Duke knows stopping Abrams key against Texas
Mar 20, 2009
Tags: ACC
Seemingly, as A.J. Abrams goes, so goes Texas.
The 5-foot-11 shooting guard nearly single-handedly blew open what was a close first round game between the Longhorns and Golden Gophers Thursday night, hitting six straight threes on his way to a 26-point evening.
"Basically you can just never leave him," said Jon Scheyer. "He's a really good scorer and he's a big time shooter."
Duke is known for its defense, and its play on that end of the court will be focused on shutting down number three in burnt orange.
"With a guy like that you always want to keep contact with him and stay with him," Scheyer said. "You have to find him when they get the ball in transition, and then during any loose balls or anything like that, you just need to stay with him."
"We have to keep him off the three," Gerald Henderson said before Duke's practice Friday. "We're gonna try as much as possible to contest his shots and keep him from shooting. There's going to be a lot of commitment from guys who aren't on the ball to help out the guys guarding him."
Duke has seen players like Abrams before this year, players that use screens from their teammates to create catch-and-shoot scoring opportunities and have quick releases to get those shots off in traffic.
Two in particular come to mind, including Rhode Island's Jimmy Baron and Miami's Jack McClinton.
"Those guys who come off of screens and can quickly get off a three-point shot prepare us for Abrams," said Nolan Smith, one of the players that will likely have to chase the sharp-shooter more than most.
As for Abrams himself, he knows what to expect Saturday night from his opponent, and what he'll have to do to counteract it.
"I've seen so many different defenses, not only this year but last year," Abrams said. "It's pretty hard when you come off screens and you already have someone there waiting for you, so you just have to be patient and pick your spots.
