Zoubek, McClure Finding Their Roles at Duke

WRALSportsFan

Zoubek, McClure Finding Their Roles at Duke

By Jake Lloyd

Dec 20, 2007

comments

Brian Zoubek and David McClure both have droves of family members set to attend No. 6 Duke's tilt with No. 11 Pittsburgh Thursday at Madison Square Garden.

Zoubek is from Haddonfield, N.J., which is about 80 miles south of New York City, and McClure's hometown of Ridgefield, Conn., is just 58 miles north of MSG.

What makes Thursday's homecoming all the more exciting for this pair of Blue Devils is the momentum they're carrying into it from their best game of the still-young season.

With usual frontcourt starter Lance Thomas sidelined for Monday's 111-70 win over Albany with a right ankle sprain, the 7-foot-1 Zoubek found himself in the starting lineup for the first time this season.

Excited by the chance to play big minutes, Zoubek rushed shots early, causing many groans from the sellout crowd at Cameron Indoor Stadium. But without Thomas and holding a substantial lead, coach Mike Krzyzewski continued to insert Zoubek into the lineup, and he relaxed in the second half.

Zoubek's jump hook in the lane generated one of the night's loudest cheers. Despite a dismal 3-for-8 showing from the free-throw line, he finished with a season-high 13 points. That was not good enough to please the fan who prior to the game yelled, "Twenty and 10 tonight, Zoubek," but it was still the sophomore's best outing of the year.

"That (Thomas being out) was definitely extra motivation for me, but I think I might have (pushed) a little too much in the first half, and I just had to relax and play my game in the second half," Zoubek said.

"The guys are getting used to me getting a lot more confident and a lot stronger with the ball and playing a lot more active role on offense. I think that's the main thing — our team's been working on getting me the ball because I'm more confident."

McClure also benefited from Thomas being in a polo shirt and khakis. McClure, a redshirt junior, seemed fully recovered from August surgery on his right knee. He wore a black band around the knee, but didn't have any problems with his lateral movement on defense and hung in the air for a long time before sinking a pretty floater in the first half.

"(The knee) felt great," McClure said. "It wasn't a structural thing, so it was just a matter of getting it warm every day. Through practice the last week and a half, it's been great, and I really feel like I've turned the corner

"I'm jumping well. I'm been feeling it each day getting a little better in practice. And now the biggest thing is just getting the endurance in my legs back. I feel like they kind of bombed on me quick.

"But that's the last step. I've gone through all the other stages, and I'm ready to get going."

With 6-5 swingman Martynas Pocius out for the year, the 6-6 McClure — a similar player — should step right in and become part of Duke's 10-player rotation once Thomas returns. Krzyzewski went as far to say that McClure, who started 11 games last season, could work his way into the starting five.

"I'm not saying he's going to start, but to get him back and have an older, experienced player in there is going to help us," Krzyzewski said.

Zoubek said he's finally getting into good enough shape to run up and down the court with his fast-breaking teammates. He showed his improved endurance by playing for stretches of four or five minutes throughout Duke's victory.

"It (running) was a challenge at first," said Zoubek, who was also recovering from a fractured foot sustained in July. "I think I'm definitely improving with that.

"And in terms of pursuing the ball and in terms of being able to have a lot of energy when I get down the court, during the first (part) of the year, a lot of the energy was spent just getting there. And then once I was there, I was like, 'Ugh, I'm really tired.' So I'm getting a lot better in terms of having a lot of energy when I get down the court."

While Zoubek was averaging double-digit minutes the first four games, McClure was stuck on the bench, still recovering from his surgery. He played 8 minutes in Duke's opening-round game of the Maui Invitational, but he didn't play in the final two rounds.

It wasn't easy for the athletic forward to sit and watch his teammates race up and down the court.

"It was tough because this is a fun year," McClure said. "The system that we have put in on the offensive end is really exciting. Everybody gets their hands on the ball, everybody has the opportunity to, you know, create for someone else, and it's really something that you want to be a part of.

"Over the last couple years, this is kind of what you've been hoping for. It seems like we've finally got all the pieces of the puzzle, and getting out there feels great."

There were times against Albany when McClure looked unsure of where to be on offense. With everyone moving so fast, he had to be aware of his spot on the court and be ready to receive the ball at any moment.

"You have to read (the court), because you never know when the ball's going to hit you coming down (the court)," McClure said.

While McClure didn't soar for any alley-oops or join in on the 3-point shooting party, he didn't let a pass knock him in the head, either. He spent most of the night deferring to his teammates, but was far from a liability.

Now, Zoubek and McClure get the opportunity to progress under the bright lights of MSG against a stellar opponent. Both are confident, and both have a good chance to see ample playing time in front of family and friends.

"It's going to be a great holiday," Zoubek said. "It's Christmas in New York. Two top teams. It's going be a great game, and it's a great atmosphere.

"This is what I came to Duke for. It's going to be great."

Most Recent Comments

yeah we appreciate that demented. so if a team has a true big man it might bring up some problems for us but it would also bring up some problems for their defense as well. try to picture Duke with their smallest lineup against unc. taylor king guarding hansbrough. just remember this is an example. hansbrough would over power him down low...but do you think he would lock down king on the perimeter and keep him from hitting those long distance 3's. by bringing the big men out of the lane on offense it opens up the lanes for the guards to drive and everybody knows we have the players to do it.

Thanks Demented!

joefly, dook does have a big man weakness - but every team has at least one. This may be their only weakness. They have excellent shooters, some good athletes, play suffocating defense, and move the ball well. I think they are capable of beating anybody, and it wouldn't be a fluke. I won't be at all surprised to see them in the Final Four.

jviar, I've had golo comments posted and then deleted. Once, I responded to an inflammatory post against UNC, but I was civil. They left the inflammatory post up but deleted my comment. Baffling. I guess they just didn't want the flame to perpetuate but if so, it was 1-sided editing. Anyway, good luck to the dookies tonight. Looks like we might be headed to a top 5 showdown (maybe 2!) later this year.

McClure is a great role player, when he's healthy. Very savvy. Zoubek is a practice dummy, nothing else. And neither one of them will see more than 5 minutes of action in the game tonight, despite what this article suggests.

WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan