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Three Reasons Duke is Austin Rivers’ Only Choice – Curtis Clontz of Bleacher Report

Sunday, August 29th, 2010

Austin Rivers is quickly becoming one of the most hyped basketball players in recent memory.  The John Wall-like press and buckets of love coming his way is nothing short of remarkable.

In 2003 Carmelo Anthony proved to the world that a single recruit can elevate a team to championship fame.  Since that time, institutes have been throwing the farm at recruits hoping for the same success.

Last Halloween John Wall dressed up like the Calipari Kid, this year he will be a Wizard.  At Kentucky he was unable to put his wizardry to work and create the magic of a championship.  Austin Rivers is like John Wall in many ways, but in just as many ways the two are a world a part.

Throughout Rivers’ recruitment process he has been promised the world.  Currently the Austin sweepstakes have UNC, Kansas, Florida, and Duke remaining.

Many feel that Duke is the front runner by a mile.  He has been observed wearing Duke gear more than once.  If this is indeed the facility of higher education (okay facility of higher basketball) that he chooses, it could be a match made in Heaven.

Reason 1 – Attrition

The addition of Rivers to the Duke roster would be huge.  He would be the best player recruited to wear this color blue in a long time.  Duke has a very talented and deep team this season, some think that reason alone is one to make Rivers shy away.

That very reason will do the opposite.

At the completion of this season, Duke will lose Nolan Smith.  He is a senior and the NCAA would frown on him sticking around.

Another loss could be the early departure of point guard Kyrie Irving.  Irving is expected to not only start but push for ACC Freshman of the year honors.  Irving is more than likely a one and done.

If this does happen, then Duke will have a void in which Rivers would be perfect to fill!

Now let’s get back to the depth part.  If Rivers not only knows that he will start for a top contender with top talent and depth, why would he go elsewhere?

Reason 2 – FIBA

I can almost see you smirking through the computer right now.  How could the International Basketball Federation help a single American player chose where to go to college?  Competition and camaraderie, that’s how!

On the summer’s U18 team, Rivers was joined by two familiar faces; Jeff Capel (coach) and Kyrie Irving (fellow guard).

Throughout the U18 tenure, the two (Rivers and Irving) were seen together often.  So much so, that when Rivers openly wore Duke clothing after a win, media promptly asked Irving if he was doing his own recruiting.

Although it may be merely an assumption, you can’t help but believe that Capel (Oklahoma head coach), Irving, and Rivers had several Duke conversations.  After all, it was Capel who hit one of the most exciting shots in Duke history (40 foot runner against UNC forcing double OT).

Capel was a starting guard for Duke all four years he attended, and Irving more than likely will be a starter for as long as he attends Duke.

Irving may be a one and done.  If that is the case Rivers may be looking for the torch.  If said torch is passed from Irving to Rivers, then Duke is going to be happy for years to come.

Reason 3 – The K Factor

Duke’s Coach K is not just a basketball coach.  He is a life coach, mentor, and one of the greatest basketball minds in the history of the sport.

No one expects Rivers to plant roots at a school and stick around.  Although Duke is typically a team oriented system type of organization, their coach provides Rivers with something none of the others can; NBA caliber coaching.

Presently K is running through the World Championship tourney at ease.  Oh yea, he is doing it with what is being known as the “B” Team.  In other words, he is dominating the world’s best, with America’s second best.

They have bought into K’s system and its effectiveness is being displayed each time they play.

K can be credited with bringing USA back to gold medal standards, and that relationship  built with the NBA players is special.  A player like Rivers that is eyeing the league can only benefit from such coaching.

Coach K provides unique experiences that Donovan, Williams, and Self can’t.  He has coached Kobe, Lebron, D-Wade, and Durant.  In the eyes of a NBA-bound guard, this is money in the making.  If K can turn Kobe into one of the best defenders in the world, imagine what he can do with Rivers.

At this point Rivers more than likely has a sure front runner, but he is not sharing that information.  There are many great reasons to pick any of the top four teams left on his list.  All are incredible schools and will have a real shot at a title.

The sure thing is that wherever he goes, they will greatly be rewarded.  Austin Rivers is a future superstar.  He is everything that Wall and Irving are, and that much more.  Expect the recruiting race to be hot and heavy until he makes his pick, instantly lifting the hopes and dreams of the fans and faithful of that school.

Get ready for the circus, the Rivers story is just beginning.

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Devil of a Question: Who Will Start For Duke? – Curtis Clontz of Bleacher Report

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

The Duke Blue Devils were supposed to be un-athletic, average in talent, and unable to compete with the Kentucky’s and Kansas’ of the nation.  Final Four Most Outstanding Player Kyle Singler was supposed to be a first round draft pick.  Starting guard Nolan Smith was assumed to be following Singler to the league.  The Duke Blue Devils were supposed to lose their starting five…

Wow…  Guess a lot of people were wrong.

The wave of emotion that followed suit was nothing short of pure humor.  Duke fans were not only gloating from being crowned champions, they were also bragging that their returning nucleus is more than worthy of back to back title conversation.

