One game might have been a fluke. Two or three might have been a streak. But after his fourth straight blockbuster performance Thursday night against Tulsa, this much is certain: a renaissance of Zoubekian proportions has occurred.
Less than two weeks after his 16-point, 17-rebound performance after being inserted into the starting lineup against Maryland, senior Brian Zoubek posted another double-double against the Golden Hurricane with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Zoubek’s performance transcended mere statistics, a routine occurrence lately. His ability to free jump shooters with screens and energize his team with emotional exclamations proved to be the impetus behind Duke’s game-clinching run in its 70-52 victory in Cameron Indoor Stadium.
“Zoubs has been awesome, obviously,” senior Jon Scheyer said of the center. “He’s made so many plays throughout the game, and because he’s been playing more, I think you’re seeing his passion come out. His intensity has helped us. He’s all over the boards, protects our basket, finishes inside and plays with a lot of pride.”
While Zoubek’s previous stellar performances came against generally shorter teams, Tulsa features 7-foot center Jerome Jordan, who many consider a legitimate NBA prospect. And while Jordan finished with 12 points and eight rebounds, it was Zoubek’s efforts in the first half that forced the Golden Hurricane star to pick up two quick fouls and play only 10 minutes in the period.
“They have a really good 7-footer... so that’s motivation enough for me,” Zoubek said. “I wanted to prove myself.”
In the second half it was Zoubek’s newfound offensive prowess that spurred Duke’s decisive run. With the game tied at 34 early in the period, it was a Zoubek and-one, followed by a steal on the defensive end, that led to an 11-0 run that proved too great for the Golden Hurricane to overcome.
And fittingly enough, it was a pretty turn-around hook shot, over Jordan no less, that put the exclamation point on a hard-fought Duke victory.
“I got the ball in the post and I felt other guys weren’t open, so I had the guy on my back, and I’m feeling more confident, so I figured, ‘Why not go for it?’” Zoubek said. “It worked out today.”
But Zoubek’s biggest contribution—and one that doesn’t show up in the box score—was the boost he provided when lethargic and sloppy play threatened to doom the Blue Devils early on.
After the score was tied at four at the 16-minute media timeout, it was a Zoubek screen freeing up Scheyer for three, followed by his own turn-around layup in the post, that spurred a 10-0 run.
And when Tulsa fought back to tie the score at 28 with 3:10 to go in the half, it was Zoubek who secured Duke’s lead at the break. While for any other player, sinking two free throws might seem mundane, that couldn’t be further from the truth for the senior, who vigorously pumped his first as he ran down the court on defense. This sent the Cameron Crazies into their first legitimate frenzy of the night, which was only augmented when another Zoubek screen led to an open Blue Devil jump shot.
“He’s a good screener, he’s our best screener.... He takes a lot of pride in that,” Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “Brian understands his value whether he’s scoring or not.... When you’re a veteran you’re more apt to do that, and that’s what he’s done. Brian’s playing outstanding basketball for us, no doubt about it.”
Largely thanks to Zoubek’s performance, Thursday night’s victory was also one of Duke’s most balanced scoring efforts of the year. Whereas the Blue Devils’ big three of Scheyer, Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler scored 63 of the team’s 67 points against Virginia Tech Sunday, the trio was only responsible for 50 of Duke’s 70 points against the Golden Hurricane.
Indeed, by providing Duke’s first legitimate inside threat in recent memory, Duke’s big three may have just added a big Z to its ranks.
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