Bleacher Report - Articles by Justin McTeer

If the ACC Wins the Big Ten-ACC Challenge Again, It's Time to Rename It

Justin McTeer — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:20:26 -0500

The Big Ten-ACC Challenge has been an early season treat for college basketball fans since it's inception in 1999—at least for ACC fans anyway.

Despite several close calls over the past ten years, including the ACC's 6-to-5 record last season, the Big Ten has never won the Big Ten-ACC Challenge.

Not once.

In fact, Michigan State is the only Big Ten team to have a winning record in the challenge.

Perhaps "challenge" was the wrong word for the event. Maybe something like the "ACC-Big Ten Beat-down" would have been more appropriate.

With the Big Ten off to a good start after Penn State's three-point victory over Virginia, could this be the year the Big Ten finally steps up to the challenge (for lack of a better term)?

The ACC is certainly down after a mass exodus of talent to the NBA last season—there were seven first round draft picks from the conference in June.

The Big Ten retained a ton of talent and experience, however, with stars like Robbie Hummel, Manny Harris, and Kalin Lucas deciding to return.

As of last week, the Big Ten had six schools (Michigan State, Purdue, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio State, and Illinois) in the Top 25 compared to five for the ACC (Duke, North Carolina, Clemson, Maryland, and Georgia Tech).

But Michigan, Minnesota, and Illinois each lost two consecutive games last week, dropping out of the Top 25.

That means both conferences will have three Top 25 teams apiece in the challenge—Maryland dropped out of the rankings and Georgia Tech isn't competing in the event this year—making for a pretty even field on paper.

We'll know whether or not the Big Ten is ready to reverse trends in just a few days, but there are several intriguing questions worth delving into before the results are in.

Will Duke finally lose a Big Ten-ACC Challenge Game?

As crazy as it is that the Big Ten has never won the Big Ten-ACC Challenge, it's equally mind-boggling that the Duke Blue Devils have never lost a game in the event, sitting at a perfect 10-0.

Last year looked like a good window for the Big Ten to hand the Blue Devils a loss, as the then No. 4 Blue Devils took on No. 10 Purdue at Mackey Arena.

But the Blue Devils handled the Boilermakers despite a two-point output from Duke star Gerald Henderson.

Will Wisconsin end the Blue Devils streak when Duke travels to Madison on Wednesday night? The Blue Devils will certainly be the odds on favorite, as they are now the No. 5 team in the nation.

Nonetheless, Bo Ryan's teams are always tough, especially at home. The Badgers' only loss on the season came against a solid Gonzaga team in the Maui Invitational (and come on, the severe climate difference between Hawaii and Wisconsin had to be a factor).

Duke hasn't shot the ball well outside of Cameron so far this season—they only shot 35.7 from the field and 27.8 from beyond the arc at Madison Square Garden last week—so the unfriendly confines of the Kohl Center might give Duke a challenge.

At the same time, the Badgers haven't exactly scorched the nets this season—they are currently shooting less than 30 percent from the three-point line. If the Blue Devils can force jump shots the way they did against Connecticut last Friday, the Badgers could be in for a rough night.

There is also talk that Mason Plumlee, Duke's 6'10" star recruit who was a projected starter before breaking his wrist prior to the season, will be available for the Blue Devils on Wednesday, adding to an already huge Duke front court.

The Badgers may give Duke a run for its money, but the Blue Devils have too many offensive weapons to not pull out a win in Madison.

Will Michigan State get some revenge against North Carolina?

The Spartans had a fantastic season last year—except for when they played North Carolina in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge and again in the NCAA title game.

The Tar Heels had a 26-point average margin of victory in their two games against Michigan State last year and both of those wins were on the road.

This season, the Spartans, now No. 9 in the polls after their loss to Florida, certainly have plenty of motivation to beat a North Carolina team still struggling to find its identity.

But don't think the Tar Heels lack their own motivation.

At the start of the season, North Carolina was being talked about as a legitimate Final Four contender once again despite losing practically everyone after last year.

The Syracuse Orange quickly put an end to that talk after soundly beating the Tar Heels almost two weeks ago. There is no doubt the defending national champions are looking to prove that they are as good as their preseason hype.

Neither team does a good job taking care of the ball as both teams average over 14 turnovers per game. Michigan State has a 1.5/1 assist-to-turnover ratio compared to North Carolina's 1.2/1 ratio, so don't expect a well-executed game.

North Carolina played their best game of the season against Nevada on Sunday, despite the game being close. However, the Tar Heels have serious problems scoring the ball when Deon Thompson and Ed Davis aren't putting up big numbers.

In the end, Kalin Lucas and Michigan State's back court is too strong and too experienced for the Tar Heels.

This game might look just as lopsided as last year's match up, but with opposite results.

Who's on upset alert?

This could very well be a year where every high ranked team beats their opponent, but if I had to pick an upset it would be Florida State over Ohio State.

The Buckeyes' Evan Turner might be the best player in either conference, but Florida State throws a front line at opponents that makes most teams' bigs look like fourteen year-old kids just hitting their growth spurts.

The Seminoles don't play with consistency and they rarely win pretty, but they have a remarkable ability to take opponents completely out of their game with their size and athleticism.

Florida State's only loss this season came against a surging Florida team, and they overcame a 12-point halftime deficit to beat Marquette on Sunday.

Make no mistake, the Seminoles will beat several good teams this year, and the Buckeyes could be their first quality victim.

Does the ACC win it again?

On paper, this really does look like the Big Ten's year to win the Big Ten-ACC Challenge.

But ultimately, I think the ACC comes out on top with a 6-to-5 record with Duke, Maryland, Virginia Tech, Clemson, Miami, and Florida State walking away with victories.

If the Big Ten wins their first Big Ten-ACC Challenge, good for them. The Big Ten is certainly a great conference.

If the ACC pulls it out again, however, it's time to find a new name for the event—"challenge" won't cut it anymore.

Devil's Advocate: Duke Is Athletic Enough

Justin McTeer — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:10:17 -0500

Welcome to Devil's Advocate, my weekly Duke Basketball column. Each week, I'll take on a common argument or criticism against Duke used by analysts and/or Duke haters. My opinion might not be correct, but I'm just playing Devil's Advocate.

At halftime during Duke's 64-53 win over Arizona State in the semifinals of the NIT Season Tip-Off at Madison Square Garden, ESPN analyst Doug Gottlieb described the Blue Devils as "alarmingly unathletic" at several positions.

When asked to comment on Gottlieb's analysis after Duke beat Connecticut for the NIT Season Tip-Off championship, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski took a jab at the former Oklahoma State point guard.

"[Gottlieb] should be an expert on 'alarmingly non-athletic'...an expert who actually knows what it feels like to be 'alarmingly non-athletic,'" said Krzyzewski after the game.

Apparently, Krzyzewski didn't appreciate Gottlieb's comments.

The non-athletic reputation will be something that Duke won't likely shake with Brian Zoubek seeing significant floor time and Jon Scheyer running the point, despite how well he performs (Scheyer has a 10.3/1 assist-to-turnover ratio while averaging 16.8 points per game).

But make no mistake, this is a Duke team that is more athletic than they look.

Guards Nolan Smith and Andre Dawkins are certainly athletes.

Mason Plumlee, currently injured, showed off his athleticism at the McDonald's All-American dunk contest a few months ago.

Miles Plumlee, Duke's starting big man, is 6'10" with a monstrous 36-inch standing vertical—he had to duck mid-air to keep from slamming his head on the rim on a block against Arizona State.

Before anyone gets carried away, let's be clear—no one is saying that Duke is one of the most athletic teams in the nation, or in the ACC for that matter.

But the Blue Devils, despite what anyone says, are athletic enough.

Athletic enough for what?

Well, they are athletic enough to post 45 rebounds, including 18 offensive boards, against an extremely athletic Connecticut team. The Huskies have struggled on the boards this season despite their size and athleticism, but give Duke credit—it's tough to grab nearly 20 offensive rebounds against anyone, let alone against a team with Connecticut's size.

Despite being widely regarded as one of the ACC's less athletic teams, the Blue Devils currently top the conference in rebounds with 44 per game, out-rebounding frontcourt-loaded teams like North Carolina and Florida State who have just as much size, if not more, than the Blue Devils.

Simply put, the Blue Devils can certainly hold their own against any team in the conference, especially once 6'10" Mason Plumlee suits up.

Duke may not be the most athletic team in the ACC, but they are athletic enough.

ACC Roll Call: Duke, North Carolina, and Georgia Tech

Justin McTeer — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:35:03 -0500

Granted, it's only November.

It's much too early to start making postseason projections, crowning conference champions, or filling out brackets.

Nevertheless, we've been able to watch enough games to, at the very least, form an idea of what some of the top ACC teams have to offer.

The conference is wide open this season, with several teams sound enough to make a run for the regular season and tournament championship. It wouldn't shock anyone to see teams like Clemson, Maryland, and Florida State at the top of the conference come March, a spot generally reserved for Duke and North Carolina.

But while the Terrapins, Tigers, and Seminoles will make headlines as the season progresses, it was the Blue Devils, Tar Heels, and Yellow Jackets getting all the attention in the weeks leading up to the start of the season.

The Blue Devils lost Gerald Henderson to the NBA and Elliot Williams to Memphis, but with preseason ACC Player of the Year Kyle Singler surrounded by a solid supporting cast, which features some much improved height, Duke looks poised to successfully defend their ACC championship.

The defending national champion Tar Heels lost just about everybody after last season, but they held onto Ed Davis and Marcus Ginyard (due to a medical redshirt). Roy Williams brought in a highly-touted recruiting class, and fans and analysts alike have been talking about the Tar Heels as Final Four contenders once again.

Georgia Tech only won two games in the ACC last year, but they brought in one of the best recruits in the nation with Derrick Favors and returned Gani Lawal and Iman Shumpert. With a talent-laden starting lineup, many believe this team is ready to make a serious run in the ACC this season.

Each team has now played at least four official games.

What have we learned so far?

Duke—Finding the Missing Pieces

The Blue Devils started the season strong with four convincing wins, but with first-round exits in two of the last three NCAA tournaments, it's easy to see why many are skeptical of Duke's legitimacy.

The Blue Devils are a team that has been missing key pieces needed to be Final Four contenders in recent seasons, specifically at the point guard spot and in the paint.

This season could be the first year the Blue Devils have all of the pieces to the puzzle.

While they are still a year away from bringing in an elite, true point guard in Kyrie Irving, Jon Scheyer is doing a remarkable job leading the Blue Devils' offense so far. He's averaging 16.5 points, 5.3 assists, and he has yet to commit a single turnover in four games, despite averaging 32.8 minutes per game.

The maturation of Miles Plumlee has made a huge difference for Duke's post game thus far.

He's averaging a near double-double with 9.3 rebounds and 11.8 points per game so far this season, which is more than he, Lance Thomas, and Brian Zoubek combined to average last year.

When Mason Plumlee, the more offensively gifted of the two, gets healthy, the Blue Devils will have multiple offensive options in the paint for the first time since Shelden Williams and Josh McRoberts played together in 2005-06.

Singler is living up to his ACC Player of the Year hype so far, averaging 18.3 points and 6.5 rebounds.

But despite solid play from several players, including freshmen Andre Dawkins and Ryan Kelly, Nolan Smith has been the icing on the cake for Duke. He's averaging 22 points per game and the Blue Devils per game scoring average has gone from 85 to 102.5 since he joined the lineup (he had to sit out the first two games for playing in an unsanctioned summer league).

Question marks still remain for the Blue Devils, specifically athleticism and the wear and tear of the minutes required by their thin backcourt. They certainly need a healthy Mason Plumlee to have the frontcourt depth needed to hold their own in the ACC.

But if they maintain their current level of play, it's hard to pick another team finishing on top of the ACC this season.

North Carolina—Unrealistic Expectations

After five games, the Tar Heels are 4-1 with victories against Florida International, North Carolina Central, Valparaiso, and Ohio State.

Their only loss came against No. 24 Syracuse in the finals of the 2K Sports Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament, but it was a convincing loss.

Ranking the Tar Heels at No. 4 in the nation when only a few of their players have ever been a significant part of a college team seemed suspect a few weeks ago, and those suspicions look to be valid after their loss to Syracuse.

It's not that this young North Carolina team isn't living up to expectations, it's that the expectations were unrealistic. They are a good team, but at this point in the season, they are not No. 4 in the nation good.

Defensively, this Tar Heel team will cause a lot of problems for opponents.