The rest of ACC Country wasn’t as impressed.  UNC faith-full looked at it as no big deal, after all they won it the year before.  Carolina fans usually followed up that comment with some sort of Barnes is better than Irving remark…

If UNC is going to dethrone the reigning ACC and NCAA Champs, they are going to have to contend with a devil of a team.  This team is not only going to be good, they are scary.

If you are going to fall under the category of scary, then you must have talent, athletes, experience, and depth.  The new look Devils have every bit of that and some.

HERE IS A LOOK AT THEIR ROSTER FOR NEXT YEAR

The starting five of many NCAA teams changes on a regular basis.  Duke’s is no exception.  Coach K plays the guys who is going to give him the best chance of winning.  Don’t take my word for it, just ask Greg Paulus and Nolan Smith (both of whom were benched in favor of junior players).

The Point

In American basketball today, the point guard is easily the most important position on the court.  Big men like Tim Duncan no longer dominate the ACC.  Back to the basket centers are almost extinct.

This team has a bright spot at the one guard.  Freshman Kyrie Irving steps in and is expected to take the helm.  One common denominator from every Duke championship is the point guard.

Bobby Hurley, Jason Williams, and Jon Scheyer all led their teams as a coach on the court.  Kyrie may be a freshman, but he will have his chance to shine.  This is his spot to lose!

Just because a freshman is supposed to be great, does not mean he will be.  If Kyrie struggles and does not become the player Coach K thinks he will, then the spot could quickly belong to senior Nolan Smith.

Nolan is more of a two guard, but his senior leadership automatically signs him up for this spot should Irving fail.

The Two

Nolan Smith will be a starter.  The perfect spot for him in this lineup is at the two.  Nolan is a much better shooting guard.  Many may still remember that it was Nolan who got benched in favor of a very athletic freshman by the name of Elliot Williams a few years ago.  Since that day he has never regained sole possession of that spot.

That being said, don’t get it twisted.  Nolan Smith is the second best player on this team and is a captain for a reason.  He will have several chances to take over games throughout the season.

Smith can drive, shoot, and pass.  If it wasn’t for Kyle Singler, Nolan Smith would be the true superstar on this team.  Nolan was second team All-ACC last year, he is a first team candidate this year.

If Smith cannot avoid the injury bug a UFC type battle between Seth Curry and Andre Dawkins may ensue.  Both will get plenty of PT, but don’t expect either to start over Smith at the two.

The Three:  Another guard or Singler spot?

The three guard or small forward position may already be locked up.  Duke will run a Phoenix Suns pro type offense next season, which means this may turn into a three guard spot.

Three guard means that Curry, Dawkins, and Ryan Kelly will split time making sure fresh legs are always on the court.

The better answer of who will start at this spot is Kyle Singler.  The true star of this team, Singler will be the go to guy late in games.  He is the reining Final Four M.O.P. for a reason, he can play.  Singler turned down the show for a chance at back to back titles, he gives this team a fighting chance.

Singler is arguably the best player in the ACC, and is a lock for first team honors.

The Four

Who knew that Duke would turn into a family affair?  Coach K has the option to start two Plumlees!  If that is the case expect one of them to lay claim to this spot.

Miles would be the better suited for the four.  He will be asked to fill Lance Thomas’ shoes which includes charges, rebounds, and hustle.  He can do that, but will be more exciting and a better scorer.

This is where Duke makes an immediate upgrade.  While Thomas filled his role and was extremely important, Miles will be able to do more at this position and come seasons end, he may be more of a consistent contributor.

The Big Man

Last year Brian Zoubek became one of the best stories in the country.  He over came injury after injury to blossoming into the big man K thought he was recruiting.

Now that he is trying to make an NBA roster, Duke has to replace him.  The person to do so may be Mason Plumlee.

Plumlee volume two is more athletic than Miles.  Mason was a often a spark plug off of the bench, this year he will get plenty of time to dunk all over the competition.

While Big Z and Lance Thomas are both hard to replace, the combination of the Plumlees very well could result in a better on court pair.

The Starting Five:  Going Small

1.  Kyrie Irving

2.  Nolan Smith

3.  Seth Curry

4.  Kyle Singler

5.  Miles Plumlee

Don’t be surprised is you see Seth turn into a regular starter.  He is often the forgotten player on this team, and he will quickly made his presence felt!

The Starting Five – Going Big

1.  Kyrie Irving

2.  Nolan Smith

3.  Kyle Singler

4.  Miles Plumlee

5.  Mason Plumlee

The Wildcards

No matter what, we are not Ms. Cleo.  Unforeseeable events will happen to change the starting line-ups.

Watch out for Ryan Kelly, Seth Curry, and Andre Dawkins.  All three have been working diligently in the off-season.  Any of the three could steal a spot!

Kelly has been working just as hard as anyone on this team.  He WILL be ready for the season and is as motivated as anyone in the ACC.  He is a welcome addition, and if his talent and work ethic come together he could slide into a starting spot.

