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<table border="1" width="130" align="right">
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<td><a href="http://www.accessatlanta.com/partners/ajc/epaper/editions/today/sports_59.html">AJC</a></td>
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<td><a href="http://www.accessatlanta.com/partners/ajc/epaper/editions/today/sports_58.html">AJC</a></td>
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<td><a href="http://www.accessatlanta.com/partners/ajc/epaper/editions/today/sports_57.html">AJC</a></td>
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<td><a href="http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/sports/collegebasketball/duke13.htm">W-S</a></td>
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<td><a href="http://www.news-observer.com/daily/2000/02/13/sports01_side1.html">Dunleavy
A Star</a></td>
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<td><a href="http://www.news-observer.com/daily/2000/02/13/sports01.html">N&O</a></td>
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<td><a href="http://www.charlotte.com/observer/sports/docs/duke0213.htm">Charlotte</a></td>
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<td><a href="http://www.totalsports.net/news/20000211/bko/000211.3378.html">Total
Sports</a></td>
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<td><a href="http://www.totalsports.net/VIDEO/NCAABasketball/00_02/02.12.00/DUKEvsGT3.mov">JW
Assist</a></td>
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<td><a href="http://www.GoDuke.com/news/bko/bkc/2000/02/12/bko/bkc/021200vid1.html">Cwell
Dunk!</a></td>
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<td><a href="http://www.sportserver.com/generic/story/0,1673,500167376-500213438-500996647-0,00.html">Sportserver</a></td>
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<td><a href="http://bkc7.2000.totalcast.com/2000/02/12/daubkc-gahbkc-1/">Totalcast</a></td>
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<td><a href="http://espn.go.com/ncb/2000/20000212/boxscore/daugah.html">Box
Score</a></td>
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<td><a href="http://espn.go.com/ncb/2000/20000212/recap/daugah.html">ESPN</a></td>
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<p align="center"><font color="#0000FF" size="5" face="Arial">SAMIZDAT DBR</font></p>
<p> </p>
<p><font color="#FF0000" size="4">Until we get our server problems
resolved, we're going to do a samizdat version. If you don't know, that's how
Russians published their books back in the bad old days - sometimes by hand, if
lucky by copy machine, and they passed them around by hand. God Bless The
Russians. They have souls. </font></p>
<p><font color="#FF0000" size="4">Anyway, send this to your friends with
our apologies and ask them to send it to anyone who might be interested, and <a href="http://www.dukebasketballreport.com">www.dukebasketballreport.com</a>
will be up as soon as possible.</font></p>
<p>After the Maryland game, how a young Duke team came out against Georgia Tech,
who had been on a bit of a roll lately, was key. They picked up pretty
much where they left off before the Terps got them, rolling to a relatively easy
victory. There were a lot of things worth mentioning in this game, but
before we go on, how about that Dunleavy move? Ay Carumba! His second Dr. J.
move of the season.</p>
<p>Ok, we had to get that out of our system.</p>
<p>The best part of the game was the defense. Duke really clamped down, taking
the ball from Tech 21 times. Well we should say Tech gave it up 21 times. Duke
actually took it away 13, which is still pretty damn good.</p>
<p>In the first game, in Durham, they shut off the outside game. This time
around they shut down the inside game. In the first half, Jones and
Collier were almost shut out. Not quite but the considerable size advantage was
neutralized.</p>
<p>The team in general had an excellent game, but some specific comments about
specific players:</p>
<ul>
<li>Nate James had an excellent all-round game. Consistently underrated, James
continues to show excellent leadership, talking when he needs to talk,
acting when he needs to act. He had one of his better all-round games today.</li>
<li>Jason Williams: the rookie continues to be up one day and down the
next, but his downs arent as far and his ups are exhilarating, to say the
least. We liked his no-look pass, and his solid shooting, and his
defense, but we particularly liked his control of the game. Jason only had 2
turnovers, which is pretty good (the team as a whole had only one in the
first half). His penetration is getting ridiculous at times.</li>
<li>Chris Carrawell: Cwell had a three half mini-slump before kicking it into
gear in the second half. He was impressive. He was also Duke's only
serious rebounding threat, and that was a problem. No one else go more
than 5.</li>
<li>Mike Dunleavy: his highlight shots are always fun, but the best part of
his game is watching him do the basic, quiet things, like be in the right
place on a break.</li>
</ul>
<p>All things considered, this was a nice bounceback from the Maryland game, and
the highlights, while the most meaningless part of the game, were a hell of a
lot of fun.</p>
<p>The downside of the victory was shoveling a little more dirt in the grave of
Bobby Cremins. One of the genuine good guys in the ACC, as well as an
all-time character, Bobby's days are probably numbered. Whenever his last
game in the tourney is this year, we hope ACC fans stand up and applaud him and
chant his name. He's been really good for the conference, and it's sad to think
of things without him.</p>
<p>Some other notes from the box score - Tech outrebounded Duke by a wide
margin, not surprising perhaps given 2 7 footers. Duke only had 7 turnovers.
