First, let me tell you that I am an Indiana University alum and a huge fan. Watching IU make a respectable run in the tourney has been wonderful and long overdue.....thanks bobby!! With that said, I have a feeling that this match-up with Duke tonight is going to be the end of that Hoosier run and I feel it is going to happen in a big way. I think this game comes down to match-ups....and the way I see it, the match-ups don't look good for IU. We have a defensive team (IU) against an offensive power (duke). Question is....which one of these wins out?
IU: averages 70ppg........and allows 62ppg
shoots (45%).......and allows (41%)
Duke: averages 89ppg........and allows 69ppg
shoots (49%)..........and allows (42%)
I think IU will have a severe problem slowing Duke down on the offensive side of the ball and don't feel they can match points with them. Let's look at the match-ups a little closer.
Coverdale -vs- Duhon: Coverdale is slow on two good feet, and he has been hobbled by a sprained ankle, which isn't helping his speed any. Duhon could create massive amounts of pressure on IU's primary ballhandler leading to turnovers...easy points....and disrupting IU's offense......back-up donald perry is quick...but lacks experience and control to run the team in such a big game.
Fife -vs- Williams: College player of the year versus the big 10 defensive player of the year. We know what Williams can do....can fife slow him? Well, Blizzard of UNCW put up 25 pts., most right in Fife's face, so you tell me? Only times I have seen Williams slowed this year is by his own doing....can we bet on that?
Odle -vs- Boozer: We saw with ND that Duke is vulnerable inside. Boozer was in foul trouble in the ND game....can odle get him in foul trouble tonight? Doubt it...Odle doesn't match the strength of Boozer and will have trouble getting inside on him like Humphrey and Swanagan did. Odle's best chance to disrupt Duke may be to pull Boozer away from the basket with mid-range shots.....which could free up Jefferies inside to work on dunleavy and in freeing up some offensive boards.
Hornsby -vs- Jones: We have a great shooter in Hornsby verse a great athlete in Jones. This match-up could be interesting as both players could pose a problem to the other. I think Hornsby will need to concentrate on keeping a body on Jones and keeping him off of the offensive boards. Can he do that effectively, and if he does, will it affect his offense? I think Jones will force Hornsby to put the ball on the floor and create his shot, which I haven't really seen out of him this year....think in the end, that Jones will create a bigger disadvantage for IU than Hornsby does to Duke.
Jefferies -vs- Dunleavy: Multi-dimensional players....both can go inside/outside......although I think it was exposed that if you rough Mike up a little on the inside, you can rattle him like Humphrey and Swanagan did. This match-up to me is about even.....maybe a lean to Jefferies due to what he means to his team and the fact that everything seems to run through him on the offensive side of the ball.
I feel that Duke has an advantage at every position with the exception of maybe the Jefferies-Dunleavy match-up. Duke I feel has the stronger of the benches as well. As I stated earlier, back-up IU point guard Donald Perry is young and has been out of control this year....Duhon and Williams could wound this young mans esteem. Newton is an athlete inside for IU, and he may be able to do a little more work inside than odle....question is which Newton shows up? AJ Moye is a battler inside....although undersized....don't expect too many points.....wouldn't expect him to swing the game alone with his presence. On the other hand, Ewing has shown that he is ready and capable of being a guy who can swing a game with his presence like he did against ND. Sanders is weak...but gives Duke another big body inside if Boozer gets into foul trouble.
In looking at this game from an objective standpoint, I can see making a play tonight on Duke. I don't do "games of the year" or "plays of the year", I don't believe any one game is more important financially than another. Those of you who see my selections on a nightly basis know that I only play one unit on each of my games....good money management is being able to withstand each and every loss and move on to the next game. With that said, I don't see IU keeping this game within the spread...Duke is coming off of a close call....believe they will want to make a statement tonight....come out quick and keep the pedal to the metal. Think this warrants a play on Duke....would love to get some reaction going on this game....there are great minds here.....so let's talk about this one if you would. Thanks in advance.
IU: averages 70ppg........and allows 62ppg
shoots (45%).......and allows (41%)
Duke: averages 89ppg........and allows 69ppg
shoots (49%)..........and allows (42%)
I think IU will have a severe problem slowing Duke down on the offensive side of the ball and don't feel they can match points with them. Let's look at the match-ups a little closer.
Coverdale -vs- Duhon: Coverdale is slow on two good feet, and he has been hobbled by a sprained ankle, which isn't helping his speed any. Duhon could create massive amounts of pressure on IU's primary ballhandler leading to turnovers...easy points....and disrupting IU's offense......back-up donald perry is quick...but lacks experience and control to run the team in such a big game.
Fife -vs- Williams: College player of the year versus the big 10 defensive player of the year. We know what Williams can do....can fife slow him? Well, Blizzard of UNCW put up 25 pts., most right in Fife's face, so you tell me? Only times I have seen Williams slowed this year is by his own doing....can we bet on that?
Odle -vs- Boozer: We saw with ND that Duke is vulnerable inside. Boozer was in foul trouble in the ND game....can odle get him in foul trouble tonight? Doubt it...Odle doesn't match the strength of Boozer and will have trouble getting inside on him like Humphrey and Swanagan did. Odle's best chance to disrupt Duke may be to pull Boozer away from the basket with mid-range shots.....which could free up Jefferies inside to work on dunleavy and in freeing up some offensive boards.
Hornsby -vs- Jones: We have a great shooter in Hornsby verse a great athlete in Jones. This match-up could be interesting as both players could pose a problem to the other. I think Hornsby will need to concentrate on keeping a body on Jones and keeping him off of the offensive boards. Can he do that effectively, and if he does, will it affect his offense? I think Jones will force Hornsby to put the ball on the floor and create his shot, which I haven't really seen out of him this year....think in the end, that Jones will create a bigger disadvantage for IU than Hornsby does to Duke.
Jefferies -vs- Dunleavy: Multi-dimensional players....both can go inside/outside......although I think it was exposed that if you rough Mike up a little on the inside, you can rattle him like Humphrey and Swanagan did. This match-up to me is about even.....maybe a lean to Jefferies due to what he means to his team and the fact that everything seems to run through him on the offensive side of the ball.
I feel that Duke has an advantage at every position with the exception of maybe the Jefferies-Dunleavy match-up. Duke I feel has the stronger of the benches as well. As I stated earlier, back-up IU point guard Donald Perry is young and has been out of control this year....Duhon and Williams could wound this young mans esteem. Newton is an athlete inside for IU, and he may be able to do a little more work inside than odle....question is which Newton shows up? AJ Moye is a battler inside....although undersized....don't expect too many points.....wouldn't expect him to swing the game alone with his presence. On the other hand, Ewing has shown that he is ready and capable of being a guy who can swing a game with his presence like he did against ND. Sanders is weak...but gives Duke another big body inside if Boozer gets into foul trouble.
In looking at this game from an objective standpoint, I can see making a play tonight on Duke. I don't do "games of the year" or "plays of the year", I don't believe any one game is more important financially than another. Those of you who see my selections on a nightly basis know that I only play one unit on each of my games....good money management is being able to withstand each and every loss and move on to the next game. With that said, I don't see IU keeping this game within the spread...Duke is coming off of a close call....believe they will want to make a statement tonight....come out quick and keep the pedal to the metal. Think this warrants a play on Duke....would love to get some reaction going on this game....there are great minds here.....so let's talk about this one if you would. Thanks in advance.
