Early Loss Could Lead Duke to ACC Wins

In sports you often hear about a good loss.  One where a team learns a valuable lesson that could result in wins later in the season.  No losses are ever good, but Duke's recent loss to Wisconsin in the Big Ten/ ACC Challenge could prove to be just that, a good loss.

Throughout the game, the Blue Devils never lead.  Although the scoreboard says that this was a close game, it was never as close as the points say.

The Dukies only had a few bright spots, they were out played, and appeared to not want the win as much as the motivated Badgers.  Kyle Singler and Andre Dawkins did their part, but it was not enough to propel them to victory.

Crunch time hit and the Devils were down only one point.  Duke fans were doing their best Cameron Crazie impersonations in front of their television, bouncing and yelling hoping to help their team get a much needed basket.

Unfortunately that basket never came.  Duke had a couple of key chances to score but looked very uncomfortable.  They didn't seem to be in control and they never had an intelligent shot, let alone one that was close to going in.

Duke lost. 

Looking ahead at the future, Duke can use this loss to grow!  They will be in this position again.  The ACC is going to have a down year, but that will not keep each team at giving Duke their best.

How they will grow:

1.  Kyle Singler did what he was supposed to, he took charge and drive to the basket.  Great, but solid D kept him from getting a good shot.  He bonked it off of the bottom of the backboard.  That wont happen again.  Next time he will use a step back jumper, or pass the ball.  Little Dawkins was on fire, a shot by him may not have been so bad.

2.  Speaking if Dawkins, this game showed that he is willing to take the shot when needed.  Dawkins may be green but his shot is solid.  He will play in some big spot, and his team's trust only grew as he went 4-4 from 3 point land. 

3.  The Nolan Ryan inbound pass wont happen again.  I promise you that is not how Coach K drew it up.  It was a bad pass, no one helped the inbounder, and the result was a turnover.  Next time they will help out, talk, and make a much better pass.

The Dukies are one of the favorites to win the ACC and make a push in March.  Learning from early losses will be key as they push toward their possible fourth NCAA championship.