There was a tight rim and a tight team in the second half of Duke's first loss of the season.  Duke squandered a 12 point halftime lead as they faced adversity with a miserable result on this chilly New York evening.

You could see it coming.  You could see Pitt gather confidence while Duke clunked shot after shot off the tight rim right in front of the Duke bench during a frigidly cold second half.  Twenty turnovers is not Duke like.  Duke did not value the ball as they should have down the stretch, but this was but one of the culprits.

Yep!  It was a team loss.  Henderson forced way too many shots.  Scheyer lost his composure.  Paulus failed to get his team into the game from the point position.  Even super freshman Kyle Singler missed a couple of key shots.

Then there was the rebounding disparity and the inability or more likely the lack of effort to finish shots.  I kept thinking, get the ball to DeMarcus, our senior leader, but it didn't happen.  I could go on, but I think we all saw the game.

With a long holiday break, the Duke players will have a chance to reflect on their loss.  It will make them better.  Coach K will not allow them to put forth another lackadaisical effort on such a big stage.

Even though it is an early season loss, this one stings, for there were so many opportunities to pull the game out.  The truth of the matter though, is that Duke really didn't deserve to win.  The simple fact that DeJuan Blair went off the court due to fouls carrying 15 points and 20 boards along with him just adds insult to injury.  It was not Duke's night and it was an unlike Duke performance. 

Rest assured, you won't see this kind of effort again for awhile.  This team is too talented.  But on this evening the freshmen grew some more as did the sophs.  There is not a player on their respective flight home who isn't wishing they had not given just a little bit more effort for that is all it would have taken for Duke to still be undefeated.  They now know that you can't let up and that you have to win as a team.

Pitt was tougher than Duke down the stretch winning on a three pointer in overtime

Pitt drops Duke in OT

Box Score

Mark's Take - Duke faces the highest ranked team it has played this season in Pitt.  While Duke is the home team, the Panthers are accustomed to Madison Square Garden from their Big East play.  Like the Devils, Pitt plays good defense holding their opposition to just under 40% from the field.  As usual the key for Duke in close games will be to hit their three point attempts.  Pitt has a great three guard combination and just enough size to be a most formidable foe and the likely absence of Lance Thomas diminishes the Devils down low.  Still, Duke and Coach K love the big stage and this hallowed arena.  Duke will find a way to remain unbeaten.  The pick here is Duke 77 Pitt 69

Pittsburgh Off vs. Duke Def Duke Off vs. Pittsburgh Def 79.8 Pts F 62.8 Pts A 48.8 FG% 40.8 FG% 36.3 Reb. 29.4 Reb. 89.1 Pts F 58.2 Pts A 50.9 FG% 38.1 FG% 29.4 Reb. 27.4 Reb.

Bob's Take - This game has the potential to be a real test for the Blue Devils. Pittsburgh scores at a rate of 82 points a game and only allows their opponent 58 per game. Those numbers are real close to Duke's 89/62. The Panthers are not a big team but all the reports I read talk about their talent level across all five spots. Duke has previously won close contests against Marquette and Davidson, and this game should be another tightly contested affair.

In order to win, Duke must pressure the ball and disrupt Pittsburgh's offensive sets. I expect Duke to run their full court press off of made shots and dead ball situations in order to create points off turnovers. Once in the half court, Duke will need to force Pittsburgh to start their offense 25+ feet from the basket instead of 20-22 feet away. If Pittsburgh is able to setup and execute their normal offense, Duke will have trouble stopping the Panthers. My first "Key Point" for this game is Duke's ability to force bad shots. Pittsburgh is shooting 48.3% from the field, but Duke needs to hold them under their average by forcing the Panthers into bad offensive decisions.

With Lance Thomas nursing a sprained ankle, the play of David McClure becomes critical. My second "Key Point" is the play of McClure off the bench, particularly his play when Duke is running their full court press. Earlier in the season, Thomas was identified as the guy whose intensity fed the rest of the team when executing the press. McClure is definitely an intense player and he must replace Thomas in the press.

On the offensive end, Duke has two objectives. First, spread the floor and create driving lanes to the basket for Nelson, Henderson, Scheyer, and Smith. Second, shoot three pointers. Duke has seven players shooting above 31% from behind the arc with four (Scheyer, King, Paulus, Nelson) shooting better than 40%. My third "Key Point" for the game is Duke's ability to execute their offense. Pittsburgh must play solid defensive and force Duke to put up shots late in the shot clock. If Duke achieves an offensive rhythm, Pittsburgh is in trouble.

Therefore, a Duke victory will be predicated on three key points:

1. Duke forcing Pittsburgh into taking bad shots

2. The play of David McClure

3. Duke achieving an offensive rhythm

My prediction: Duke 88 - Pittsburgh 83

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