Duke Blue Devils vs Princeton Tigers
Duke Basketball is coming into the 2010 season as the number one team in the nation and the favorite to repeat as champions. Obviously, a lot has to go right for the team to become the first team to win back-to-back since Florida in 2007, Gelling together as a team and staying healthy being the main two sticking points in once again raising the championship trophy.
The Devils have as much talent if not more then any team in the country and should be favored in every game this season. Could they go the entire regular season undefeated? Maybe but they have a challenging schedule including four opponents in the non-conference that were ranked last year, three in the top 10. On top of those tough match-ups the team still has to endure the always tough ACC schedule.
Team: Princeton Tigers
09-10 Record: 22-9 (11-3 Ivy League)
Head Coach: Sydney Johnson
Post Season: Won two games in CBI tournament (Duquesne, IUPUI)
Projected Starting Lineup:
G- Dan Mavraides* 11.5 ppg 4.3 rebs 1.4 ast
G-Doug Davis* 12.7 ppg 2.6 rebs 1.3 ast
F -Ian Hummer 6.9 ppg 3.1 rebs 1.0 ast
F-Patrick Saunders 5.1 ppg 2.3 rebs 0.9 ast
C- Will Barrett 1.8 ppg 1.2 rebs 0.6 ast
*designates All Ivy League 2nd Team
Scouting Report:
In 2010 the Princeton Tigers finished with a 22-9 record their first winning season since 2004. Third-year Tigers coach Sydney Johnson played for the Tigers from 1993-1997. He was 1997 Ivy League Player of the Year and led the team to a first round upset of UCLA in the NCAA tournament in 1996.
He began his coaching career at Georgetown under John Thompson III. Having experienced big-time basketball in the Big East for three seasons so don’t expect him to be intimidated by the Blue Devils when he brings his team down to Cameron Indoor. Last year Johnson employed his style of the Princeton Offense employing a three guard line-up of Doug Davis, Dan Mavraides and Marcus Schroeder to trigger the offense and an array versatile forwards to propel his team second in the Ivy League. Princeton, as a team only averaged 60.4 points per game shooting a respectable 44% from the floor and 36% from three.
This season the Tigers will be without several valuable seniors including lead-guard, Schroeder and center Zach Finley but look to remain competitive this season with Mavraides and Davis coming back as all conference performers. Keep an eye on the match-up between Kyle Singler and junior forward Patrick Saunders (who in the video below seems to idolize Adam Morrison) as well as Davis who as a small but lightning quick guard will match up with talented freshman Kyrie Irving. Not much on YouTube of these guys but if your interested check out some clips below of the Tigers in action (from 2009).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwMStGuR4rg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PMutAP0lKI
Breakdown:
The Devils talent will be too much for the Tigers to handle in this one. Playing in front of crazed fans who have been salivating for months to catch a glimpse of the stacked Blue Devil squad Princeton’s will hang tough for a few minutes but will fade away quickly once Duke gets its legs.
The Tigers’ guards will not be able to stay in front of Nolan Smith or Irving who will have their way getting to the rim, kicking out to open shooters or dropping-off easy passes to big men Miles and Mason Plumlee.
Don’t be surprised if a key reserve like Ryan Kelly or Andre Dawkins has a big game. They will surely get plenty of minutes once Coach K decides to let of the gas once the game has been decided and sit some of the key players for extended time in the second half.
Dukehoopblog prediction:
Duke- 97
Princeton-63
