Duke Outlasts Indiana 91-81
Duke remains undefeated after defeating Indiana 91-81 in their first true road test of the season. It was very close for 36-37 minutes before Duke finally pulled away and hung on for the win.
I’m pretty sure the whole state of Indiana was packed into Assembly Hall Wednesday night.
The last two games in Portland were huge with the come backs against elite competition. This game however, in a hostile environment early in the season, was the biggest stepping stone for this group of guys. This was their ninth game in 20 days! For a group of freshman to go on the road in November with 17,000 fans in your face and get a win is huge when you’re going to have to play road games in places like Miami and North Carolina during ACC play.
It didn’t look pretty for a majority of the game. No matter defense Duke was playing, Indiana seemed to defeat it. They were getting to the hoop on drives, making jumpers and beating Duke in transition (the same way Texas and Florida got huge leads on Duke in Portland). Duke never seem phased however. There were points in both the Texas and Florida games where the Blue Devils seemed shell shocked. Each team got leads of 15+ late in the second half when Duke was on their heels.
That didn’t happen Wednesday night.
Not once did this Blue Devils team seem phased. Not by the environment, not by any run Indiana was making and not by anything else going on in the game. This team was poised from the jump and it showed late in the game.
The story of the second half was and ones. Three point shooting isn’t what it usually is for Duke teams but the and ones in this game took the place of that. The Blue Devils had six and ones in the second half and converted on all six of them.
For as bad as Dukes defense is for the first 35 minutes of games, they lock in when it matters most. I have no clue how to explain this nor am I going to try to explain it but it happens and it’s been working. Gary Trent and Trevon Duval somehow come up with steals at the most perfect times that seal games. Hell, the play of the game was Marques Bolden hustling for a loose ball and getting fouled (he went 1-2 from the line on that foul). Duke needs to find a way to lock in for 40 minutes otherwise it’s going to cost them but it’s very encouraging that defense isn’t lacking at pivotal times.
Next: Duke Guards Named Best ACC Backcourt
Observations:
-I’m just going to start copying and pasting this, but Marvin Bagley is the best player on the floor 100% of the time this season. He went for 23 points and 10 rebounds tonight while Indiana had no real solution for him. He can’t be stopped off the dribble, his passing in the low post is ahead of his age and you can’t switch on him. UNSTOPPABLE.
–Wendell Carter, Jr. is a bull. I’ve never seen a guy grab every rebound with both hands. His awareness on defense, much like Bagley’s, needs to improve, but even he had another double double tonight with 18 and 12. He fouled out with some dumb fouls, but if Bagley wasn’t on the floor with him we’d be talking a lot more about his post presence (Jay Bilas referenced this point a few times during the broadcast).
-Grayson Allen is exactly the veteran leader this group of guys need. His maturity deserves most improved player of the year award consideration. He had 21 points on 7-12 shooting and was 5-5 from the line. His pump fake, dribble and shoot a three move has never been missed (don’t check the stats, my eyeballs don’t lie). He’s staying very even keeled this season and is the perfect fit for this young Blue Devils team.
-The poise of this team is something you see out of teams with four or five upperclassmen. Not once did this environment seem too big, Not once did a guy try to be a hero. Usually in these types of games and in these types of environments, a freshman tries to be the hero. There are none of those players on this team. They’ve bought into the concept of team ball and that’s a huge reason why they’re 9-0 and have had the comebacks.
-Not having a consistent three point shooter is weird. For all the years I’ve been following Duke basketball, there has been at least one dead eye shooter you can count on. Trent has been hit or miss this year, Alex O’Connell doesn’t play enough to be that guy so I guess that guy is Allen? I’m interested in seeing who steps up as that knockdown shooter as the season progress, if it even happens at all.