Duke's Slow Start; BEast-ly Big East

Watching this game on ESPN3.com (instead of the Manhattan game that's in my own gym) and am scratching my head as to how a team as good as #1 (for now) Duke can struggle so mightily.

They've mustered only 11 points in the first 12 minutes to start this game against a Virginia team that has played eight straight at home - I expected the always hostile Cameron Indoor to have some effect, which it clearly hasn't. 

Duke's big men (Plumlee and Kelly) have been no-shows so far this season.  Sure, Mason Plumlee has 8 rebounds already (and averages eight a game on the year) but he hasn't scored yet, but Kelly's five points per game and 3 rebounds per game are atrocious numbers for a guy like him.

Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler have been steady all season.  Singler's shooting percentages are slightly better than last year as are Smith's.  The injury to freshman phenom Kyrie Irving has hurt them big time.  He was putting up 17 a game, dishing out 5 assists, and really made them go.  He was, essentially, the WD-40 of this Duke team.  With him still in there, they beat Florida State.

Right now, I'd rather watch paint dry.  Down 15-11, their offense is inept, they're playing sloppy, and they're getting out hustled.  Halftime can't come soon enough - Coach K needs to get into them a little bit.  Losing two ACC games in a row is a no-no in Durham.

This game here is 22-19 Manhattan in case anyone was wondering.

#4 Syracuse had a tough match up (on paper) today as they hosted #25 Cincinnati at the Carrier Dome.  The Bearcats came in with a gaudy 16-1 record and got manhandled by the Orange (18-0), 67-52.  Cincinnati has played a joke of a schedule with their only two tests coming in Big East play - they lost by 11 at #7 Villanova and now by 15 at #4 Syracuse.  Next up for them - at #9 Notre Dame.  It's not getting easier for Cuse either as they head to #5 Pittsburgh next. 

The Big East is the best conference in college basketball and you can't even make an argument against that.  Five teams in the Top 10 and three others ranked in the AP Top 25.  Marquette, West Virginia, and St. John's are all contenders too this year.  Half the teams in this 16-team beast of a conference are in the AP Top 25.  Are you kidding me?

33-22 Canisius has stormed back.  See what I'm missing because of this blog?  Hahaha.

Tuning out here.  Halftime is almost here.  Duke is down 2.  Referee's use my office as their halftime quarters.  Later!!