NEW YORK – The 2K Empire Classic went to Duke. The Blue Devils survived a stringent test from Georgetown in the championship. Duke led by 14 with just under five minutes left, and the Hoyas went on a 10-0 run, but could not draw even in those waning moments.
Semifinals:
Georgetown 82, Texas 66
Duke 87, Cal 52
Consolation:
Texas 62, Cal 45
Championship:
Duke 81, Georgetown 73
All-Tournament team:
Vernon Carey, Duke (MVP)
James Akinjo, Georgetown
Wendell Moore, Duke
Cassius Stanley, Duke
Omer Yurtseven, Georgetown
A foul mood. Patrick Ewing did not blame Georgetown’s loss to Duke on the officiating. He was, though, less than enthralled with some of the calls. Ewing himself drew a technical for arguing a call midway through the second half. “We had an eleven-point lead in the first half, then a lot of calls went the other way and changed things.” There was a disparity on the line, with Duke attempting 29 free throws to 18 of the Hoyas. In the end, other factors such as rebounding were the major reason for Georgetown falling short, per Ewing.
Actually there was a late call, or reversal, very much in Georgetown’s favor. With just under ten minutes left, Omer Yurtseven was whistled for an offensive foul. A review on the monitor showed the defender ‘in the cylinder’. The call was reversed, Yurtseven stayed in and the Hoyas made a late run.
Speaking of Yurtseven, the 7-foot senior from Turkey was impressive both nights even with foul trouble being an issue. Against Texas, he scored 10 points and added four rebounds in 12 minutes of work. In the championship, his 23 minutes netted a team-high 21 points to go along with five boards. “He’s seven feet and a load inside,” Ewing said of his senior center. “Moving ahead, he has to stay out of foul trouble. He is a very effective post player we are looking to consistently help us as the season progresses.”
Cal coach Mark Fox, in an ideal scenario, would not have entertained two opponents of this nature with his group in a rebuilding mode. “We will use this as a great lesson in how we have to grow and change to improve,” Fox said following the consolation loss to Texas. “If we use it the right way, this weekend could be very valuable to us. Obviously, two losses is what we are taking home.”
In the two games Cal had one player reach double-digit scoring as sophomore guard Matt Bradley hit for 22 versus Texas.
Texas had a poor second half showing (credit Georgetown defense) in their semifinal loss. Shaka Smart’s Longhorns bounced back less than 24 hours later to earn a solid win.
“We put a lot of preparation to come up here and play well,” Smart said following the consolation. “Last night (against Georgetown) we didn’t particularly in the second half. That’s an emotional feeling the guys had. Being able to come back less than 24 hours later and play with great effort on the defensive end, especially when shots didn’t fall, in a lower possession game, says a lot about our guys’ desire to win…..We are learning a lot. Sometimes it’s one step forward, then two steps back, but overall our guys are making progress”
Years back, who would have thought. Georgetown was the fan favorite in the underdog role and cheered by the crowd both nights. It’s a different era than those bygone days. Against Texas, they were the assumed underdog against a Power 5 state institution. In the final, let’s say there are those who root for their favorite team and anyone who faces Duke. With Patrick Ewing, to this day a New York favorite from his Knick days, on the sidelines-the Hoyas are able to ‘recruit’ a number of impartial observers.
Efficiency numbers in the final:
Possessions: 81
Offensive efficiency: Duke 100, Georgetown 90
Speaking of the numbers: The consolation possessions bore out how successful Cal was in dictating tempo. It was a 60 possession game. Texas averaged nearly 70 possessions per game coming into that contest. Cal got the job done tempo wise but came up short on the scoreboard and in efficiency. Texas showed a 103 offensive efficiency to 75 for Cal.
In the semifinal, Duke led Cal 40-21 at the half. Vernon Carey of Duke matched the Golden Bear output with 21 points of his own. The freshman center scored 31 that night. In the championship he scored 20, pulling down a game-high 10 rebounds en route to MVP honors.
Wendell Moore also impressed, as the Duke forward added 17 points while showing the ability to put it on the floor and break down the defense. Cassius Stanley led Duke with 21 points. The 6’6” guard epitomized inside and out, hitting three treys while grabbing eight boards. Carey, Moore and Stanley are all freshmen.
Duke’s most recent appearance in this event was in the fall of 20015. The Blue Devils captured the title by edging Georgetown in the final 86-84. The Hoyas were coached by John Thompson III.
