McRoberts and Paulus receive little help
By: Sam Levy
Issue date: 3/9/07 Section: News
Last update: 3/16/07 at 7:40 PM EST
Last update: 3/16/07 at 7:40 PM EST
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BUFFALO, N.Y. - For the first time all season, Duke had two players score at least 20 points in a game. Although Josh McRoberts and Greg Paulus turned in their best outings of the season-and career highs to boot-the other Blue Devils failed to pick up the remaining slack.
Unfortunately for Duke, it came at the worst possible time. Fortunately for VCU, the Rams will be moving on in the NCAA Tournament.
Balanced scoring has been a theme for the Blue Devils all year, as the team has only had a 20-point scorer on 12 occasions throughout the season. But tonight, outside of McRoberts and Paulus, no other player even reached double-figures.
DeMarcus Nelson, who led the Blue Devils in scoring during the season, was absent from Duke's offensive flow. Aside from his coast-to-coast layup to tie the contest at 77 with 12 seconds left, and a three-point play early in the first frame, the junior had trouble reaching the paint against VCU's defense. Nelson picked up his fourth foul on a reach-in with 11:13 remaining in the game, and was sloppy with the ball, turning the ball over five times.
Jon Scheyer was almost non-existent for Duke in the first half, as the freshman attempted only one shot. Scheyer didn't fare much better in the second period either, as he hit only 2-of-6 from the field and missed all three of his three-point attempts.
Both Nelson and Scheyer also struggled defending VCU point guard Eric Maynor, who scored eight of his team-high 22 points down the stretch, including his game-winning jumper over Scheyer's outstretched arm with 1.8 seconds remaining.
"We just gave up the ball a lot in the halfcourt, and we gave them a lot of
points off of turnovers," Nelson said. "We just didn't do the tough things down the
stretch."
Last year, J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams dominated the stat sheet throughout the season for Duke, as the team struggled all year to find a third scoring option. That was not a problem this season for the Blue Devils, as five different players have led the team in scoring in a game. But tonight, with Paulus and McRoberts resembling the old Redick and Williams duo from a year ago, the Blue Devils were unable to take advantage.
Unfortunately for Duke, it came at the worst possible time. Fortunately for VCU, the Rams will be moving on in the NCAA Tournament.
Balanced scoring has been a theme for the Blue Devils all year, as the team has only had a 20-point scorer on 12 occasions throughout the season. But tonight, outside of McRoberts and Paulus, no other player even reached double-figures.
DeMarcus Nelson, who led the Blue Devils in scoring during the season, was absent from Duke's offensive flow. Aside from his coast-to-coast layup to tie the contest at 77 with 12 seconds left, and a three-point play early in the first frame, the junior had trouble reaching the paint against VCU's defense. Nelson picked up his fourth foul on a reach-in with 11:13 remaining in the game, and was sloppy with the ball, turning the ball over five times.
Jon Scheyer was almost non-existent for Duke in the first half, as the freshman attempted only one shot. Scheyer didn't fare much better in the second period either, as he hit only 2-of-6 from the field and missed all three of his three-point attempts.
Both Nelson and Scheyer also struggled defending VCU point guard Eric Maynor, who scored eight of his team-high 22 points down the stretch, including his game-winning jumper over Scheyer's outstretched arm with 1.8 seconds remaining.
"We just gave up the ball a lot in the halfcourt, and we gave them a lot of
points off of turnovers," Nelson said. "We just didn't do the tough things down the
stretch."
Last year, J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams dominated the stat sheet throughout the season for Duke, as the team struggled all year to find a third scoring option. That was not a problem this season for the Blue Devils, as five different players have led the team in scoring in a game. But tonight, with Paulus and McRoberts resembling the old Redick and Williams duo from a year ago, the Blue Devils were unable to take advantage.
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 8
TooPoopedToPop
posted 3/17/07 @ 12:33 PM EST
Ah yes, another McD all-american recruited by Rip Van K. Hmm, so it came down to Rutgers and Duke for Lance Thomas last year? Geez, I guess now we all know where he would have fit in better. (Continued…)
gerald
posted 3/17/07 @ 3:37 PM EST
they missed crucial free throws. they deserve more blame than the others
K
posted 3/17/07 @ 11:14 PM EST
It doesn't matter how many points those two clowns score when Paulus isn't fast enough or good enough to defend anyone. Also, McRoberts is the softest big man in the game. (Continued…)
Bill
posted 3/18/07 @ 1:16 AM EST
Looks like all those McDonald's All-Americans finished the season with four straight losses - out of the ACC and NCAA Tournaments in the first round - and swept by Carolina and Maryland. (Continued…)
moe litman
posted 3/18/07 @ 10:23 PM EST
Coach seemed distracted. Why wasn't Zoubek put in. VCU could not handle two big men. At least worthy of a try. Where was the zone, given that Duke couldn't handle the quickness of VCU? A least worthy of a try. (Continued…)
eric ragland
posted 3/20/07 @ 10:45 AM EST
Coach K has lost it basically. I have been watching his decline for roughly 8-10 years.He blew games against Kentucky Uconn twice UNC at least three times lately. (Continued…)
TJ
posted 3/20/07 @ 1:06 PM EST
It wasn't the team's finest game as a collective unit, but I wouldn't be so hard on all of the players, particularly Paulus and McRoberts. Greg Paulus for one filled a mighty lofty role this season, and played his heart out during this game--he just needed some help. (Continued…)
tom
posted 3/21/07 @ 8:50 AM EST
The players do well except McRoberts has not become the player we all thought. I put him equal to Tyler H when they came to UNC DUKE but we know which player developed into the better one. (Continued…)
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