UConn vs Duke (Elite 8)

[Marat]

We have a chance. Go Huskies !

 

[temery]

We have a chance. Go Huskies !

You would make a terrible cheerleader.

 

[Marat]

You would make a terrible cheerleader.

Ok, we have a pretty good chance !

I believe Luke Murray was doing the scout for Duke.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Duke opens -5.5

 

[HCCForever]

Sunday at 5PM CBS

 

[uh-no]

i'd say the game plan would be to let boozer get his, and run the rest off the line. have to crash the boards for that strat though.

 

[UCFan1513]

This is the matchup the team wanted I think. This is the matchup I wanted when this region was announced. Nothing is sweeter than beating Duke. Hurley will have the guys ready and we’re tending up! Championship experience beats inexperience

 

[Leebo]

Pressure's on Duke to practice guarding us on short turnaround

 

[EROCK CONN]

Sunday at 5PM CBS

 

[BugsyCT]

 

[JungleLobo]

2 conferences enter, 1 conference leaves

 

[cmgresh36]

What are the UCONN lower sections for Sunday? Buying a couple from NYC

 

[WeAreUCONN]

I had a dream. We face Duke. Stay tuned.

 

[Mr. French]

Duke opens -5.5

No chance we lose by more than 5 - ahem no chance we lose!

 

[UCTitleTown]

i'd say the game plan would be to let boozer get his, and run the rest off the line. have to crash the boards for that strat though.

The Jim Calhoun strategy against LSU and Shaq.

 

[aceboon]

Mashburn is something else man, says Duke hasn't had a tournament game where they put 2 halves together and says it will happen against UConn, then says UConn should be nervous. He's had a bug up his ass about UConn all year on Turner's coverage, Hurley even chided him for it after the Villanova win.

 

[sdglast]

Mashburn is something else man, says Duke hasn't had a tournament game where they put 2 halves together and says it will happen against UConn, then says UConn should be nervous. He's had a bug up his ass about UConn all year on Turner's coverage, Hurley even chided him for it after the Villanova win.

Bruce Pearl and Rose agreeing with him...

 

[HooperScooper]

Mashburn is something else man, says Duke hasn't had a tournament game where they put 2 halves together and says it will happen against UConn, then says UConn should be nervous. He's had a bug up his ass about UConn all year on Turner's coverage, Hurley even chided him for it after the Villanova win.

Let him keep hating while UConn keeps winning. ---- him!

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

This panel is a clown show.

 

[sdglast]

Let him keep hating while UConn keeps winning. ---- him!

It really is kind of shocking. Listening to all of them, it sounds like UConn's going to lose by 30. Uncanny.

 

[HCCForever]

Mashburn is something else man, says Duke hasn't had a tournament game where they put 2 halves together and says it will happen against UConn, then says UConn should be nervous. He's had a bug up his ass about UConn all year on Turner's coverage, Hurley even chided him for it after the Villanova win.

The whole TBS crew doesn’t think that UConn has a chance. I’m sure Chuck and his CBS crew agree. No biggie, UConn is the underdog.

 

[sdglast]

Also, not a word about Karaban from that group but a lot of love for St John's. Just really mind-blowing

 

[Chonky]

It really is kind of shocking. Listening to all of them, it sounds like UConn's going to lose by 30. Uncanny.

I simply think they are just tired of UConn coming in and winning so much the last few years. They’re butt hurt.

And i love it.

 

[HCCForever]

Also, not a word about Karaban from that group but a lot of love for St John's. Just really mind-blowing

You expect that from Mashburn but not from the entire panel.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

Also, not a word about Karaban from that group but a lot of love for St John's. Just really mind-blowing

Who cares? Pluck them!

 

[caw]

This is a winnable game for obvious reasons (quick turnaround, Ngongba and Foster coming off injury) but they are obviously a good team.

If Ngongba is out, or off the bench, Reed/Karaban vs Boozer/Brown is a very interesting matchup. I can't see Brown defending Reed one-on-one at all, or Boozer chasing Karaban. Boozer is strong with a great base but Reed is a load for him in the post too. Karaban being chased by Brown would be interesting because it negates a lot of Brown's best feature if he has to stick with Karaban on the perimeter - help defense in the post. Karaban/Reed will need to box out on defense as Boozer/Brown do crash the boards really well.

That said, not sure how UConn defends Boozer. He is great at driving to the rim, carving space and getting a foul. And he is a decent shooter too. Reed needs to keep his feet on the floor and arms straight up when he challenges if he is on Boozer. Same with Karaban. He's a bit too quick for Reed and bit too big for Karaban. Stewart might be a decent matchup with how Stewart has defended bigger PFs/wings in the past, but not sure how healthy he is.

1-3 they are tall but they don't really have a dynamic guard that can attack the rim like some of the guards UConn has played this year. Sarr/Evans can slash but they are more straight line drivers (though Evans has a nice midrange and great head/shot-fakes). Boozer the smaller is a steady PG but not dynamic at all. I'd love him at UConn but as a backup.

Ngongba/Foster were on their bench against SJU. No clue how healthy they are, or if they might start against UConn. Khamenia is the other bench player. I think UConn matches up decently against their bench, either way.

It's going to come down to if Karaban/Reed can stay out of foul trouble and the guards can handle Duke's size/length on the perimeter. In a lot of ways they are kind of like Purdue with Edey except Boozer attacks from the top of the key more than post ups. They get a lot of open shots off Boozer's passing out of double teams and swing passes.

 

[BFieldHusky]

Foster obviously will play but I wonder if he will be more limited on Sunday.

 

[cwh20]

Mashburn is something else man, says Duke hasn't had a tournament game where they put 2 halves together and says it will happen against UConn, then says UConn should be nervous. He's had a bug up his ass about UConn all year on Turner's coverage, Hurley even chided him for it after the Villanova win.

I heard that. It was a given they wouldn’t have two good halves against Siena but against UConn? Not a problem. He said “Duke as the overall one seed” so obviously he has done his homework. Don’t question him.

 

[aceboon]

Team did a great job not fouling Fears tonight when he's lived at the line all season, gonna have to do the same with Boozer on his takes to the rim. In the paint he's pump faking on every shot, stay home and keep vertical.

 

[HooperScooper]

Bruce Pearl and Rose agreeing with him...

And then they said that UConn relies so heavily on Reed and Karaban. I hate to tell them that Duke relies more heavily on 1 player. If the Huskies can slow down Boozer I like our chances.