ESPN Analyst Doug Gottlieb on Duke's early exit

[prhoya]

ESPN Analyst Doug Gottlieb just discussed Duke’s problems this season. He mentioned that Duke is the easiest team to prepare for because everyone knows what they’re going to do offensively and defensively. Offensively, they spread you out, penetrate and look to kick out for the threes. Defensively, they guard you man-to-man to challenge you believing they’re better than you. Asked how they lost, he answered “great defense and athleticism”. He also mentioned that Duke’s lack of depth was exposed. (The host mentioned that JJ R. did not play like an All-American all tournament long).

I agree with his analysis of the defense and offense. In regards to why they lost, I would add that Duke is uncomfortable against rough teams that don’t allow open looks. Finally, I cannot believe the “lack of depth” argument. Coach K routinely recruits top 3 classes that consist basically of two to three McD All-Americans and another one or two top 50 recruits. He never recruits the “project”-type players or plays walk-ons. Other teams would love to have Duke’s alleged “lack of depth”, with McD All-Americans on the bench. It’s such an excuse!

Maybe it’s the heart and not the ranking of a player that matters…

[RaChi8]

I think J.J. Redick's poor shooting performance was more of a contributing factor than Randolph's play. Redick, was below mediocre, from behind the 3 point line the enitre tournament.

Game 1: 1-6
Game 2: 2-9
Game 3: 3-9

The "best shooter in college basketball" didn't perform like it and the Duke struggled, even against Delaware St., in which he shot 1-13 from the field.

Additionaly, Duke's inability or unwillingness to get Williams the ball in post, as well as, 22 turnovers played a significant part in their loss.

[TBird41]

Or maybe their lack of depth is that Coach K isn't good at developing players anymore? Some of his players are so ridiculously talented they don't really need too much help to develop, but to have so many top 100 recruits sitting on your bench not contributing means that they need time and coaching (and even such talents as Rudy Gay needed time and work) they aren't getting or Coach K. might have the highest "bust" ratio of any coach, considering how many of his top 100 recruits don't pan out.

I'm just offering up a hypothesis here, so if I'm uninformed, well, sorry I didn't spend that much time analyzing Duke's roster

[the_way]

Duke's lack of depth is because they lost Louel Deng after his freshman year, and the point guard that left out of high school and was drafted by he Clippers this year. With those two guys on the team, Duke wouldn't be crying about depth. Duke lost to Michigan State because Michigan State was a better team. It was a no brainer that Duke should lose.

[DFW HOYA]

Duke is entering a period of decline, and the rest of the ACC knows it.

The recruiting isn't as solid, the fundamentals aren't there, the assistant coaches are all former players with no exposure outside the system (as was the case at Georgetown) and an increasingly surly Mike Krzyzewski is beginning to cash in on his fame.

Eight miles from Durham down Highway 15-501, the next dynasty is under construction.

[the_way]

DFW said:

Duke is entering a period of decline, and the rest of the ACC knows it.

The recruiting isn't as solid, the fundamentals aren't there, the assistant coaches are all former players with no exposure outside the system (as was the case at Georgetown) and an increasingly surly Mike Krzyzewski is beginning to cash in on his fame.

Eight miles from Durham down Highway 15-501, the next dynasty is under construction.

Duke isn't declining. Things go in cycles. Duke did what G'town did this year. Their respective coaches did a heck of a job getting the most out of the talents on the roster. Duke has a good recruiting class coming in. They were taken back by Deng and the kid who went to Clippers declaring for the draft. They didn't have a plan B for that situation. UNC is the one going nowhere. To see a team with the most talent and depth in college basketball struggle the way they do is alarming to say the least. If Coach K,Rick Pitino, or JTIII had UNC's roster, UNC would be undefeated and would have beaten Villanova by 25 points last night.

[lichoya68]

lack of depth.. not as great as people thought.... and also salem stottymeyer or however you spell it ... is the beast three player ..and clutch .. BETTER THAN REDDICK no way .. did you see his last 3 second shot to win the game ..amazing and amazing record of winning shots ..and three point per cent.. go him.. bye bye duke and reddick.. on a sad note the duke lax team wiped out our hoyas today 12 to 3 it was a great show by them and we looked weak.. the lax guys gotta get going... go hoyas ;D

[HoyaFanNY]

gottlieb is a [EDITED]. he has nothing good to say about anyone unless it's ok state. coaches and players hate the [EDITED]. his only reason to be on espn is to ruffle feathers. typical espn so called 'expert' that makes himself part of the story instead of just giving an opinion.

