Duke / LSU Matchup

[GeauxTo]

Duke, the No.1 seed in the NCAA tournament, is a solid seven-point favorite over LSU who is a No. 4 seed.

LSU and Duke have only played each other six times in basketball with Duke holding a 5-1 advantage. The first meeting between the two teams was in 1930 with Duke winning 43-34. In 1960, Duke beat LSU 80-74 in overtime. In 1974, LSU defeated Duke 105-95. In 1991, Duke won 88-70. In 1992, the two teams played each other two times with Duke winning 77-67 and 96-76. I am picking LSU to defeat Duke 75-70 Thursday night, and three of the five CBS experts are picking LSU to upset Duke.

The game Thursday night should be a great one and even if LSU goes down in defeat the Tigers will still have had a great season, and the 2007 season could be even better. The only player Coach Brady will lose off of this year's team is Darrel Mitchell who will be hard to replace. Coach Brady will welcome the return of point guard Tac Minor plus Dameon Mason (6'5", G) who is a transfer from Marquette, and Terry Martin (6'6", G) who is a transfer from Texas Tech. Mason and Martin are both big-time players. Coach Butch Pierre, LSU's recruiting coordinator, hopes to sign one player in the April signing period next month.

[WooHawg]

I really hope that LSU wins this. Davis is gonna need to do his thing but also there has to be some key help off the bench to provide a breather for him and Thomas. Also I am picking LSU to win this but I will have to mute the TV and listen to Shreveport radio because any TV announcers do nothing but hype up Duke.

[uscrules]

I agree LSU will win this close game. Duke is overated. They are good but they get all the breaks for the officals. Coach K, I don't like. He gets any player he wants and he is such a great coach. I don't see it.

[WooHawg]

I bet Dickie V. will break his contract with ESPN and sign with CBS just so doesn't miss commentating a Duke game. He won't be able to resist declaring his very odd love for Coach K. and also declaring Duke the best team in the history of basketball.

[roosterj37]

I hope LSU wins I want to see them play Memphis in the final four
that would be a great game

[GatorHunter]

Good luck to the Bengal Tigers!!!

[BamaDan13]

Duke v LSU should be a great game. The Williams/ Davis match-up should provide some great basketball, but I think LSU beats Duke. Go SEC

[hudstud09]

I will pee my pants when LSU defeats Duke. I'm growing very tired od JJ Reddick.
You heard it hear first folks.

[GeauxTo]

ATLANTA -- While his teammates, coaches, family and portions of Baton Rouge struggled to think where Iona is and how close Jacksonville, Fla., is to the beach, two letters flashed across Garrett Temple's mind on Selection Sunday.

"J.J." as in J.J. Redick, the national player of the year in 2005 and No. 2 scorer in the nation for Duke. (His spelled out name is Jonathan Clay Redick, but his sisters started calling him, "J.J.")

"I'm not going to lie to you," said Temple, who is LSU's "D.D." as in designated defender. "Even though I was focused on Steve Burtt of Iona in the first round, I did look down the bracket and I said, 'Wow, we might get a chance to play Duke.'"

Since Temple, a long-armed, 6-foot-5, 176-pound freshman from University High in Baton Rouge, usually takes the opponent's No. 1 scorer, he knew he would also get a chance to play against one of the best guards in the country in Redick.

No. 4 seed LSU (25-8) gets the chance to pull off one of the biggest upsets in school history when it meets No. 1 Duke (32-3) at 6:10 tonight in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament at the Georgia Dome.

The chiseled, 6-4, 190-pound Redick leads the nation with 953 points in 35 games, but he is second in points per game with 27.2 to 28.2 by Gonzaga's Adam Morrison, who has 902 points in 32 games. He is No. 1 in the nation in 3-point field goals made with 136 - nine more than his closest competitor - and No. 4 in 3-pointers a game with 3.9.

"It's going to be quite a challenge for a freshman, but it's not going to be just me guarding him," Temple said. "I've never guarded a guy like him."