Seth Curry has basketball in his blood.  Dell Curry (father) has said that he is just as good as Stephan Curry (brother).  Seth single handily carried Davidson throughout the NCAA Tourney several times, and was a true superstar in college.  If he is as good as his brother was at this point, then K will have to start him.  He is the true wildcard on this team.

Andre Dawkins was a bomber last season, and not in a bad way.  He has the confidence of a Reggie Miller, and has a shot to go with it.  If he plays like he has over the summer (scored 30+ on several occasions) then he will not only earn a spot, he will single handily steal one!

Although it is a good problem, Duke will have players that can’t get on the court because of the talent already on it.

The starting five will change a ton early in the season.  K always does it, but by Christmas his core will be set, and this team will be doing everything they can to get Duke another banner and K one more title.

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Double in Durham? An Early Preview of The New Look Blue Devils – Curtis Clontz of Bleacher Report

Sunday, August 22nd, 2010

Last season the North Carolina Tarheels had one of the worst post title hangovers in history.  Their loss in the NIT Championship was a perfect example of how they played all season long.

If those same Tarheels are expecting the current champions to follow in their footsteps, they are wrong.  Duke is going to be tough!  They are going to be talented, athletic, and one of the best teams in the nation.

The Coaches:

The Man, The Myth, The Legend:  Mike Krzyzewski

Arguably one of the best coaches in the history of the sport.  He took his Military background, combined it with the mentorship of Bob Knight, and turned into an incredible coach, husband, and father.  He automatically gets his team 5-10 wins (if not more) just with coaching.

Associate Head Coach:  Steve Wojciechowski

“Wojo” was one of the most interesting and exciting players to call Duke home.  His ability to lead on the court transitioned nicely to coach.  Although a great point guard, he typically works with the big guys.  Expect him to be a key component in the Plumlee development program.

Associate Head Coach:  Chris Collins

Coach Collins’ best attribute could very well be his recruiting ability.  He was instrumental in bringing in superstar Jon Scheyer.  Collins is a very intelligent coach and will be very important to this team.

Assistant Coach:  Nate James

Nate James is the only player in ACC history to win five straight straight conference titles.  It is said that his toughness is unmatchable.  James has had a huge impact over captain Kyle Singler.  Expect Nate’s work ethic to help the Plumlees just as much.

The Playmakers

Next week I will take an in-depth look at the roster, and breakdown their prospective starting 5.  In the mean time here is a quick look at your 2010-2011 Duke Blue Devils.

Kyle Singler – NCAA Final Four MOP and a horse in the ACC POY and National POY races.  Last season Singler was the most important part of “the big three” down the stretch.  Expect great things from Kyle this year, he is the picture perfect upperclassmen that stayed for four years.  He buys into Duke and is the biggest reason Duke will be making a push for two in a row.

Nolan Smith – Smith followed Kyle Singler and stayed at Duke.  A piece of last year’s “big three”, Smith often slid to the 2 guard spot.  He was often the player that could drive, score, or get to the line.  Over the summer Smith has been on fire scoring 30+ on several occasions.  Expect Smith to have an even bigger year.  The addition of true point guard Kyrie Irving keeps Smith at the 2, and the place where he is most comfortable.  Senior guards that get single coverage tend to make big plays.  Expect a lot of big plays.

Miles Plumee – Who knew a few years ago that Duke would be the future home of the Plumlee connection.  Miles played well last year but expect a huge jump this year.  He will more than likely be a starter, get a lot more playing time, and be the rebounding presence in the absence of graduate Brian Zoubek.

Mason Plumlee – Plumlee volume two was a bright spot on last year’s roster.  This season he will be a better blocker and much better scorer.  Mason may be the most exciting player in the post this season.  He is an athletic player that can jump and will have his share of posterizations in the upcoming season.

Andre Dawkins – Last year Dawkins showed no fear.  At times it appeared that he was shooting the ball no matter where he was on the court.  This season he is a year smarter and his shot is even better.  Dawkins hit a couple of key shots in the Championship game last season, expect more of the same this year.  Dawkins very well could get lost in the shuffle of the Duke guards, but if his shot is on, he is in!  He is possibly the best pure shooter on this roster.

Seth Curry – Talk about having basketball in your blood.  Dad Dell and brother Stephen are amazing basketball players.  It has been said that Seth can be just as good as Stephen, but lets not get crazy yet.  Seth is arguably the most hyped transfer to Duke in history, and this will be his year to shine.  Last season he won a title from the bench, this season he wants to put his stamp on Duke history and win one from the court.

Ryan Kelly – Last season Kelly snuck some playing time early in the season but fizzled out as the competition stepped up.  Over the off-season Kelly has been working just as hard as anyone in the country.  Kelly could be the perfect person to step into the void left by Lance Thomas, especially if an injury occurs to one of the Plumlees.  A hard worker that will put his body on the line, expect him to see some time and be a spark plug off of the bench.

Josh Hairston - Josh’s role on this team will depend on his ability to get used to the speed at this level.  Josh can run, but is said to have suspect hands in the break.  Something a 4 on this squad wont be able to have.  This is going to be a running team, if he can step up then he could be a welcome addition off of the bench.  If not, then it will be a long hard year, and a long wait for the graduation of the Plumlee connection.

