What better way to write my first post than a marquee college hoops game starring two teams I love, and everyone else hates, on a rare night that I’m home alone in my crappy Brooklyn apartment.  While I’m at it, might as well rip off one of my favorite writer’s favorite gimmicks, the running diary!  Can’t wait to hear about how much Bilas loves Duke’s length- that always slays me… and. here. we. go.

#4 Ohio State playing #2 Duke at Cameron Indoor.  First real test of the season for the Bucks, with Duke still spotless after facing the toughest schedule in the country.  Interesting note- Coach K worried about ‘mental fatigue’ after playing 4 games in 7 days, not physical fatigue.  Makes sense, right? Already beat Kentucky and Louisville (when each was ranked 2nd) and could easily be short on motivation. Lucky for them, Ohio State pooped on their chest in Columbus last year, so the revenge factor is in play.  Vegas seems to agree, Duke 5.5 favorites, so I obviously threw Ohio State into multiple parlays.  God I love gambling.

Quick start for Duke… Plumlee even threw down the whitest reverse dunk you’ll ever see (might as well just lay it up and slap the backboard big fella).  Ryan Kelly, as is tradition at Duke, looking ugly and hitting jumpers (Google his name, the second suggested search result is ‘Ryan Kelly ugly’- he obviously made a deal with the devil).

Seriously- look: ryan+kelly.jpg (421×458)

This game was always going to be the athletes of Ohio State vs the fundamentals of Duke.  Plumlee and Kelly are going to be very solid, at worst, while Seth Curry and Quinn Cook may be the best backcourt in the country.  They’re a very prototypically ‘Duke’ team, and are probably going to fundamental their way all the way to the Final Four.  This may be a good place to admit that I’m a Duke fan.  Guilty pleasure, like reading tween vampire literature.  I’m only slightly ashamed of each.

Deshaun Thomas in full gun-slinger mode, and getting pretty much any shot he wants- much too athletic for Kelly.  Gets two quick fouls, and has to be restrained after a questionable blocking call.  Not a good sign when your best player goes all Boogie Cousins 5 minutes into a big game.

Buckeyes take the crowd out of it early, Duke goes for almost 10 full minutes without hitting a field goal- and that’s with Deshaun Thomas riding pine with 2 fouls.  Duke has good balance, but nobody has really stepped up as a guy that can create his own shot if need be.  Cook has been great so far this year, and may develop into that guy, but isn’t there yet.  They rely on execution.  Lucky for them, they have Coack K and his Jedi-mind-tricks.

Halftime: OSU 31 – 23 Duke

Duke only hits 2 field goals over the last 14:38 in the half.  Of course, after I call them the best backcourt in the country, Duke’s starting guards combine to go 1-11.  Honestly, if Ohio State had a little more discipline, they’d be up 15.  They probably launched 6 contested three-balls that barely drew iron, and their best player sat almost the entire half.  I like their odds in the 2nd half.

Just like the first half, Duke looks much sharper to start the 2nd.  And almost on cue, Plumlee gets a fast break dunk, only slightly less ugly than the first.  Duke looks frisky- Coach K must’ve got in that ass at halftime.

12:04- OSU 42 – Duke 38- timeout OSU

Rasheed Sulaimon has been the best player on the court this half- OSU should put Craft on him.  Duke’s drive and kick game is in full effect; much more efficient this half.  OSU, by contrast, looks terrible, but keeps managing buckets.  Constant txts from my buddy Steve (OSU alum) with accusations of ‘Duke officiating’… not sure he’s wrong on that.

8:40- OSU 48 – Duke 46

Quick aside on Aaron Craft- he’s a total gamer, and probably the best perimeter defender in the nation, but good god- his jumper is a total crap-shoot.  He’s drawn nothing but backboard several times already.

6:45- OSU 51- Duke 50

Sulaimon with another huge 3- him and Plumlee keeping Duke in the game.  And like that, Kelly busts out the ugly stick and drains back-to-back three balls to put Duke ahead, 56-53.  As an average high-school baller that couldn’t even sniff a D-1 locker room, I wonder- if god, or the devil, or a wizard, or some other omnipotent being offered up the you’ll-be-super-ugly but you’ll-be-6’10”-with-a-jumper trade, would I take it? Maybe to be Plumlee ugly, not sure about Kelly, but I’d think real hard about it.

2:31- OSU 56 – Duke 58

The Craft dichotomy still in play- first, a nice hesitation into the lane to drain a jumper over Plumlee.  Next possession, looks to have a wide-open layup, but gets skittish with Plumlee at the rim again, tries to drop a floater over him, and misses everything.  Deshaun Thomas should be touching the ball every OSU possession, but not a peep out of him for awhile.

:52.9- OSU 60 – Duke 66 (biggest lead of game for Duke)

Sulaimon straight took this game over, and OSU completely falling apart.  Watched Duke three times this year already, and he never stood out- but skill-wise,  hands down their best player.  Watching him and Cook almost makes up for the Plumlee/Kelly eyesore. Almost.  Also, that 5.5 spread not looking so hot- hoping for a garbage-time cover here.  Aaaaaaaaaand Deshaun Thomas inexplicably fouls down 4 with .2 seconds left to put Plumlee on the line with a chance to cover, what an asshole.  Lucky for me, Plumlee airmails the 2nd free throw (possibly on purpose) for the OSU cover.  I’m sorry I called you ugly.

Final- OSU 68 -Duke 73. Game, blouses.

First real test for Ohio State, and they looked game until they messed their pants down the stretch.  Not Craft’s best game either- they’ll get better.  Duke already looks like a complete team (my advice- don’t bet against them this year).  Would love to see these two play in March.

Now for the important part- my parlay (ya ya ya, parlays are for suckers- but they’re my Brokeback- I just can’t quit ’em), we just need the Clippers to beat the Timberwolves.  Hooray gambling!

(**morning after update: Clips held on, who says parlays are for suckers? suck it A-Dub)