LSU coach John Brady plans to use 5-11 point guard Darrel Mitchell and 6-7 No. 3 guard Tasmin Mitchell on Redick in a three-player, man-to-man rotation with some help from other players along with some zone.

"We've got to have a good team defensive effort on him," Brady said. "It will be about how we handle him coming off screens without the ball and how we handle him when he comes off screens with the ball. There'll be a couple of different ways that we'll try to guard him, and we'll see which one works the best as the game progresses and adjust as we go."

What sets Redick apart from other 3-point aces Temple has handled this season (see graphic) is he is a sculpted marathon man without the ball.

"He hardly ever stops running," Temple said. "If he does stop, it's to lull you to sleep. He's in the best shape of any college basketball player I've ever heard of. So I'm going to have to put my track shoes on and get ready to run."

Temple held Connecticut guard Rashad Anderson to 10 points in a 67-66 loss in Hartford, Conn., on Jan. 7 and limited Tennessee star Chris Lofton to two in an 88-74 win on Jan. 14, but neither of those teams corners the market on screen setting like Duke.

"Most guys only use on or two-type screens," Temple said. "Duke has screens coming from every which way, and J.J. can penetrate a little more than guys I've played. And nobody does more than him without the ball. So I'm going to need some help."

LSU assistant coach Butch Pierre offered Temple some advice.

"As soon as he crosses mid-court, he's a threat to put one up," Pierre said.

"He doesn't have a favorite spot on the court either," Temple said. "It doesn't matter where he is. Hopefully, we can deny him the ball."

Redick is more concerned with his shot being blocked. Asked at a press conference Wednesday what jumps out about LSU's defense, Redick said, "I think it jumps. What jumps out about them defensively is that they are very long besides (Darrel) Mitchell. All their starters have really good length, especially with Thomas back there."

LSU's shot blocking prowess also concerns Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski.

"They can block shots, so if you do break them down, they have that last line of defense," he said. "They are very good defensively. They have the best record in the SEC, so they are very good."

Every conceivable defense has been thrown at Redick, including the box-and-one and the triangle-and-two. North Carolina shuffled in four players on him. Other than his own fatigue, little has worked. Redick has put 40 or more three times and 30 or more 14 times. Over a five-game, Atlantic Coast Conference stretch, he hit 36, 35, 35, 33 and 30.

"If you just focus on J.J. and just watched him, you'd be shocked at the maze of things that he has to get through usually to get a shot," Krzyzewski said. "I think he's just evolved each year as a better basketball player, and the last two years he's made a year-round commitment to being in exceptional shape."

Temple considers himself in shape as well.

"Oh definitely," he said. "I've played some 40-minute games. I had 40 against Texas A&M (in the second round on Saturday), and I wasn't really tired. But hopefully I won't have to go 40 against Redick. With Darrel and Tasmin, maybe I can go 30 or 35."

The other featured match-up will be LSU's 6-9, 320-pound Glen Davis vs. 6-9, 250-pound Shelden Williams.

"He's an incredible player," said Williams, the national defensive player of the year last season and Duke's all-time shot block leader for a season with 133 this year and for a career with 418. "Somebody for that size that moves so well as he does, it's just amazing to watch. I know it's going to be low post game through the whole course of the game."

Davis sounded as if he was ready to play on Wednesday.

"Shelden Williams is a great player," Davis said. "He's an All-American. Basically, I am trying not to get too excited because a guy like me, who is kind of low on the radar, is licking his chops right now because this is an opportunity to show the world that you can play, that you can compete with the best.

"I am loving this. This is what you dream of. This is what the sweat and tears and all the hard work that you put in is about. This is when you show out, and it's not a better opportunity to show out than against Duke on a big stage. So I am loving this."

Another match-up appears, on paper, to be very lopsided. Krzyzewski has won a record 68 NCAA Tournament games. Brady has won four.

"I did look at ESPN, and they did flash Mike Krzyzewski's tournament resume against mine," Brady said. "It did dwarf mine a little bit, but certainly didn't intimidate me any."

