Game Blog: Duke gets a 17th ACC title

By Mike Maniscalco
Mar 15, 2009

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3:10pm Duke 79 Florida State 69 FINAL

Duke could not have played a better game Kyle Singler played every minute of this tournament and was solid today, Scheyer and Henderson were just too much for the Noles today. Duke shot 48% from three on 12 of 25 shooting. Now it's off to selection Sunday.

3:08pm Duke 77 FSU 64 57.8 to go

Jon Scheyer is icing this at the line

3:04pm Duke 73 FSU 64 1:12 left Duke TO.

Noles are still fighting and it is a ten point game. Duke is hitting one of two free throws but Jon Scheyer has a chacne to change that and he does. But David McClure just makes a senseless foul on Toney Douglas who drives to the lane and makes it a 9 point game

2:56pm Duke 71 FSU 61 1:31 to go

The only question now is the margin of victory, Jon Scheyer has been tremendous with 22 points, Gerald Henderson electrified Duke and Kyle Singler while only scoring three points in the second was still a factor.

2:53pm Duke 68 FSU 53 3:05 left

Does FSU decide to foul or just playit out? No reason stretch this game out any longer than need be. This Georgia Dome is quiet, like church quiet.

2:47pm Duke 65 FSU 51 3:54 left

FSU 8-0 run. Leonard Hamilton's kids are still playing hard, and Toney Douglas just drew Jon Scheyer's third fould with a bit of a flop, of course I don't know where he picked that up? It just seems every time that FSU got into a groove there was an answer. Also writer's note, 20 point leads are not fun to watch in title games.

2:42pm Duke 65 FSU 43 6:12 left in the game

Duke is just rolling, after Jon Scheyer's last three. FSU star Toney Douglas face said it all watching the shot go in. Remember the look you get when someone gets a promotion that is inept instead of you...yes that look.

2:40pm Duke 62 FSU 43

Devils had forgotten how to score and Jon Scheyer helps key and 17-5 run, it has to be tough for FSU to play better but can't get anywhere and G, I mean Henderson sends it in. Duke is close out mode. Henderson is taking over this game, and just before I filed this Jon Scheyer hits a circus shot that will be on every highlite reel, be sure to watch TV-5 WRAL sports for that. Oh and for good measure Kyle Singler scores his first points of the half on a three pointer. I have aded three things to this post since starting it.

2:30pm Duke 45 FSU 38 10:59 left

Scheyer drills a three from the right side, FSU answers with a Singleton tip in but Scheyer is so good at drawing contact when shooting a three he gets Derwin Kitchen whistled for the foul, Scheyer will shoot three free throws after the deadball timeout.

2:26pm Duke 42 FSU 36 12:07 left

Ryan Reid with a temendous reverse off the Douglas penetration. It's a six point game and the Blue Devils can't buy a basket. The Gerogia Dome is starting to pick up the electricty, can the Noles keep it up?

2:24pm Duke 42 FSU 34 13:09

Devils 3 minutes without a FG and here come the Noles...11-5 run

2:23pm there is a contact lens time out, I thugh Tyler Hansbrough wasn't playing in this game?

2:19pm Duke 42 FSU 31 15:33 left

Florida State opens up four of five from the field with two three behind the line. Dukes Gerald Henderson also has 7 points this half.

2:15pm Duke 42 FSU 31 15:43 left

Gerald Henderson started to take over the game--but Toney Douglas gets it going and sparks an 8-5 FSU run with 7 points in the half. Dulkys hits a three that forces Duke to take a time out. FSU needs some stops now.

2:10pm Duke 37 FSU 23 18:04 left in the game.

G, I mean Henderson hits the first shot of the second half. FSU is trying to pound the ball to the paint, but haven't played big once getting there. Douglas just hit a 2 for the Noles first bucket.

2:07pm Noles need to come out pounding

The Devils did everything they wanted it he first half while FSU got away from what makes them work, pound the ball inside and set up Toney Douglas to penetrate of pop a three. The Seminoles can't panic, work the ball down low and try to chip away at the Duke lead. FSU starts with the ball and should look to the paint on their first try.

1:56pm Duke 35 Florida State 21 End of the first half

Duke has totally neutralized the height advantage of the Seminoles by blistering the nets behind the 3 point arc 7 of 14. Dukes big three Singler/Scheyer/Henderson have combined for 29 points. The Noles Toney Douglas has gone 13:29 without a field goal, but he is not getting much help.

1:49pm--stat check

The last field goal that the First Team All-ACC performer hit was over 12 minutes ago. He is 2 of 8 from the floor, FSU needs to find some answers look down low.

1:45pm Duke 33 FSU 20 1:57 left

Nolan Smith's knee is fine but the third foul he just picked up is not. Enter Greg Paulus.

