After trailing 30 to 29, Duke goes on a 23 to nothing run to end the half and goes ahead of Gulf Coast at the break, 52 to 30. Love the pace Duke has been playing at the past couple of games, really looking to get out and run when the opportunity presents itself. That is a huge credit to Quinn Cook. While he is far from polished, he's good in the open court, a heady passer and has really improved his shot.

Rasheed Sulaimon with 14 for the Blue Devils, including three triples. He is the next big thing at Duke. Next year, look out.

They certainly did. While it may have just been Florida Gulf Coast, the Blue Devils were firing on all cylinders during their 30 to nothing run in the middle of the game, taking a 59 to 30 lead two minutes into the second half.

Mason Plumlee finished with 28 and 9 and Rasheed Sulaimon put 19 up on the board. He is so smooth. The Carolina buzzer beater game in Chapel Hill aside, I'm much more impressed with Rasheed's demeanor and feel for the game through three games this year than I was with Austin Rivers' all last year. Sulaimon is going to be a monster in 2013-14.

Battle 4 Atlantis tips off Thursday .. any Duke fans with a perspective on how you match up with Minnesota?

gorocks99;1325324 wrote:Battle 4 Atlantis tips off Thursday .. any Duke fans with a perspective on how you match up with Minnesota?

Don't really have a good enough feel for Minnesota to hazard much of a guess. I imagine Tubby will probably try to slow down the speed at which Duke has tried to play early this season behind the uptempo play of Quinn Cook and make the game more of a physical, half-court affair if he can, but I think the Golden Gophers will have a lot of trouble containing Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly in the interior. I think that is definitely Duke's biggest match-up advantage in this game. Haven't seen Minnesota play yet this year, but it appears as if out of all the players who log significant action only Elliot Eliason stands taller than 6-8 for Minnesota. Trevor Mbakwe is obviously a really talented forward, but has been limited since the injury a year ago. What's his status right now? I'm looking at ESPN and he's only playing about 15 minutes a game. Is he just playing spot minutes, still recovering or just getting back into the swing of things?

Rodney Williams is a stud, though. With Alex Murphy not not panning out so far this season and with Coach K going primarily with a three-guard offense, Duke doesn't really have a traditional small forward in the lineup with great length in the 6-7, 6-8 range that matches up well with a guy like Williams. He could give Duke some problems on the perimeter offensively.

An interesting side note, both Duke and Minnesota have offered and are among the final schools in the hunt for Tyus Jones, the Minnesota native and No. 1 point guard in the class of 2014. This game could potentially have some implications on the kid's decision.

On the perimeter, though, Duke just has the better players. I like Duke to win by eight to 10 points, but have always respected Tubby Smith as a coach, no matter what the state below Ohio says about him. He will have Minnesota ready to play and Duke should not take the team lightly.

Duke only favored by 4 points. I think Minnesota is going to make this a very tight affair. 79-77 Duke

I am really surprised with how Duke handled Minnesota in this one. I fully expected Minnesota to beat Duke up physically and they nearly did in stretches. Pleased with how well Duke executed in the half court with the holding of players off screens and aggressive hand checking away from the hoop. That is traditionally a recipe for a Duke loss.

Seth Curry is balling. In games against Kentucky and Minnesota, he has gone for 48 points on 15 of 25 shooting, including 6 of 8 from three-point range. And he's doing it on a bad leg. Due to the severe shin splints and overall leg fatigue he's been suffering, Curry is only able to practice two or three times per week, rarely at full go, and is unable to get up as many shooting reps in-between games as a result. So basically he's just suiting up on game days and hobbling to great performances. Tough kid.

He's improved his defense, all things considered, as well. Glad to be wrong about him.

A little worried that the Devils are getting set up for another butt kicking in the ACC Big Ten challenge. Fatigue will be a major factor and I wish it were not. Want the opportunity to play Mizzou or Louisville in this tournament, but wish the guys would be primed for the OSU game. I can't see them having any legs for that contest and it is disappointing. Same crap as last year coming back from Maui.

Duke and Louisville getting ready to tip off in the biggest game of the year thus far on the young season. God I hope the threes are falling. And that Duke gets Plumlee involved from the onset.

^^I figured I would give everyone a heads up with all of the big football games on. It's hard to keep up with everything this early in the year.

Rasheed Sulaimon might be the best freshman in the country. He was one of the best freshman on the court against Kentucky and is proving during the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament why. He's got 11 points on 5 of 10 shooting and two steals in the first half against Louisville. He is just so far ahead of his years.

Duke looking good.

Channel?

NBC Sports

ernest_t_bass;1328280 wrote:Channel?

NBC sports

Shit on a stick

What channel is that?

DISH 159

The court and great picture looks like a video game.

Duke holds on should move to #2

Get them deep for a layup

Liking the clutch ft

I'm calling that these two meet again for much bigger marbles.

Ironman92;1328327 wrote:The court and great picture looks like a video game.

Lol. I completely agree and thought this same exact thing. I felt like I was playing NBA 2K13. I just love the production value of NBC Sports.

Quinn Cook was just awesome for Duke in this tournament, and he proved it by just dismantling the frenetic, full-court pressure defenses of VCU and Louisville on back-to-back nights and taking home most outstanding player honors. He scored 11 points in the final seven minutes, coming up with big play after big play to keep the Cardinals at bay, including a three-pointer from the top of the key to give Duke the final go-ahead lead with a minute to play.

Impressive win for Duke over No. 2 Louisville, after defeating No. 3 Kentucky two weeks ago, culminating a Kentucky state championship and giving the Blue Devils some momentum as they await No. 3 Ohio State in Durham on Wednesday.

With winning this year's Battle 4 Atlantis championship over the toughest early-season tourney field in the entire country, Duke has now won six consecutive major, early season tournament championships: 2011 Maui, 2010 CBE Classic, 2009 NIT Season Tip Off, 2008 2K Sports Classic, 2007 Maui.

Coach K is simply one of the best tournament prep coaches in the history of the game, and certainly unrivaled among his peers today, with four national titles and 11 Final Fours.

Tough schedule early on! UK, Louisville and OSU. I'm already feeling more comfortable about their advancing well through the tournament.