Tyler Thornton – Tyler is the gravy soaked biscuit on Thanksgiving.  Although good, you are so full from the turkey that you don’t have room.  On this guard stacked team, it will be extremely difficult for Tyler to get onto the court.  Tyler’s role will be very important next year.  The combined losses of Nolan Smith and Kyrie Irving (if he leaves early) means that Tyler could step into the starting lineup out of the blue.  This is a learning year, one that will get him ready for the future.  He may see PT early, but come conference play he will be on the pine.

Last but certainly not least…

Kyrie Irving – It is said that you are supposed to leave the best for last.  I am not saying this is the case, but it is certainly a possibility.  This year’s John Wall, Kyrie Irving will be in the running for ACC Freshman of the Year, and many other accolades.  Irving is the best point guard to join Duke since Jay Williams, and his addition makes this team a very dangerous one.  The ceiling is high for Irving, and if he reaches full potential then it will be a special year.

Duke is a solid team and deserves the preseason’s top ranking.  They will be one of the deepest and most talented teams in the nation.  Most of their players know how it feels to cut down the nets, and they want it to happen again.  This team very well could be better than last years, and may be one of the best that Coach K has ever put together.

Note – I did not add walk-ons and team managers.

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Can Kyrie Irving Become Duke’s Most Important Devil? – Curtis Clontz of Bleacher Report

Monday, August 16th, 2010

In the college basketball of today’s era, depth on a team is like the steak you had last night: rare.  Last season, The National Champion Duke Blue Devils started better than average, but finished the best.

One of the reason’s they will hoist another banner over Coach K Court was their depth.  They suited the “Big 3″ well before Lebron’s shenanigans.  Nolan Smith, Jon Scheyer, and Kyle Singler were a dominating three-headed monster that built off of one another all year long.

As the season wound down, Kyle Singler seemed to become the most important part of that specific trio.  He was awarded the Final Four M.O.P.

As Kyle cut the nets, most Duke fans assumed he was off to the show.  Kyle got everyone with the oopdie-oop and decided to return to the premier basketball institution in the world.

Welcome back Kyle, but could it be possible that Kyrie Irving could dethrone Singler and become the most important Devil by season’s end?

I recently introduced Kyrie to the Raycom site (in this post).  He is without a doubt going to be a key piece of the team’s puzzle next season.

The title question will get many smirks, questions, and maybe start an argument or two, but Irving is special.

Irving is a true point guard who can shoot, pass, and dribble.  It is unfair to compare Singler and Irving for many reasons, but by season’s end Irving may be they key to this team.

Conference play is always tough.  Every game will be a battle to the finish.  Irving will be the guy carrying the ball down the court and distributing.

In crunch time this running team will use Irving to push the court.  Like Williams did, expect him to drive and dish getting Smith, Singler, Curry, or an open Plumlee the ball.  If other teams don’t double him, then he can take the ball to the rim with ease.  Kyrie has been known to be “unstoppable” at times.

Teams will not be able to double team everyone.  That would be illegal.  Teams will pick their poison and force someone other than Singler to beat them.  The freshman guard will be doubled far less and will have his chances to shine.

Irving will be a coach on the court next season.  He will be an X-factor that few teams will be able to contain.  The combination of Singler and Irving is a rare one that teams dream about, and will be a lot of fun to watch.

No, Irving is not a better player than Singler, but as the season plays out he very well may be the most important Devil.

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Seth Curry Ready to Leave His Mark at Duke – Justin McTeer of Bleacher Report

Monday, August 9th, 2010

After a somewhat unexpected championship run last season, the Duke Blue Devils are set to begin the 2010-11 season as the nation’s top team.

Blue Devil fans have a lot to look forward to as the season approaches.

Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler are back for their senior campaigns, Kyrie Irving has as much promise as any Duke freshman in recent memory, and Mason Plumlee should get more alley oops than ever.

But while those are all exciting things to anticipate, one of the most intriguing aspects of Duke’s upcoming season is, without doubt, the addition of Seth Curry to the active roster.

Curry transferred to Duke after his freshman season at Liberty College in 2008-09 and spent all of last season practicing with the team but unable to play due to transfer rules.

I had the chance to talk with Curry recently, and it’s clear that after redshirting during Duke’s championship season, he’s as ready as ever to get back on the court and show the nation what he can do.

“I’m so anxious,” Curry said.  ”It seems like I haven’t played in like five years or something like that.”

He may have missed being on the court, but the time on the bench is something Curry put to good use.

“It’s great to be around a championship team like this, working and practicing everyday,” Curry said.  ”It’s been great to see what this team can accomplish, and how fun it is, the journey of winning a championship.  I’ve just tried to take it all in and learn from the experience.”

From his spot at the end of the Blue Devils bench, Curry had the opportunity to watch his teammates come together and play with more unity than is typical in today’s college game.  Every Duke player on last year’s team knew and embraced their role, whether it involved putting points on the board or going after rebounds.

