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Duke: An SI Breakdown
Sports Illustrated's Seth Davis examines the Blue Devils
Posted: Thursday March 25, 1999 08:41 AM
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Coaching experience is one clear advantage, and Coach K has been in this situation on seven previous occasions. AP |
Starting five
It's the best in the country, and there's no close second. Elton Brand, Trajan
Langdon and William Avery were 1-2-3 in the voting for the All-ACC teams this
year. Shane Battier would be a star anywhere else, yet he eagerly steps into a
role that is compatible with his team's overall mission (though he has emerged
lately as a bigger offensive threat). Chris Carrawell is also a role player, but
he is absolutely indispensible, as his seven-assist, no-turnover performance
against Temple clearly
demonstrated.
Bench
Duke's depth is overrated, plain and simple. Yes, Corey Maggette is a great
talent (though he has more to learn than people seem to understand), but after
him, the Devils go to Nate James, who is workmanlike but unspectacular, and
Chris Burgess, who usually looks like he's a step and a half behind the action
on the court. Most significantly, Duke lacks a backup to point guard Avery,
which means it's critical to keep Avery healthy and out of foul
trouble.
Coaching
This may be Duke's biggest advantage this weekend. Jim O'Brien, Jim Calhoun and
Tom Izzo will have bruises all over their biceps from pinching themselves at
actually being at the Final Four. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski is thrilled to be here, too, but
he's also been here on seven previous occasions. That experience is why the Blue
Devils should prevail over the usual demons that haunt prohibitive favorites in
the NCAA
Tournament.
Offense
style
The Blue Devils can play at any tempo, but they do prefer to run. When their
guards are hitting their threes (and when are they not hitting their
threes?), that just makes Brand that much more difficult to stop
inside.
Defense
style
Duke can press some full court, but since its depth isn't so hot, it prefers to
roll up its sleeves and stop opponents in the half court. This is the strongest
(though certainly not the tallest) team Coach K has had at Duke, and it has a
great knack for turning turnovers into easy buckets at the other
end.
How they can beat
you
Let me count the ways. Brand bullies his way inside. Battier or Maggette kill
you on the offensive glass. Langdon and Avery pop threes and Carrawell slices
and dices his way to the cup. Duke defends with a sledgehammer and runs its
offense with a
scalpel.
How they can be
beaten
Foul trouble, injury or cold shooting. Those are always the three variables in
any
game.
At crunch time,
watch...
Langdon curling off a screen. His release is so quick that all he needs is a
brief opening and the ball is
bottomed.
Weak
link
Carrawell is not a great outside threat. I would slough off him and help out on
Brand.
Prediction
Coach K has been here too many times before, and the Devils had one of the
toughest schedules in the nation this season. Don't let the margins of victory
fool you. This team has been tested often, and it has responded almost every
time. That's why Duke will be cutting down the nets Monday
night.
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