In their victory over No. 15 Ohio State, they held the Buckeyes to under 30 percent from beyond the arc and well under 50 percent from the field. With their size and length, this could be one of the best defensive teams UNC has had in a while.

The offense is a different story though.

North Carolina doesn't have the shooters they had in Wayne Ellington and Danny Green, though Ginyard has shot very well so far, and it remains to be seen if they have a player capable of creating his own shot.

To put things in perspective, North Carolina is averaging 82.6 points per game after five games this season; they averaged 92 points per game in their first five games last season, four of which were played with Tyler Hansbrough.

While Ginyard, Davis, and Deon Thompson have played well, combining for 39.8 points per game, no one has shown the ability to take over a game the way that Hansbrough, Ellington, or Ty Lawson have done in recent years.

Many were expecting the Tar Heels highly-touted recruiting class (ranked No. 1 in the nation according to many scouting services) to have an immediate impact in terms of replacing the scoring output left by Hansbrough and company. So far, North Carolina's freshmen haven't stepped up.

John Henson and Dexter Strickland, the two highest ranked and most talked about recruits in North Carolina's class, are combining for just 5.6 points per game.

Larry Drew II has been better than most anticipated at the point, but turnovers have still been a big problem for North Carolina. In their transition from the Ty Lawson era of Tar Heels basketball, North Carolina is averaging close 19.4 turnovers per game.

It's hard to predict how good this team will be by the end of the season.

They will certainly develop and get better throughout the season, but they have a ways to go before people should start talking about their return to the Final Four.

Georgia Tech—A Tale of Two Teams

Currently 3-1 with a loss to Dayton, The Yellow Jackets are, as always, somewhat of an enigma.

They only won two conference games last year, but they took it to Clemson in the ACC tournament and nearly beat Florida State the next day.

With Favors joining Shumpert and Lawal in the starting lineup, and with a true point guard in Mfon Udofia, there has been a lot of talk about this being the year the Yellow Jackets finally put it together and hold their own at the top of the ACC, hence their Top 25 ranking to begin the season.

Favors certainly appears to be the real deal, but he hasn't dominated the way most expected him to. He's currently averaging 13 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.

Shumpert and Lawal are also averaging double figures in scoring, at 10.3 and 15 points per game respectively (Lawal is also averaging 11.8 rebounds).

Those stats are nothing to criticize, but Georgia Tech will need a few players capable of scoring near 20 points per game if they are going to compete with the top teams in the ACC.

Consistency will be the key for Georgia Tech if they hope to contend for the ACC title, but it could also be the thorn in their side.

In their opening win against Florida A&M, four players scored in double figures for the Yellow Jackets. But in their loss to No. 21 Dayton the following week, only Favors and reserve Daniel Miller managed double figures in scoring, and just barely with 10 points apiece.

Against Boston University, Geogia Tech got 32 points from their bench (led by a team-high 22 point performance from Zachery Peacock), but in their previous win against George Mason, the bench only managed six points.

Shumpert, one of the Yellow Jackets three stars, has also struggled with consistency.

In his first game of the season, Shumpert scored a game-high 18 points. He managed only half that in the next game. Against George Mason, Shumpert scored 12 points, but followed that performance with a two-point outing against Boston University.

Simply put, Georgia Tech isn't good enough to win in the ACC if any of their big three disappear.

This Georgia Tech team will win more than two games in the ACC this season, but it is premature to put them in the upper echelon of the conference until someone shows that they can be an All-ACC caliber player.

Devil's Advocate: Stop Saying Jon Scheyer Isn't a Point Guard

Justin McTeer — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:40:40 -0500

Welcome to Devil's Advocate, my new weekly column. Each week, I'll take on a common argument or criticism against Duke used by analysts and/or Duke haters. My opinion might not be correct, but I'm just playing Devil's Advocate.

Point guard play hasn't exactly been a strength for the Duke Blue Devils in recent years.

Ever since Chris Duhon graduated in 2004, Duke has struggled to find an elite guard to lead the Blue Devils' offense.

Greg Paulus spent a few years trying to establish himself in that role, but his leadership ability couldn't compensate for his lack of athleticism in a league known for athletic guards.

Last season, Nolan Smith started at the point from day one.

He looked promising at the beginning of the season, but when Duke got into conference play, he struggled (especially with the mental aspect of the position) against the elite point guards in the ACC.

Midway through last year's ACC season, Jon Scheyer took over the reigns of the Blue Devils struggling offense and found more success than Paulus and Smith.

Leading the Blue Devils to 10 wins out of their last 12 games, Scheyer averaged 18.6 points per game with 2.4 assists and only 1.2 turnovers.

Despite his numbers, however, he looked out of place against Villanova in Duke's Sweet 16 loss in March, leaving analysts and fans questioning whether or not he could really be successful at the point this season.

With Duke's first three games in the books, Scheyer may have answered many of those questions with a resounding, "Yes, I can play the point with the best of them!"

In Duke's first three games of the season, Scheyer is averaging 16 points, 4.7 assists and zero turnovers—not bad for a player who, according to analysts, isn't a point guard.

Scheyer has always taken care of the ball at Duke; he averaged less than two turnovers per game in his first three seasons. But to play three games averaging over 34 minutes per game and log zero turnovers is ridiculous.

Sure, the Blue Devils haven't played anyone of significance yet, and their opponents haven't been deep or athletic, but regardless of the competition, playing three consecutive games without a single turnover is a rare accomplishment for even the most elite point guards in the country.

Point in case, Ty Lawson averaged two turnovers per game in his first three games last year, and it's not like anyone (even at Kentucky last year) was much competition for him.

Greivis Vasquez, probably the most complete guard in the ACC, averaged nearly three turnovers in his first three games last season against the likes of Bucknell, Youngstown State, and Vermont, so the "Scheyer hasn't played against good competition yet" line doesn't hold water.

People will still be quick to say that Scheyer isn't really a point guard, but what exactly is the role of a point guard?

The last time I checked, it's someone who can take care of the ball, initiate the offense, distribute, and get teammates involved.

Scheyer is certainly doing all of that and more so far for the Blue Devils.

How long will his zero turnover streak last?

Probably not much longer, especially if the Blue Devils play an athletic team like Connecticut in the NIT preseason tournament finals (that game will likely be Scheyer's first real test of the season, as the Huskies can throw the same kind of speed at Scheyer that Villanova did last year).

But it's not like Scheyer hasn't played against speed before—he's spent his whole career as a guard in the ACC, and he's never averaged more than 1.6 turnovers in a season despite playing big minutes even as a freshman against quick ACC guards.

Say what you will about Scheyer, but please don't say that he's not a point guard.

He does everything that a team could ask from their point guard and then some.

Has Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski Lost His Recruiting Touch?

Justin McTeer — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:18:58 -0500

It's official—Harrison Barnes is a Tar Heel.

It will take a few days (okay, months) for the meltdown of the Duke fan base to clear, but when the dust settles, questions will remain.

Many of those questions will center around the state of Duke recruiting and whether or not coach Mike Krzyzewski has lost the recruiting prowess that helped make him a hall of fame coach.

Before anyone gets carried away (and before Duke fans fill the comments section with cries of blasphemy), let's remember that while the recruiting misses in recent years have hurt, Krzyzewski is still bringing considerable talent to Duke.

This season, Duke brought in Ryan Kelly and Mason Plumlee, two of the top 20 recruits in the nation. Andre Dawkins was a five-star recruit in the 2010 class who came early in the wake of Elliot Williams' transfer to Memphis. Had he stayed in the 2010 class, he would have certainly been a top 20, maybe even top 10, recruit.

Next season, Duke will bring in Tyler Thornton, Josh Hairston, and Kyrie Irving. Hairston is currently a top 30 player in his class and his stock is seriously rising. Irving is considered one of the top five players in his class by nearly every recruiting service. Seth Curry, the nation's top scoring freshman last season, will also be available next year.

So despite the fact that Duke's recruiting misses will be talked up in the media over the next few months, no one should pretend that Duke hasn't been able to bring in top shelf talent.

That being said, just a few years ago, it seemed like Duke could go after any recruit in the nation and have a highly probable chance of landing their services. But now, Barnes joins Brandan Wright, Patrick Patterson, Greg Monroe, and Kenny Boynton on a seemingly ever-growing list of consecutive top targets that consider Duke, but commit elsewhere.

While the loss of Duke's previous top targets has certainly hurt, the loss of Barnes will sting more than the rest.

Krzyzewski has been recruiting Barnes as "the guy" for Duke's 2010 class for nearly two years. Barnes had made multiple visits to Duke, including the now infamous surprise flight down for the UNC game on Krzyzewski's birthday. He even high-fived the Blue Devil on his official visit—talk about rubbing salt in a wound.

Roy Williams, on the other hand, didn't turn the heat up on Barnes until April—that's quite a coup d'etat.

So what does William's gain and Krzyzewski's loss ultimately mean for the Blue Devils?

In terms of upcoming matchups with UNC, Barnes' commitment won't give the Tar Heels an overwhelming advantage over the Duke (notice the word "overwhelming").

If Kyle Singler comes back for his senior year, he will certainly give Barnes more than a challenge on the wing. Duke will likely have the advantage at the point with Irving, and if Ed Davis goes pro after this season, UNC's frontcourt will not be head and shoulders better than Duke's.

Granted, that's a lot of "ifs," but the above scenario is by no means unreasonable.

Losing Barnes to the Tar Heels is a big hit to the Blue Devils in terms of national perception, however.

Right now, the Tar Heels are the toast of college basketball while the Blue Devils are carry the stigma of good, but not great.

When the media talks about North Carolina, it's all praise; when they talk about Duke—let's just say it's a mixed drink made with one part praise and three parts speculation.

For example, on ESPNU's recruiting show leading up to Barnes' announcement, analysts talked a lot about UNC, discussing how great of a point guard the Tar Heels will have with Kendall Marshall coming next season. There was no mention of Irving coming to Duke, even though Irving is rated significantly higher than Marshall.

Why the lopsided focus on UNC?

It's not like ESPN is anti-Duke (they give the Blue Devils as much air time as any team in the nation). It's simply because, right now, North Carolina is the talk of the town in college hoops. And with three Final Fours and two national titles in the last five years, they deserve to be.

It's easy to understand why recruits like Barnes would perceive UNC to be a better destination than Duke to showcase their talents and compete for a title considering the recent accomplishments of both teams.

North Carolina has earned the perception of a champion in recent years, and it's paying dividends for them in the recruiting world.

Duke hasn't been able to shake the negative perception they have gained in recent seasons with early exits in March and consistent losses to UNC in some of college basketball's most televised games. That's not something that helps win recruiting battles against your rival.

Has Krzyzewski lost his recruiting touch?

As long as guys like Singler and Irving keep coming to Durham, the answer will have to be no.

At the same time, as long as guys like Barnes keep going elsewhere, public perception will say that he has. Unfortunately for Duke, perception is everything in the eyes of teenagers choosing which college to suit up for.

If Duke wants to change that perception and regain the recruiting edge over their rivals, there is only one thing they need to do—win (especially against North Carolina).

Getting Off the Bleachers: An Interview with Dominique Wilkins

Justin McTeer — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:18:54 -0500

Atlanta, GA— Thanks to a partnership with the NBA, HP, and Microsoft, Dominique Wilkins was at a local Atlanta Best Buy on Saturday to meet with fans and help promote the launch of Windows 7.

As a local Bleacherreport.com writer, I had the chance to sit down with Dominique and (with Windows 7 in mind) ask him seven questions about his NBA legacy, the NBA today, and how he would fair in today's game.

B/R: With nine All-Star appearances and host of other accomplishments, what would you say is the most memorable aspect of your career?

Wilkins : It’s hard to pick one thing that stands out more than another. There were so many things that I was able to accomplish or witness. But I would say the thing that stands out that the most was the type of talent that I played against night in and night out, the legends that were in the game. Basically, you had to play against a legend every night. That whole era was unbelievable.

B/R: Seeing that you played in one of the greatest eras in NBA history, what has changed the most in the NBA since your days as a player?

Wilkins : I think guys played more of a true position back when I played. A small forward was a small forward, a power forward was a power forward. You didn’t play both. The power forward position had the license to kick your butt and the game was very physical. I think the physical aspect of the game, some of it has been taken away with the rule changes. But the game is still played the same, you can’t change that.

B/R: Speaking of today's game, what current player would you say is the most similar to you as a player?

Wilkins : Probably a mixture of guys. I would probably say a little bit of [Dwayne] Wade as far as how he attacks the basket, Vince Carter and how he elevates. It’s a mixture of guys. I wouldn’t say there is one guy that I would say patterns himself after me.

