Ward has been really bad. Not just with the missed shots...he's also not boxing out or fighting for defensive rebounds at all. Ray Lee has also been invisible.

This one is tough to watch.

Dear Friends,
What is the score? Have been out all day and haven't heard a thing. From the comments, I guess we are not doing well.

Playing out of control on offense.

69-47 we were only down by 8 less than 5 minutes ago.

Score Duke 71 EMU 47 with 5:42 to play

We are horrendous from free throw and rebounding.

Where is Ross?

Talley is a player!

Wish we had a team offense.

Dear superfan,
Thanks. I guess we just sucked after the ten minute mark of the second half. Maybe earlier.

Glad that one is over. Just wanted to fast forward through these two games anyway. It won't be any prettier on Monday. Duke and Cuse could both be 1-seeds in the tourney.

Talley had a nice finish to the game, but he took a lot of bad shots. We had a chance to stay in it near the end of the first half when we cut it to 4, but poor shots and rebounding was the death of us. Ward seemed like he didn't really want to play today, and Ajayi looked like he'd never played basketball before today. Just a very sloppy effort outside of Talley and (for a few minutes, at least) Sims. But it's Duke...this happens to lots of teams that play there.

(12-28-2013 04:12 PM)emussuperfan Wrote:  Wish we had a team offense.

I wish we wouldn't play so many money games.

But we need them as we don't make peanuts on our home games.

(12-28-2013 04:14 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear superfan,
Thanks. I guess we just sucked after the ten minute mark of the second half. Maybe earlier.

Pretty much the whole game. Duke just finally cracked the zone in the 2nd half. And Dawkins decided not to miss.

(12-28-2013 04:16 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(12-28-2013 04:12 PM)emussuperfan Wrote:  Wish we had a team offense.

I wish we wouldn't play so many money games.

But we need them as we don't make peanuts on our home games.

Exactly. We scored 81 last week against a MAC-caliber opponent. We really can't take much away from these paycheck games, other than a paycheck, obviously.

Just wish our effort on the glass would have been better.

(12-28-2013 04:18 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(12-28-2013 04:16 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(12-28-2013 04:12 PM)emussuperfan Wrote:  Wish we had a team offense.

I wish we wouldn't play so many money games.

But we need them as we don't make peanuts on our home games.

Exactly. We scored 81 last week against a MAC-caliber opponent. We really can't take much away from these paycheck games, other than a paycheck, obviously.

Just wish our effort on the glass would have been better.

My guess:

Duke > Kentucky > UMass > Purdue.

Just some help for March Madness brackets.

(12-28-2013 04:16 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(12-28-2013 04:12 PM)emussuperfan Wrote:  Wish we had a team offense.

I wish we wouldn't play so many money games.

But we need them as we don't make peanuts on our home games.

and what else is new. These aren't just money games these are make your team better games by exposing the flaws and teaching games. We don't learn anything from play teams like Concordia and Rochester. And nor do we make any money because will not come to the games!

We honestly don't learn much from these games either, other than Duke is still really good and recruits some of the best players in America.

We learn from games like UMass, Oakland, Green Bay, and Purdue. Games against good-but-not-great teams, in which we weren't favored to win. We went 2-2 in said games. That tells me we will be just fine in the MAC. I don't think last year's team wins any of those.

(12-28-2013 04:47 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  We honestly don't learn much from these games either, other than Duke is still really good and recruits some of the best players in America.

We learn from garfmes like UMass, Oakland, Green Bay, and Purdue. Games against good-but-not-great teams, in which we weren't favored to win. We went 2-2 in said games. That tells me we will be just fine in the MAC. I don't think last year's team wins any of those.

We did learn something, something very very important! We learned we have a temper problem and we need learn not to into our own heads. Getting into our own heads is a very big problem because when we do that we have no way of regaining control of the game. How many times did Duke make mistake and how many times did they just let it go regain control of themselves and get back to playing the game? Many, just as in any other sport if you get into your own head you lose focus and make even more mistakes..

(12-28-2013 05:19 PM)emussuperfan Wrote:  

(12-28-2013 04:47 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  We honestly don't learn much from these games either, other than Duke is still really good and recruits some of the best players in America.

We learn from garfmes like UMass, Oakland, Green Bay, and Purdue. Games against good-but-not-great teams, in which we weren't favored to win. We went 2-2 in said games. That tells me we will be just fine in the MAC. I don't think last year's team wins any of those.

We did learn something, something very very important! We learned we have a temper problem and we need learn not to into our own heads. Getting into our own heads is a very big problem because when we do that we have no way of regaining control of the game. How many times did Duke make mistake and how many times did they just let it go regain control of themselves and get back to playing the game? Many, just as in any other sport if you get into your own head you lose focus and make even more mistakes..

Gotta say, you're absolutely right. The Eagles played with a real lack of composure today - not only in dealing with their tempers but also in conducting plays. I know that Duke is a team composed of top caliber players but the Eagles played right into their hands most of the time. Too many turnovers and way too many early fouls. Couple that with poor shooting from the field and the free throw line and the game has loss written all over it. I didn't expect our boys to win but it would have been great for them to have at least kept it close.

Certainly, this loss bears very little insight into the MAC season - different level of talent and real meaning to each and every game. However, it could be an indication of what we can expect from a NCAA Tournament bid. EMU will be anywhere from a 12 to 15 seed in the Tourney and will have to play a team like Duke in the opening round. So, they better learn to play with composure before that point or it will be a one and done. That is a long way off and I have no doubt they will grow in maturity by the time March Madness rolls around.

We also won't be playing in Cameron Indoor if we make the tourney. That place is brutal.