1. Amazing crowd. Blackout looked great on TV, sounded loud. Props to the students and the rest of the crowd for showing up for a team that's clearly been struggling. 2. I re-watched the 2nd half after the game and while it doesn't look that great in the box score, Collins was huge. He was always around the ball on both ends of the floor and made literally every critical rebound down the stretch, including scrambling for an offensive rebound that created another possession that led to a score. The game winner was awesome but he really helped the team finish on the defensive end. If he can get his offense going, he's going to be really good. All that plus he's got a great right handed death punch. Ball out kid. 3. Basile really showed some grit and determination down low tonight. I was especially happy to see him be more aggressive on the boards. He made some really tough, contested rebounds in traffic that he usually doesn't make. He needs to play every game with that kind of intensity. 4. Dook is not a great team but Filipowski is a nightmare match up. Great shooter from 3, can run the floor, strong defender and rebounder, can finish around the rim. Also had a few key assists. At 7 feet tall, that's a complete player especially for a freshman. 5. So happy for the win but we had a great opportunity to blow the game wide open in the first half and didn't execute. We were up 13, Duke was ice cold and they fouled Basile which sent him to the line....he missed his front end of a 1 & 1 and then had a careless foul on Filipowski behind the 3 point line (he missed the shot) which gave Duke 3. Then Mutts missed 2 free throws and we blew an assignment that left Filipowski open for a deep 3 at the buzzer to end the half. That took the lead from 13 to 7. Make your free throws and don't commit mental errors and we're up 17 at half. I know those things happen but when you're losing games by an average of 2 points and you have a chance to blow open a game, we have to execute better. We also are still missing a lot of layups that we simply shouldn't miss. I know I'm being picky but the streak has me noticing those moments more often. Let's start a new streak....a proper one! Great opportunities ahead to make up some ground. ** Edited by hokieinoregon at 1/24/2023, 11:15:49 AM