The result was spectacular as the Blue Devils won every tournament they played in from the beginning of the season to the end.

Curry will likely take on a role he isn’t used to as Duke tries to re-create last year’s success—bench player.

With Smith and Irving starting, Curry will probably be the first guard off Duke’s bench.

Of course, being a Curry (in case you’re one of the only basketball fans that didn’t know, Seth is the son of former NBA player Dell Curry and the younger brother of current NBAer and recent college great Stephen Curry) means added expectations regardless of whether or not you start.

Curry doesn’t mind the added pressure that comes along with his family’s reputation though.  In fact, he embraces it.

“I definitely try to be my own person, but having that Curry name, you have to go out there and represent it well.  That just gives me extra motivation to go out there and live up to the billing.”

It isn’t just the family name that Curry is looking to live up to, however.  He’s also got the expectations brought on by his own accomplishments adding to the hype.

As a freshmen at Liberty, Curry led all NCAA freshmen in scoring at 20.2 points per game. He had big games against Virginia and Clemson that season, averaging 25 points per game against the ACC teams.

Last season, reports from Duke practices gushed with praise for Curry’s ability to shoot the ball.

Smith tweeted early in the season that when all was said and done, Curry might be remembered as the best shooter in Duke history instead of J.J. Redick.  Maybe Smith felt the expectations for Curry weren’t high enough.

Curry certainly appreciates the comparison, but he’s quick to assert his desire to leave his own mark on the college game.

“I’m not really trying to be better than [Redick],” Curry said.  ”I’m just going to go out there and be me.”

Comparisons are something that Curry will have to get used to.

If he’s not getting compared to great shooters like Redick, he’ll certainly be likened to his older brother frequently.

Neither comparison is entirely accurate—Seth certainly has his own style of play.  But that doesn’t mean the comparisons won’t come.

Though Curry may still be in his older brother’s shadow, he’ll have a chance to establish his own reputation as a great college player when the season begins.

Don’t be surprised if he does so sooner than later.

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Welcome Aboard: A Quick Look At Duke’s Fabulous Freshmen – Curtis Clontz of Bleacher Report

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

It has been four full months since the Duke Blue Devils finished as the NCAA Champions. Like previous Duke titles, this team had a great combination of talent, intelligence, and experience.  As the sun set on the NCAA Tourney, so did the careers of Jon Scheyer, Lance Thomas, and Brian Zoubek.  They all three had solid careers and will be missed, but they have been replaced.

Duke is a perennial powerhouse and is almost always in the nation’s top ten.  Their run at the top is due to their Hall of Fame coach, intense hustle play, team work, but most importantly their recruiting.

The 2010-2011 season is going to be special.  The Duke Blue Devils are the reigning champs and very well could be suiting a better team.  This season they are bringing in several key additions that are once again making them THE team to beat in D1 basketball.

Kyrie Irving

All of Coach K’s championship teams have been anchored by superior guard play.  Bobby Hurley and Jay Williams are two of the best ACC point guards in history, and their tenures at Duke were incredible.  It is possible that Kyrie is the next in the long line of great point guards to call Duke home.

Kyrie is this years premier point guard.  He is a true one guard that can pass, shoot, and drive.  He is already being touted as Duke’s next Jay Will.  If he plays anything close to that level in his freshman year then this team will be scary.

Unfortunately, with excellence in today’s game comes problems.  Irving very well may be the ACC’s freshman of the year next season, but he already has dollar signs in his eyes.  It is expected that he will go pro after one season.

Potential:  Kyrie Irving not only has the potential to be the ACC’s best freshman, but could play into ACC First team honors.

Down Side:  Being compared to John Wall is impressive, unless you are referring to his early NCAA exit.  Hype, talent, and fame is not a down side, unless he isn’t what we are all hoping for.

Josh Hairston

Last season one of the most important players was Brian Zoubek.  Big Z wasn’t your typical scoring threat, but he was an absolute beast off of the glass.  Out walked Z, in walks Hairston.  While Josh is not a seven footer, he will be a welcome substitute for the Plumlee family tree.  Hairston is the picture perfect Duke big guy.  He is a solid team player that is not afraid to pull boards, play D, and hustle.

Potential:  It is said that Josh Hairston is very good without the ball in the open court.  Next season Duke is going to be playing a run and gun offense, an exciting brand of ball that plays into Josh’s strengths.  Expect Josh to be a decent role player or Plumlee change of pace.

Down Side:  The step up in competition from high school to college is one that players can have trouble with.  Josh Hairston is an average athlete that may have trouble with the speed of the new game.  His biggest knock is his hands and ball control.

Tyler Thornton

If you were to compare Tyler to a previous Devil it could be Duke Assistant Coach Steve Wojciechowski.  Tyler is a constant defensive threat that will be a fixture at Duke for years to come.  He fits the Duke mold and is an aggressive spark plug at all times.

Potential:  Unlike Kyrie Irving, Tyler has time to grow and learn the college game.  Thornton is a coach on the floor and could be a very special player in the future.

