MD - Duke Comments

Record: 14 - 8
ACC: 4 - 4
RPI (before tonight): 72
NCAA Tourny Bid Probability: 32%

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With the lack of offensive talent on the team, a lot has to go right for MD to contend against ranked teams. Not much went right tonight.

- Poor performance defending the three (allowing Duke to go 10 for 23; 44%)
- 2 for 9 from distance (after an 0 for 6 at GT)
- Poor defense; allowing Duke to shoot 53%
- Combined 5 for 21 night for Tucker / Stoglin / Mosley / Howard

Singler took over the game in the second-half. Poor hedging on screens led to far too many open looks.

Nine games left:
- Wake (H) - 234 RPI
- Longwood (H) - 317 RPI
- BC (A) - 45 RPI
- VT (A) - 69 RPI
- NC ST (H) - 97 RPI
- FSU (H) - 56 RPI
- UNC (A) - 13 RPI
- MIA (A) - 71 RPI
- UVA (H) - 151 RPI

Most likely scenario is 6 and 3; losses at VT, UNC, and MIA. That would be 20 - 11 (9 - 7) headed into the ACC tournament. Anything short of a finals appearance (23 wins) would mean NIT. I think 22 and 12 will not make it.

Quick comments:

- Williams: Lock for all ACC first team; 12 for 16 at the line tonight was one of the few positive take-aways.

- Bowie: Misses a lot of chippies.

- Mosley: Thought he would build off the GT game; doesn't look like that will happen. Needs to find ways to get his 10 to 12 foot shots in the lane like his first two years.

- Stoglin: Best shooter on the team; can't find shots. Not a great passer.

- Howard: Bad shooter.

- Gregory: Solid contributor.

- Tucker: X-factor. MD needed a big season from him. He hasn't delivered. At his best when he rebounds and goes coast to coast. At his worst when he disappears in half-court sets.

- Palsson: Best on the team at feeding the post from the wing. Always looks for Williams when he enters the game.

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