B/R: Do you think you could take them?

Wilkins : I don’t believe in comparisons, but I look at the era I played in. Like I said, when you have to play against a great player every night, that defines who you are if you can compete on that same level night in and night out. That tells you where your place is in the whole, I would say, history of the game. You put yourself in a very high spot.

When you can compete on that level against the greatest players every single night, and when you can play just as good or better, that really defines who you are as a player. So if you’re asking me what would I have done [today], well, put it this way, if you couldn’t touch me [because of the rule changes], instead of averaging 25 or 30 [points], I’d probably average 40.

B/R: One of the most memorable parts of your career in fans' minds is the dunk contests with Jordan. You beat Jordan in '85 and lost to him by two points in '87 in Chicago. Do you think the home crowd gave him those extra two points?

Wilkins : There is always a little home cooking anywhere you play. I used slam dunking as a tool for intimidation. It wasn’t really who I was. But because I had dunks that were very dramatic, people think I dunked all the time. But I tell people all the time, it’s hard to score 26,000 points on dunks.

So I found creative ways to score—went to the free throw line, had the in between mid-range game, I could shoot the three, I could post up, all these different things. I only dunked maybe twice a game on average. I did other things. But it was fine, it’s something that people love to watch, and that’s fine. I tried to entertain people, but for me, it was a tool that I used. It wasn’t who I was.

B/R: One of the things that has definitely changed since you played is how early guys go into the NBA. You stayed for three years, when a lot of guys go as soon as they are eligible today. Are you a fan of players coming into the league early?

Wilkins : It was hard to come out of high school in my era. I came out of probably the greatest high school class in history, and not one of them went pro out of high school. That tells you how tough and physical the league was.

When you look at guys like Carmello Anthony, who I think is a super player, one of the best players in the league, he played one or two years in college. He got some seasoning so when he came to the NBA, he was ready. Some guys are exceptions to the rule like LeBron James or Kobe.

Not many guys can do that. I’m a fan of some guys coming early. It depends on the guy. Some kids come out early and never make it, or they might stay two or three years in the NBA and you never hear from them again. So, I think those kids get lost in the shuffle.

B/R: Now that you are in a management position with the Hawks, how has your view of the game changed?

Wilkins : It’s basically the same, you’re just doing in a suit instead of a uniform. The corporate side is different because you’re dealing with people’s lives, and you see things from a different perspective. When you’re playing, the game is going so fast, that you don’t see things in the same way a coach sees or even an educated fan sees.

So you definitely see things from a different perspective.

Your Chance to Meet an NBA Legend

Justin McTeer — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:56:54 -0500

As fans, there may only be a few things we enjoy more than sitting in the stands and watching NBA greats do their thing. One of those things would certainly be meeting those greats face to face. Thanks to a partnership between the NBA, HP, and Microsoft to promote the launch of the much-anticipated Windows 7 operating system, you just might have that chance. Certain Best Buy locations in several cities will be hosting Windows 7 launch events highlighted by the presence of some of the greatest players to ever grace the hardwood, giving fans a chance to meet them in person and get photos with the NBA legends (can anyone say Facebook profile pic?). Fans will also have the opportunity to enter a sweepstakes giving them a shot at two tickets to a 2010 NBA playoff or NBA Finals game, as well as chance to win one of seven HP computers complete with Windows 7 Home Premium. Click through the slides to see the locations and dates of each event, as well as the NBA legend you'll have the chance to meet.

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What Harrison Barnes' Decision Means for Duke

Justin McTeer — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:25:39 -0500

Remember, remember the twelfth of November—if you're a Duke fan.

That appears to be the day Harrison Barnes, the nation's top-ranked recruit, will announce which school will benefit from his numerous talents.

It just so happens to be a decision that has huge implications for a Duke program working to get back to the not-so-distant days of dominating college basketball.

There are still several schools in the running for Barnes' services other than Duke (North Carolina, Kansas, Oklahoma, UCLA, and Iowa State), but none have as much at stake as the Blue Devils.

North Carolina and Kansas, for example, are fresh off NCAA championships and look poised to make title runs either this season (Kansas) or in the near future (North Carolina). A commitment from Barnes would be the icing on their respective cakes, but both programs would still be favorites without him.

Jeff Capel's Oklahoma program is on the up-and-up for sure, and a Barnes commitment could solidify the program as a destination for elite talent for years to come. However, Capel's Sooners are in contention for a number of top-flight recruits such as Doron Lamb, and simply put, the expectations for the Sooners (at least in basketball) aren't what they are for teams like Kansas, UCLA, and North Carolina.

For Duke, the addition of Barnes to a recruiting class currently highlighted by committed star point guard Kyrie Irving could be what propels the Blue Devils back into their once seemingly eternal spot as national title contenders.

Barnes has been the Blue Devils top target for nearly two years. He has unofficially visited Duke several times, including a much-talked about surprise trip to Durham to see Duke play UNC last year. He just completed his official visit last weekend.

Duke fans have good reason to feel confident in their chances at this point, but so do North Carolina fans.

Although popular belief is still that Barnes will likely be a Blue Devil next year, he remains tight-lipped about where he stands, as he continues to approach the recruiting process as methodically as possible.

Quite simply, no one knows where he will go and very few people would be shocked if he ended up at either school on Tobacco Road.

But what does Barnes' decision really mean for the Blue Devils?

If he goes elsewhere, would it be a devastating development for a team that seems to be moving towards championship contention again?

To be blunt, no.

Even without Barnes, the Blue Devils will have all the necessary pieces to be a title contender next year. They will have one of the best backcourts in the nation with Irving, Nolan Smith, Andre Dawkins, Seth Curry, and Tyler Thornton. That's a fantastic combination of talent, athleticism, shooting range, and depth.

The Blue Devils already have a number of talented forwards with Miles and Mason Plumlee, Ryan Kelly, and (by next season) Josh Hairston. If Singler stays for his senior year, they would have an All-American candidate surrounded with talent.

Would Barnes put the Blue Devils over the edge in terms of Final Four contention?

Absolutely, as he would certainly be one of the most talented players coach Mike Krzyzewski has ever brought to Duke.

But it could be easily be argued that in terms of getting Duke back to the Final Four, Irving is more key than Barnes, considering that Duke has been missing an elite point guard for years and the Blue Devils are already deep with versatile forwards.

While missing out on Barnes wouldn't put the Blue Devils out of the top tier of 2010-11 teams, it would be a major miss for Krzyzewski personally.

Irving is a major get for Coach K, but Barnes has been his top priority for a few years now.

If Barnes were to go elsewhere, he would join Brandan Wright, Patrick Patterson, Greg Monroe, and Kenny Boynton as consecutive missed top targets for Krzyzewski.

In his 30 years coaching the Blue Devils, he's never missed on that many top targets consecutively.

Fans have often questioned whether or not Krzyzewski's gig as the Olympic coach has negatively affected his recruiting at Duke. Although Irving's commitment has fans as excited as they have been about a recruit in a while, expect such complaints to continue or intensify if Barnes is not wearing the number 40 at Duke next season even though Krzyzewski has done a lot in the last year to update Duke's recruiting strategy.

Of course, if Barnes joins his "little brother" Irving at Duke, thereby putting a definitive end to Krzyzewski's trend of missing top targets, the Olympic coaching criticisms should go out the window.

The 2010 recruiting class represents the first class who have known Krzyzewski as the Olympic coach throughout the entirety of their high school years (Barnes, Irving, and co. would have been in the 8th grade when Krzyzewski was named the Olympic coach in 2005).

If Barnes comes to Durham, Duke will have a recruiting class that features two of the top five players in the nation based on the RSCI ratings, which is impressive even for a program like Duke.

A Duke commitment from Barnes could be the start of other programs' complaints that Krzyzewski's Olympic coaching job gives Duke an unfair recruiting advantage.

Olympics aside, Barnes, along with Irving, would return Duke's reputation as the program that top recruits want to be a part of.

There is really no way to quantify what Barnes could mean for Duke.

He could tip the scales back in Duke's favor in terms of it's rivalry with UNC, not to mention put Duke back into the spotlight as the favorite to win the title.

He could also be the best NBA prospect to come to Duke in a long time, and help reverse the misconception that Duke doesn't produce NBA talent as well as other programs.

While there is no other program with as many pro alumni than Duke, and Duke pros are the highest paid alumni group in the NBA, that misconception still exists and will continue to until Duke produces another NBA star.

Barnes could be that player.

With so much potentially on the line for Duke, the twelfth of November seems like it's months away for fans—it's not.

Depending on what Barnes decides that day, it will either be a day that Blue Devils fans remember forever, or a day they try to forget.

Duke Basketball Season Breakdown Part Three: Bench Brings Offense, Experience

Justin McTeer — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:52:48 -0400

This is the final preview breaking down the Duke basketball season.

This series represents a collaboration between members of the Bleacher Report Duke Basketball Page and looks at the Blue Devils' frontcourt, backcourt, and bench.

The Blue Devils are a much different team than Duke teams from the past few seasons.

At the start of the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons, Duke was extremely young and inexperienced.

Last season, the Blue Devils had experience but lacked size in the frontcourt (that has certainly changed this season, as Duke will be one of the biggest teams in the country).

With Duke's added size, experience, and the addition of a talented recruiting class, the Blue Devils look poised to defend their ACC title and, depending on how they develop, make it past the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2004.

Perhaps the biggest change for the Blue Devils this season is the makeup of their bench players, particularly in terms of experience and offensive firepower.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski's primary bench players (players who averaged close to or more than 10 minutes per game) last season were Greg Paulus, David McClure, Brian Zoubek, and Elliot Williams.

It should be noted that the starting lineup changed quite a bit last season, with Williams starting over Nolan Smith toward the end of the year and Lance Thomas taking Zoubek's starting spot around the same time.

Paulus was supposed to be the Blue Devils' bench offense last year, having been particularly potent from behind the arc in his previous seasons, but he never found his stroke and saw his playing time steadily decrease as the season went on.

Williams played well as a starter for the last 12 games of the season but only averaged 2.5 points per game as a reserve.

McClure was a fantastic role player who provided experience off the bench, but he was never an offensive threat, and Zoubek, while bringing size to clog the lane on defense, struggled to produce as a low-post scoring option once conference play started.

Duke's bench only averaged 15.1 points per game last year (more than 10 points less than the previous season's bench) and, more importantly, lacked a player who had the offensive firepower to demand the attention of defenses.

When Duke's starters were in foul trouble last season, their scoring options dwindled, which allowed defenses to focus on fewer players.

This season, however, should be different.

Duke will likely bring Thomas, Zoubek, Ryan Kelly, and Andre Dawkins off the bench this season (although it wouldn't be surprising if Thomas breaks into the starting lineup if one of the Plumlee brothers struggles).

Thomas and Zoubek will provide senior leadership and make excellent backups to the more talented, but younger, Plumlee brothers.

Zoubek's playing time may decrease significantly if Miles Plumlee has progressed as much as reported (he looked great in the team scrimmage and first exhibition game), but the elder Plumlee struggled mightily with fouls last season.

Zoubek will be needed to give breathers and foul trouble support to the younger post players, and his size makes him a defensive commodity at the very least. He's also a fairly good passer from the high post.

Thomas could have his best season as a Blue Devil this year.

He has added muscle to his frame and will likely get to play his natural position as a forward this year instead of being forced to play exclusively in the post.

Thomas has been a starter for the vast majority of his games at Duke, and his experience off the bench will be a key strength for the Blue Devils.

He has the ability to guard nearly every position on defense, and his offensive production could increase with him being able to play more minutes as a face-up forward rather than an undersized big man.

Freshmen Kelly and Dawkins provide something the Blue Devils haven't had from their reserves in a few years—instant offense.

Dawkins, coming in a year earlier than expected, has the potential to be a star player for Duke in the years to come.

He gives the Blue Devils their purest stroke since J.J. Redick graduated in 2006, and he sports an athleticism reminiscent of Gerald Henderson.

Expect Dawkins to average double figures (or at least close to that mark) in scoring from day one, playing starter minutes due to the Blue Devils' lack of guard depth.

In fact, he could end up as one of the Blue Devils' top five scorers by the end of the season.

Kelly is one of the Blue Devils' most overlooked players (although he was the highest ranked recruit to join the team), but he will surprise a lot of people this season.

Often misunderstood as a power forward who looks unable to hold his own in the post, Kelly is more of a small forward with added height.

