Showing posts with label March Madness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label March Madness. Show all posts

Friday, February 24, 2012

ACC WBB Action In-Game: #7 Duke Blue Devils vs #5 Miami Hurricanes

#7 Duke beats #5 Miami 74-64, locks up top seed in ACC

 
The #7 Duke Blue Devils (23-4, 14-1) won their final home game of the season with a solid 74-64 victory over the #5 Miami Hurricanes (24-4, 13-2) at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C...

The Battle for No. 1 seed in the ACC

#7 Duke (22-4, 13-1) hosts #5 Miami (24-3, 13-1)

Duke Blue Devils warm-up to face Miami Hurricanes - Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting


Inside Duke

  • Record: 22-4, 13-1 ACC
  • Ranking:  #7 (AP), #7 (Coaches)
  • Last Result:  L, 61-63  at Maryland, 2-19-12
  • Up Next:  at North Carolina 2-26-12
  • Head Coach:  Joanne P. McCallie (5th Year)
  • Duke Record:  136-30 (5th Year)
  • Career Record:  452-178 (20th Year)

Inside Miami
 
  • Record: 24-3, 13-1 ACC
  • Ranking:  #5 (AP), #5 (Coaches)
  • Last Result:  W, 67-60  vs. Florida State, 2-19-12
  • Up Next: vs. Boston College, 2-26-12
  • Head Coach:  Katie Meier (7th Year)
  • Miami Record:  124-92 (7th Year)
  • Career Record:  200-137 (11th Year)


Noting Duke

  • Over the last 11 games, Tricia Liston has scored double-figures only three times
  • Elizabeth Williams hit her first career three-pointer at Florida State
  • Allison Vernerey has played in a team-best 98 straight contests
  • Chelsea Gray’s 6.0 assists per game ranks No. 1 in the ACC and 12th nationally while Elizabeth Williams is fourth in rebounds (8.3) in the ACC
  • Haley Peters (50.6%) and Williams (48.8%) rank sixth and 10th, respectively, in field goal percentageGray is fourth in the ACC with a 1.8 assist/turnover ratio
  • Williams is averaging 4.3 blocks per game in ACC action, which leads the league

Noting Miami

  • Sixth-ranked Miami enters Friday’s contest with a record of 24-3 after collecting its 39 consecutive home victory Sunday in a 67-60 victory over Florida State
  • The Hurricanes are 13-1 in ACC play with the lone loss in conference action coming against North Carolina (65-63)
  • Shenise Johnson (16.7 points, 8.0 rebounds), Riquna Williams (16.2 points, 3.4 rebounds), Morgan Stroman (12.9 points, 6.5 rebounds) and Stefanie Yderstrom (10.5 points, 1.4 rebounds) are all averaging double-figure scoring for Miami
  • Head coach Katie Meier is in her seventh year at the helm of the program after earning ACC Coach of the Year honors last season
  • Meier garnered her 200th victory against Florida State 

The seventh-ranked Duke Blue Devils (22-4, 13-1) host the fifth-ranked Miami Hurricanes (24-3, 13-1) at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C. on Friday.

Duke enters Friday with a 29-game home court winning streak in ACC contests.  

Duke has not lost an ACC contest at home since Maryland posted a 76-69 win on Feb. 17, 2008.

A win will lock up at least a share of the ACC regular season title for the third straight year.

A few additional notes to know about:
  • Duke will face Miami for the second straight year following a loss - Duke lost to UConn last year in the game before
  • Both Duke (6th, 13.0) and Miami (4th, 13.8) rank in the top 10 nationally in steals per game.
  • In the last nine home contests, Chelsea Gray has averaged 13.3 points, 7.2 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 2.9 steals.  She has had a 2.6 assist/turnover ratio during those games.
  • Over the last four games, Duke has drained 31-of-68 three-pointers for a 45.6 percentage.  The Blue Devils are hitting an ACC-best 38.1 percent from long range.
  • In the ACC, Tricia Liston ranks first in three-point field goal percentage (43.2), tied for fifth in three-point field goals made (1.6) and 23rd in scoring (10.9)
  • Duke has been in a shooting slump in the last two contests, hitting only 36.8 percent from the field and 30.8 percent from downtown.  The Blue Devils have averaged only 64.0 points in those games
  • Duke’s four losses this season have come against No. 2 Notre Dame, No. 3 Connecticut, No. 8 Maryland and No. 7 Kentucky

In-Game notes, pictures, and video:

 

 Duke warming up before hosting Miami - Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting LLC