Down Side:  Do you remember how it felt as a kid to have all of those toys on Christmas morning?  Tyler is the non-flashy toy without bells and whistles that is going to be pushed to the back of the closet.  There is simply no PT for him on this team.  Tyler will be very important on the practice court but may not be a regular until his junior year.

Duke is going to be one of the deepest teams in the nation next year.  They didn’t rebuild after their title, they reloaded.  Adding one of the best point guards in the nation in a hole left by a senior is rare.  Irving could step into the hole left by Jon Scheyer and lead this team all season long.

It may be a scary thought for the rest of the ACC, but this Duke team “on paper” is better than last year’s.  They are deeper, more talented, and more athletic.  The 2009-2010 season was very special, but this team is capable of earning Coach K his second repeat and the first coach to do so since the late John Wooden.

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10 Observations From Press Row in the ACC Tourney – Justin McTeer of Bleacher Report

Monday, March 15th, 2010

Hey Raycom readers!  I just got back from covering the ACC tournament from press row for Bleacher Report.  I had a chance to watch everyone play first hand, and I got to talk to the players and coaches after the games.

Here are a few observations from the floor.  Some are basketball analysis related, others are just random observations that have nothing to do with anything.  Since you’re already reading this, you might as well just finish.

1.  Jon Scheyer is clutch.  Scheyer pulled up for his late game three to put the Devils ahead of Georgia Tech by four right in front of me.  He had shot poorly all game, but when the tournament title was on the line, he had no hesitation.  Scheyer had a similar performance in the game against Virginia just a few days earlier, playing sub-par for the first 35 minutes just to take over at the end.  In late game situations, guess who Duke is giving the ball?

2.  Erin Andrews isn’t nearly as nice as she seems on TV.  There was a moment when Andrews was walking across the court a few hours before game time about 10 feet in front of me.  She was wheeling her luggage (not sure why she had luggage at the game) across the floor, when an ACC employee informed her she couldn’t wheel luggage across the court because the wheels could leave marks.  Andrews turned around in disgust and whined, “Are you kidding me?”  Then she rolled her eyes, left her bag exactly where it was for the gentlemen to come pick up and carry over to her.  The next day, I was on the elevator with Ms. Andrews and a few others.  It was a 14-floor ride filled with her complaining about how awful her day was going to be.  At least her Dancing with the Stars partner was there to keep her company…she seemed to enjoy his company.

3.  Malcolm Delaney is probably crying right now.  He was utterly dejected after Virginia Tech lost to Miami.  When I asked him how he felt about his teams’ NCAA tournament chances after the loss, he said that he would be shocked if they got left out because of that one game.  They did get left out, and if Delaney’s demeanor in the locker room was indicative of how hard he takes disappointment, he’s probably in the depths of despair right now.

4.  Mason Plumlee is tall.  When I usually interview players, they are sitting down in the locker room.  But Mason was standing up when I talked to him after Duke’s win over Miami.  I’m 5′9″ and he’s 6′11.”  I had to reach my microphone all the way up and stand on my tip toes just a little.  After the interview, he shook my hand.  Actually, his hand shook my forearm.  I feel small.

5.  Coach K takes questions very personally.  I asked him why this Duke team had been so consistent in that there hadn’t been a Duke team since 98-99 that had won this many games in the last month of the season.  He took that as me saying his previous teams weren’t consistent and proceeded to criticize my question.  Next year, I’m going to ask him what he thinks about the fact that Duke has won every ACC tournament I’ve covered.  Maybe that will help my cause :)

6.  Nolan Smith is a lot of fun to talk to.  Most players give very canned answers like, “I just focus on winning and doing whatever my team needs me to do to win.”  Nolan likes to chat it up.  He’ll give very personal, and often comical, answers to questions.  This is a kid who loves the spotlight, and he enjoys media attention.  It makes him a lot of fun to talk to.

7.  NC State fans are legit.  Their team has been awful all season, but rivaled Duke fans at Greensboro Coliseum in terms of enthusiasm for their team, which is impressive given the difference in the two teams’ seasons.  During their game against Florida State, the NC State fans were nuts.  Greensboro Coliseum was their very own Cameron Indoor.

8.  Seth Curry can’t wait to suit up.  I talked to him after Duke’s win against Georgia Tech, and he couldn’t stop talking about how anxious he was to play next year.  He’s not afraid to live up to the hype his last name creates, and he told me that he beats Stephen half the time.  If that’s true, Duke’s about to get a stud.

9.  Kyle Singler is fearless.  When he dove into the stands and nearly killed Dickie V, he got up and kept on playing.  He had a pretty intense cut on his arm, and it wasn’t the only one.  Up close, the guy looks more like he just got out of an MMA fight instead of basketball game.  He doesn’t mind it though.  I actually think he likes it.  He should probably get therapy for that.

10.  Andre Dawkins will benefit greatly from his performance against Georgia Tech.  When he dunked toward the end of the first half, he ran down the court and flashed a baby-faced smile.  I haven’t seen him do this in months.  It looks like he’s starting to have fun again, and if his performance can carry over to the NCAA tournament, he’ll have a lot of confidence to build on next year.

