2007 Maui Invitational Postscript

With less than thirteen seconds left to go in the championship game of the 2007 Maui Invitational, the resounding sound filling the Lahaina Civic Center was a chant coming from a pack of Duke fans standing behind the Duke bench. The chant? “Our house! Our house!” Indeed, Maui seems to be becoming Duke’s home away from home, as the Blue Devils captured their record setting 4th consecutive Maui Invitational Championship (1992, 1997, 2001, 2007).

However, the championship game didn’t end without a scare. Marquette is a fast, guard-oriented, hard-nosed team that kept fighting and was able to take advantage of a turnover-prone stretch by the Blue Devils early in the second half to get in the game. The end of the game was especially nerve-racking as Duke played with the same unfocused, nervous, and confused mindset that was one of the hallmarks of last year’s team.

Although Duke nearly threw this game away with back to back turnovers in the games final minutes, Gerald Henderson and Kyle Singler stepped up, put the team on their backs, and took this game over.

Big plays down the stretch

2:55 left
Gerald drives and puts it in off the glass to make the score 73-70

1:54 left
Kyle Singler takes a big charge in a close, two-point game.

45 seconds left
Demarcus Nelson makes a risky pass, yet Gerald is still (somehow) able to gather the ball and get fouled shooting. Then Gerald makes two pressure-filled free throws.

13 seconds left
Singler fouled after gathering a loose ball that fell out of Paulus’ hand and anyone could have picked up. Cool and confident at the line, Singler drains both free throws to seal the game.

One of the problems from last year’s team was that Duke didn’t know who to give the ball to in late game situations. It was obvious at the end of this game that the team still didn’t know where the ball should go (those two turnovers on errant passes illustrate that point). And with all the talent this team has, it is a legitimate question. In my mind, it’s become clear that Gerald should be our go to guy. He has reminded me of Kobe Bryant the last couple of games with his monstrous dunks, fade away jump shots, and overall athleticism.

I hope Coach K realizes that we should be giving the ball to Gerald at the end of games. Let him penetrate, he’ll either score, get fouled, or create an open shot for one of his teammates.

It’s also hard not to feel good about Kyle Singler right about now: 25 points and 8 rebounds and the 2007 Maui Invitational MVP. The kid has everything.

Watch out, this team is going to surprise people.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!