...OK, we needed to be at the top of our game and weren't, but that was a ridiculous shooting performance by Duke. Redick, I'll gladly take that sinus infection off your hands and go audition for the Pistons tomorrow. :eek: I mean, you can't defend a guy making shots from Austria like that. Our interior defense was softer than it should have been, and our turnover problem was a little worse than usual tonight, but I'm really picking, here. Enberg & Co. said this was Duke's best shooting night of the season, and if anyone can think of a team in the tournament that could have beaten the Blue Devils today, you're one-up on me. When we had that 7-0 run in the second half, I was hopeful that Duke was cooling off, but it was just a lull in the storm.
Kaman: did just about everything we needed him to tonight (25 points/ten rebounds/I think three blocked shots) but Duke was very good at denying him -- and most everybody else -- the ball. Those are easily the quickest sets of hands I've seen on a team all season.
Side note: come back for your senior year, Chris! Not only does CMU need you, but you could use a little more beef on your frame and a bit more work on the little things, before you head for the NBA.
Wallace: J.R. had a solid game, hitting his season-average of 14 points. He was a good player in both rounds (12 points/five assists against Creighton), and I'll remember his many solid performances this season for a long time.
Bowne: Tony is improving nicely and had a pretty solid tournament. If he continues to progress, he'll be a player to watch next season.
Thanks for a great season, CMU! Here's hoping for a good follow-up performance next year.