This game, as I shared in the game thread, encapsulated in the very last bucket duke got to end the first half. 6'9", #1 pick over all in the next NBA draft hits a jump shot over 5'11" RJ Davis. Duke started 2 6'6" guards, their PG looked like a NFL line backer, a sweet shooting 6'7" projected as a lotto in the next draft in K'snipple, 6'9" #1 pick in the next NBA draft, and Malisquatch at what 7'2 and can hang on the rim while standing flat footed on the court? That is insane length, not just a length advantage at every single position but huge length advantage at each position. Just have to realize how hard that is to contend with.
Your passing lanes shrink, they left Malasquatch in the paint choking off drives. The biggest team in NCAA vs one of the smallest teams in the NCAA, size matter a heck of a lot. I am actually more proud that those kids stood up and fought their behinds off in that second half. I actually saw Hubert do something I did not expect, we actually went to a zone, we actually used multiple defenses I can't recall Hubert having us in a zone since he has been head coach. That was a bit of an amazing half time adjustment, maybe Hubert is beginning to learn.
Team looked intimidated in that first half but they came out and played hard in that second half. It is one thing to watch duke play on tape but UNC simply can not replicate it to be able to be prepared for it, you can only experience it and experience it we darn sure did. I felt going in we were in for a butt kicking experience, I actually felt we would get beat by 30+, it is just a game of match ups and this is the worst match up we could face.
Now I get it, this game feeds to frenzy of the Hubert must go movement, some may not like my not being as upset over this or this game as they are. I am simply looking for positives, looking for things, even this late in the season that show me that we are moving more in a positive direction. Now if we can take how we played and build on it against Pitt, we can take that game. My concern is we have been in this position to build on a tough nose second half come back before only to come out un-prepared in the next.