[WooHawg]

Good half for LSU. Lazarre came up big and of course Temple did a good job guarding Reddick. With that bit of rest that Davis and Thomas got, maybe it will help down the stretch.

[scfan5338]

I got big baby davis and LSU in the final four so hopefully they make it!!

[GeauxTo]

I got big baby davis and LSU in the final four so hopefully they make it!!
31-27 LSU at the half without Big Baby and Tyrus Thomas for nearly 12 minutes. Let's hope the Tigers can keep up their athleticism.
:thumbs:

[GamecockinIL]

Didn't have any SEC teams making it out of the round of 16, but I'll gladly eat crow! :happy: Get 'em Tiggers!

[SPURED]

Congratulations To all you LSU fans!!!!!!

Duke who????

[WooHawg]

Woohoo congrats LSU!

[GamecockinIL]

:thumbs: Toss me the crow!!!! Way to go LSU!

[GamecockDieHard]

Great work LSU!!!! We're sooo proud of you in the SEC!!! Williams was the man for Duke and should have fouled out earlier, but a bad call kept him in the game. I'm glad ya'll could have justice. Keep it going and win the prize! Geaux LLLLLSSSSSUUUUU!!!!!!

[Foxman]

Thank you, LSU. Not trying to brag, but I had whoever won the Syracuse/LSU game (which never happened, by the way) upsetting Duke. Great game and congrats, You all proved yourselves today.

[GeauxTo]

Thank you one and all. It was a GREAT basketball game. LSU's defense was awesome. Tyrus Thomas was unbelieveable and Big Baby came through. Hope we win the next level. Keep your fingers crossed!

[AceLeroy]

Way To Go Lsu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pc72687]

I had LSU making it to the championship game in my bracket. Way to not let me down so far!!!!! Keep it up tigers!

[SPURED]

Could we Possibly see an all SEC national championship? we will see in a few days!!!!

[Foxman]

Could we Possibly see an all SEC national championship? we will see in a few days!!!!

That's probably hoping alittle too much. LSU beating Texas(probably), then Memphis(probably) to get to the championship game will be tough by itself, and Florida beating Georgetown, Nova and UConn? That's a hard one to call.

But hey, It looks like LSU has a pretty good chance to get to the final 4.

Again, Great game. I still can't get over it.

[uscrules]

I told you so, LSU is too long and athletic for Duke. Go SEC.

[GatorHunter]

WOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!!!!! Congrats Tigers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :goodjob:

[GAMECOCK_FAN]

Congrats to LSU. Great game. They did the SEC proud tonight. Hopefully, Florida can do the same tomorrow night. :thumpsup:

Also, I thought Redick and Coach K showed some class tonight. Although Redick was almost in tears when he came out of the game, you could see him shaking the LSU players hands and mouthing "Good Job". Also, after the game, I saw a short interview of Coach K and all he could do was praise LSU. It wasn't the typical "We played badly", etc. All the credit was given to how well LSU played. It sort of gave me a higher level of respect for Duke (something I never had before).

[thethrill]

Great Win LSU. Especially since you had to beat Duke and the refs. There were some terrible calls in that game and ya'll still got it done. I don't know what Dicky V and ESPN will have to talk about now that Duke's gone. Great job.
SEC>ACC.

[VOLjlt]

Very big congratulations to LSU for getting it done! A great game to watch and an awesome matchup. Here's to hoping they make it to the title game!

[GatorNation]

Thank you one and all. It was a GREAT basketball game. LSU's defense was awesome. Tyrus Thomas was unbelieveable and Big Baby came through. Hope we win the next level. Keep your fingers crossed!
Great job, TIGERS! Showing the ACC and the nation what we're all about down here in this "football" conference!!! ;)

I loved seeing Reddick cry.....best of luck in all the rest of your games (except one, if we meet up later).

:D

[Tigerturf]

Good Job TIGERS. I absolutely DETEST DUKE basketball. Seeing them lose is one of the best things in the world. Seeing them lose to an SEC team is even better.