He will be one of the best shooters on the Blue Devils squad this season, and he has an incredibly developed and diverse skill set that makes him a definite offensive weapon.

He is a particularly impressive ball-handler for a player of his size, giving him the ability to play primarily on the perimeter despite his 6'10" size.

Kelly may not average double figures in scoring, but similar to Taylor King a few years ago (although they are very different players), expect him to go off in several games and put up big numbers while defenses focus on players like Kyle Singler and Jon Scheyer.

All in all, the Blue Devils' bench is vastly improved over last season.

The reserves will bring in a fantastic mixture of leadership, experience, and offensive firepower while allowing the Blue Devils to run a legitimate-nine man rotation for most of the year.

Key Players: Andre Dawkins and Lance Thomas combine to give the Blue Devils offensive talent, athleticism, and experience.

Wild Card: Ryan Kelly may be invisible behind Singler in some games, but he has the ability to go off with a hot hand on any given night.

Kyrie Irving's Commitment Ends Duke's Recruiting Woes

Justin McTeer — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:44:43 -0400

If I had to guess what Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski is doing right now, I'd say he's smiling.

He should be since Kyrie Irving, the nation's second-rated point guard, just committed to the Blue Devils on ESPNU.

Even for a program like Duke that seems to have the market cornered on McDonald's All-Americans, Irving is a huge get.

A lightning-quick, offensively gifted (that's an understatement) point guard, Irving will bring a dimension to Duke's offense that has been missing for years.

College basketball fans suffering from long-term memory loss think of Duke as a team reliant on three-point shooters to make up for its lack of athleticism, but those who have been following the sport for a while remember the days when the Blue Devils could beat any team up and down the floor and frequently score in triple digits.

Irving is the type of player who will have the Blue Devils looking much more like the William Avery and Jason Williams-led teams of the late 90's and early 00's than the slower-paced teams of recent years.

While Irving's commitment spells big things for Duke's not-so-distant future, it also spells the end of Duke's much-publicized recruiting troubles.

For the last several seasons, Duke has brought in a bevy of talented players all the while missing out on several key recruits like Kenny Boynton, Greg Monroe, Patrick Patterson, and Brandan Wright.

Those misses have left the Blue Devils with missing pieces to a championship-caliber team for several years running.

Perhaps more importantly, those misses have given the Blue Devils the stigma of a team that can't land the top-tier talent that used to fill its roster.

Irving's commitment changes that stigma, and it could lead to a recruiting domino effect that puts Duke back on top of college basketball.

Right now, the Blue Devils are (by all accounts) in the top of the running to land two more top-10 ranked recruits in Harrison Barnes and Austin Rivers, both of whom have close relationships with Irving.

Simply put, Irving is the best point guard Duke has had in almost a decade.

He gives Duke a piece of the recruiting puzzle they haven't had for a long time—an elite point guard who will make the players around him look (and play) better, taking pressure off the wings to penetrate and collapsing defenses to provide easy baskets (and improved stats) for the big men in the paint.

The truth of the matter is that elite players want to play with elite point guards, and Irving is as elite as they get.

Whether or not his relationships with Barnes and Rivers lead to more Duke commitments remains to be seen.

Regardless, Kyrie Irving just put the Blue Devils one step closer to returning as college basketball's national champion favorites.

Duke Basketball, Facebook, and the Domino Effect One Has on the Other

Justin McTeer — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:04:49 -0400

To say that the nature of college basketball recruiting has become more complex over the last few decades would be an understatement in the same realm of calling Chris Paul "quick" or Shaquille O'neal "tall."

Duke's current recruiting situation is a prime example of how much more intricate the recruiting world has become in recent years.

Currently, Mike Krzyzewski is actively recruiting a number of high-profile players, just like he always does at Duke.

The Blue Devils' top two targets are 2010 standouts Harrison Barnes and Kyrie Irving, both of whom are ranked in pretty much every recruiting analyst's top 10 among current high school players. All signs point to Duke being in the final running for both players.

Roscoe Smith is the other 2010 Duke recruit still on the table. He just cut his list to three schools, one of which is Duke.

In 2011, Duke is recruiting current Florida semi-commit Austin Rivers as well as standout players like Quincy Miller and Brad Beal.

Here's where things start to get interesting and, for lack of a better analogy, scripted teenage reality show-like.

(Feel free to read the next few lines with a stereotypical high school gossip queen voice in your mind for full effect, inserting words such as "like" and beginning sentences with "Okay, so..." where you see fit).

Barnes and Irving are really close friends—they have both said that they see each other more like brothers than friends.

Irving and Barnes have publicly talked about playing at Duke together, but Harrison isn't really talking to anyone right now, so if you were to ask him if Irving's decision (expected soon) would influence his school choice, you wouldn't get a revealing answer.

Rivers just so happens to be close to Irving as well, and he has also talked openly about how great it would be to play with him at Duke. He is currently still committed to Florida, but has asked Duke to recruit him (he and Florida have an open relationship, so to speak).

Now, Smith and Barnes also know each other, but the word on the street is that they won't play for the same school. Apparently, there was an incident between the two at an AAU event and they would rather keep their distance.

Oh yeah, and Beal and Rivers are also good friends, so if Rivers chooses a school that also shows interest in Beal, it could go a long way with Beal's recruitment.

Miller just likes to play basketball and keep to himself.

With all of the apparent close friendships and ties to these players, you would think they attend the same high school—not even close.

Irving lives in New Jersey while his "brother" Barnes is from the big city of Ames, Iowa.

Rivers resides in Florida, and his good friend Beal lives in St. Louis.

Smith is from Baltimore and Miller is from North Carolina (saving Coach K a ton on airfare).

In the age of AAU events combined with social networking, these players from opposite locales are able to build relationships strong enough to create the potential recruiting domino effect that Duke is hoping for.

Thirty years ago, these players would have likely never met (or perhaps heard much about each other) aside from a brief encounter at a Tournament of Champions or another exhibition event.

AAU basketball and an intensified national focus on high school recruiting thanks to Al Gore's wonderful Internet has changed that, however.

High profile players frequently meet and compete at national AAU events, and the increased coverage of these events along with the constant rankings and comparisons from national scouting sites gives today's high school stars more familiarity with each other than ever.

This has been happening for years, but the situation at Duke goes well beyond familiarity.

Thanks to the growing popularity of Facebook and other social networking sites, these players are friends (except for Smith and Barnes apparently).

Social networking sites are changing the face of college basketball recruiting in a way that few things (if anything) ever have.

Now, when two top-ranked players meet at an AAU tournament or camp and hit it off, they send each other friend requests and follow one another's tweets. They have open lines of communication and develop close ties, not to mention playing an active role in each other's recruitment when one of them decides on a school and wants their top-ranked friend to follow.

While these types of player-to-player relationships have been present for years on a regional level, the advent of Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites has made these relationships possible on a national level.

And the current recruiting landscape is changing rapidly as a result.

Don't look at Duke's situation as a unique convergence of coincidence, but rather as an early example of what recruiting will look like for years to come.

In the age of social networking, who a player has in his friend list could be worth an extra star in their ranking.

Domino effect recruiting might just become the norm.

For the Blue Devils, fans are hoping that the relationships between these players will lead to a rapid succession of commitments.

But no matter what happens at Duke, expect future recruiting classes to have similar story lines with players living thousands of miles apart playing crucial roles in each other's recruitment.

Technology is supposed to simplify life.

I guess they never mentioned it would make a complicated mess out of high school recruiting.

Thanks Facebook!

Kyrie Irving's Potential Impact with the Blue Devils

Justin McTeer — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:33:56 -0400

Duke’s 2010 recruiting class has the potential to be the best class the Blue Devils have secured in nearly a decade.

Much of that potential rests on the decision of Kyrie Irving, the nation’s second-highest rated point guard and a consensus top-five recruit according to most of the top recruiting sites.

Widely considered to be a Duke lean after his elimination of Indiana from the recruiting race, Irving visited Duke for his first official visit last weekend.

He raved about the visit, twittering that “everything there fits me and is right for me” shortly after returning home to New Jersey.

That statement, combined with previous statements from Irving and his family that he would be willing to commit to a team on a visit if it felt right to him, had many predicting a commitment within the first 24 hours after his visit.

A commitment to Duke hasn’t happened yet (he’s confirmed that he will at least visit Texas A&M and then determine if he needs to see more schools), but it is certainly expected in the upcoming weeks by most recruiting experts.

While Blue Devil fans eagerly await Irving’s decision, here’s a quick look at what his commitment would mean for Duke.

To put it simply, a commitment from Irving could spell the end of coach Mike Krzyzewski’s recent recruiting troubles.

Most schools would view the Blue Devils’ last five years of recruiting as momentous, but Duke is not most schools.

The Blue Devils have been without several key pieces to the Final Four puzzle in recent years, specifically an offensive-minded big man and an elite, athletic point guard.

If Irving sets foot on campus in 2010, the point guard piece of that puzzle can officially be considered found.

Reminiscent of former Duke star Jason Williams, he is a lightning quick, big-time scoring point guard.

His addition to the Blue Devils squad could be the beginning of Duke’s return to former glory—the days in which Duke could outrun any team in the nation and put up nightly scoring totals closer to 100 points than 80.

Speaking of scoring, Irving can do it in bunches.

At some of this summer’s biggest AAU events, Irving turned in near 40-point performances on a regular basis, impressing scouts and coaches while sending his national ranking soaring.

Irving will be one of the fastest guards in the nation and would give the Blue Devils a dimension to their offense they haven’t had since Chris Duhon graduated in 2004 (consequently the last time Duke made it to the Final Four).

Unlike recent graduate Greg Paulus, Irving’s bread and butter is less about pulling up from behind the arc and more about getting into the lane and collapsing defenses.

His scoring ability really can’t be overstated, and he will force defenses to pay constant attention to him no matter where he plays.

Irving would bring a level of play to Duke’s backcourt that has been missing for a while, but he could be bringing more than just his own abilities to Durham should he commit.

Aside from his quickness, smooth handle, and scoring ability, Irving also has close connections to a few other high-priority Duke recruits, particularly Harrison Barnes, the nation’s top-rated player.

Barnes has been Duke top target for nearly two years now, and he and Irving have openly talked about the possibility of playing in Durham together. In fact, Barnes has said that he views Irving more like a sibling than just a friend.

Whether or not his closeness to Irving will influence Barnes’ decision should Irving choose to play at Duke, it can’t hurt that Barnes will know he’ll be playing with potentially the best point guard in the ACC should he follow Irving’s lead.

Top talent, especially point guard talent, tends to attract more top talent in college basketball, and there aren’t many players who can top Irving as far as talent goes.

But regardless of the impact on Duke recruiting, Irving would instantly make Duke a Final Four contender (especially when considering how deep and loaded both Duke’s backcourt and frontcourt could be in 2010-2011, with or without Barnes).

Some say he will be the best guard ever to come out of New Jersey, which is saying a lot in terms of Duke Blue Devils basketball.

All three of Coach K’s championships have come with a New Jersey point guard running the show as both Bobby Hurley and Jason Williams were from the Garden State.

If Irving ends up being more successful than those two…

Maybe, we shouldn’t go down that path in consideration for the well-being of Duke fans’ collective mental health. Just think of the widespread light-headedness and fainting that would occur—not good.

But even if he comes close to Hurley and Williams’ level while playing at Duke (that is, if he plays at Duke), the Blue Devils will be playing a lot more basketball in March for the next few seasons.

To say that a lot rides on Irving’s decision is an understatement.

It’s been a long time since the Blue Devils had an All-American caliber point guard—something that used to be a right of passage in Durham—but if Duke fans get the commitment they are expecting within the next few weeks, that wait will be over.

Jon Scheyer Is on Point for Duke

Justin McTeer — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:26:36 -0400

The Blue Devils' point guard issues have been well documented over the last few seasons, so there's no need to go on-and-on about the carousel ride that was Duke's starting point guard role last season.

While Duke fans are eagerly awaiting the decisions of potential future point guards (Kyrie Irving will visit Durham this weekend, and 2011 prospect Austin Rivers was on campus this past weekend testing his "commitment" to Florida), the Blue Devils are looking to solve their point guard problems this season with senior guard Jon Scheyer.

Skepticism regarding Scheyer's apparent lack of quickness—he's deceptively athletic—and playing out of his natural position will be common among analysts. But there is no denying that Scheyer excelled at the point last season.

He was at the helm of Duke's offense for the final 12 games of the season, and the Blue Devils won 10 of those games, losing only to North Carolina and Villanova, both of whom were Final Four teams.

