New York City- It was Duke and Georgetown for the 2K championship. In last evening’s nightcap Duke rolled over Cal 87-52. At the half Cal had 21 (Duke led 40-21) points-the same amount as Duke Freshman Vernon Carey. On the night Carey finished with a game high 31 to go along with a dozen (another game high) boards. Mike Krzyzewski’s group epitomized efficiency on both ends of the floor. The Blue Devils had an OE of 132 while limiting Cal to a defensive efficiency of 79.
In Friday’s consolation, Texas grabbed third place with a convincing 62-45 decision over Cal. On to the championship game with an entertaining Georgetown vs. Duke matchup.
First half: Georgetown comes out the aggressor taking an early 9-2 lead. Rebounding will be a key as the Hoyas must keep Duke off the boards. Even with the lead their had been a few possessions where Patrick Ewig’s group struggled to keep Duke off the boards. The Vernon Carey- Omer Yurtseven matchup was one to keep an eye on.
Georgetown soon inserts Qudus Wahab to guard Carey. Keeping fresh bodies on the 6’10" Duke freshman was a good move. Neither team bashful about shooting the three. The primary offensive option for both is looking into the post.
Latter portion of the half the Hoya lead is eleven. Hoyas are getting out in transition. In half court James Akinjo is breaking down the Blue Devil defense. Carey’s inside work has prevented Georgetown from establishing a bigger lead.
Late in the half Duke starts getting stops and finding the rage on the offensive end. Latter part of the half Carey has taken over.
Halftime score: Tied at 33
Possessions: 38
Offensive efficiency: Both with 87
Notable stat: Duke led 9-1 on the offensive boards
Second half: Blue Devils come out fast building an early six point lead. Momentum of late first half has carried over. Freshman guard Cassius Stanley provided an offensive spark as the Duke lead neared double digits.
The twelve minute media time out saw Duke with a nine point edge. Georgetown, to their credit, kept it within three possessions- keeping the Blue Devils from opening up a larger lead. Scoreboard shows the Hoyas having the upper hand in field goal percentage. The difference being those rebounds.
Down eight with ten to go Ewing reasserts Mac McClung and Yurtseven into the game. The pair are in foul trouble but it’s a case of now or never for the Hoyas.
Ewing vehemently protests a call. He’s about ten feet on the floor and gets a T. The Georgetown mentor has been unhappy with the officiating all night (no comment here as I am an official as well as a writer).
Yurtseven gets his fifth foul on a post move with just under nine to play. Trip to the monitor reverses the call so the Hoya big man ‘lives for another day.’
At eight minutes the Duke lead is thirteen. Georgetown has full court pressed virtually the entire half. When they did force turnovers they failed to capitalize. For the most part Duke has handled the press with poise and patience.
Really admire McClung’s overall game. On this night, especially the latter part of this half he is trying to do too much. On the other end Duke forward Wendell Moore is killing Georgetown’s defense with his dribble penetration.
In the stretch Georgetown continued to show grit and determination, trimming a double digit deficit (Duke led by 14 with 4:59 to play) to a two possession game. They could draw no closer.
Final: Duke 81 Georgetown 73
Possessions: 81
Offensive efficiency: Duke 100, Georgetown 90
Records: Duke 6-0, Georgetown 4-2
Leading scorers: Duke- Cassius Stanley 21, Vernon Carey 20
Georgetown- Omer Yurtseven 21, James Akinjo 19