Duke-St. John's: Blue Devils Weather the Storm

OK. That one word really can sum up what I saw and what I'm feeling after watching Duke beat St. John's Saturday afternoon.

The Devils were pretty much in control for most of the game (up 16 at halftime), letting the Red Storm get back within four with about five-and-a-half to play, but eventually pulling away to win by nine.

Again, I'm OK with this outcome because I felt like Duke played, well, OK.

Let me explain and tell you what I saw.

The Big Three (Again) Took Most of the Shots

It's time for me just to accept the simple fact that Duke will primarily be a three-man team again this year.

For the record, Duke has taken 503 shots this season.

The "Big Three" (Jon Scheyer, Nolan Smith, Kyle Singler) have taken a stunning 297 of those shots (and that's with Nolan missing two games this season).

Three players are accounting for 59 percent of Duke's attempts.

I'm not a math wizard, but that's a lot, and that's not a good thing.

Last year's "Big Three" (Singler, Scheyer, and Gerald Henderson) took 60 percent of the team's shots.

While the lack of diversity in the offense did end up costing Duke in the NCAA Tournament, it was good enough to lead Duke to another 30-plus-win season and the ACC tournament crown.

That's because, while those three took 60 percent of the shots, they did manage to contribute to 58 percent of the scoring.

This year's version of the big three are taking 59 percent of the shots, but they're responsible for only 52 percent of the scoring—a lot of shots, but not enough are finding their way into the hole.

Against St. John's, the big three accounted for a stunning 66 percent of the shots (43 of 65).

For the record, the other seven players tonight were 13-of-22 from the floor. Just saying.

Duke's Bigs Played Better, Though No All-ACC Nominations Just Yet (Joking)

While the brothers Plumlee got the start, Coach K clearly was more comfortable with the seniors (Brian Zoubek and Lance Thomas).

The obvious answer is simple: defense.

While Thomas and Zoubek probably couldn't beat your grandmother one-on-one, they can be disruptive in the paint and can get nasty on the boards, especially in Cameron.

Tonight, Zoubek/Thomas combined for 48 minutes, grabbing 15 boards (seven offensive) and actually scored 22 combined points (11 each) on 9-of-12 shooting.

Those are great numbers (although a few more boards wouldn't hurt).

The Plumlees only combined for 16 minutes, scoring six points and grabbing six boards.

I still feel like in the long run, Duke's best option will be to have the brothers on the court.

However, against the Storm, Zoubek and Thomas were more disruptive, especially against hefty St. John's forward Sean Evans, who was eating the Plumlees alive early on.

Anyhow, I'm going to have much, much more on the Duke big men later in the week.

Scheyer Got Another Six Assists and No Turnovers (Again) 

I'm sorry, but this stat is pretty amazing.

This was the fifth time this season Scheyer has not turned the ball over one time—not once.

He has an astonishing 10.1/1 assist-to-turnover rate. That's 41 assists to four turnovers.

Currently, he's sixth in the ACC in assists.

Jon Scheyer Read This Blog

Actually, I have no proof that he has ever heard of this blog, but he certainly took my advice.

After the Wisconsin defeat, I suggested that Scheyer needed to stop trying to get fouled when taking his shot and just take his shot.

Against St. John's, he did exactly that.

I can recall only one time where he did one of those double-pump, slam-his-body-into-a-defender moves, hoping to get fouled.

While he still only hit 4-of-14, we're not too stressed; that's about par for Scheyer this year.

Andre Dawkins Disappeared —At Least for a Day

He didn't actually disappear, playing 21 minutes, but he just never got into the flow of the game.

He took only five shots, hitting only one.

If I had one bit of advice for the rookie, it would be...get aggressive.

He's a stud shooter, but he's also athletic enough to create his own shot.

It doesn't appear he has the confidence yet to take the ball and make something happen.

Duke's chance of making it deep into the tournament this year would improve greatly if Dawkins didn't resign himself to just floating around the three-point line.

Duke needs a fourth scorer, and he can be that guy almost every night.

Random Question of the Day

Why did we give a scholarship to Olek Czyz?

