In-game journal of Duke vs. UNC on 2/17/16
Background:
First, I have to be open about my bias. I am a die-hard and lifelong Duke fan. I have been a Duke fan for so long, I had to be told how my fandom started – my brother picked a Duke shirt to wear to school during “ACC day” at elementary school and like most younger brothers do, I followed suit and never looked back.
Growing up a little over an hour away from the famed Tobacco Road, if you were a sports fan (and in all honesty, even if you are not a sports fan), you had to have a preference; some people are just known as ABC or ABD (anything but…) fans instead of Wake Forrest or NC State fans. Due to their proximity, I believe that this rivalry is more intense than any other North American sports rivalry. Duke and UNC play at least twice a year, sometimes three when they meet in the ACC tournament and have joked that if the two ever met in the NCAA tournament, a civil war might break out in North Carolina. UNC is ahead in the all-time series 133-107[1][2] but Duke is on a winning streak, having won the past four meetings.
Pre-game analysis:
UNC is currently ranked 5th in the nation and has a veteran team, led by seniors Brice Johnson and Marcus Paige. Paige came into UNC as a blue-chip recruit and many wondered if he would be a one-and-done. After an underwhelming freshman year and injury-riddled sophomore and junior campaigns, he came into his senior year as a preseason Player of the Year candidate; although after forgetting how to shoot for the first part of the year, his POY hype was replaced with the previously mentioned Johnson. Johnson has made strides year-after-year for UNC and is currently averaging 10 rebounds and 16 points per game. If UNC wins tonight, it will be because both of these guys have good games with Paige controlling the pace/knocking down shots and Johnson controlling the glass.
Duke is currently ranked 20th in the nation and has a very young team, something that is becoming all too familiar as Coach K has changed his recruiting methodology by going after, and getting, players who are coined under the one-and-done prototype. That method worked well last year as Duke had three of the best players in the nation, but their vacancy has been difficult to fill. Duke is led by freshman sensation Brandon Ingram and the newest “most-hated man in college basketball” sophomore Grayson Allen. Ingram will most likely be matched up against Johnson and if either player gets into foul-trouble early on, that could tilt the game. Allen has been streaky this year, but is averaging 21 points per game and if gets hot early UNC will have a tough time keeping him under 30 points.
As you can imagine, I think that Duke will win this game… but if any of Duke’s forwards or centers get into foul-trouble early, it will be an up-hill battle as UNC would likely pound it inside with Johnson, sophomore Justin Jackson and junior Kennedy Meeks – all more experienced than anyone in Duke’s frontcourt other than 5th year senior Marshall Plumlee.
Live journal during the game
Tip-off
UNC wins the tip and Paige misses a 3-pointer (good start) but Justin Jackson gets the offensive rebound, misses the put-back and gets his own rebound; this time he finishes (forget my good start comment) UNC is up 2-0.
18:00
Ingram makes a three relatively early in the shot clock after jab stepping toward the lane. Johnson gave Ingram space after threatening to penetrate the defense, if he gets going this will be a dogfight for 40 minutes, or more. The game is tied 5-5.
16:37
After another missed 3-pointer from Paige (uh-oh for UNC fans) Johnson slams in a tip-slam. I have not seen him play too much this season, but Johnson is sneaky good and really athletic. UNC is up 10-7.
14:56
After almost losing the ball a hand-off, Grayson Allen drives and nearly makes a poster out of Isaiah Hicks who almost sneaks in for a charge. Allen wanted to dunk over him so bad but will have to settle for 3-point play. UNC is up 13-14.
12:35
Luke Kennard makes a jumper after Allen steal the ball from Theo Pinson. Quick story about how Theo has already affected this game (and Duke’s past two seasons): While Theo was in high-school, Duke offered him a scholarship to come to Duke. Being a blue-chip player, Theo took time to mull over his decision. During that time, Duke offered a scholarship to Allen who accepted the next day. Duke then retracted the offer they made to Theo as they had enough guards for the following year with Quinn Cook and Matt Jones already on the roster and Tyus Jones already committed [3]. Duke is ahead for the first time 17-16.
11:58
After UNC reclaimed the lead momentarily off of a Paige jumper, Luke scores his 5th, 6th and 7th points on a 3-pointer. If Luke keeps this up, Duke will be able to stay with UNC as long as no one gets injured and they stay out of foul trouble. UNC is much deeper than Duke, who usually only uses 7 players – one being Chase Jeter who averages only seven minutes a game. Duke is up 20-18.
