, take it for what it’s worth.

By November Duke will be top 5 material in Dick’s eyes.

And for the record, the Vitale bobblehead is not for sale.

Post from: EveryJoe

Dickie V BABY!

We are coming to you LIVE from Madison Square Garden as the Pittsburgh Panthers and the Duke Blue Devils get set for what should be a fantastic contest.

Today’s announcers are Dan Shulman and Jay Bilas. Rock solid announcing crew.

And here we go…

• Duke comes out in a straight man to man. It will be interesting to see if the Duke frontcourt is athletic enough to keep up with the Panthers.
• Both teams come out a little shaky – a couple of turnovers and offensive fouls early on.
• Duke has now switched to a zone defense and forces a quick turnover. Pitt’s DeJuan Blair steals the ball at the top of the key and is fouled on the breakaway dunk attempt. Score tied 3-3 at the 17:37 mark.
• Pitt has four early turnovers – their guards are not making good decision on the perimeter.
• Gerald Henderson of Duke called for a charge – he has two quick fouls, which isn’t good for the Blue Devils. Duke ahead 5-3 with 15:57 to go.
• Duke’s 6′8″ freshman Kyle Singler is showing a lot of game tonight – two quick buckets on a couple of nifty moves.
• Singler with another nifty cut to the hoop for another bucket. He’s very active on both ends of the floor.
• Pitt is doing a better job at spreading the floor and passing the ball around the perimeter. Score tied at 9 with 13:38 to go.
• DeMarcus Nelson buries a trey for the Dookies, and the pace is starting to pick up a bit.
• Pitt’s PG Ronald Ramon picked up his dribble way above the three point line and nearly turned the ball over. That is the third or fourth time he’s picked up the dribble way to early. Duke up 14-11 at the 11:20 mark.
• Duke is extending their defense high up top and is making it hard for Pitt to get into their offensive sets.
• Blair just sent Jon Scheyer layup attempt into the third row. With authority! Blair is well on his way to a double-double.
• Yet another Pitt turnover up top. Bilas said that Pitt usually doesn’t turn the ball over very much…I find that hard to believe. Duke up 19-13 with 7:44 to go.
• Duke’s Greg Paulus hits a deep three off a screen to put Duke up 22-13. Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon calls a timeout as the Blue Devils are on an 8-0 run.
• Blair picks up his second foul on the low block instead of passing out of a double team. Not a good decision. Pitt hasn’t scored in the last 4:15.
• Singler with a nifty turn-around jumper to push the Duke lead to 11.
• Pitt now has 13 turnovers after a very sloppy pass just over half court. The Panthers are completely out of synch. Duke up 31-15 with 3:52 to go and they are threatening to blow this game wide open.
• It looks like Duke has another 3-point madman with Taylor King – he just drained a shot from deep in the corner. Bilas says he’ll shoot from anywhere inside half court. Let’s hope so – I love watching a mad bomber hoist up threes from anywhere and everywhere.
• Blair gets loose inside for an easy hoop to trim the lead to 12, 34-22.
• Going into half time, Dixon cannot be pleased with his team’s effort on the offensive end of the floor. Way too many turnovers, way too many sloppy passes, way too many forced shots. If they don’t settle down in the second half and do a better job of getting into their offense, Duke could easily run away from them.

