EXCITED TO PLAY

If you watched Duke and Purdue last night on ESPN, you saw a Duke team that was excited to play the game.  Purdue, well they played hard but came up a bit short.  I like the job Matt Painter is doing.  Love his quote on what type of player he looks for, “I look for kids who play hard.” 

I really think a couple of missed lay-ups early in the game hurt the Boilmakers; it’s crucial to convert the easy ones.

Duke won 76-60, extending their all-time Big Ten-ACC Challenge record to 10-0.

I thought both teams played very good defense at the start. Ball pressure was excellent and helpside was wide awake, unlike many players who ‘hug’ their man.   The first basket wasn’t scored until the 18:00 mark.  There was hustle, defense, and tons of energy displayed by both teams.

Even the guys off the bench from both schools did well.  How about Duke being able to bring Greg Paulus in off the bench?

Do the Blue Devils share the ball or what?  Seems like they don’t care who scores. The ball spends so much time in the air, where many times you see guys pound it and pound it.

Spacing and hard, sharp cuts displayed by Duke last night was textbook.  They know how to set up their defenders and they know how to screen.

Purdue shot 38% from the field in the first half and they turned it over nine times.

What I aadmired about Duke was that they always seemed under control.  They control the pace of the game. 

Purdue struggled from ‘3′ all night.  I’m sure Coach Painter has his team in the gym today getting up extra shots.

Kyle Singler of Duke played very well displaying both an inside and outside game.

Purdue will be a major playere on the national scene by March.

Play the Right Way!

-Coach Finamore

Hoops135@hotmail.com