Miami warming up before taking on Duke - Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting LLC
1st half:

  • Miami wins the tip to start the game
  • Chelsea Gray picks up the first steal of the game - only took about 15 seconds
  • Duke misses on that possession and Miami comes down and gets the first points of the game 
  • Duke showing single-coverage defense and Miami hits their first three of the game - lead 4-0
  • Haley Peters hits first field goal for the Blue Devils - 4-2 with 17:59 to go
  • Duke can't score on their possession and Miami comes down and hits another three - now leading Duke 7-2 
  • Miami showing single-coverage as well but Gray cracks it twice as Haley Peters steals the ball on the second play - Duke trailing by 1 with 16 minutes to play
  • After media timeout, Duke goes to press on the defense to force Miami to hurry up it's offense - Williams called for fould but Miami can't convert on either FT attempt
  • Selby comes down the other end to score two which Miami matches
  • Gray takes over with a no-look pass to Elizabeth Williams for an easy lay-up tp take the lead
  • Tricia Liston steals the ball at mid-court and dishes it to Gray who goes up for the lay-up - it's good and she gets the foul - Duke leads 12-9
  • Another steal and the Blue Devils head up-court and Williams gets a lay-up and the foul - she makes it and extends the lead to 15-9
  • Miami comes right back and shortens the lead to 15-12 with 13:40 to go
  • Liston hits her first three of the game at 13:11 - Duke leads 18-12
  • Miami can't convert as Duke's zone D is in effect and the Blue Devils head up-court
  • Allison Vernerey scores her first points of the game - lead is now 20-12 with 11:51 to go
  • Both teams pressing to force turnovers and Miami's Krystal Saunders forces Liston to the sideline
  • Just as quickly, the Blue Devils get the ball back and score - leading 24-12
  • After a long silence Miami's Stefanie Yderstrom hits a three - 24-15
  • Duke turns it over and Miami hits another field goal to get back into it
  • Miami slowing grinding away at Duke lead - 24-9 with 7:32 remaining
  • Hurricanes zone defense still allows Williams to score in the paint
  • Duke forcing Miami to try the outside shots - not dropping easily for the Hurricanes
  • Miami still traills by five - 26-21 with 5:22 left
  • Hurricanes can't score and Gray comes back with it and feeds Williams for two - 28-21
  • Miami answers with two and then Selby hits a short running jumper - 28-23
  • Williams continues to be a force in the paint and rebounds and scores while Selby and Gray do their part in the Duke zone
  • The Blue Devils go on a 6-0 run over the past 1:33 and now lead 36-25 with 2:11 remaining in the half
  • Duke with possession by Vernerey misses on her shot - Miami goes out of bounds
  • Scheer inbounds to Williams and she dribbles it up-court and scores on the lay-up
  • As the half ends, Duke leading 38-28 - shooting 55% with Williams leading all scorers with 13 points during the first half
2nd half:
  • Miami starts with the ball and drops two right away
  • Scheer answers back for Duke - now leading 40-30
  • Gray tries for three but doesn't get it but Riquina Williams scores a jumper for Miami
  • Selby answers back but then Williams hits a three for the Hurricanes - Duke now leading 42-35
  • Both teams trade baskets and its 44-37
  • Miami's Williams tries to drive the basket but is denied by Duke's Williams - Peters eventually gets it and Duke leads 46-37 with 15:27 to play
  • Hurricanes score another and Duke has a chance to match it but Scheer throws it away as she thought Williams would take it
  • Duke now leads 46-41  
  • Miami slowing Duke's momentum a  little and causing them to turn the ball over more with double and triple teams
  • Williams finally scores on a lay-up and gets the foul - misses on the shot
  •  Hurricanes Yderstrom hits a long three to get to within five - 50-45
  • Gray brings it up-court but Vernerey forces her shot and misses
  • Miami misses their shot and gives Gray the chance to bring it up and she dishes it to Vernerey who doesn't miss that time
  • Duke now leads 54-47 with 11:15 to go
  • Peters rebounds and the Blue Devils score another two, leading 50-42 with 13:05 to play
  •  Williams handling the ball more - gets ball to Vernerey but she doesn't see a shot 
  • Gray gets it back off a tip and passes it to Liston who hits a three - Duke leading by 10
  • Miami definitely heating it up shooting 58% from the field during this half while Duke is still hitting shots at 46%
  • Williams now the force that Miami needs to contain as she gets another lay-up - Duke leads 61-51 
  •  Duke moving the ball inside-outside-inside well as Selby gets it for a short jumper - misses and gets he own rebound
  • Miami tries to get once back but can't as Duke rebounds and Gray comes down to score a lay-up
  • Blue Devils lead 65-53 with 6:01 to play
  • Duke doubles the ball in the backcourt and Miami throws it away
  • Vernerey pass it to Peters in the lane for an easy basket
  • Miami trying to claw back at the FT line - trailing 67-55
  • Another foul and another point for Miami with 4:16 to go
  • Hurricanes score another two as Williams drives the basket - lead now is 67-58 in Blue Devils' favor
  • Miami trying hard but not scoring baskets  - Duke doesn't help its cause either
  • Hurricanes scoring from FT line and Duke then throws it away with 2:33 to go
  • Duke making a defensive stand but fouling and allowing Miami to inch closer
  • Liston gets triple-teamed on the inbound and gets it to Vernerey and it is deflected out - Duke gets it back
  • Williams can't score and Miami heads up-court and Bullock is fouled by Vernerey with Duke lead shrinking to three - 67-64
  • Gray drives the basket and scores two and gets the foul - now leading 69-64 with 1:13 left
  • Miami to inbound and Duke presses - as Williams goes up, she misses and there is a scramble - Miami gets the ball back
  • Hurricanes miss the three-pointer and Duke's Williams comes up with a huge rebound
  • Duke with a five-point lead with 51 seconds to play - Miami burning up fouls
  • Gray goes o the line with the one-and-one - she hits them both
  • Duke leads 71-64 with 33 seconds to play and Peters is fouled on rebound Miami's missed shot
  • FT is no good for Peters but Vernerey makes a huge block as Miami drives the basket - Liston comes up with the rebound
  • Duke leads 73-64 after Liston hits two FT's with 19 seconds left
  • Miami continues to foul and send Liston to the line who hits 1-2 - Duke leads 74-64 3.2 seconds left
  • That's it - Duke wins 74-64 and gets #1 seed in the ACC Tournament