2nd half

• Duke is continuing to put a lot of pressure on the Pitt guards. Ramon is having a terrible time beating anybody off the dribble, and his teammates aren’t setting any screens for him.
• Pitt is just standing still on offense – nobody is cutting to the ball, nobody is screening away. Absolutely awful execution.
• After Singler makes a quick pass out of a double team, Bilas exclaimed “some guys look…other guys see – and Kyle Singler sees.” Duke up 38-26 at the 16:31 mark.
• Duke is doing a phenomenal job at switching on defense – Pitt is only 1 for 9 from behind the arc, and they aren’t getting many good looks.
• Sideline reporter Doris Burke is now interviewing Duke’s new football coach, David Cutcliffe. Yeah, that’s a job that I would want. Best wishes with that David.
• Pitt continues to settle for fall-away jumpers and low percentage shots. One thing going for them – they are already in the 1 and 1 at the 14:50 mark. If they can start making their free throws, Pitt might keep this game close.
• Pitt is trying to push the tempo after missed Duke shots, which is a good strategy. They can’t do anything against the Blue Devils’ half court defense, so why not push the pace. Duke up 43-33 with 12:47 left in the game.
• Pitt has narrowed the lead to 5 with some good defense and fast break buckets. If they want to win this game, they need to keep pushing the ball up the floor.
• Pitt is now in the double bonus with 10:42 to go. Blair is only 5 for 13 from the line tonight.
• Blair is whistled for an intentional foul after taking down Singler on a rebound attempt. The freshman isn’t afraid of anybody and is a strong as a horse.
• Blair grabs his 13th rebound and the putback to bring the Panthers within 6 at 48-42.
• Levance Fields hits a huge three to pull the Panthers within 3, and Duke calls a quick timeout. Pitt is playing with more energy, and it is about time they did.
• Blair with a quick steal that leads to an easy layup. Pitt is down only one.
• The senior Henderson just drew an offensive charge on the freshman Blair – great play by the Duke veteran. Henderson flopped and the refs bought it.
• Another turnover by Duke – they are looking very unorganized on the offensive end.
• Nelson pushes off with his elbow on a fastbreak and gets whistled for the foul. Bilas, being the Duke homer that he is, says it was a bad call. I disagree – he definitely raised up his elbow and pushed off.
• Bilas with a great quote – “having fun is doing hard things well”. Well said.
• Blair with another huge offensive rebound and draws the foul on Singler – his 4th. Singler has been very quiet in the second half. If only Blair was hitting his free throws, Pitt would have a 7-8 point lead.
• Pitt’s Sam Young grabs an offensive rebound off of a missed free throw and draws the foul. Pitt takes the lead on Young’s two free throws, 50-48.
• Duke can’t buy a basket right now. Pitt’s physicality is starting to pay dividends. Blair with another offensive board but misses the easy put-back.
• Duke hasn’t scored in the last 4:48. Talk about a game of scoring droughts…
• Singler is back in the game guarding Blair – if Pitt was smart, they’d feed the ball into Blair until he fouled Singler out.
• Singler makes a nifty move to the hoop but misses the easy lay-up. You’ve got to dunk that ball, son. Either go up strong or go home.
• Pitt up 52-51 at the 2:35 mark, as we take a TV timeout.
• Singler with a huge three from the top of the arc to tie the game at 56. 1:31 left in the game.
• Young with a big fadeaway jumper as the shot clock was running down. Henderson comes right back down and hits a great turnaround jumper to even the score.
• Pitt got the shot they were looking for, but Young’s baseline jumper went long. Duke with the ball, 16 seconds left, score tied at 58, and the shot clock is off.
• Henderson with a drive, Singler grabs the rebound but his tip-in won’t fall. And we go to OVERTIME…

OVERTIME

• Blair picks up his 4th foul – he must be careful on both ends of the floor from here on out.
• Pitt’s Mike Cook drives the lane, goes down in a crumpled heap and is screaming in pain. His left knee just buckled as he planted to jump. Not good at all…
• Blair with his 18th board of the night. Pitt needs to get him some more touches down on the low block.
• Young with a tough baseline runnier to push Pitt back in front 60-59. He was almost behind the backboard when he released the shot.
• Gerald Henderson takes a really tough shot from the foul line – Coack K can’t be happy with that shot selection.
• Nelson with a fantastic up and under baseline drive and draws the 5th foul on Blair. Blair finishes with 15 points, 20 rebounds and 3 blocks. Can Pitt survive without Blair in the game?
• Nelson completes the three point play to push Duke ahead by 1, 63-62 with 1:15 to go.
• Duke is now pulling the ball back and making Pitt come out and challenge them. They can’t take too much time to start their offensive set.
• Fields is called for an offensive foul – Pitt isn’t getting any calls right now. It looked like Singler leaned into him a bit.
• Pitt is forced to foul Singler with 23 seconds left. First foul shot is in and out. Some freshman nerves, perhaps? Second foul shot rattles around and goes in. Duke up 64-62 with 16 seconds left.
• Fields drains a step back trey from the top of the key with 5 seconds left!!! Duke has no timeouts, Scheyer forces up a long range 3 and it isn’t close. Pitt wins 65-64.

If there is such a thing as an ugly win, this was it. Duke definitely let this one get away. Give Pitt credit for keeping their composure and fighting back in the second half.

Post from: EveryJoe

12/20 Duke vs. Pittsburgh – as it happens