Duke vs. China Reflections: The Difference Was in the 'D'

Adorning opposite halves of the courts serving as stages for Duke’s “friendship” series against the Chinese junior national team last were two icons that seemed strange bedfellows: the flag of the People’s Republic of China and the signature ‘D’ logo of Duke University athletics.

While the contrasting images portrayed an odd and discombobulating amalgam of totalitarianism and academic freedom, they symbolized the spirit of competition, the global appeal that basketball has cultivated in recent decades and the intermingling of the diverse cultures in Duke’s shiny new Fuqua campus in suburban Shanghai, China.

Pregame photo opportunities revealed another interesting contrast. When the squads posed together for photographers, the Chinese aggregation appeared the taller and thicker of the clubs, despite their proximate ages. This apparent, sport-specific advantage—when combined with home court, home cooking (no allusion to officiating) and the absence of NCAA CARA (countable athletic related activity) rules in China—seemed to bode poorly for the jet-lagged sightseers from Durham.

Yet, when the final buzzer sounded ending the three-game set, Duke left the Beijing with a hard-fought, fisticuffs-free sweep of its impressive Chinese opponents. 

How? The Devils’ vaunted three-point attack? Relentless assaults on China’s rim by Devil guards driving off ball screens? Duke’s reliance upon John Wooden’s legendary UCLA cut as the staple entry into their offense?  Or a Duke front court finally rising to meet its potential?

No, none of these was the deciding factor. To the trained eyes of discerning Duke devotees, the difference was clear.

It was that ‘D’—defense, that is.

Clearly frustrated at times by their acculturation to a cleaner, more tightly (and perhaps less biased) officiated style of play, head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s globetrotting charges quickly adapted. Their on-ball defense appeared stingier. Hedges on ball screens were decisive and aggressive. Help defense repelled attacks on the lane and pestered entries into China’s skilled, young posts, while rotations and recoveries from help seemed in sync for a young team with but 10 practices under its belt.

Even special situation defense sparkled, evidenced by a consecutive sideline overplays resulting in Duke thefts and thunderous dunks. The formula for this surprising, summertime defensive dominance?  A sublime fusion of Coach K’s mastery, defensive tradition, the experience and savvy of veteran players, youth and enthusiasm seeking to impress and the hustle and competitiveness that derives from team depth. 

In recent years, offense has garnered most of the spotlight when talk turns to Duke hoops. Be reminded, however, that ‘K’ earned his spurs, as well as the lion’s share of his 900 victories, by teaching, preaching and demanding excellence within his “team” man-to-man defensive philosophy. The “fist,” he observes, is stronger than its individual fingers. 

It’s easy to forget that Duke’s most recent championship was built upon the back of a stingy, sagging team defense anchored by Brian Zoubek and Lance Thomas, rather than upon the lethal scoring of the three S’s.

Yep, the Duke difference is still in the ‘D.’