1:40pm Duke 33 FSU 16 3:20 left

This sequence actually happened and has deflated the Noles. Kyle Singler rejects Jordan DeMercy going up for a dunk, then Nolan Smith elevates above the rim for the best dunk of the tournament so far, at least what I have seen when my head is not staring at my computer screen. This is smelling like a rout. Where's Billy Packer to say something to motivate FSU and their 23% from the floor?

1:33pm Duke 29 FSU 14 6:36 left

No score change but it is amusing to hear the FSU fans tell the Duke fans that the Blue Devils get all the calls and the witty retorts going back. Hopefully no violence and better conversation by both side. Meanwhile G...hey K calls him that has been outstanding after a subpar performance 4-5 with 10 points and Kyle Singler who has played every minute of this tournament has taken over this game.

1:30pm Duke 29 FSU 14 7:07 left

The Devils are 7 of 10 behind the three point line and have hit their last five three attempts. Leonard Hamilton calls a time out, hoping to cool off the red hot shooting.

1:26pm Duke 23 FSU 11 8:20 left

Singler hits three big three points on consecutive possessions. Nolan Smith went to the bench after tweaking his knee however, he is not being attended to and does not appear to be in pain.

1:20pm Duke 12 FSU 11 11:37 left in the first half

over 8 minutes gone and Duke is shooting 33% and Kyle Singler has 2 points, but Gerald Henderson aka G has 5 points. FSU is 50% from the floor and Douglas leads the way with 7 points. Early prediction Toney Douglas will be on the all tournament team.

1:15pm Duke 9 FSU 8 14:59 left

Scheyer knocks down two free throws for the Duke lead

1:11pm FSU 8 Duke 7 15:25 left in the first

The Noles open up 3-4 on the floor but only Douglas and Alabi have tallied.

1:08pm FSU 7 Duke 5

The pace favors Duke, although FSU has the lead, Alabi with two easy buckets and Douglas hit a three early, Duke answers with a Scheyer three to open and spreading out the Noles defense.

1:01pm Duke 0 Florida State 0; 20 minutes left in the first half

The line-ups are being introduced and it is the loudest pro-Duke crowd I have heard in my four years covering the ACC tournament. A great crowd is on hand at the Georgia Dome. Time to tip it off. On the floor for Duke 12 Singler,15 Henderson, 20 Williams, 30 Scheyer, 42 Thomas, for the Noles 22 Kitchen, 23 Douglas, 31 Singleton, 32 Alabi, 41 Echefu

12:51pm Duke 0 Florida State 0; 20 minutes left in the first half

WRAL's TV/on-line/part time radio host for 99.9 the Fan ESPN Radio and good human being Ryan Craig spoke with Duke officials before the game to end the speculation that Duke would not want to be in the same regional site as North Carolina. Craig was told that if the NCAA feels that Duke deserves to be in Greenboro, the school would be more than happy to stay in state.

12:30pm Duke 0 Florida State 0; 20 minutes left in the first half

The teams are going through the pre-game routines. The Seminoles have a big advantage in the front court with size and numbers, and the best guard playing in the tourney Toney Douglas (UNC fans note I said playing we know Ty Lawson is out), yet thre is something about the Devils. If Duke can play up tempo and knock down shots it will be tough for FSU to exploit the size advantage. These teams played twice in the regular season with Duke winning both match-ups, the last one being an 84-81 thriller. This game should be a great one to end the weekend.

Most Recent Comments

RE: Game Blog: Duke gets a 17th ACC title

Make room for another one! AWESOME!

The selection show is going to be really good this evening..

LETS GO DUKE!!!
- Posted by LGD

ACC Tournament winner didn't mean much to the selection committee. UNC #1 seed.

RE: Game Blog: Duke gets a 17th ACC title

another banner in Cameron Indoor.
- Posted by mike honcho

You mean Hansbrough Indoor Stadium.

RE: Game Blog: Duke gets a 17th ACC title

Make room for another one! AWESOME!

The selection show is going to be really good this evening..

LETS GO DUKE!!!

RE: Game Blog: Duke gets a 17th ACC title

personality: WOW...don't find many classy Heel fans like you to give credit where credit is due.
When it comes tournament time...#'s don't mean jack...it's who shows up to play and Duke did just that. Yea...they got "swept" by UNC...yippie...they should've cause UNC is the # team in the country with the best talent any coach could ask for, there problem wasn't Lawson not playing...it was the LACK of coaching on the sidelines....oh yeah...and I was told that those last 3 timeouts he forgot to take in Saturdays' game are being auctioned off on EBAY right now!

RE: Game Blog: Duke gets a 17th ACC title

Thanks personality -

DUKE and UNC have four titles between the two of them before next week; Pre season tourneys plus ACC titles. Both teams are going to be extremely hard to play against in the NCAA's.

DUKE ties UNC for ACC titles at 17 a piece.

I think DUKE deserves the fourth #1 seed or the first #2 seed. DUKE, UNC, Louisville, and UConn be #1's.
GO DUKE!

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