Sunday, July 24, 2011

The summer of high heat and NCAA rules violations

Bruce Pearl in Charlotte - Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting
As many people living in the United States and Canada are trying to cope with living through record-high temperatures, it seems that the off-season in the collegiate sports scene has been sizzling with news of rules violations and announcements made by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

During the last few weeks alone, three announcements have been made regarding major rules infractions decisions involving Louisiana State University, West Virginia University, and Georgia Tech.

Last summer, one that seemed like a comparatively cooler one, mostly featured the big news that surrounded the University of Southern California Trojans football program. The completion of a four-year NCAA investigation culminated in the resultant punishment that the university and former NCAA championship-winning program is now living through.

On the heels of that announcement, the University of North Carolina football program stepped into the glaring beams of the media spotlight. At the time, UNC became the next high-profile athletics program to undergo scrutiny related to alleged rules violations that led to a  major NCAA investigation. A year later, the saga continues in Chapel Hill, NC, but so many more others have shared the spotlight along the way.


As the year progressed into basketball season, news broke of alleged rules violations in men's basketball at Tennessee and Connecticut. Shortly after coaching in the NCAA tournament in Charlotte, NC, Tennessee basketball coach Bruce Pearl and his staff were relieved of their duties as the investigation surrounding the basketball program picked up its pace.

Here is a great synopsis of the story that details Pearl's fall from grace due largely to his inability to tell the truth.

At the end of March Madness, the national championship in men's basketball was won by a program led by a Hall of Fame coach who was sanctioned to sit three games for the upcoming 2011-2012 season. Many could see what was coming, but how was it allowed to happen? A good question to ask. No answer given.

The heat of summer approached and the flames continued to be fanned as more reports of rules violations news came rolling in. The names involved were getting bigger. Then the big flash bomb hit and Ohio State football and its head coach Jim Tressel were in the middle of it all.

As the investigation of what happened at Ohio State continues, Jim Tressel has already departed as head coach after it was found out that he had lied to NCAA investigators regarding his knowledge of rules violations committed by many of his players. Some may see him as a martyr trying to protect his players while others will not.

The important question still remains - why is there a problem with being accountable and telling the truth anymore?

Recent news from the Raleigh Sports Examiner:

NCAA Violation 2011: Infractions reporting and rulings keep administrators busy

There is no doubt that the upcoming collegiate sports season in the Triangle area will take place with much speculation amongst college sports fans about who's cheating or not in the wake of recent NCAA infractions rulings and...
 