[RDF]

HoyaFanNY, the only reason Gottlieb's on ESPN is because as a player at OSU, he'd make annual appearances on ESPN Radio and specifically the Todd Wright Show--I remember because I would be working while I was in college when Wright's show was on. He buddied up to Wright and next thing you know he's on ESPN.

[GUHoya07]

the_way said:

Duke isn't declining. Things go in cycles. Duke did what G'town did this year. Their respective coaches did a heck of a job getting the most out of the talents on the roster. Duke has a good recruiting class coming in. They were taken back by Deng and the kid who went to Clippers declaring for the draft. They didn't have a plan B for that situation. UNC is the one going nowhere. To see a team with the most talent and depth in college basketball struggle the way they do is alarming to say the least. If Coach K,Rick Pitino, or JTIII had UNC's roster, UNC would be undefeated and would have beaten Villanova by 25 points last night.

I hate when people talk about how great a job he did getting the most out of what he had this year. People act like he had no talent but he has 5 McD AA's and Sheldon Williams who would have been one had it not been for an incident. That team's top 6 are talented as hell and not getting to the Sweet 16 with them would be a complete failure.

[HoyaFanNY]

i love the fact that cbs gives coach k free recruiting with those commercials he has. they seem to air them every break during the tournament. he says how he not only molds great players but great people or some crap like that.

[the_way]

GUHoya2007 said:

I hate when people talk about how great a job he did getting the most out of what he had this year. People act like he had no talent but he has 5 McD AA's and Sheldon Williams who would have been one had it not been for an incident. That team's top 6 are talented as hell and not getting to the Sweet 16 with them would be a complete failure.

If you actually watch the game and offer your own perspective in terms of analysis instead of repeating what you have heard others, you could see that Duke is a severely flawed team. You can talk about high school rankings all you want, but as we all know, high school rankings can be very misleading about who can play at the college level and who can't. Duke's top 6 players that play significantly are less than Maryland's, GA Tech's, Wake Forest's ,and UNC's. If you actually look at that team, they are not that strong this year at all. There is a reason why Maryland beat them twice and Wake Forest beat them soundly this year. They have a good coaching and they have better talent overall than Duke.

[GUHoya07]

I dont care how flawed you say they were. Flawed for what? They were flawed if they were hoping to win the championship, but they sure as hell weren't so flawed that making it to the Sweet 16 was a big accomplishment. Sheldon Williams is one of the best big men in the country, Ewing is a great guard who can score a ton and also gives you a lot of great all around play, Redick is a deadly shooter and has improved his overall game somewhat (not that its great). Shavlik Randolph is a bit of a stiff but he's still very serviceable for a limited range of things. Melchioni has shown a nice shooting touch and was a solid contributor and although Dockery isn't a gamebreaker, a lot of programs would love to have his services.

Im not saying Coach K and Staff didnt do a good job, but acting like its such an unbelievably great job just seems ridiculous to me. I'd take Williams, Ewing and Redick any day of the week and think my team is pretty damn talented and better at least get to the Sweet 16.

[HoyaTejano]

If I'm not mistaken, Duke has had the same philosophy for years. Michigan State just manned up and beat Duke face-to-face. Those guys don't fear anything.

[aggypryd]

I've said it for a few years now that what Duke does on offense isn't anything special...One of their main offensive sets is when they use some principles of the Four Corners where they spread you out and let the dribbler try to break down his defender and either shoot a lay-up or pass it off when the defensive help comes...

If you have guards that play good on-the-ball defense, or your defense doesn't collapse when the penetration comes, they're forced to go to something else...

[ColumbiaHeightsHoya]

Duke played above their abilities all year long and finally it caught up to them. Was a sweet sixteen loss really all that early for them? I would argue that it wasn't. I think Duke could be in for a couple of average years after next year unless they bring in some horses that stay for awhile (I am assuming that Redick/Williams stay).

[SaxaCD]

Let's face it, Duke's loss showed that some of their kids' rankings might have come from the fact that they chose Duke, and not the other way around. Sign with Duke? You're top 50!! Coach K gets to Sweet 16 with only 8 top 50 kids? Coach of the Year!!

What I saw was a team that defensively let the ball get to the rim on almost every possession, especially in the last two games. They would have lost to Mississippi State if that team hadn't bricked so many layups and putbacks. I'd say the story for Duke this year is -- talent, enough; heart, absent; hype, not enough to overcome tougher teams.