X's and O'S To Duke Vs. Maryland

The typical preview for the Duke vs. Maryland game goes like this...  Vasquez is great and will score...Duke plays smart...Great game...Pick a winner...

This article is far from that.  While some of the above is true, this game is going to be about the X's and O's.

This one features two of the best coaches in the ACC.  Everyone knows that Coach K is on the Mount Rushmore of D1 coaches, but don't sleep on Gary Williams.  He is arguably the most underrated coach in the sport.  He is expected to play like a team in North Carolina's triangle, but in Maryland. 

Speaking of Gary Williams...Many forget he has led Maryland to a title, back to back Final Fours, and the NCAA Tourney 13 of the last 16 years.  The man can out right coach!  this is one of his best coaching jobs.  He is making the best out of a very good team, a bad ACC, and a true superstar in Vasquez.

The game between these two will be for the ACC.  If Duke is going to win, these three things could seriously help them out.

1.  Bend but don't break, Zone/Man D.

Sure that may sound confusing, but it is really not.  Maryland relies very heavy of Vasquez.  He is the ACC's scoring leader and is without a doubt the key to this game.  On Sportscenter Dan patrick used to say "you can't stop him, you can only hope to contain him."  That is exactly what the Devils will look to do.

In my opinion the bend but don't break D is the perfect way to keep the terps at bay.  They can do this by forcing others to beat them.  Nolan Smith will be manned up with Vasquez all night long.  His job is to keep a hand in Zasquez's face for the entire night.  He is to out work, out hustle, and help the Devils win this game.

Nolan Smith does not have to score 25 for his team to win this game, but he does need to make sure the guy he is defending does not...

To help Smith, Duke may decide to use a combination of zone and man.  may sound a bit confusing, they could simply leave Nolan on man, but have the two wing players play a loose zone so that they could slide and pick up Vazquez on the wings.

2.  Attack Vasquez on Duke's side of the floor.

One way to keep the opposing team's best player from beating you is to keep him on the bench.  Duke needs to use their smart play to push the ball toward Vasquez as much as possible. 

This does two things.  It makes him work hard on both sides of the court.  It is March and after a tough double OT game against Virginia Tech, combined with the emotion of senior night, Vasq could get tired quicker than normal.  Make him match up on Singler, Thomas, and the Plumlees as much as possible off of the screen. 

Another way this could work is if Zasquez gets called for several quick fouls.  If he gets three first half fouls then he will be on the bench.  Without him, the ACC's best scoring offense will be out of sinc and could very well struggle.  This would force coach Williams to make a decision.  Play your superstar on senior night with three fouls...or hope your team can keep up.

3.  Crash the boards.

Duke leads the ACC in rebound difference.  In this game they need to crash the boards!  Sure, easier said than done, but they have done it all year.  In the games that Duke has lost, they have not been able to control the game by controlling the boards.

Zoubek has been playing like a true senior of late, but at this point he is like finding that extra 20 dollar bill in your pocket.  You can't count on a double double, but it sure would be nice to have.  While Zoub is not the key to this game, he very well could play his way into a half time adjustment.

Rebounding needs to come from more than just Zoub, it needs to come from everyone.  Every single player on Duke needs to hustle to each rebound.  They will have the hight so if they box out, play fundamentally strong, and don't get lazy then they will be able to control the boards.

Duke has not shot well from the floor at times, but by rebounding and getting second chance shots they have been able to score enough points to win.  Add that to a better than average defense then you have one of the top teams in the nation.

This is going to be a great game.  Many feel that Jon Scheyer and G. vasquez could put a huge bullet in their player of the year resume with this one.  This one also will determine who will win the ACC. 

In terms of a prediction...

The bad...I feel that they are going to come back to earth a bit.  They had some early season woes on the road.  I anm not sure that they have truly pushed past that point.  Vasquez is going to have a very good game and I think it may be enough to upset the Devils on their own floor.

The good...Duke is arguably one of the hottest teams in the nation, they have won 8 straight.  They are the best in the land against the three, and their D is very strong.  vasquez won't be able to shoot the three, he is going to get aggravated, and get beat up on his own floor on senior night.  This one will be just like the game at Duke.  The Devils don't shoot as good away from Cameron but they will get enough second chance shots to climb out to an early lead that Maryland won't be able to handle.