The NCAA tournament is coming right up, but the ACC tournament was a great experience.  Duke looks capable of making a lot of noise in the tournament.  They certainly did in Greensboro.

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The Best Duke Team in a Decade?

Monday, March 8th, 2010

Duke’s 32-point embarrassment of the North Carolina Tar Heels was an obvious illustration of just how bad this season’s North Carolina team is.

To put the game into perspective, it was the largest margin of victory by either side of the rivalry in Mike Krzyzewski’s 30 years at Duke.

Ouch.

While Saturday’s blowout has put even more focus on the current low point of North Carolina basketball, most overlook the fact that this Duke team is peaking at just the right time.

In fact, it’s not a stretch to say that this is the best Blue Devil team going into postseason play in a decade.

North Carolina coach Roy Williams would agree.  After Saturday’s game, he said that this Duke team is the best he’s coached against in his seven years at North Carolina.

Granted, this Duke squad isn’t as talented as, say, the 2001-02 Blue Devils.  The trio of Jason Williams, Mike Dunleavy, and Carlos Boozer would certainly best Jon Scheyer, Kyle Singler, and Nolan Smith in terms of talent.

The 2003-04 Blue Devils were also a more talented group.  Luol Deng, J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams all became lottery picks in the NBA drafts, and Chris Duhon wasn’t bad either.

But sometimes a team becomes something more than the collective talent of its players.  I believe that’s called “synergy,” and I’m certain this Duke team has it.

The undeniable fact is that this team, regardless of talent, is playing better basketball late in the season than any Blue Devil squad in a long while.

This is the first Duke team since 2001-02 to go into the postseason without suffering back-to-back losses the entire season.

This is the first Duke team to ever go 17-0 in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

This is the first Duke team since the 1998-1999 NCAA runner-up squad to win at least nine of its last 10 regular season games.

This might be the best rebounding Duke team in Krzyzewski’s career.

Without doubt, this is one of the most cohesive and consistent (they didn’t lose one game in February) Blue Devil teams in years.

What’s at the core of their success and momentum this season?

Two words—experience and toughness.

The Blue Devils start three seniors and two juniors.  That’s 18 years of combined college basketball experience in their starting five.

Because of how seasoned their core players are, the Blue Devils play with an amazing amount of poise.  It’s rare to see them panicked or struggling to focus.

Scheyer has probably played as many, if not more, minutes of college basketball in his career at Duke than any player on an NCAA tournament team this year.  The experience he brings into each game is one of the reasons he is one of the most mentally tough players in the game, and it’s a major reason the Blue Devils are such a difficult team to rattle.

On top of their experience, the Blue Devils play tough basketball.

Brian Zoubek played tougher than the entire North Carolina team on Saturday, and he’s not the only Duke player to bring fire and passion to each game.

Forwards Singler and Lance Thomas play hard each possession, consistently exerting more intensity than opponents night in and night out.

If you’ve watched many games, this is a team that has taken a fair amount of physical abuse.

How Singler and Mason Plumlee escaped the Wake Forest game without season-ending injuries is a mystery.  A few weeks ago, Nolan Smith took a hard screen eerily reminiscent of the Maryland screen that gave him a concussion last season.  Miles Plumlee had to have his head stapled shut against Florida State.   Thomas suffered a deep bone bruise in his knee at North Carolina, only to return for the next game.  Scheyer and Singler both spend significant amounts of time colliding with camera men as the take hard fouls inside or dive after lose balls.

The point is that Duke plays tough, and that toughness is a big reason they are looking at a No. 1 seed in the tournament.

This Blue Devil squad may not be the most talented group Krzyzewski has fielded in his tenure at Duke.  They may not even be as talented from top to bottom as they were last year.

But this team is experienced, tough, and playing at an incredibly high level at this point in the season.

Is this the best Duke team in a decade?

On paper, absolutely not.

On the court, certainly.

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Can Duke get some props, please?

Monday, March 1st, 2010

Okay, no offense to fellow bloggers writing about Duke, nor the North Carolina media or even radio hosts, but can you please give Duke the props they are due?

Duke is now atop the conference with a 12-2 record going into the Maryland game and the team has already won 25 games this season.  Add to that Kryzyzewski now has over 1000 victories and as of last evening, he passed Dean Smith of UNC as having the most all time road wins in the ACC.

I mean were we not just hearing how bad Duke is on the road, yet they are now a respectable 5-2 in hostile environments?

Instead of anyone talking of how great a job Krzyzewski has done with a team shy in guard depth or that his team has won eight straight games, we worry about Jon Scheyer’s legs or we state how Duke has not played anybody and the first athletic team will send them packing come March Madness.

I can understand some of the local media taking shots at Duke, especially the shock journalist of the radio world, but it seems to be in vogue to bash Duke or always and I do mean always see the glass as half full as some of my fellow bloggers seem to do.

I mean enough is enough!  I feel like I need a shower after reading all of the gloominess is coming stuff.

Nobody is claiming that Duke is a clear cut favorite nor that they do not have their faults as a team, but to miss what this team has done to date is to show just how jaded some of us have become.

