Late OT - Duke vs. Clemson

I would agree the 12/14 is ambitious...but I really meant more of that type of "affect on the game."

They seriously have NOBODY other than Plumlee that would be able to contain him on the boards.

As for Morgan v. Plumlee...I want to see Morgan v. Zeller, but I think Zeller is a better player. Plumlee LOVES this jump hook with his right hand, and that's his only move. He went to it EVERY time unless it was an easy (Morgan-Like) slip-the-screen and dunk.

He's certainly skilled, but he struggles vs. thick bodied guys who he can't push around. This is why I think Morgan is the only player on the team who could guard him. McGary would foul him and everyone else would get pushed around.

GRIII is the PERFECT matchup for Kelly. They have actually have a somewhat similar game.

All in all, Michigan and Duke are quite similar in what they do, both are very well rounded...Michigan is just better in my opinion. Especially after seeing both live.

It was one game, against a shitty team, with a huge matchup on the horizon.  It was a classic trap game, and although the score shows it was somewhat close, we all know the outcome was never in doubt.

Minnesota struggled mightily with Northwestern for about 25 minutes, with a tough road test at Illinois on deck.  It happens.

of course any time you have an off night, you can't beat the big dogs...but Michigan has been dominant all year... only 2 close games on my count, Bradley and Nebraska( my have forgot one), but they have blown out all other opponents, ultimately including Nebraska. They have been dominant

But playing your worst game of the year and winning by what 16? That's not bad.

Duke played it's worse game and beat Clemson pretty bad, but I don't think people realize how BAD Clemson was. They had 10 points at halftime. TEN!!!

Most of us are assuming that Michigan won't beat Indiana or Minnesota on the road. If Michigan wins all their home games, wins the remaining two road games against the bottom four, and splits on the road against the rest, they'll win the conference outright at 15 - 3. And you better believe that the coaches and players will approach Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio State, and MIchigan State differently.

Ok, well if minnesota plays like they did in the first half against northwestern at home and we play like we have for pretty much the rest of the season then minnesota won't win. It's not really fair to use us as our worst and then compare it to other teams when they are playing their best.

That Illinois is much like M last year which is why the B1G "rankings" by Brian and Ace put them at around 6th in the conference despite the national rankings. They live and die by the 3-pt shot so while they can beat a team like Ohio any given night, they can just as easily lose to Purdue and get blown out by Minnesota. They went 3-24 from 3 last night. If they hit just 7-10 more of those and you probably see a 10 point Illini win.

This edition of M-hoops showed last night the ability to find a way to win when the shots aren't falling. I still have difficulty believing that this team is truly a #1 or top 5 team but that is mainly due to lowered expectations over the last 15 years+.

I agree that they've struggled with athletes in the past...but look at who've they've beaten THIS year.

Louisville isn't a bunch of slow guys who can't jump. They've got better athletes than Michigan. Michigan is just a better TEAM.

I hate looking back on history to make assumptions about present teams. This Duke team is a different team like last year's was different than the year before that.

Duke's got size at forward to really matchup with Michigan. And they're disciplined so we can't expect Stauskas to be left open 6 times for knockdown 3's.

I've said it twice now, I just think we're BETTER. It's not that we're more athletic or have good size, or work harder, or any of that. I just think we have better basketball players than they do - period. I don't think they're bad at all. But when I go down the line, I don't see ONE bad matchup. MAYBE Stauskas on defense...I think that's a bigger weakness than Morgan on Plumlee. With that said Nik likely makes up for it on the offensive end and so I'd call it a wash.

The first 8 minutes was funny it was so bad.

2-0 at the first media timeout. Duke didn't score until 5:02 into the first half. Clemson had 10 points at halftime.

It was awful.

The halftime show and the Crazies were far better than anything else on the floor.

With that said, you see why it's a tough place to play. You feel the momentum there more than any gym I've ever been to.

At one point, Duke hits a 3...and you start to go "uh oh." Clemson goes down and Plumlee blocks a Clemson shot like a volleyball spike and you go "awww shit." And in my head I'm thinking "just don't give them a dunk or a 3...just foul, FOUL them or you're going to get your doors blown off!"

Sure enough the shot clock is winding down and I'm thinking "its about to happen"...Cook drives, he can't find anything, drives again...kicks it to the corner with 2 seconds left. BANG!! A three pointer right in front of the Clemson bench.