During that span, Scheyer averaged 18.6 points, 2.4 assists, and only 1.2 turnovers per game.

There may be doubts about Scheyer's ability as a point guard, but numbers don't lie and Scheyer's numbers are All-ACC caliber.

In just his second game running the offense for the Blue Devils, he scored 30 points and committed only one turnover in 37 minutes of action as Duke defeated Wake Forest at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

In Duke's late season loss to North Carolina, Scheyer scored 24 points on a perfect 10-for-10 from the field (on the road no less), dishing out five assists and committing zero turnovers in 39 minutes of floor time.

In the ACC tournament finals against Florida State, Scheyer scored 29 points on his way to earning ACC tournament MVP honors.

Needless to say, Scheyer didn't struggle to be productive as Duke's point guard.

As impressive as Scheyer was at the point last season, many overlook the fact that he stepped into that role on a moment's notice.

He did not spend the previous offseason preparing or practicing for the position, but rather showcased his adaptability midseason when the Blue Devils were in desperate need of a point guard solution amidst the struggles of Nolan Smith and Greg Paulus.

This offseason, of course, has been different.

Scheyer participated in the Deron Williams Skills Academy in June, honing his point guard skills against players such as Kansas' Sherron Collins, Virginia Tech's Malcolm Delaney, and upcoming Texas freshman Avery Bradley.

He has spent his summer preparing to return as Duke's point guard, conditioning himself to be ready for 40 minutes per game in light of the Blue Devils' diminished guard depth.

Will his performance this season match or exceed his late season play last year?

One would think.

Scheyer has had an entire offseason to prepare for his role, and his competition in the ACC is certainly less than last season, as so many elite ACC point guards have moved on to the NBA.

Let's not forget that the performances mentioned earlier were turned in against NBA-level point guards Jeff Teague, Ty Lawson, and Toney Douglas.

Those factors point to a promising season for Scheyer.

After all, if Scheyer was able to be so successful last season with little preparation while playing against one of the best crops of ACC point guards the conference has seen in years, what will he do this year being better prepared and playing against lesser competition?

Perhaps a better question: What won't he do?

Scheyer has certainly worn a lot of hats in his days at Durham.

He was the freshman that exceeded expectations and started ahead of a higher-ranked future NBA lottery pick in Gerald Henderson.

He was the sophomore who moved to bench but contributed as much as any starter in the ACC.

He was the junior who took control of the offense and spearheaded a remarkable midseason turnaround for a team seemingly in a state of free fall.

This season, expect him to be the All-ACC senior who leads his team to the top of the conference.

No matter what the season brings, Duke's Scheyer is on-point and hungry for success.

Are the 2009-10 Duke Blue Devils Under-Hyped?

Justin McTeer — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:50:04 -0400

I'll be the first to admit that thinking about the Duke Blue Devils as an overlooked team sounds ridiculous.

As is the case most seasons, the Blue Devils will likely go into the season as a top 10 team. They will be on national television as much as any team in the nation, and they will be discussed endlessly by high-profile analysts, just like they are every year.

But don't expect to hear the Blue Devils make their way into many Final Four contender conversations early in the season, despite their high ranking.

The "they don't have the talent to contend but will do well in the regular season due to Coach K hence their high ranking" line of thinking will be used often, and it's understandable as to why—it certainly fits with the Blue Devils' performance over the last few years.

On the other hand, how many 30-win, conference tournament champion, Sweet 16 teams returning four starters, bringing in a top 10 recruiting class (possibly top five if Andre Dawkins' early addition could be quantitatively measured in the rankings), and featuring a legitimate first team All-American candidate (Kyle Singler) would be considered a non-contender?

Few.

Maybe none.

But that is the situation the Blue Devils will find themselves in once the season begins—respectfully ranked but written off by the experts before they play their first game.

While Duke has possibly earned such assumptions with its postseason performance in recent years (they have been upset by a lower-seeded team in every NCAA tournament since 2005), this Blue Devils squad simply isn't the same team from the past few years.

While many fans are looking straight past this season and on to 2010-11, when Duke hopes to add its most outstanding recruiting class in nearly 10 years, this season's Blue Devil squad shouldn't be overlooked as a potential Final Four contender.

Duke has upperclassman leadership in Jon Scheyer, Lance Thomas, Nolan Smith, and Singler.

They bring in a fantastic recruiting class with Mason Plumlee, Ryan Kelly, and Dawkins. The three five-star freshmen give Duke a big influx of size, athleticism, and offensive options. Expect all three to play significant minutes from the start of the season as opposed to last season's freshmen.

The Blue Devils will also field one of the biggest lineups in the nation, with seven scholarship players standing 6'7" or taller. They were a much-improved rebounding team last season, and they should be formidable on the glass this year with height advantages at most positions.

Are there still uncertainties surrounding the Blue Devils' potential this season?

Sure.

Questions regarding their point guard play, guard depth, over-reliance on the three-point shot, and offensive post presence will be at the forefront of analysts' skepticism.

Over the next two weeks, we'll take a look at those questions and how the Blue Devils hope to answer them.

But regardless of the questions, skepticism, and general lack of hype surrounding Duke this season, don't be surprised to see the Blue Devils make a strong case as a Final Four contender by the time March rolls around.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski Overhauling Duke with Devilish New Approach to Recruiting

Justin McTeer — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 23:37:02 -0400

The struggles of Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski's recruiting efforts in recent years have been well documented.

While he's successfully recruited McDonald's All-American after McDonald's All-American, the Blue Devils have still been missing key positional players needed for postseason success in recent years.

Missing out on players like Brandan Wright, Greg Monroe, Patrick Patterson, Kenny Boynton, and John Wall has forced Krzyzewski to play certain players out of position in order to field a successful team. Kyle Singler, Lance Thomas, and Jon Scheyer are prime examples of players having to play out of position to fill holes left by recruiting misses.

Those recruiting misses have garnered sharp criticism from the Duke faithful, who have been voicing concerns that Krzyzewski's "less is more" approach to recruiting has become outdated.

Those critics should quiet down in the near future, because Krzyzewski's approach to recruiting appears to be changing.

The Blue Devils just completed their first annual Elite Camp, bringing in some of the best players in the country and giving them a concentrated dose of what makes Duke so special, complete with focused attention from the coaching staff and face time with Duke greats such as J.J. Redick and Jason Williams (not to mention a stay on Duke's campus and a firsthand view of Duke's amazing new practice facility and Cameron Indoor).

Attendees featured current Duke commitments such as Josh Hairston and Tyler Thornton, high-priority targets such as 2011 recruit Quincy Miller, and likely Duke targets in years to come.

The Elite Camp has already given way to J.P. Tokoto, an athletic and offensively-minded 2012 guard, receiving an official offer from Duke, and the buzz is that Marshall Plumlee (the younger brother of current Duke players Mason and Miles Plumlee) will be offered soon.

The Elite Camp is just one piece of Krzyzewski's revamped recruiting approach.

He has widened the recruiting net significantly, with multiple players being actively recruited for the same position (at one point in this offseason, Duke was actively recruiting the top four point guards in the 2010 class).

Krzyzewski is going after younger players as well, as evidenced by Tokoto receiving an offer before playing a single high school game as a sophomore. Granted, offering sophomores won't become standard practice, but it's just more evidence of Krzyzewski's more aggressive recruiting approach.

What has this rebooted approach to recruiting gained for the Blue Devils?

Well, Duke remains high on the list for 2010 standouts Harrison Barnes and Kyrie Irving. Commitments from those players would give Duke the nation's standout recruiting class in 2010.

The Blue Devils are getting in the game early for highly-touted recruits, something that generally goes a long way in recruits' minds when trimming their lists come decision time.

Perhaps most importantly, the Blue Devils have gained a renewed energy and drive from one of the greatest college coaches of this generation.

Regardless of the immediate impact, Krzyzewski's recruiting strategy hasn't simply been modified in recent months; it's been entirely overhauled.

That's a good thing for the future of Duke basketball—a very good thing.

The State of Duke Basketball: 2010

Justin McTeer — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:09:22 -0400

To put it mildly, Mike Krzyzewski is trying to make a bold statement with his 2010 recruiting class.

The last few seasons of Duke basketball, though respectable in terms of wins, have failed to live up to the standards set by the success of previous Blue Devil teams.

After losing (handily) to Villanova in last season's Sweet 16, Krzyzewski admitted that the talent level in Durham just isn't where it needs to be, and it seems he's trying to change that with an ambitious 2010 recruiting class.

Few Duke recruiting classes been as hotly anticipated by the Blue Devil faithful, especially when they are still more than a season away, but the "potential" class (there are several key recruits that still haven't committed) that Duke is putting together for the season after next could be what vaults the program back to the top of college basketball.

In terms of sheer importance, the 2010 class will be key to the Blue Devil's immediate future as a program.

The core of Duke's current team will move on after this season. Jon Scheyer, Lance Thomas, and Brian Zoubek will graduate. Kyle Singler could be a lottery pick (depending on his season) and leave early for the NBA.

With the recent departures of Gerald Henderson and Elliot Williams, it's possible that the Blue Devils could enter the 2010-11 season with just a few players with significant starting experience (Nolan Smith and, likely, Mason Plumlee).

Duke's 2010 class, then, will need players talented enough to make a serious impact as freshman, as Duke will be short on talented and experienced upperclassmen, especially if Singler leaves early.

To that end, Krzyzewski is shooting for the stars, attempting to bring in Duke's best class in years.

So far, the Blue Devils have three 2010 commitments in Andre Dawkins, Tyler Thornton, and Josh Hairston. Dawkins, the highest rated of the three, is likely to enroll at Duke early however, making him a part of the 2009 recruiting class (it's still not official though, meaning he's a part of the 2010 class until that happens).

It should also be noted that transfer Seth Curry, though technically part of the 2009 class as well, will also be available in 2010.

Dawkins could be the one of the most talented guards Duke has had this decade.

He's definitely the best shooter Duke has recruited since J.J. Redick, and he'll be the most athletic guard on Duke's roster whether he comes this year or next. His size (a legitimate 6'4" to 6'5") combined with his range and leaping ability will give him all the tools to be a dominant shooting guard in the ACC.

Tyler Thornton is a pure point guard with a reputation for being a defensive specialist (Duke fans should be excited to know that he has been known to shut down 2010 UNC recruit Kendall Marshall).

Thornton will likely draw comparisons to players such as Sean Dockery (and perhaps even Steve Wojciechowski). Thornton may not break any scoring records at Duke, but he has all the intangibles to make him an effective point guard and role player.

Hairston is sure to be compared to Lance Thomas when he arrives in Durham. They have the same lean build, and both are geared more for speed than strength.

However, the Thomas comparison isn't entirely accurate beyond the look of both players. Hairston is known to have great moves in the post (a consistent weakness of Thomas) and a fairly good touch on his jump shot.

Unlike Thomas for most of his career at Duke, Hairston won't need to be the primary option in the post, and his offensive skill set will make him a deadly second option alongside Mason Plumlee down low.

While Dawkins (the sole member of the 2009.5 recruiting class), Thornton, and Hairston already make up a solid recruiting class for the Blue Devils, the most important targets of Duke's 2010 recruiting class are still undecided.

The current focus of Krzyzewski's attempt to build his best incoming class in a decade is on two players—Harrison Barnes and Kyrie Irving.

Barnes is the top-ranked player in the class, a combo forward with a seemingly limitless skill set.

He can handle the ball, shoot, drive, and sky above the rim without much apparent effort. So far, his game has drawn a lot of comparisons to guys like Grant Hill (which says a lot).

He also has a competitive edge that puts him on another level than most top players.

Quite simply, Barnes would be the biggest commitment the Blue Devils have landed this decade (if he commits of course).

Duke has been involved with Barnes' recruitment for a long time, and Barnes has taken several unofficial visits to Durham (including last season's Duke vs. Carolina matchup at Duke in which Barnes sat behind the Blue Devil bench wearing a Duke shirt).

Barnes has been adamant that he will take a number of visits and explore all of his options before choosing a school. Nevertheless, several recruiting experts believe that Duke is in his top two (along with Kansas) and that he is a Duke lean at this point. Obviously, that's all here-say until he commits.

Irving is an elite point guard the likes of which Duke hasn't had since Jay Williams.

Though his game isn't similar to Williams in any obvious ways, Irving has shown a remarkable ability to take over games in his summer performances this year.

