Poor defense and we struggled to score entire second half...

[Cusefan95]

Officiating was so bad at times. It pained me. I can't even think about the game.

I don't even think we got the worst of it necessarily. Outside of maybe Okafor not getting his fifth it may have helped us more. I'm not sure - so many bad calls I can't even make sense of it any more. It's like they want me to hate college basketball.

HDTV is great for watching the games...but it's really contributed to my declining interest in college basketball and the NFL. The officiating in both sports is horrifically bad, and influences the outcomes of the games far more than officiating should. I need new hobbies

 

[NorSyr66]

We looked like a 16-8 team, missing four star players we thought we would have, battling the 4th ranked team in the country, and coming up short. We definitely gave it our all.

I agree we played about as well as a 16-8 team can play but it is so tough to watch those layups and sh ots spin around the rim and out but the opponents shots seem to hit the front of the rim and crawl up and over and in!!! Xmas was one to two steps further from the basket and his shots kept falling short. Good defense by Duke. The "end" for me was when Cooney could have cut it to 3 or 4 and his wide open three on a break come up as an air ball. The team continues to give its all but it seems like we are destined to 4 to 6 points short each game.

 

[Briancuse]

No, Christmas would be the second player.

And as stated above, I think that their talent > our talent. That's why they are a top 5 ranked team and we are 16-8. But we went toe to toe with them and more than held our own. Shots didn't drop today that we've made all year, because most teams don't have an imposing defensive presence like Okafor inside. We didn't play all that particularly well, and still made it a close game at the end.

"Outclassed" would mean that they ran us off the floor and we couldn't compete. We competed fine--just didn't play well enough.

Winslow is going to be a top ten pick.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

Surprised we were that close considering how bad Rak and Cooney were...G was sick in the 1st half but quiet in the 2nd. Big props to Tyler, he proved tonight he can be an offensive threat; can't wait to see him next year.

Great defensive adjustment by Coach K in the second half.

 

[Carolinasu]

Cooney's worst game of the year, imo. Had a great start too.

We have 4 guys who are offensive threats so he has to keep shooting.He did have 5 steals and 5 rebounds but he has played better for sure.

 

[hoopsupstate]

In the first half they helped and doubled on Rak and left our perimeter people open and we made shots. In the second half, Okafor played Rak by himself and didn't leave our players free to take jumpers. If Rak could have finished, we could have won. Roberson was really tough tonight. He missed a couple of easy ones, but he battled all night.

 

[NineOneSeven]

We have 4 guys who are offensive threats so he has to keep shooting.He did have 5 steals and 5 rebounds but he has played better for sure.

I've said this before I'll say it again- having the green light to shoot doesn't mean shot selection doesn't matter.

Also, cooney's inability to dish on the break kills us because often times his steals don't provide us easy points.

He has a tough role on this team, but I believe he can play better.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

I've said this before I'll say it again- having the green light to shoot doesn't mean shot selection doesn't matter.

Also, cooney's inability to dish on the break kills us because often times his steals don't provide us easy points.

He has a tough role on this team, but I believe he can play better.

cracked me up on one of his made threes from the top of the key, his feet were pointing at the duke bench I believe (not at the basket) and Bilas still went off on Cooney getting his feet set. Yes, his feet were set in the wrong position but no, he did not square his shoulders (one of his problem areas). but he made the shot so he gets the pass despite some pretty poor fundamentals of jump shooting.