Smith Unstoppable in Win Over UAB
WHAT JUST HAPPENED
The Duke Blue Devils took care of business at home against Alabama-Birmingham, 85-64. The Devils were never really challenged as they earned their 14th win of the season. Duke scored more points, grabbed more rebounds, stole more balls, blocked more shots, smelled better, look better in blue, are nicer to their mothers…you get the point.
THE GAME WAS DECIDED…
when Duke went on a 26-1 run. After allowing the Blazers to hit an opening game three, Duke would score 26 of the next 27 points. UAB went seven minutes without a basket. They would never get closer than 14, as Duke just cruised the rest of the way.
WHO DESERVES MAD PROPS:
I’m starting to sound like a broken record, but it’s Nolan Smith. He scored a career high 33 tonight. He was basically unstoppable. He began the game hitting nine of his first 11 shots. He cooled a bit in the second half, but he also got fouled a couple times and it wasn’t called. He also dished out five assists, grabbing a season high seven rebounds.
Right now, not only is Nolan the ACC player of the year, he should get serious consideration for National Player of the Year. At the very least, he’s first-team All-American.
If I can have a mushy moment for just a second…
This young man has come a long way since that moment two years ago when he laid sprawled out on the floor at Maryland, after colliding with Terp’s big man, Dave Neal.
It had been a difficult year for Smith. He was handed the point guard duties (when he clearly wasn’t ready for it) and he struggled. If my memory is correct, he wasn’t even starting at that point anymore. I’ll be the first to admit, I was doubting whether Smith was ever going to develop into a great Duke player.
22 months later and I’m now calling him the best basketball player in the land. That should teach me to doubt a kids determination and heart.
DON’T FORGET ABOUT…
…Mason Plumlee. Every game someone steps up to be a legit third-option. Often it’s Dawkins, once it was Curry, and Miles has done it recently. Tonight though, Mason was the man. With his older brother in foul trouble, Mason played 29 minutes and scored 14 points to go along with eight rebounds.
Clearly, Mason still feels the most comfortable when he’s out in the open court freelancing. His first half drive was sweet and most of his points came during transition basketball. I have no problem with this.
Obviously I want him to develop his low-post game, but it’s just not there right now. He’s a freak of an athlete and if freelancing is how he’s going to get his points, then go for it. The reality is, whichever big man plays the toughest D and grabs the most boards will get the most minutes.
Right now, Mason is just not a polished big man. He looks timid with his back to the basket. That smoothness we see with him in the open court doesn’t exist underneath. When he’s attempting a back-to-the-basket turnaround, he gets no height, typically fades back and has no arc on his shot.
LOSERS NEED LOVE TO…
Clearly Jamarr Sanders was the only Blazer keeping his team remotely in this. He hit 7-15 shots tonight, doing most of his damage from outside. He hit 5-10 three-point shots, finishing the game with 21. The rest of UAB’s starters were just 7-26 from the floor.
GOD I LOVE STATS: Actually, I’m not going to love this stat…after opening up with a 26-4 lead, Duke technically lost the rest of the way. In the final 33 minutes, the Blazers actually outscored Duke, 60-59.
Now you know and I know, you can’t really judge a basketball game in those terms. The game is a different game when you’re up 20 as opposed to being a back and forth contest. However, if Duke was down one with seven minutes to play, then ended on a 26-4, I’d bet most fans would be talking about how Duke struggled to put UAB away.
My point is, I would love to see Duke find a killer instinct. Duke has done a great job opening up big leads early and then coasting. Against the really weak teams, those leads have eventually opened up to 35-ish point leads. Tonight, I would have liked to see some kind of run in the second half. UAB should never have been able to crawl back to 14 like they did on multiple occasions.