While he started in place of Nolan Smith for the first two games, he hasn't sniffed the court in Duke's last four, and it appears he won't again this season unless it's mop-up duty in blowouts.

It's a question I asked back when he first received the offer, and I still haven't figured out the answer.

It's one thing to have a player not work out, but this is Duke.

When did Duke start wasting scholarships on a kid who will never start and will be lucky to ever be in the regular rotation?

That's what walk-ons are for.

I don't want to tear the kid down; if anything, I'm questioning the coaching staff.

Again, we're Duke, coached by Coach K, three-time national champion.

I just don't see the reasoning. Sorry.

Stat That May Impress Only Me

Brian Zoubek has more offensive rebounds (34) than defensive rebounds (29). He's currently second in the ACC in offensive rebounds

Overall, we're still in a "wait and see" mode. It looks like we have exactly what we had last year, maybe even less, when you consider that Nolan Smith, despite his improvement, is not and can never be Gerald Henderson.

If you're looking for something positive moving forward, keep in mind Duke is a solid 7-1, despite the fact our three best players have actually struggled to shoot the ball.

Singler, Scheyer, and Smith have combined to shoot only 40 percent from the floor.

Those numbers you would have to think will improve.

One Other Note...

I got to watch the North Carolina-Kentucky game, and I know I'm not the only person who walked away overwhelmed by John Wall's ability.

He is so damn quick with the ball, but his crossover is downright brutal.

Any Duke fan has to be saying to themselves "if only."

You saw just how valuable he was when went out with the cramps.

UNC was able to chip away at that lead.

Even when he came back, he just wasn't moving at the same speed as he was in the first half.

Props to the Tar Heels for the great comeback, but props for a young Kentucky team for holding on for the win.

If I was a coach (which I would never be allowed to be) and I had to game plan a way to beat Kentucky, it would be...

Don't Let Wall Beat Me

I know, easier said than done.

However, don't let him have his points.

If Kentucky is going to beat me, it's going to be because John Wall dished out about 15 assists.

If they're going to beat me, it will be thanks to players like Eric Bledsoe, Darius Miller, and Darnell Dodson raining threes.

UNC was able to come back this weekend (besides Wall's cramps) because Kentucky couldn't hit those open threes anymore. The trick though, would have to be...

Play Zones the Whole Game

I would rotate between a box-and-1, triangle-and-2, and a basic 2-3 Syracuse Orange.

You have to, have to, have to keep him out of the lane.

When a basket is made, you guard him the full court, make him work for every dribble.

A frustrated point guard is a bad point guard.

If he tries to drive into the lane, drop everyone, and I mean everyone, into the paint.

Don't let him get a clean shot; don't let him dish for an easy duck to the big men.

Force him to pass the ball back out every time.

If Kentucky shoots 35 threes, that's a good thing.

Foul DeMarcus Cousins Every Time He Touches the Ball

This is a man who makes a living three feet from the basket.

He shoots nearly 55 percent from the floor.

However, he only makes 51 percent of his free throws.

Bring in the scrubs from the bench and hack away.

Slow Down

Again, it comes down to frustration.

Make a John Calipari-led team play defense for 35-plus seconds, and you'll find a good shot.

However, make sure...

You Run When You Miss

I was most impressed with Kentucky's great ability to grab a missed shot and sling it out to Wall, who was already sprinting down court.

I couldn't count the number of fast-break baskets UK got behind the Carolina defense.

However, while Kentucky deserves plenty of praise for this, it's not like Carolina is known for their defense.

I saw more often than not when the Tar Heels missed a shot, the guards would run into the paint, even though they had almost zero chance of a rebound.

If you're going to face Kentucky, you're going to have to rely on your tall guys to get those boards.

As soon as the ball is up, your guards need to be back.

Too often, the UNC guards were backpedaling, as Wall simply drove past them.

Finally, Hit Your Threes and Make Your Free Throws

Will Graves hit 4-of-7, but the rest of the Tar Heels went 3-of-13.

Kentucky only shot 63 percent from the foul stripe, but UNC was only 7-of-13, including a couple front ends of a 1-and-1.

Do all that and you might have a chance to beat Kentucky.

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