8:25
Ingram misses a layup in transition, which would have tied the game at 26, after Paige turns the ball over. Johnson, who hustled back to play good defense, gets the rebound and true to form, UNC scores 6 seconds later on a Justin Jackson layup. UNC is up 28-24
7:54
After driving the lane, Matt Jones misses a hook shot and comes down awkwardly, looks like he turned his ankle and badly as he is writhing in pain. UNC walks the ball down the court and with a 5 on 4 they get a quick basket on a thunderous slam from Johnson. Obviously there is no love lost, or sportsmanship, in this rivalry. UNC is up 30-24.
7:32
Coming out of the commercial break we see the Duke training staff assessing Jones’ ankle… with his shoe off… this is not good for Duke… Kennard makes a deep three, maybe there is still hope for Duke. UNC is up 30-26.
5:13
Another tip-slam for Johnson... FUCK! He is really good. UNC is up 34-31.
3:19
After a missed Allen 3-pointer and Johnson rebound, Derryck Thornton fouls Nate Britt. Before Britt goes to the line, there is a TV timeout. After the break, they show Matt Jones being taken to the locker room; he is walking on one leg and has a trainer under each arm… uh-oh for Duke fans like myself. Britt makes both free throws, but that is followed by a possession where Allen makes a wide-open 3-pointer after his defender converges on Ingram. UNC is up 40-36.
HALFTIME – UNC is winning 46-42
Considering Duke has lost one of their few upperclassmen, the deficit is not as bad as it could be. UNC has been dominating the glass, mainly through Brice Johnson who already has 11 rebounds to go along with his 18 points [4]. Johnson has been carrying UNC as Paige only has 4 points… Paige will have to shoot better in the second half if UNC wants to close this game out; but this has the looks of a late-game thriller… Now onto the second half.
19:49
Duke starts the second half strong by running Thornton off a few screens and then having him step into a long 3-pointer. UNC starts strong as well, getting the ball into Johnson’s hands and he makes takes advantage of the opportunity. UNC is up 48-45.
18:24
Following a Thornton missed 3-pointer, Paige jogs up the court the court and immediately finds Johnson with a pretty lob-entry pass; Johnson slams it home. UNC is up 50-45.
17:42
After the teams exchange misses, Johnson slams home a missed shot from Joel Berry. I’m starting to sound like a broken record with these tim-slams. UNC is up 52-45.
17:25
Plumlee commits his second foul, luckily it is not his 3rd but knowing his game like I do, it won’t be long until he gets another and then Coach K will have to turn to the unproven (and often terrible) Chase Jeter.
15:25
Ingram makes another 3-pointer which takes Duke’s total made threes to 6. UNC on the other hand has shot only 1 for 8 from behind arc and that is the main reason Duke is keeping this game close. UNC is up 52-48.
14:42
Another Paige missed 3-pointer from Paige results in another offensive rebound for Johnson, only this time he dishes it to Kennedy Meeks who scores on a layup. UNC is up 54-50.
14:19
Ingram misses a short jumper and while Meeks is corralling the rebound, he is fouled by Plumlee… this is not good but if he plays smart (unlikely) K might be able to keep him out there.
14:06
FUCK! SHIT! TITS! Plumlee is whistled for his 4th foul as he swipes at Johnson going up for a shot. Jeter is immediately substituted in for him and Johnson makes one of two free throws. I would be VERY surprised if Plumlee comes back before the 6 minute mark, even if his replacement is not very good. UNC is up 55-50.
10:51
Duke has been able to stay close to UNC, although they are currently at their largest lead of the night, up 62-55. After Allen misses a 3-pointer, Jeter fights for a well-earned offensive rebound… and then he travels, turning the ball over. K has seen enough and to my extreme surprise, sends Plumlee back into the game… here we go.
10:16
Plumlee shows why K felt like the big man had to get back into the game: in only 35 seconds he gets two rebounds, one offensive / one defensive, and scores a point from the free throw line. UNC is up 56-62.
8:41
After getting back to a two-point deficit, Duke seemingly allows Paige to shoot and miss another 3-point but fail to get the rebound as Isaiah Hick collects it and scores. UNC is up 64-60.