He's currently the second-highest rated point guard in his class (behind Brandon Knight), and he has recently stated that Duke and Indiana are his top two choices at this point in the recruiting process (that's been suspected for some time) and that he will definitely visit Durham officially this fall.

What's perhaps most interesting about the recruitment of Barnes and Irving is that the two are friends who have publicly talked about how much they enjoy playing together.

In fact, the latest buzz in the Duke blogosphere is that Barnes and Irving have requested to take their official visits to Duke together (i.e. at the same time).

Whether or not that is logistically possible (or whether it turns into a dual commitment) remains to be seen, but Duke fans have to be excited about the implications of such a visit if it happens.

A commitment from Barnes and Irving would be the biggest news Duke has had in years, and something that would certainly propel Duke's 2010 class to the level that Kentucky's current incoming class seems to be geared for.

With months before the start of the 2009-10 season, a lot can happen to influence the decisions of both Irving and Barnes.

No matter their decision, Duke fans can't fault Coach K for giving this recruiting class his all.

North Carolina, UCLA, and Unrealistic Expectations

Justin McTeer — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:30:22 -0400

Last season's Tar Heel team was certainly one of the most talented teams college basketball has seen in a long time.

That talent led North Carolina to consecutive Final Four appearances and one of the most lopsided National Championship wins in recent memory (it was never as close as the final score, which wasn't even that close).

Most of that talent is gone now, only to be replaced by one of the top-ranked recruiting classes in the nation.

The expectations are certainly high for the Tar Heels' new class, and the buzz surrounding the upcoming season has the Tar Heels back in contention for another deep run in March.

There's no doubt that UNC has the talent to match up to it's likely Top 10 ranking—Ed Davis would have been a lottery pick in this year's draft, and incoming freshmen John Henson and Dexter Strickland are two of the best players coming into the ACC this year.

The Tar Heels will certainly be present in analysts' early season Final Four discussions, but does this year's UNC really have what it takes to once again compete for a national title, or will they be the victim of unrealistic expectations based on the achievements of recent Tar Heel teams and the predicted success of highly touted (yet unproven) recruits?

Last year's UCLA Bruins started the season with similar expectations.

Like this season's Tar Heel team, they began the year coming off consecutive appearances in the Final Four.

They boasted the nation's top recruiting class (North Carolina's incoming class is ranked as one of the top three classes according to most major recruiting sites).

Like UNC with Davis this year, UCLA had an NBA first-round draft pick returning in Darren Collison.

And, like UNC this season with John Henson, the Bruins had an NBA-ready freshman in Jrue Holiday.

Despite what seemed to be a recipe for sure-fire success last season, UCLA failed to live up to their preseason Top 10 ranking.

That's not to say their season was a disappointment—they finished 26-9 overall with the second-best record in the PAC-10. But, despite their relatively solid year, they didn't meet their early season expectations, unfair as they were.

The truth of the matter is that there is no guaranteed method for predicting how successful a team will be aside from having a roster full of experienced, proven, NBA-caliber players (like last season's UNC).

Sometimes highly ranked recruiting classes mean instant success for a team. When Ohio State brought in Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. in 2006, the Buckeyes played in the national title game.

But for every 2006-07 Ohio State, there are several teams (like last season's UCLA) whose top-rated classes take time to find Final Four success.

Making preseason predictions based on anything but what has been proven on a college court leads to young teams having to deal with the stigma of a disappointing season when their season was anything but, despite what the expectations were.

This season's Tar Heel team will certainly start with high expectations, perhaps too high for a young (albeit talented) group of players to live up to.

They look a lot like last year's UCLA in terms of recent success, recruiting pedigree, and returning talent. UCLA lost two NBA-level players (Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook) to the draft before the start of last season; North Carolina just lost four with Tyler Hansbrough, Danny Green, Wayne Ellington, and Ty Lawson.

Will this year's UNC be last year's UCLA?

The simple answer—maybe, maybe not.

The better question would be why analysts rank UNC so high despite how much experience and talent they lost in one fell swoop after last season's title run.

Next year's Tar Heel team will play their first game ranked in the Top 10 while having only two players who have started more than a few games in a season (Deon Thompson and Marcus Ginyard, who was redshirted last year).

A large portion of the team's talent pool will have never played a single minute of college basketball, and many of the team's more experienced players, including Ed Davis, Tyler Zeller, and Larry Drew, will have never played more than 20 minutes per game.

The Tar Heels likely starting point guard, Drew, spent last year backing up Bobby Frasor (last season's backup point guard).

And yet, the Tar Heels will begin next season as a Top 10 team.

Understand that this is not a knock on the 2009-10 Tar Heels—they will be a tough matchup for most of the teams in the nation and they will be a serious contender for the ACC title.

However, one has to wonder what their extremely high preseason ranking (something college basketball should just do without) is based upon other than speculation, and whether or not that ranking puts an unrealistic expectation on the team.

If that ranking is based on the same criteria that put unfair expectations on the 2008-09 Bruins, namely recent success and speculative recruiting predictions, expect a relatively successful yet ultimately disappointing season (similar to last year's UCLA) for the reigning national champions.

Will Someone Other Than Duke or North Carolina Win the ACC?

Justin McTeer — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 22:58:42 -0400

The ACC has earned a reputation for being a top-heavy basketball conference in recent years.

Over the last 13 seasons, only one team (Maryland) other than the Blue Devils or Tar Heels has won an ACC title. That's not exactly a shining example of conference parity.

But this ACC season looks to be different, with several teams having a legitimate shot at winning the conference.

Granted, there are plenty of teams that won't compete, but the usual strategy of picking Duke or Carolina to win the ACC title doesn't feel as safe this season.

The Blue Devils and Tar Heels will certainly be in the running, but there are several other teams with a real chance of breaking Tobacco Road's reign over the ACC, at least for one season.

So who's got a shot?

You could make a strong case for at least six teams to be on top of the ACC once March rolls around—North Carolina, Duke, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Clemson, and Maryland (with Wake Forest getting the honorable mention).

Don't expect any team to run away with the conference title, though.

While each of the teams listed above brings enough to the table to be considered a conference favorite, none of them stand head and shoulders above the competition.

It wouldn't be a surprise if a team with a 10-6 record finished at the top of the ACC in the upcoming season.

The Tar Heels have an abundance of talent, especially in the frontcourt, but the loss of Danny Green, Wayne Ellington, Ty Lawson, and Tyler Hansbrough to the NBA will definitely be felt as the vast majority of Carolina's scoring is gone.

While freshman John Henson looks to be one of the best incoming recruits in the conference and Ed Davis is a likely All-ACC candidate, the untested and previously third-string point guard Larry Drew II is a big question mark in terms of running the Heels' offense.

The Blue Devils (last year's ACC title winner) lost Gerald Henderson to the NBA and Elliot Williams to Memphis due to family health issues, but Kyle Singler will be an ACC Player of the Year candidate.

Incoming freshmen Ryan Kelly and Mason Plumlee add some much needed height to the Blue Devils' lineup while maintaining Coach K's preference for versatile bigs.

Still, Duke has only two guards on the roster (the possible of addition of Andre Dawkins would be a big help in the backcourt, though) in Nolan Smith and Jon Scheyer, and despite their experience and talent, playing 39 minutes a game will certainly affect their durability as the season wears on.

While North Carolina's Henson might be one of the best incoming players in the ACC, Georgia Tech's Derrick Favors is quite possibly the best. The nation's top-rated big man will be a force in the paint for the Yellow Jackets, especially starting alongside Gani Lawal.

Guard Iman Shumpert highlights the backcourt, giving the Yellow Jackets a talent-laden starting five.

However, Georgia Tech finished 2-14 last season with more talent than several of the teams ahead of them, which makes their 2009-10 season difficult to predict.

Florida State was the surprise of the ACC last year. The Seminoles lost Toney Douglas, the runner-up for conference Player of the Year, but they bring in Michael Snaer, one of the best guard recruits in the ACC this year.

Although Snaer isn't a point guard, he'll add a lot to the Seminoles backcourt. Florida State's frontcourt is still as freakishly big as it was last year, and it's filled with players who experienced a lot of success last season.

If the Seminoles can adequately adjust to Douglas' departure, they'll definitely be one of the top teams in the conference.

Clemson may have lost K.C. Rivers and Terrence Oglesby (making a big dent in their backcourt), but they scored big when Trevor Booker decided to stay.

Booker will be joined by younger brother Devin and five-star power forward recruit Milton Jennings, giving the Tigers a powerful frontcourt (which seems to be a trend in the conference this year, along with weak backcourts).

Guard Noel Johnson could help alleviate the Tigers' losses in the backcourt, but that's not a given.

Maryland may seem like a strange pick to be a conference favorite, but the Terrapins have something that few teams in the ACC can claim—a proven, talented, and savvy point guard.

Greivis Vasquez is probably the best point guard in the ACC this year, and Eric Hayes in addition to Vasquez gives Maryland one of the most experienced backcourts in the conference.

If the Terrapins incoming big men can give them some offense down low, the Terrapins could make a serious run toward the top of the ACC standings.

It really is anyone's game this year. While Duke and Carolina will certainly be in the mix for the conference title, they'll have more competition than in recent years.

No matter who wins, the 2009-10 ACC season looks to be one of the most difficult to predict in years, which means it will certainly be entertaining to watch.

The State of Duke Basketball: Coach K's Olympic Commitment

Justin McTeer — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:19 -0400

Not many people in Mike Krzyzewski's position are interested in a second job. But that's exactly what Coach K has with USA basketball, albeit a part-time gig.

Recent reports of Krzyzewski's decision to stay with USA basketball through 2012 will certainly elicit mixed reactions from the Duke fanbase.

On one hand, there will be the pride of having their coach represent the nation on another gold medal Olympic run. On the other hand, there is the nagging feeling that Coach K's previous Olympic commitment played a significant part in Duke's recent struggles.

With the decision apparently made, one question is at the forefront of Duke fans' minds—will Coach K's next stint with Olympic basketball lead to more lackluster years for the Blue Devils?

It's no secret that Duke basketball wasn't very Duke-like during Krzyzewski's previous time coaching the USA team.

Duke missed out on several top recruiting targets in that time, failed to make it past the Sweet 16, and was sent home during the first weekend of the NCAA tournament twice.

The Blue Devils are in the midst of a five-year Final Four drought, an eternity by Duke standards in the Krzyzewski era.

To make matters worse, the recent transfer of Elliot Williams, combined with the early departure of Gerald Henderson to the NBA and top guard prospects Kenny Boynton (Florida) and John Wall (Kentucky) choosing other schools, has left Duke with only two guards for the upcoming season.

It's not hard to see why so many fans are likely to be less-than-excited about Coach K's decision to juggle Duke and USA basketball once again—the timing doesn't seem right.

Timing aside, there are reasons to believe Coach K's upcoming time with USA basketball could prove to be more successful (in terms of Duke, not the Olympic team) than the previous few years.

Duke's recent struggles can largely be attributed to major recruiting misses.

Add Patrick Patterson or Greg Monroe (two consecutive top recruits that chose other schools) to either of Duke's previous two lineups and the Blue Devils would have been serious Final Four contenders.

It's impossible to determine if Coach K's Olympic commitment hindered his recruitment of those players, but in all three years of Krzyzewski's previous USA basketball commitment, Duke missed out on a top target in a key position (Patterson, Monroe, and Boynton).

Krzyzewski has long been a fan of the less-is-more recruiting approach, going after one (sometimes two) players for key positions and often waiting to recruit backup players until top targets commit elsewhere. That strategy hasn't paid off in recent years.

However, Duke's recruiting approach seems to be changing.

The Blue Devils are recruiting more players for the 2010 class than they have recruited for a single class in several years.

Coach K is currently recruiting four of the top point guards in the 2010 class (only two have official offers), and two of the top small forwards (Harrison Barnes and Roscoe Smith) have offers from the Blue Devils.

Throw in versatile forward Dominique Ferguson (currently being recruited but still without an offer) and center Josh Smith (has an offer) and you have eight highly touted prospects being recruited by the Blue Devils for a class that already has three commitments (Seth Curry will also be eligible in 2010).

Duke only has enough scholarships to add another three players to it's 2010 class (another would open up if Kyle Singler left after next season), so it's obvious that Krzyzewski isn't planning on all of his targets choosing Duke.

What Krzyzewski has are backup plans, and good ones.

For a coach who has been criticized recently for casting too small of a recruiting net, he couldn't cast a bigger one in 2010.

This change in recruiting is likely a response to losing out on so many targets in recent years, but it could be as much about foresight as it is about reaction.

