Here Come the Blue Devils...Again

Scribe Written on November 28, 2007

Just when you thought they were finished, the Duke Blue Devils are back.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski has a great recruiting class, increased depth, and solid senior leadership for the first time in a few years.

Much of the college basketball world looked on with joy last season as Duke self-destructed, ending a run of futility to finish the season with a loss to Virginia Commonwealth.

A lot of questions surrounding last year's team circled around leadership, Josh McRoberts' confidence (or lack thereof), depth, cohesiveness...the list goes on.

Coach K's team went down in a fashion we haven't seen since Pete Gaudette was at the helm during Cherokee Parks' final Blue Devil season, when they went 13-18 overall and 2-14 in the ACC.

The Devils won the Maui, with super frosh Kyle Singler leading the way. (FYI: If you hated JJ Reddick you are going to despise Singler. He's just that good.)

Demarcus Nelson has proven to be a good floor leader, stepping into the role as the only senior on the team. Singler and fellow freshmen Nolan Smith and Taylor King have given the Devils added depth.

Gerald Henderson's athleticism and extreme vertical and short range game have drawn comparison to former Duke great Grant Hill. Greg Paulus looks to be over last season's injuries and illness and is running the show for the Devils very effectively.

Due to depth, and possibly lack of a true full-time center, this team really gets up and down the floor more than any Duke team in recent memory.

After Duke beat Marquette to win the Maui, they all but shut down Dominic James, then followed that performance with wins against Eastern Kentucky and a completely dismantled Brian Butch-led Wisconsin.

While it's still early, these were big wins for the Devils that helped get last season out of their minds.

It would appear this Duke team has more scoring potential since Christian Laettner, Bobby Hurley, and Hill-graced Cameron Indoor Stadium with back-to-back championship banners and trophies.

Can this team live up to that hype?

It's hard to tell this early in the season, but come Final Four time, the nation will once again realize the hatred they have for the Dukies and their Cameron Crazies as the Devils make a bid for a Championship.

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written on November 28, 2007 Sports

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