I am not one to endorse the three-point shot—I actually think the game would be better without it.
I am honestly sick of watching players opt for a three rather than make the extra pass to an open teammate.
At the beginning of the Duke-Maryland game I found myself yelling at the television because of the number of three pointers I saw early on.
But as the game progressed, I suddenly had a change of heart and realized Duke needed those threes in their 77-65 win over Maryland. It’s not because they scored 36 points off the threes either—those threes gave Duke the momentum boosts that they needed, especially when Duke saw their once large lead cut to a mere three-point lead at the 8:50 mark.
After going five straight minutes without scoring, Duke delivered, no surprise, a big three. Scheyer came up big with the trey providing Duke with a spark, scoring 20 points in the next eight minutes opposed to Maryland’s 14.
During the game it was obvious it was going to be a physical game down low, with Maryland’s Bambale Osby denying access to the lane to Dukies like Nelson and Scheyer. I’ll say it again, Duke needed those threes. The quick stop-and-pop threes that Duke produced did not allow Maryland’s defense to get settled, as was the case when it seemed Singler was open behind three point line almost every time.
Singler, by the way, had a season high of 26 points.
In the second half, Duke tried slowing down their offense. But that just provided more problems for the Blue Devils, as they tried to get the “W” on Coach K’s 61st birthday. During this lull period, Duke found themselves clinging to that three-point lead.
Duke shot 48 percent from downtown, going 12-25—whereas Maryland only went 3-13. You do the math—what would have happened if Maryland had attempted 25 three pointers?
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