Rushed Reactions: #2 Duke 66, #7 Creighton 50
Posted by Brian Otskey on March 24th, 2013
Brian Otskey (@botskey) is in Philadelphia for tonight’s Third Round NCAA Tournament games and filed this report after Duke advanced to the Sweet Sixteen with a victory over Creighton.
Three key takeaways:
Duke Marches on to Coach K’s 21st Sweet Sixteen Appearance
- Duke’s defense was tremendous. The Blue Devils held Creighton to a paltry 30.2% shooting and limited star Doug McDermott to just 4 of 16 from the field. McDermott said that Duke switched screens all night on him but that he missed some shots he usually makes. However, it wasn’t just McDermott who was limited. Austin Chatman and Jahenns Manigat shot a combined 3-18. Mike Krzyzewski had high praise for Tyler Thornton’s defense after the game but it was a complete team effort. Creighton was no match for Duke’s outstanding length and athleticism on this night.
- Fouls ruined the flow of this game. 46 fouls were called in this game, meaning there was one foul call every 52 seconds on average. The zebras completely ruined the flow of this game and I’m sure that contributed somewhat to the poor shooting we saw tonight. Neither team was able to get into any kind of rhythm offensively and it was a parade to the foul line for the better part of the evening. Doug McDermott only made four field goals but still scored 21 points because he was able to get to the charity stripe 12 times. This was definitely a physical game between two teams that played terrific defense but there was no need for that many fouls to be called.
- Let’s hope that wasn’t the last time we see Doug McDermott in college. One of the best players of this era, McDermott just completed his junior season and now has a decision to make. His coach and father, Greg, said after the game that the two of them discussed it six weeks ago and decided to wait until the season was over to think it through and make a final decision. That time has now come but the elder McDermott said they’ll be in no rush to sit down and talk, rather that they’d let this all sink in and calm down first. Doug McDermott has to what is best for him but it would be a shame for college basketball fans to see him forego his senior season, one in which his school is moving to a power conference in the new Big East. One more year of college basketball could help McDermott’s draft stock, especially on the defensive end.
Star of the Game: Rasheed Sulaimon, Duke. Mike Krzyzewski’s talented freshman poured in 21 points on an efficient 5-9 shooting in what was a rough game for jump shooters. Sulaimon’s efficiency helped Duke keep Creighton at arm’s length for much of the game before pulling away down the stretch. Sulaimon has to be a contributor going forward if Duke is going to get to Atlanta.
Quotable: Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski on Seth Curry’s season long, nagging injury: “He’s been absolutely incredible. I mean, I’ve never had to do this in my whole career, in 38 years, where a kid really has been hurt the entire season and you didn’t know on a day-to-day, game-to-game basis for sure if he was going to be able to play because it would be based on how he felt after the game he just played…He could have been operated on in September and he would have never played this year. Instead he’s had just a sensational year.”
Sights and Sounds: Despite the late Sunday night start and a fun game beforehand, the crowd remained full for this game. As with any game in the northeastern part of the country, there were plenty of Duke fans on hand. Creighton brought a terrific contingent as well and I have to say their band is one of the best I’ve ever heard at a college basketball game. Creighton has one of the best fan bases of any school in the country and it’s great that the school will be in a major conference next season to showcase itself even more.
What’s Next: Duke advances to the Midwest regional semifinals in Indianapolis on Friday night where it will take on the Spartans of Michigan State in what should be a tremendous game.