Duke also only shot 64% from the free throw line.</p>
<p>Notes - Alvin Jones is thinking of going pro...someone tell him he's
nuts...Jason really has two stages to master..the first, just the basics of
running a team...second is taking over the game...he's very close on the
first...his in-traffic pass was amazing, even though it was bobbled...one of the
things we've always liked about Bobby Cremins is that he smiles no matter
what...he wasn't smiling today...Matt Christensen had a solid game, his best in
awhile....</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>RECRUITING - 2/12</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Thad "The Mummy" Mumau has an update on Andre Sweet, saying that he
is very underrated, and also quite interested in Duke. He'll be in for the St.
John's game, of course, when Duke will offer him a scholarship. His coach
says he is <a href="http://www.acctoday.com/Thad_Mumau_article.jtmpl?id=4856&author=73&subject=5&school=0" TARGET="_TOP">"very
interested in Duke."</a></p>
<p>Also, here's an article <a href="http://www.roanoke.com/roatimes/news/story88207.html" TARGET="_TOP">on
the pressures on kids</a>, specifically J.J. Reddick and J.R. Reynolds, both of
Roanoke.</p>
<p> </p>
<p align="center">*****</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Here's an article on<a href="http://www.cnnsi.com/inside_game/news/2000/02/09/acc_insider/" TARGET="_TOP">
Lonny Baxter from CNNSI</a>. He's had a sensational season so far, worthy
of great respect. There are other conference tidbits in there as well.</p>
<p>Lonny has proven a lot this season, and is making an argument for himself as
the best big man in the ACC. Among the other contenders for that
distinction is Brendan Haywood. We watched him against Wake Forest and
it's time to say it - his game has improved by at least three levels. Last
year, if you got him anywhere away from the basket, he didn't know what to do.
This year, he has, lately, added a turnaround jumper, a little jump hook, and
also learned how to pass. That makes him about 3 times more
effective. We picked on Brendan some earlier, but now the only thing left
to talk about is how hard he works - and he seems to have brought that up to
snuff as well. We're very impressed. He's an entirely different player.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.news-record.com/sports/acc/uncbkb12.htm">Teammate Max
Owens isn't having as much fun.</a> Forte is a better guard, and Lang is
bigger, so to the bench he went. To his credit, he seems to be keeping a good
attitude.</p>
<p>Last season, of course, they both lost to Weber State and Harold "The
Show" Arceneaux. <a href="http://www.charlotte.com/observer/sports/docs/tom0212.htm" TARGET="_TOP">Here's
a catchup with Harold.</a> We linked to a story about the T-shirt sales and we
know some of our readers bought them, so we'd like to claim some small credit
for steering traffic their way!</p>
<p>UNC and <a href="http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/sports/collegebasketball/wf12.htm" TARGET="_TOP">Wake
play today</a>, and while UNC is increasingly optimistic, <a href="http://www.news-observer.com/daily/2000/02/12/sports03.html" TARGET="_TOP">having
rediscovered defense, </a>Wake is in some despair. The problem at point
guard have festered, and O' Kelley isn't the answer. Dave Odom
is having a rough season and <a href="http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/sports/lenox/lenox12.htm" TARGET="_TOP">hearing
from some fans,</a> who apparently don't remember the name Bob Staack.