I love humor as much as the next person, but it seems that media is becoming more about entertainment than to actually look at tangible facts or study the subject matter more closely.  It’s easy to appeal to a certain faction of the fan base by drudging up the same old arguments like Duke has tired legs and needs to play more people or else doom and gloom and same old, well, you’ve heard it all before.

I mean, Syracuse is ranked number one as of today and they play how many players?  They play seven for those who take the time to look it up.

So pardon me if I exclaim that Duke is having a helluva year and that I am personally excited to cover Duke versus Maryland and North Carolina this week from press row.  Hey, I am chomping at the bit to attend the ACC Tournament as well.  I am just plain excited that this is March 1st and that Duke has an opportunity to win the ACC regular season championship if they can defeat Maryland on Wednesday evening.

Talk about a huge game in the ACC or pick Duke apart if that is your schtick, but do not spill my glass which is half full with whiny rants and loosely researched accusations stated  as if it was an authoritative fact.

It’s cool to be in the entertainment business but is is also cool to sometimes appreciate the positives  instead of digging up the oh-so overused usual gripes from spoiled Duke fans.

Take a deep breath and enjoy the season if you are a Blue Devil fan and quit assuming the worst is bound to happen  in order to enjoy the team you pull for.

Or buy into the “negative Nellies,” that permeate the web these days and sit there finding faults after every win.

The bottom line is that until Wednesday, Duke is the best the ACC has to offer and that in itself is a situation most fans would die to be in.

So enjoy the coming week where Duke has ESPN’s Gameday in for the UNC game and the contest on Wednesday?  It’s simply the biggest game in the ACC season to date.

And for positive and accurate coverage of all things Duke, visit my website Blue Devil Nation.  You will find that we cover the Duke Athletic beat in a most hands on manner.

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Duke Is Better Than You Think They Are

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

After Georgetown’s convincing domination of the Blue Devils last weekend, most are backing off from talking about Duke as a possible Final Four candidate this season.

It’s easy to understand why.

Their performance against Georgetown was extremely reminiscent of last year’s embarrassing loss to Clemson, and even if that 27-point thrashing isn’t a perfect comparison, Saturday’s game was at the very least a repeat of West Virginia’s man-handling of the Blue Devils in the second round of the 2007-08 NCAA tournament.

There is no way to sugarcoat it—Duke played played poorly against Georgetown, very poorly.

But despite Duke’s awful performance (let’s just be brutally honest about it), don’t be fooled into thinking this is the same Duke team from recent seasons, destined for an early exit from the Big Dance come March.

The ratings experts would disagree with that assumption.

Right now, Duke ranks No. 2 in the Pomeroy rating.

If you’ve never tried to wrap your head around Ken Pomeroy’s rating system, do yourself a favor and try to figure out what’s going on in ABC’s Lost instead—that would be much easier.

Suffice it to say that Pomeroy’s “pythagorean calculation for expected winning percentage” is an extremely reliable snapshot of how well teams are playing at any given moment in a season.

Last year, two of Pomeroy’s top four rated teams, North Carolina and Connecticut, were in the Final Four.

In 2008, all four of his formula’s top four rated teams played in the Final Four.

Four of his top six rated teams made the Final Four in 2007.

To state the obvious, Pomeroy’s formula is ridiculously accurate.

Need more convincing?

Jeff Sagarin’s ratings currently place Duke as the third best team in the nation.  His rating system has been heralded for years.

But how is that possible?  How can this 17-4 team that lost lopsided games to Georgetown and North Carolina State in recent weeks score so high in some of the most respected ratings systems in sports?

Maybe it’s because the rating systems see things fans often overlook.

Most fans of the game look at the Blue Devils and see the same team from last season minus Gerald Henderson, their best athlete.  All they see is a slow, non-athletic group of skilled shooters trying to make threes like it’s the only way to score.

What most do not see is the second most efficient offense (points per 100 possessions) in the nation.

They do not pay attention to the fact that Duke is tied for first in national team free throw percentage.

Fans forget that the Blue Devil’s point guard has the fifth highest assist-to-turnover ratio in the nation because many hesitate to refer to Jon Scheyer as a point guard in the first place, opting instead to dream about Kyrie Irving’s prophesied dominance of ACC basketball.

The point is that, like Scheyer, Duke is deceptively good.

The Blue Devils may not have some of the obvious tell-tale signs of an elite team, but they are an extremely good team that has simply had some missteps in January, a pretty common phenomenon for elite teams as they transition into conference play (just ask this season’s Texas team or, better yet, North Carolina last year).

Scheyer has struggled a bit, Nolan Smith has been up and down, Kyle Singler is fighting through a wrist injury, and Duke’s best two freshmen, Andre Dawkins and Mason Plumlee, have disappeared in the last few games.

As those issues get sorted out, the Blue Devils will begin to look more and more like a team poised for a deep run in March.

January is over, and if the Blue Devils can learn from the lessons their losses have taught them (stop going for traps and steals in the open court), they will be a team that surprises a lot of fans, but not the ratings experts, in March.

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