Duke goes up like 13-6, but it may as well been 100-0. You knew it was over. It was time to just soak in Cameron and enjoy the atmosphere - the game was done.

That to me was the best part...just feeling the energy and the building take over the game.

The OP contained a lot of good info and was broken up nicely into paragraphs.  Furthermore, no one made you read it nor forced you to make a snarky comment.

You're confusing Cameron with whereever the hell the Maryland Terps play.

It was actually filled with old people. And class was starting the next day (yesterday) so students were around.

It was pretty much what I expected from a crowd standpoint.

Clemson isn't North Carolina or Maryland...but I'd hope someone wouldn't make an assumption off our fans from a MSU/Ohio game when a Michigan vs. Illinois/Minnesota game is more typical.

Well, it's hard when Duke plays its worst game of the year...I mean it was awful. It was like a middle school women's basketball game for awhile there.

But I wasn't looking at whether the ball was going in. And if you go to the in-game Michigan threads, I say the SAME thing about Michigan. I'm more worried about efficiency, did you get a good look? How are you executing your offense? Can you guard someone?

Duke can do all of those things, they just weren't making shots. But it's Duke, they could've won that game 100-45 if they were making shots. So to me, that's not important when you're clearly the better team and you're going to win regardless if it's your best or worst game of the year.

What I saw is Plumlee really struggle against a thicker/wider body down low. I also noticed that he also always turns over his left shoulder for a jump hook in the lane.

I saw Kelly having a REALLY good game, but to me, it was also the lack of discipline from Clemson. Robinson is a very smart player - he clearly understands the game. Robinson looked BAD on defense versus the stronger CJ Leslie, but Kelly doesn't play inside a ton. He plays like Robinson, on the perimeter, and gets sneaky baskets around the rim by reading the helpside defense.

They literally play the exact same way - smart players. Easy layups, open mid-range shots, wide open shots. Will drive if needed. Because of this, I think Robinson can stay with Kelly. McGray would have trouble on the perimeter and would probably give up 3's to Kelly.

On the wing, we have Hardaway and Stauskas...they don't. I've repeated my defensive worries about Stauskas twice...but that would be my only concern on the win.

Point guard: Trey Burke over everyone.

I'm not sure the veteran players paradigm holds that much anymore in basketball.  How many freshmen were in the Kentucky starting line-up last season?  Senior-laden champions a la the 2000 Spartans are becoming exceedlingly rare.

You point on luck though, is well-taken.

Cameron is known for being "a dump." But it's more saying that it's not John Paul Jones Arena or the AmWay Center.

And to be honest, it's not THAT clean or prestine. Paint is peeling, theirs dirt on the floors, the gum on the seats. It's an old basketball arena. You expect that.

That's why my next line was "it's awesome." I loved the "old school feel." History was seaping through the walls. You couldn't help but think..."I wonder who walked here?" or "I wonder how many experiences have taken place in THIS exact seat."

But your post to me shows clear bias. Especially over my OP. And you were clearly offended by the "dump" comment - everything after just fueled that bias even more.

And did I say it was small? I called it a high school experience, but that's what it is...the worlds best high school gym. If I went to Butler I'd expect the same thing. Hoosiers.

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Now to the basketball comments. I love basketball and I love all styles of play. I've been around the game forever and I appreciate execution no matter how it comes. Duke didn't execute well - period. They're a much better team than what they showed vs. Clemson.

And for the record, the styles between Michigan and Duke really aren't that different. Both teams are smart, work the offense, and look for the good shot. They're efficient. Duke plays A LOT like Michigan and visa versa.

And I didn't Sulaimon short...I raved about their wings. I just feel Hardaway is better. That doesn't mean Sulaimon wouldn't give him problems. Cook would give Burke problems (I said that too), but Burke is better.

In the end, you seem hurt that I joked about your Dukies --- but there really wasn't anything I said that was offensive. It's a great place, I had a great time and they're a great team. I just think Michigan is better right now. Epecially if Duke losses Kelly.

That doesn't mean I don't think Duke is the 2nd best team in the country. I think their defense is the reason they'll beat any team that relies on one thing too much. Michigan's strength is balance - just like Duke.