This was a game of contrasting styles of play, with the Blue Devils looking to win the game on the defensive end and the Zags hoping to push the pace and score in the high 70s or 80s, and from the outset it was Duke who set the pace of the game and turned it into a defensive battle. As all Duke teams have done for nearly twenty years now, they asserted their will and style on all facets of the game, from the opposing team-to the crowd-to the officials-to the television announcers, by playing harder than any team in the country defensively and playing with a great deal of emotion and passion. Duke came into the game looking to shut down Gonzaga’s inside-outside combination of Heytvelt and Raivio which had been so potent and at times utterly dominate this year, especially in big games. Through a good game plan, constant focus and effort the Blue Devils effectively took away Gonzaga’s two biggest offensive weapons, holding Josh and Derek to a combined 14 points, 6 rebounds, and no assists. Any time an opponent is able to hold the other team’s biggest offensive weapons to such low totals it will almost always ensure a victory, as it did for Duke Thursday. Not only was Duke able to limit the production of Josh and Derek, they were able to hold Gonzaga’s field goal percentage down, while also beating the Bulldogs on the glass. Duke’s defense, intensity and effort are a pleasure to for any fan of the game to watch, but unfortunately for Zag fans those three pillars of the Blue Devil program were too much for the Zags to overcome.

Despite being held down offensively, losing the rebounding battle and getting beat for the second consecutive game there were many more positives from this game than there were for the Georgia game the previous Saturday. Thursday night Gonzaga did a remarkable job taking care of the basketball against Duke’s high pressure defense. The Zags committed only 10 turnovers, which is great for any game, but especially against a defense that denies and pressures everywhere in the half court for the entire game. Gonzaga’s defense was also very good, holding Duke to 61 points, including only 20 in the first half, and limiting the Blue Devils field goal percentage to under 35 percent. Anytime the Zags are able to hold a team to under 35 percent from the floor it is the sign of a very good defensive effort, but considering the Zags were able to do so against a potentially explosive Duke team featuring some incredibly prolific scorers, Nelson and Scheyer are some of California’s and Illinois’ all time leading scores respectively while McRoberts was high school national player of they year, it is even more impressive. Thursday was one of the best defensive performances the Zags have had in recent years, but Duke’s ability to not turn the ball over allowed the Blue Devils to score just enough points to pull out the victory.

Jeremy Pargo was a huge bright spot for the Zags as well against Duke. After his effort of 21 points, 4 assists, and 9 rebounds there is absolutely no doubt Jeremy has made a huge jump in his game between his freshman and sophomore years. It is a common occurrence for Gonzaga players, especially point guards, to improve drastically between their first and second years in the program, and Pargo has made maybe as big as jump as any Zag in recent memory. Jeremy’s all around game continues to get better almost every game, while is strength and toughness, both mental and physical, are becoming the backbone of this year’s squad. Pargo is now showing why he was such a coveted recruit out of Chicago and looks as though he will be able to provide the Zags with the physically gifted pointed needed to compete at the highest level for the next 2 ½ years.

Gonzaga put up a valiant effort, especially at the defensive end, Thursday night before falling to the Blue Devils in a NCAA Tournament environment before a pro-Duke sellout crowd at Madison Square Garden. The Zags can find many positives in this tough loss and hopefully it will be an experience that will benefit them come NCAA Tournament time in a few months.