With Duke's recruiting time being cut into by Team USA responsibilities (Duke's assistants also spend considerable time with the Olympic team), casting a wider net and offering more players could make up for less face time with recruits.

Furthermore, Duke is hosting a camp for elite high school players in August, inviting several of the Blue Devil's top prospects to the campus for some quality time with Coach K in Duke's state-of-the-art practice facility.

Getting a large number of top recruits on campus at once is a recruiting dream, and the face time that Coach K will have with recruits at the camp will surely go toward making up for time overseas.

So while Duke fans may be justifiably concerned with Krzyzewski's moonlighting, it seems like he's as determined as ever on the recruiting front and willing to adjust his recruiting philosophies ensure the Blue Devils talent pool doesn't dry up while he's working with the NBA's best.

Combine Krzyzewski's revitalized and rebooted approach to recruiting with another Olympic gold medal (always good for PR), and the Blue Devils could be in for one of their best recruiting stretches in years.

The State of Duke Basketball: Development Issues

Justin McTeer — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:05:04 -0400

It's no secret that the Duke basketball program hasn't been what it used to be in recent years.

Of course, few programs have ever achieved the status of what Duke "used to be." Mike Krzyzewski has led the Blue Devils' program to legendary heights in his tenure, amassing 11 ACC championships, 10 Final Four appearances, and three National Championships.

There are only a handful of programs in the nation that can sport such accolades.

Perhaps Duke's success in the last few decades has set the bar unrealistically high for the present and future, but the bar has been set nonetheless, and Duke fans expectations remain the same as they were a decade ago.

While the Blue Devils' status as one of college basketball's elite programs is far from withering away (they just won 30 games, an ACC title, and appeared in their 10th Sweet 16 in 12 years), fans are wondering what has caused the recent struggles and (more importantly) when those struggles will end.

Last week, we analyzed some of Duke's recruiting misses in recent years and the impact it's had on the Blue Devils' Final Four chances. With the loss of Gerald Henderson (NBA) and Elliot Williams (transfer) leaving Duke with just two guards for next season, those recruiting misses have never been more pertinent.

This week, we're going to examine another often-discussed issue with recent Duke teams—the apparent lack of development of highly-touted players.

Development Issues

Ask a Duke junkie why the Blue Devils have struggled in recent years and (right after you hear about missing out on Brandan Wright, Patrick Patterson, and Greg Monroe) you'll likely hear cries of development issues on the part of Duke's coaching staff.

Most of these discussions revolve around players like Josh McRoberts, Greg Paulus, Lance Thomas, and Brian Zoubek. While none of these players have been total busts ( passionate fans would argue otherwise), they have fallen under sharp criticism for not living up to their billing.

Zoubek just had his most productive season with the Blue Devils, but his progress (due in large part to injuries) has been slow at best. Injuries aside, his progress has been difficult to swallow as the Blue Devils have continued to struggle in the post, especially considered he was rated higher than Hasheem Thabeet and Luke Harangody coming out of high school.

Thomas has always been a defensive asset, but he came into his freshman year as one of the top five power forwards in his class. While a consistent contributor, Thomas hasn't managed a season averaging much more than five points and three rebounds despite playing over 30 minutes per game each year.

McRoberts was considered to be the top player in the 2005 class by many analysts, and while he always put up respectable numbers, he never matured into the player he was expected to be.

Paulus was the top-rated point guard in his class, and even Krzyzewski was mentioning his potential as being Bobby Hurley-like. But by the time his senior season was coming to a close, he was barely able to manage any playing time.

Most recently, fans have been perplexed by the lack of playing time from players like Miles Plumlee, who started the first game of last season before becoming a frequent DNP bench player, and Elliot Williams, who could hardly get into games before jumping to the starting lineup and looking like an All-ACC freshman player.

It's cases like these that have many fans criticizing the coaching staff for either having talent evaluation issues or serious problems at developing that talent.

Now, for every Paulus or Zoubek there has been a Kyle Singler or Jon Scheyer, so it's not like the coaching staff has been unable to attract serious talent or develop it, but there seems to have been an abundance of Duke players under-performing for their billing in recent seasons, at least more than in years past.

Whatever the case may be, one thing is clear—either Duke must start bringing in better talent or do a better job at developing the talent it has if the Blue Devils are going to be legitimate National Title contenders once again.

Check back next week for an evaluation of when the Blue Devils look likely to return as a Final Four favorite.

The State of Duke Basketball: Mike Krzyzewski's Recruiting Misses

Justin McTeer — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:02:14 -0400

The Duke Blue Devils finished last season with 30 wins, an ACC tournament title, and a trip to the Sweet 16. That's a successful season by any stretch of the imagination.

But ask a Duke fan about the state of the program, and you're likely to hear something that sounds like Chicken Little's doomsday forecasts of the sky falling.

That's because regular season victories and ACC tournament titles (the Blue Devils have won eight of the last 11) don't amount to much in Durham.

What does matter are wins against the North Carolina Tar Heels and trips to the Final Four, which have been rare occurrences in recent years.

To be fair, the standard that Mike Krzyzewski has set at Duke is unbelievably high; perhaps too high to realistically sustain. We're talking about a coach who once led the Blue Devils to seven Final Fours in nine years. No other program has had more wins this decade, and no other coach has as many NCAA tournament victories.

Duke has won an average of 27.8 games per season since their last Final Four appearance in 2004. In those five seasons, they have won three ACC tournament titles and have been to the Sweet 16 three times. That hardly seems like struggling.

As such, few teams have earned the scrutiny that the Blue Devils face.

Of course, scrutinizing Duke basketball has been easier in the last few seasons than in years past. Chalk it up to unrealistic fan expectations or being the victim of its own success, but Duke hasn't had very Duke-like seasons in recent years.

Fans are wondering when the Blue Devils will be back on top.

Krzyzewski is in the midst of just his second five-year stretch without a Final Four. The last stretch occurred in his first five seasons coaching the team—and that was before he had the reputation of one of college basketball's greatest coaches and the recruiting perks that come along with that legacy.

So while the first five-year drought can easily be attributed to a young coach taking time to build his program, what has caused the recent drought?

Two things: recruiting misses and development issues.

Recruiting Misses

It might be hard to look at Duke's roster—which will feature seven McDonald's All-Americans next season—and assume that the Blue Devils have been plagued with recruiting issues in the past few seasons. But recent years have been bittersweet for Duke recruiting.

While Krzyzewski has landed several gems in players like Gerald Henderson, Jon Scheyer, and Kyle Singler in recent recruiting classes, he has missed out on several consecutive top recruiting targets.

In 2006, Krzyzewski lost Brandan Wright to rival North Carolina. In 2007, Patrick Patterson opted for Kentucky. Greg Monroe decided to attend Georgetown in 2008, and both Kenny Boynton and John Wall went elsewhere (Florida and Kentucky, respectfully) for 2009.

Except for Patterson (Singler was arguably a higher priority for the 2007 class), each of those players was a top target for Duke in their respective recruiting classes, and Patterson was high on the list to his credit.

The result of those misses has left Duke without the final pieces to being a legitimate Final Four contender.

So why exactly has Duke missed out on so many top targets in consecutive years?

Coach K's involvement with Olympic basketball is one reason.

The aforementioned Patterson, Monroe, and Boynton (Duke didn't get involved with John Wall until after Boynton committed to Florida) were all missed out on during Krzyzewski's time with Team USA. You could even add Rutgers big man Greg Echenique, Monroe's late backup plan, to that list.

The Team USA gig could still turn out to be recruiting gold for Krzyzewski in the future. But even if it does, that gold will come at a price (just imagine last year's Duke team with Patterson and Monroe and that price becomes apparent).

Another factor to consider in Duke's recent woes is Krzyzewski's recruitment strategy.

Krzyzewski has always been known to recruit fewer players, often going after only one high-profile player per needed position in order to convey to that recruit how special Duke thinks he is.

This strategy worked for years but has begun to backfire the past few seasons. Too often the Blue Devils have been left with few backup options when these players choose another school late in their recruiting process (Krzyzewski may have wised up, as he is openly recruiting the top three point guards for the 2010 class).

There are other factors that could be considered, but recruiting fewer players while having less time to court them due to Olympic team commitments has been a recipe for recruiting disaster for Krzyzewski.

For the next few weeks, we'll be analyzing the state of the Duke basketball program. We'll look into what has led to the Blue Devils' struggles of late and try to determine when (or if) Duke looks poised to return as the premier program in college basketball.

Check back next week for an analysis of Duke's player development issues.

The "What Ifs" of Duke Basketball: Ryan Kelly

Justin McTeer — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:27:31 -0400

Referring to incoming Duke freshman Ryan Kelly as a "what if" would have been appropriate a few weeks ago.

Gerald Henderson had yet to hire an agent and seal his status as an NBA rookie next season, and Duke was still in the mix for John Wall, the nation's top unsigned prospect. If either of those players were playing for Duke next year, Kelly's potential playing time would have been questionable.

Both Henderson and Wall would have been surefire starters, giving Duke enough depth in the backcourt to start three guards (coach Mike Krzyzewski's recent MO at Duke).

Since Kelly is not a natural post player, unlike fellow commit Mason Plumlee, he would have been fighting with junior Kyle Singler and senior Lance Thomas for time at the power forward spot.

But enough of what "would" or "could" have been—Duke's roster next season is set.

The Blue Devils only have three guards in Nolan Smith, Elliot Williams, and Jon Scheyer. Even though all three spent significant portions of last season in the starting lineup (Scheyer averaged more minutes per game than any other Blue Devil), it's unlikely that all three will start next year since that would leave Duke with no reserve guards.

That means Duke will undoubtedly, and out of necessity, go with a bigger lineup next season.

Singler will likely need to spend significant minutes playing the small forward position next year, leaving more vacant minutes at the power forward position for the Blue Devils.

Enter Kelly.

At first glance, Kelly looks exactly like what Duke doesn't need—another scrawny post player. But looks can be deceiving.

Although he stands at a legitimate 6'10", Kelly is a versatile forward who is more likely to pull up for a three than post up.

While Duke has had tall shooters in recent years (Lee Melchioni and Taylor King come to mind), Kelly is much more than just a spot-up shooter.

He is an uncommonly good ball handler for a player of his size, and he can finish off the dribble and above the rim with ease. While Mason Plumlee is drawing comparisons to former Duke player Josh McRoberts, Kelly is more reminiscent of Blue Devil great Mike Dunleavy.

At the McDonald's All-American competition, Kelly not only won the three-point contest but also impressed scouts with his proficiency in nearly every fundamental aspect of the game.

Simply put, Kelly will not be asked to bang down low next season. Fans and analysts critiquing his build and post play seem to be forgetting he was not recruited to solve Duke's post problems.

What he will be asked to do is create mismatches and stretch defenses with his versatility and shooting ability (something Duke will be in need of with both Greg Paulus and Henderson gone), and he certainly has the skill set to do it.

Kelly may not be the star of next year's team, and he's certainly not a guaranteed starter, even though he's rated higher than the incoming Plumlee (Mason seems to be a likely starter due to the Blue Devils' post needs).

But one thing is certain—Kelly can play basketball. His skill set is versatile and dangerous, and he has been a high performer at the highest level of high school competition (he was Wall's AAU teammate).

Anyone writing off Kelly as an unlikely contributor next season is likely to be proven wrong come fall.

The "What Ifs" of Duke Basketball: Mason Plumlee

Justin McTeer — Mon, 11 May 2009 13:59:13 -0400

Since the departure of Josh McRoberts, the Blue Devils have had to do without an inside offensive presence.

McRoberts averaged 13 points per game in his final season with Duke. Last season, all three of the Blue Devil's big men (Lance Thomas, Brian Zoubek, and Miles Plumlee) combined to average just over 11 points. Without an offensive threat in the post, Duke has been completely reliant on its perimeter-oriented players to score, forcing the Blue Devils to live and die by the three-point line.

To Mike Krzyzewski's credit, he's done wonders to compensate for Duke's lack of low-post offense in the past two seasons. But in their Sweet 16 loss to Villanova, it couldn't have been more obvious how badly the Blue Devils need a reliable scoring option in the paint, especially when the threes aren't falling.

Enter Mason Plumlee.

He's the most promising post player to come to Duke since McRoberts, and his game is eerily similar to the former Blue Devil. Like McRoberts, Plumlee is versatile and mobile, handles the ball exceptionally well for a 6'11" player, and has leaping ability that allows him to finish above the rim with ease (he's also from Indiana, just like McRoberts—weird).

