Twilight Zone

The game had the makings of a Maalox masher especially when Illinois jumped out to an early 14-8 lead. However, although many feel that Coach K's overconsumed with coaching the USA team and that's why he's missed out on building relationships with the likes of Patrick Patterson and Greg Monroe, you can see the positives already this season from having such a wide variety of talented assistant coaches on his USA team bench. Greg Paulus, Jon Sheyer, and Nolan Smith aren't even close to Steve Nash so Duke can't transition all of the Phoenix Suns offense into their system but I love the space they are creating on the break and that backdoor cut they used twice against Princeton (I've seen Nash and Marion hook up on that exact same play many times).

More importantly than Duke's offense, Coach K had the Devils go to a 2-3 zone (see Jim Boeheim) and wouldn't you know, it worked and it worked well. In fact, BRB believes that the transition into the zone for about 5 possessions was the turning point of the entire game.

Gerald Henderson was absolutely incredible last night and he showed every bit of what we thought we were getting last year when he arrived in Durham. He shot the ball well from outside, his pull up mid-range jumper is smoother than Barry White was with the ladies, and that jam he had off the Sheyer pass was insane, very Grant Hill-esque. In fact, that dunk actually went as the #1 top play on Sportscenter.

DeMarcus Nelson was spectacular last night and he was the go-to guy early when Duke was trailing and when Illinois cut the Duke lead to 3, Nelson hit a jumper off the front rim and in and Duke never looked back. Nelson looks much faster this season than last and with the strength the Navy Seal upper body, he will be a tremendous asset in his final year at Duke.

Kyle Singler didn't have a great game points wise but I am falling in love with this guy's game quickly. He's extremely versatile, can go inside and out, and I love the fact that he stood face to face with that thug Frazier last night and didn't back down. Duke really needs that type of toughness if they are going to compete at the highest level.

I'm sure Coach K and Jon Sheyer took a ton of happiness beating the cry baby that is Bruce Weber. Bruce, do me a favor, don't snub K in the postgame because you're mad he got Sheyer. IF YOU CAN'T KEEP A LOCAL KID IN ILLINOIS WHEN YOUR BROTHER IS HIS HIGH SCHOOL COACH, YOU NEED TO LOOK NO FURTHER THAN YOURSELF AND NOT BLAME OTHERS...

This was a really good win for the Dukies but it will get harder and fast with Marquette in the Maui Championship tonight. This is a rematch of last year's CBE Classic where Dominic James absolutely dismantled the Duke man-to-man defense. I look to see Duke employ even more zone tonight and I expect Duke to use their better athleticism this year to shut Marquette down this year and get some revenge for last year.

Prediction Duke 86 Marquette 79