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

What a month! Hoops, pucks, and links

2011 NCAA Tournament: Who's going to the Elite 8? Part two

After an exciting night of play in the Sweet 16 round of play with West and Southeast Regional games taking place on Thursday night at the 2011 Men's NCAA Basketball Championship Tournament in Anaheim and New Orleans respectively...

Thursday, March 24, 2011

2011 NCAA Tournament: An inside view

The entrance ramp to the floor and 'the show' at Time Warner Cable Arena.
P. Koutourmpis
It started on a Friday at Noon and finished on Sunday at 6 pm. The 2011 Men's Basketball NCAA Tournament had come to Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, NC featuring some of the country's best collegiate basketball teams including the defending 2010 champion Duke Blue Devils and the 2009 champion North Carolina Tar Heels. Local fans had the opportunity to support their team while they sought to advance to the Sweet 16 by weekend's end while others traveled from Michigan, New York, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia and across the country from Washington state to do the same.

As most only get the opportunity to experience such an event from the stands watching these talented teams battle it out for a chance to advance closer to winning a championship title, getting a view from the inside can provide an appreciation for the simplicity and complexity of the event that creates March Madness.

Even the media and players can check out a tournament bracket under the stands.
P. Koutroumpis
The Tar Heels prepare to take on the Washington Huskies.
P. Koutroumpis
Press Row view as Michigan and Tennessee plays on Friday. Not a bad view.
P. Koutroumpis
Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl congratulates Michigan players. He got fired days later.
P. Koutroumpis
North Carolina coach Roy Williams shaking hands with LIU players.
P. Koutroumpis
Defending champion Duke Blue Devils warm-up.
P. Koutroumpis
Michigan coach John Beilein drawing up the play for the Wolverines.
P. Koutroumpis

Post-game press conference with Mike Krzyzewski, Nolan Smith, and Ryan Kelly.
P. Koutroumpis
Mike Krzyzewski leaving the floor with win #900.
P. Koutroumpis

Latest Raleigh Sports Examiner news:

2011 NCAA Tournament: Blue Devils and Tar Heels fans have reason to cheer

As the #1 Duke Blue Devils (31-4) and the #2 UNC Tar Heels (27-7) took to the floor for their respective second-round games in the 2011 NCAA Championship Tournament at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte...

Thursday, March 17, 2011

2011 March Madness: Duke tips-off defense of its title

2010 NCAA Champions - Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
The defending 2010 NCAA champion Duke Blue Devils (30-4)  begin defense of their title on Friday at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, NC. Coach Mike Kryzyzewski leads his team back into this year's 2011 NCAA Championship tournament as the #1 seed in the West Regional. Duke earned its top seeding just after it had won its third consecutive ACC tournament championship title on Sunday. After losing the ACC regular season title to the tournament #1 seed UNC Tar Heels (26-7), the Blue Devils reassured everyone that they deserved a top seed by  beating the Tar Heels 75-58 in front of a packed Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, NC.

After last-season's progression through the NCAA Tournament in which a "good team became a great team", Krzyzewski and his team were once again recognized as the gold standard of success in college basketball. Preseason predictions putting them in contention for a title defense were no longer considered unreasonable after the program struggled in recent years. The outlook for the 2010-2011 season was a bright one and so far they have not disappointed themselves or their fans. With a healthy and deep roster, the chances to repeat as NCAA champions is a definite possibility in 2011.

Video preview: #1 Duke Blue Devils vs. #16 Hampton University Pirates (24-8) - Friday, Mar. 18 - 3 p.m. 

Raleigh Sports Examiner coverage from the NCAA Tournament in Charlotte
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Saturday, March 5, 2011

The battle of champions: traveling along Tobacco Road to March Madness

With only a few hours to go before defending champion NCAA champion and #4-ranked Duke Blue Devils (27-3, 13-2) face the #13 UNC Tar Heels (23-6, 13-2) for the ACC regular season championship title, looking back at events of just a year ago seems fitting. Alot has taken place. Duke versus Carolina and the Battle of Tobacco Road always takes on historic billing locally, nationally, and globally.

Watch online: Duke Blue Devils vs. UNC Tar Heels - Sat. Mar. 5 - 8 p.m. - (GameTracker)

Before you watch the Battle of Tobacco Road locally or follow it online, take some time to recap what the Raleigh Sports Examiner brought to you in March Madness coverage over the past year. Be sure to follow again this year to get all the latest updates on this this month's upcoming ACC and NCAA Championship coverage.




Duke fans cheeer on the Blue Devils in Indianapolis.
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