Odom has Wake in the best position it's been in, year in and year out, ever. He
deserves support and one bad year isn't the end of the world.</p>
<p>Of course, Bill Guthridge took a lot of heat of his own over the Weber State loss and
the early season struggles. <a href="http://www.charlotte.com/observer/sports/docs/inside0212.htm" TARGET="_TOP">He
should get credit now</a>, but probably won't. Wonder if <a href="http://www.goheels.com/basketball_article.jtmpl?id=1000002316">Art
Chansky will give him any credit at all?</a> Nope. He does mention that
Guthridge made the decision to go small vs. Wake Forest, but to read his
article, you'd think that the players have turned things around with no coaching
involvement at all. Fascinating.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, in Charlottesville, the promising young Cavaliers are taking on
the <a href="http://www.news-observer.com/daily/2000/02/12/sports04.html">young
Wolfpack</a>. Both teams are struggling right now, but both have a lot of
talent. One will take a step forward to the NCAA today, and the loser will
take a step towards the NIT. There's more pressure on State right now than
UVa - Gillen has done a miracle to get his team this close to the tourney after
having only six players last year - and if they lose again, the muttering will
start from State fans, numbed by a decade of failure. State has been very tough at home, but not so much on the road. It's
hard to believe in some ways - this is a tough, powerful team. <a href="http://www.news-record.com/sports/acc/ncsubkb12.htm" TARGET="_TOP">Is
there a mental block?</a> Could be. </p>
<p>As for UVa, there isn't anyone with more pressure than <a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/sports/basket/uva12.shtml" TARGET="_TOP">Stephon
DonDon</a> currently - and probably no one who can handle it better, either.
DonDon is an interesting guy, a hard worker, a guy who speaks four languages and
who seems determined to get where he is going regardless. It's hard to bet
against him, but you wish he had more than two years.</p>
<p>Speaking of UVa, here's an article about Jeff Jones, former head coach, who
is now an assistant at struggling Rhode Island, and <a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/sports/basket/white121.shtml" TARGET="_TOP">just
happy to be back in coaching.</a></p>
<p>In today's ugly game,<a href="http://www.tdo.com/news/spt/0212.spt.fsubench.htm" TARGET="_TOP">
FSU goes to Clemson,</a> with, they hope, fresh legs. When they get there,
they'll meet up with <a href="http://www.thestate.com/sports/tigers/docs/edscottapsaabcdhy3.htm" TARGET="_TOP">Edward
Scott,</a> the Tiger's freshman point guard, who is still getting himself in
game shape after a serious foot injury early in the year. He's obviously a
determined kid, and with a 36" vertical, gifted as well. So to repeat our
theme from last night, consider Clemson's possible lineup next year - Solomon,
Scott, Allenspach, Clifton, and....Hobbs? Who knows. Point is, it's a legitimate
ACC lineup, and not dependent on Lithuanian juco imports.</p>
<p> </p>
<p align="center">*****</p>
<p>2/12/13</p>
<p>The current phrase in vogue for nearing one's limits in basketball is <a href="http://www.news-record.com/sports/acc/dukebkb12.htm" TARGET="_TOP">"hitting
the wall." </a>Coach K talked about it before the Tech game, but the
rookies seemed to hold up pretty well. After the game, he talked about
Cameron and the Maryland game, saying this: "Our crowd wasn't very good Wednesday when we
lost. They have expectations that we would walk all over whoever we're playing. They have to understand we need them, that they need to get out there and work." </p>
<p>Chris Carrawell added this: "At home, we rely on the
crowd. They just expect us to win. But we need them to come out."
