No Contest

      Still a bit chilly here in Durham.  Manage to get to 40 today, but the sky was blue and the sun was warm.  There are various shades of blue acknowledged in these parts.  There is Duke Blue, of course, and Carolina Blue(the color associated with that other institution 8 miles down the road).  But there is nothing as blue as a sky without any clouds in it on a brisk day.  That's my favorite blue.  You can see it on a cold winter's day in the ADKs or at 7,300 feet in Glacier or like today from my study window. 
     Today featured a trip to Brodie Gym on the East Campus of Duke for an hour of lifting.  The I took the dogs on an hour and half hike over at Eno.  We climbed Cox Mountain.  The concept of a mountain in this section of NC is somewhat abbreviated. They are more like a rolling hill or ridge.  I don't think we got above 1,000 feet and the elevation gain was only 200' to 300', but it was pretty - still some snow in the woods and a little ice forming on the river.
     Tonight we went over to Cameron Indoor Stadium for the Duke v. U Albany women's basketball game.  Contrary to the men's games, you can get good seats for the women's games.  Duke is currently ranked 5th in the nation and they beat the Great Danes by 40 points.  The game was close for the first 10 minutes, but Duke's full-court pressure eventually wore the visitors down.  U Albany committed 25 turnovers and shot only 33%.  Their leading scorer was the shortest person on the court 5' 4"(that's being generous) Felicia Johnson with 18 points.  Albany didn't attack the full-court pressure very well and also didn't attack the basket when they did get the ball up-court and had numbers(Sounds like I know what I'm talking about, doesn't it).  Anyway, It was no contest.  I would like to know why the Duke coach continued the full-court pressure with her team ahead by so much.

     Cameron is a neat place.  It was opened in 1940 and at the time was the largest indoor arena south of Philly.  Today around the concourse are a number of great historical exhibits featuring great moments in Duke basketball history.  It is like going to a museum.