[uscrules]

I think this proves that the SEC wasn't a weak basketball conference as everyone thought they were. Even our Cocks are doing well in the NIT, winning two tough road games at Florida State and at Cincy. Even Kentucky, which supposedly was one of our down teams gave U Conn all they could handle. I think maybe the SEC was much stronger conference than all the experts thought.

[SPURED]

Congrats to LSU. Great game. They did the SEC proud tonight. Hopefully, Florida can do the same tomorrow night. :thumpsup:

Also, I thought Redick and Coach K showed some class tonight. Although Redick was almost in tears when he came out of the game, you could see him shaking the LSU players hands and mouthing "Good Job". Also, after the game, I saw a short interview of Coach K and all he could do was praise LSU. It wasn't the typical "We played badly", etc. All the credit was given to how well LSU played. It sort of gave me a higher level of respect for Duke (something I never had before).
I have all the Respect in the world for Coach K. He wins every year while 98% of the time his players stick around for 4 years and earn there Degree. something you dont see alot of now days with all the best players jumping early into the Draft and all. but i still dont like Duke only because they win all the time

[GeauxTo]

JJ was shut down like never before and Williams couldn't handle Big Baby and Tyrus Thomas in the paint. Great defensive effort by the Tigers. Here's hoping they can play the same way against Texas on Saturday. And, also, here's hoping the Gators put it on Georgetown today. Let's geaux SEC!!!

[GeauxTo]

What a great day to be a Tiger fan, and what a great win by the LSU basketball team over the Duke Blue Devils. The entire LSU team played their hearts out and it is hard to name an MVP for the game, but my vote would have to go to Garrett Temple who did a great job shutting down J.J. Redick. And to be honest with all of you, it did not surprise me that Temple was able to shut down the All-American guard. Temple not only did a good job guarding Redick, he also made some great passes on the offensive end of the court. I also thought that Darnell Lazare did a great job in the first half coming in off the bench with Glen Davis and Tyrus Thomas in foul trouble. Lazare entered the game with about eight minutes to play in the first half with LSU leading 19-14 and scored 10 very big first-half points. I was afraid that Duke would be able to score with ease with LSU's two big men out of the game. LSU led 31-27 at the half time break.

At the start of the second half, I felt like LSU would win the game if they still led by four points or more after five minutes in the second half. LSU led 40-35 with 15.00 to play in the game, but Duke went on a a 10-0 run to take a 45-40 lead with 7:30 to play. Darrel Mitchell hit a huge three-point shot to cut the lead to 45-43. LSU regained the lead 49-47, but Duke regained the lead 52-51 before LSU tied the game 52-52 on one of two free throws by Thomas. LSU took a 53-52 lead on one of two free throws by Darrel Mitchell with 1:52 remaining. LSU outscored Duke 9-2 the last 1:52 of the game by forcing turnovers on defense which led to easy points. I thought that Tyrus Thomas and Glen Davis played like All-Americans the last five minutes of the game and I thought that the break away slam dunk by Thomas with less than one minute to play was an All-American play.

LSU made 24 of 60 shots from the floor for 39.4 percent and made two of seven three-point shots for 29.5 percent. LSU made 12 of 23 free throws for 52.1 percent, but made 10 of 13 in the last minute of the game. LSU out-rebounded Duke 45-44 and that is pretty good with Davis and Thomas sitting on the bench 28 minutes of the game. LSU had 15 tournovers in the game.

LSU will be playing Texas Saturday for the right to advance to the final four at 3:40 p.m. Saturday on CBS. Texas beat West Virginia 74-71 on a three-point shot at the buzzer to advance to the final eight. Texas is a great basketball team who, in my opinion, should have been a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. Texas is a very well balanced team on offense and is one of the best rebounding teams in the nation. In my opinion, Texas is a much better team than Duke. I believe LSU will have a great chance to win the game if they can stay out of serious foul trouble.