</p>
<p>We took some heat for cracking on the crowd the other night, including on 850
The Buzz, so we're glad someone else said something. And in
fairness, the students who did show up weren't the problem, though chanting
overrated at Terrence Morris was like telling a mugger he's not that tough when
he's got a gun in your face. Just not the brightest thing in the
world. And the fans upstairs who showed up weren't the problem
either. The problem was the people who didn't come. Now we heard
that there were various conflicts on campus, including at least one major exam,
and we also heard from a few people who said basketball wasn't the end-all and
be-all of their lives, and that's understandable, too. But unlike a lot of
places, there is a bond between team and crowd, and the players obviously want,
and need, the support. We're sure the students will be there for the rest
of the season. Upstairs is a concern, however.</p>
<p>Look, if you can't go, or if you can't be bothered to go, for God's sake,
turn your tickets back in to the Iron Dukes or use this site to get them to a
Duke fan. The fact that Maryland tickets couldn't be given away was
ridiculous. Worse, at the NC State game, there were enough State fans
there to have an impact on the game. Please, if you can't go, just at
least make sure a Duke fan goes. There are a lot of them who want to go who
can't even get tickets, and to just burn them, or give them to the opposing
school - that's just crazy.</p>
<p> </p>
<p align="center">*****</p>
<p align="left"> </p>
<p align="left">In case you hadn't noticed, the race has changed
dramatically. <a href="http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/sports/collegebasketball/wf13.htm" TARGET="_TOP">UNC
has climbed back near the top</a>, though catching Duke gets tougher every game
Duke wins, and State and UVa have fallen back. Maryland is also in the
hunt for second.</p>
<p align="left"><a href="http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/sports/lenox/lenox13.htm" TARGET="_TOP">Lenox
Rawlings has an article up on Cota, </a>who is having a superb season, but the
story to us is Brendan Haywood, who is having an astonishing
metamorphosis. At times he still looks like a wide-eyed, overwhelmed kid,
like he has no idea where he is, but at other times, and more often lately, he
is blocking shots, and shooting jumpers, and passing out of double teams, and
doing just basic smart basketball things he's never done before. And he's
playing harder. He's answered every question except that last one, and we would
say he's answered that except that periodically he still disappears. But the
disappearances are less and less frequent and of shorter durations. He's become
a terrific basketball player over the course of this season.</p>
<p align="left">Incidentally, a number of you have wondered where the DBR
Haywood Watch has gone. Well since we found out stuff from this site was being
clipped and posted in the Tar Heel locker room, we remembered our first rule,
which is Hippocratic in simplicity - first, do no harm (to the program).
The last thing in the world we want to do is to have something from here end up
over there and then hear Haywood or Cota say, "well on DBR they
said..." Oy, what a nightmare that would be.</p>
<p align="left">What's up with State? After the devastating loss to Maryland,
and going down to UNC for their first home loss, <a href="http://www.news-observer.com/daily/2000/02/13/sports02.html" TARGET="_TOP">they
went to UVa, played hard, had a lead - and lost again. </a>3rd game in a row
they've looked great and faded. You could argue that it's Damon
Thornton. At Maryland, his 4th fould and disqualifying technical gave the
game to the Terps. First half foul trouble against UNC doomed State when they
had a healthy lead, which they soon lost. And his open court collision
with Donald Hand, which gave him his fourth foul, which he protested mightily,
hurt again.</p>
<p align="left">But one man doesn't doom a team by himself, the Maryland game
aside, and UVa<a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/sports/basket/uva0213.shtml" TARGET="_TOP">
took full advantage of every State zone attempt.</a> UVa owes a lot
of the credit to<a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/sports/basket/lipper131.shtml" TARGET="_TOP">
Travis Watson, </a>who, like Thornton, got in foul trouble, but who managed to
play through it without too much of a problem.</p>
<p>In Saturday's ugly game, Will Solomon <a href="http://www.thestate.com/sports/tigers/docs/cufsu2apsaabcfhwv.htm" TARGET="_TOP">played
a great game against FSU.</a> Damous Anderson hit for 28, but<a href="http://www.tdo.com/news/spt/0213.spt.fsubk.htm" TARGET="_TOP">
the rest of the 'Noles were flat.</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p align="center">*****</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Rolando Howell (we have to fight the urge to call him Rolando Blackmon) was a
target of Duke's early this year, but he chose South Carolina. After
reading this article, we really wish he had chosen Duke. Que sera sera, <a href="http://www.thestate.com/sports/basketballdocs/howell13.htm" TARGET="_TOP">but
he seems like a Duke kid.</a></p>
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