It was irony at its finest.
In the first half of the Duke-Maryland basketball game, ESPN analysts Dick Vitale and Mike Patrick started discussing the Phoenix Suns and the recent addition of Shaq (in Vitale's defense of his inane rambling, the game following the Duke-MD tilt was Phoenix against the Golden State Warriors).
The question asked by the duo: how will Phoenix's high-powered, run-and-gun offense change with the addition of a big bruiser inside?
Many would answer, "Who cares?"
Actually, it was fit perfectly in a Duke broadcast. The Blue Devils, without an over-whelming inside presence, has employed the Suns' "spread" offense, certainly a byproduct of Coach Mike Krzyzewski coaching alongside Phoenix's head coach Mike D'Antonio in USA Basketball.
Coach K has a bit of a reputation of being stubborn. Over the years, his refusal to switch from man-to-man defense to a zone has drawn ire from the Duke faithful.
Well K, who turned 61 today, certainly has proven the sports world wrong.
The college basketball public is starting to debate whether Duke can win it all without a "big."
If the last few minutes of the Maryland games this season are any indication, the answer is a resounding yes.
In today's game, Duke spread the court out shortly after the under-four media timeout. The Blue Devils scored four of five times for eight points before the Terrapins started fouling intentionally. And they were all driving to the hoop.
The only miss was a reverse layup by Lance Thomas when he received the pass from teammate DeMarcus Nelson too far underneath the basket.
Apparently, the offense is working. Duke has had a double-digit lead in the second half in every ballgame this season.
K continues to amaze at 61.
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