If we learned anything this weekend its that there isn't one dominant team this year in college basketball. Oh sure, Ohio State is still undefeated but they ended up beating a very undermanned Northwestern team by 1 pt, 58-57 Saturday. Connecticut ranked fifth in the nation over the weekend lost to Louisville, BYU lost and many other top 25 teams went down. As a Duke fan you know that Duke lost big to Big East foe St John's. It was one of the worst Duke games I have seen in a very, very long time. Yet I am not worried my friends, there is good news about Kyrie Irving (http://mrdukesthoughts.blogspot.com/2011/01/cast-coming-off-of-kyrie-irvings-foot.html) and after this weekend there isn't one team in the nation that I think can beat Duke when Duke plays it's best game.
I understand Duke needs to grow, get better and more consistent before tournament time. Defensively giving up 93 pts to St Johns is a serious indictment on Duke's defense. Also, Duke shot 1-13 on threes in the first half, and hitting 4-13 in the second half wasn't enough to get them back in a game they lost by halftime. Yes Duke is still relying too much on the three point shot. Just like in the Florida State game they shot horribly from three and just like the Florida State game they lost the game.
If Irving is just teasing us and never comes back this year, then Duke needs a third option on offense. Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler shot 36 of Duke's 62 shots and scored 52 of Duke's 78 pts. Last year Duke had the big three of Singler, Smith and Scheyer, this year it was supposed to be Kyrie Irving filling the third scoring role. Without Irving it is now up to either Dawkins, Curry or Kelly to fill that role. When Duke plays well one of these three have scored well. When Duke has lost, none of them have scored well. Its time for one of the youngsters on this team to step it up.
Just like after the Florida State game, keep your heads up Duke fans. This season feels a lot like last year because there is no dominant team. I'd say Kentucky was last year was more physically and athletically dominant than any team is this year and they lost in the Elite 8 last year. Duke again will have a great shot once the tournament starts, the thing to watch the rest of the year and in the ACC tournament is:
-Who steps up as the third scorer if Irving doesn't return?
-How is Irving rehabbing and will he return and re-acclimate himself to the team and be a factor in the tournament?
-Has any one team stepped up and shown that they are the team to beat?
The answers to those questions will determine a champion in April because the championship still goes through Durham.
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