6:49
The teams exchange misses and turnovers and Paige scores two points from the line, but for the past two minutes it has been sloppy play by both teams. Justin Jackson then has an other-worldly 12 second stretch: He starts by blocking a Grayson Allen layup, collecting the defensive rebound, then barely missing a tip-in off of a Paige miss; he finishes the stretch by collecting his own miss and then finishing at the rim, giving UNC its largest lead. UNC is up 68-60.
5:01
Not to be outdone, Ingram goes on his own run, scoring six unanswered points; the last two are a fade-away jumper over the outstretched arm of Theo Pinson. UNC is up 68-66.
4:44
Johnson responds by slamming home a dunk after Plumlee nearly stripes a driving Paige, the ball bounces into the hands of Justin Jackson, who drives and finds Johnson under the hoop who again, slams it home. UNC is up 70-66
3:52
After Allen and Paige exchange fouls on each other: Paige’s against Allen is while Allen makes a tough shot and while Allen’s is a non-shooting foul, Paige goes to the line as Duke is over the limit. Paige only makes one. UNC is up 71-69.
2:54
I am starting to think that Paige is missing these 3-pointers on purpose as UNC continually collects the rebound, this time it is Meeks cleaning the glass. Fortunately for Duke fans, he immediately turns it over. UNC is up 71-69.
2:40
Ingram gets the ball at the top of the key and immediately all of the UNC off-ball defenders take a few steps toward him. Ingram finds an open Kennard in the corner who nails a 3-pointer. Duke is ahead for the first time since 11:58 mark, coincidentally both are from Kennard 3’s. Duke is up 72-71.
2:13
HOW DOES UNC GET THE REBOUND OF EVERY MISSED 3-POINTER FROM PAIGE?!?!?!? This time it is Jackson who gives the ball to Meeks who this time converts the layup. UNC is up 73-72.
1:15
After an Ingram miss and UNC defensive rebound, they take it down the court and PLUMLEE STEALS THE BALL FROM PAIGE!!! OH MAN OH MAN OH MAN OH MAN
1:09
Allen gets fouled by Berry and makes both free-throws. Duke is up 74-73.
:52 seconds
Meeks misses a layup and ALLEN GETS THE REBOUND!! Duke takes their time getting up the court. K still has a timeout and taking one right now in-order to draw up a decent play might be the way to go…
:24
Duke does not take a timeout and Allen ends up settling for a contested jumper and misses. Johnson gets the rebound… oh man. UNC has 3 timeouts left and a chance at the final shot. Time to get across half-court, call a timeout, see what the defense is going to be, then if you don’t like the look, call another timeout and draw up a better play.
:10
Damn, no timeout yet. After taking their time getting the offense initiated, Justin Jackson has the ball at the foul line with Allen guarding him well with both Plumlee and Ingram behind him, locking off the painted area. Why has Roy not called a timeout to get the ball into Johnson or Paige’s hand?
:7
Berry has the ball at the top of the key and is guarded by Thornton. Here comes a timeout as Berry has not been shooting well.
:6
IS ROY IS GOING TO LET THEM PLAY THIS ONE OUT?!? HOLY SHIT! HE’S TRUSTING BERRY WITH THE GAME ON THE LINE!!
:5
Berry spins to get just inside the foul line, but Thornton is on him like glue…
:4
THORNTON BLOCKED THE SHOT!!! Please don’t make a mystery foul call, please don’t make a mystery foul call
:3
NO MYSTERY FOUL CALL!!!
:2
Allen gathers the loose ball and takes a dribble!!!!
:1
HE THROWS IT INTO THE AIR!!! THE GAME IS OVER!!!! DUKE WON!!!
Yes, I was out of breath and slapping hands with everyone I was with… this was a fantastic game and I am having a hard time believing that Plumlee was able to play the final 10+ minutes with four fouls, I am even more amazed Roy did not call a timeout during the final possession... you have to make sure Brice Johnson gets the ball as he ended with 29 points and 19 rebounds...
[1] Over the last 89 games of the series, Duke leads the series 45-44. This stat is from before the game.
[2] The record after this game is 133 – 108 all-time in UNC’s favor and 46 – 44 in Duke’s favor over the past 90 games.
[3] Story from my little brother, Bob, who went to high-school with Theo at Wesleyan Christian Academy in High Point, NC.
[4] Wow, even I was surprised at that number.