Plumlee showed off his athleticism in the McDonald's All-American dunk contest, and he has performed well in a number of talent-filled exhibition games since the end of his senior season.

If the Top 25 recruit can make an immediate impact in the Blue Devils' offense next season, averaging close to double figures in scoring, Duke will be a different, and better, team next year.

Of course, that's a big "if."

What If Plumlee Becomes a Reliable Post Option?

Duke's guard issues might be at the forefront of fans' minds right now, thanks in large part to the buzz surrounding John Wall's recruitment and the departure of Gerald Henderson to the NBA.

If Wall doesn't come to Duke, the Blue Devils will almost certainly need to go with a bigger lineup to keep at least one guard coming off the bench. Post play will prove more important than ever.

Brian Zoubek looked to be developing into a reliable post option by the middle of last season, but as conference play heated up, he became less and less effective.

Lance Thomas reclaimed his previous starting role as Duke's definitive undersized big man, but after three years of playing at the five spot, it's clear that Thomas is not likely to be an effective low-post scoring option.

Miles Plumlee has the upside to contribute, but his development was slower than fans hoped, and he barely saw action toward the end of the season.

With Thomas, Zoubek, and the older Plumlee proving ineffective in the paint last season, Mason Plumlee looks like he could be Duke's best option in the post next year, and many believe he will start from day one.

He's not a Shelden Williams-type player who will bully other post players around, and it's unlikely that he will be a scoring sensation right off the bat since he won't be one of the top three scoring options (especially if Wall comes).

But Mason won't be asked to score 20 points and grab 10 boards per game.

If he can average just around 10 points per game, stay out of foul trouble, and be aggressive on the offensive glass, Duke will be a much improved team.

Having a reliable scoring option down low will free up the perimeter players for more open shots. It will keep defenses honest, making sure they can't overplay the perimeter like they recently have. Plumlee's quickness and above-the-rim capabilities should force defenses to play him tight, unless they want to give away easy alley-oops every time they ignore him (he can catch a ball above the square on the backboard).

Plumlee won't be asked to be dominant next year, but if he can just prove to be consistent and dangerous, the Blue Devils will have a piece they've been missing for years.

What If Plumlee Struggles?

The Blue Devils will be in trouble if Plumlee doesn't establish himself as a significant post presence.

If John Wall goes elsewhere, the Blue Devils will be more reliant on size than they have been in years past.

Kyle Singler will likely need to spend significant minutes playing the small forward position, meaning that someone else will need to step up inside the paint to grab rebounds and score. After three years struggling in the post, it's unlikely that Thomas or Zoubek will be the answer.

Furthermore, Duke will be a significantly slower team next year (unless Wall comes, of course). The Blue Devils won't have the guard depth to run teams up and down the floor relentlessly, so they will need to be able to score in the halfcourt set to be effective. A reliable, offensively-minded post player would do wonders to free up Jon Scheyer and Singler on the perimeter.

If Mason does not prove to be a contributor next year, the Blue Devils will be hurting for offense and rebounding.

From what he has shown, he has all the tools to remedy many of Duke's low post deficiencies. If he can embrace his role and develop into a reliable option, the Blue Devils will have a chance to be atop the ACC once again.

Gerald Henderson's Early Departure: A Good Thing for Duke?

Justin McTeer — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 14:54:16 -0400

Gerald Henderson's decision to forgo his senior year at Duke and declare for the NBA draft isn't exactly earth-shattering news.

Sure, there are things he needs to work on (ball-handling, perimeter shot, etc.) in order to be a starter at the next level, but he's as NBA-ready as any player Duke has had since Luol Deng.

And yes, he hasn't hired an agent, so there is always the chance he could return if he doesn't like where his draft projection is in the coming months.

But the writing is on the wall (it has been for months)—Gerald Henderson will be in the NBA next season.

Without Henderson, the Blue Devils won't be early season favorites for the Final Four, and they may not even be a Top 10 team in the preseason polls (of course, John Wall committing to the Blue Devils could change all of that). Analysts will doubt Duke all year, and the Blue Devils will again be everyone's favorite highly-seeded team to bet against in the tournament.

Any legitimate Duke fan (myself included) has been hoping beyond hope that Henderson would return next season, and there's no doubt Duke would be better with him next year, but is it possible that his early departure is ultimately a good thing for the Blue Devils?

Is making such an assertion Tobacco Road blasphemy? Maybe. Nevertheless, here are three reasons why the Blue Devils might benefit from Henderson's decision to skip his senior year.

1. Henderson Is Duke's Best NBA Prospect in Years

The common belief that Duke doesn't produce good NBA players is one of the biggest myths in basketball.

Last year, the Blue Devils had more former players in the NBA than any other school in the nation, and their players made more money on average than any other program's.

That being said, it's been a while since Duke has produced a real NBA contributor.

Shelden Williams and J.J. Redick haven't panned out despite being lottery picks in 2006. Josh McRoberts was expected to be a future NBA superstar, but he rarely plays for the Pacers.

It's been five years now since Duke produced a legitimate NBA contributor, and that's never a good thing for a program of Duke's caliber in terms of recruiting.

Gerald Henderson is the best NBA prospect to come out of Duke in a while. He has the athleticism to make Sportscenter Top 10 lists on a frequent basis, and he has the upside to become a notable player at the next level.

Few things are better for recruiting than having a former player become a star in the NBA, and Henderson has the potential (key word being "potential") to be Coach K's go-to NBA example when meeting with recruits in coming years, especially those recruits who are likely two-to-three year players instead of three-to-four year players.

2. Duke Isn't a Final Four Team with Henderson

If Henderson would have returned, Duke would have brought back all of its starters next season.

That's always a good thing for any team, but those starters got blown out in the Sweet 16 (by a team that got blown out in the Final Four) this year.

Is it realistic to think the same group will improve that drastically by next season?

Granted, the addition of Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly should help next year, but they will both be freshmen on a team filled with upperclassmen, so their contribution is still a bit of a question mark (more for Kelly than Plumlee because of his position).

If John Wall were to commit to the Blue Devils, things would certainly change in terms of Duke's Final Four chances, but that would be more about Wall than Henderson anyway.

If Henderson had stayed, Duke would have been an improved version of last season's squad. That improved Duke team would have been talented enough to make a deep run in March depending on matchups, but they would definitely not be a lock for the Final Four.

3. More Playing Time for Future Players

While next year's Duke team won't be everyone's favorite pick for the title, the 2010-11 team might be a different story.

Duke already has a stellar recruiting class coming in that season, and if Harrison Barnes (whom Duke is great shape with) joins Seth Curry, Andre Dawkins, Tyler Thornton, and Josh Hairston, the 2010 incoming players could be one of the best groups to enter Durham in a long time.

Add in a senior Kyle Singler, older and more experienced post players Miles and Mason Plumlee, as well as a developed Ryan Kelly, and Duke might be one of the deepest and most talented teams the ACC has had since, well, this season's North Carolina team.

They might be the first Duke team with the talent, experience, size, depth, athleticism, and skill to be a legitimate national contender in almost 10 years.

Of course, two of the biggest keys to that season's success will be Nolan Smith and Elliot Williams.

Both have shown flashes of becoming elite ACC guards, but they still need considerable development to do so.

Without Henderson in the lineup next season, Duke will only have three guards (unless Wall comes). That means both Smith and Williams will get a lot of burn, and a lot of development.

To look at the situation another way, if Henderson stays and Wall comes, either Williams or Smith will get buried in the guard rotation. Neither Henderson (graduation) or Wall (he's as one-and-done as it gets) would be around in 2010-11, meaning that Duke would be seriously lacking experienced guards for a few years (Scheyer will be gone as well).

The extra playing time and development for Williams and Smith could prove crucial to Duke's future success.

Gerald Henderson is a great player, and it has been a pleasure to watch him wear No. 15. If he's ready for the NBA, Duke fans should cheer him on and be thankful for his contributions.

His early entry in the draft will certainly hurt Duke's chances at a Final Four next season, but those chances weren't exactly solid to begin with.

Although fans will miss him, Henderson's departure might just give the right players the experience necessary to lead Duke's future recruits in the years to come.

The "What Ifs" of Duke Basketball: Miles Plumlee

Justin McTeer — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:59:54 -0400

This Duke offseason is shaping up to be one of the most interesting, and important, Blue Devil offseasons in years.

It's one that has already seen a surprise transfer to Duke compliments of Seth Curry, younger brother of Davidson's Stephen Curry and the nation's top scoring freshman.

John Wall, the best uncommitted player in the 2009 class, has gone from a long shot recruit to a player who may have Duke as one of his final choices thanks to Coach K's aggressive recruiting (and coach John Calipari's move to Kentucky).

To top it all off, North Carolina has gotten involved with two high-priority Duke targets—Wall and Harrison Barnes (potentially the best player in the 2010 class).

Compared to everything happening now and all the potential developments (and drama) waiting to unfold, last year's offseason seems uneventful.

That's not to say nothing big happened last year. Duke secured three commitments for the 2010 class in Andre Dawkins, Tyler Thornton, and Josh Hairston. Ryan Kelly joined Mason Plumlee to make up Duke's 2009 class. Coach K won the gold medal (even though he didn't actually get a medal) in Beijing. Taylor King transferred to Villanova, Johnny Dawkins took the Stanford coaching job, and Nate James was added to the coaching staff.

Yes, a lot of things happened in the downtime leading up to the 2008-09 season; it just doesn't seem as exciting as the made-for-TV movie that's developing before us now.

If there was anything particularly interesting that happened in last year's offseason, anything comparable to what's going on now, it was the surprise (and somewhat strange) addition of Miles Plumlee to the Blue Devils lineup.

J.J. Abrams couldn't have come up with a more complex series of intertwined events than those that led to Plumlee's arrival in Durham.

Miles had committed to Stanford's Trent Johnson and was viewed as the Cardinals' most important 2008 recruit. Meanwhile, his younger brother, Mason, became Duke's first 2009 commitment about halfway through the 2007-08 season.

When the season ended, Johnson took the vacant job at LSU, and Stanford hired none other than Duke assistant Johnny Dawkins to take his place. Miles asked for a release from his commitment to Stanford, and no more than an hour after it was granted, he committed to Duke.

It was big news for the Blue Devils, who badly needed a big man who could contribute offensively.

Early reports from practices and scrimmages were that Plumlee was going to be Duke's best option in the post. He started in the first game of the 2008-09 season, but by the end of the year, he was lucky to see a single minute of playing time.

His recruitment and freshman season has to be one of the strangest developments in recent Duke history.

Believe it or not, he could still be one of the most important players for Duke in the coming years. Will he begin to show signs of his promise next season and become a consistent contributor, or will he be merely another rarely used reserve?

What If Plumlee Develops into a Contributor?

Steve Wojciechowski, Duke's big man coach, spoke highly about Plumlee in last year's preseason.

He told reporters that Plumlee was going to be a key part of Duke's lineup, possibly the key.

After starting the first game of the season against Presbyterian, he would only start one more game for the rest of the year.

It's not entirely clear why Plumlee dropped so quickly in Duke's rotation, but the bigger question might be why he was so high in the rotation to begin with.

Plumlee had enough size, length, and athleticism to look like an improvement over Brian Zoubek and Lance Thomas as the top option down low, but he never looked comfortable on the court in the beginning of the season.

His playing time was sporadic through the first half of the year, but he started to show signs of improvement midseason. In Duke's win over Georgetown, where he matched up well with former Duke recruit Greg Monroe, it looked like things were finally starting to click for Plumlee.

His contributions didn't pick up, however, and he only played in two of Duke's final nine games.

Next season, Duke returns all of its post players. Both 2009 commits, Ryan Kelly and the younger (and more highly touted) Mason Plumlee, are 6'10" or taller, so competition for playing time down low will be as fierce as ever (for what it's worth, Kelly isn't really a low post player, though).

His younger brother, Mason, is expected by many to start in the post next season, but plenty of Duke fans are hoping to see more of Miles in his sophomore season.

If he could develop his offensive production and cut down on his fouls (he averaged an incredible 1.5 fouls per game although playing less than seven minutes per), he could end up passing Zoubek in the rotation at center.

That would still put Thomas, and likely Mason, ahead of him, but with the potential that Duke could only have three guards next year in the event that Gerald Henderson leaves for the NBA and John Wall goes elsewhere, the Blue Devils will feature a more forward-heavy (instead of guard-heavy) lineup. That could mean more minutes for Plumlee, as Thomas would likely play more as a power forward and less on the post.

If he can put the pieces together, he could give the Blue Devils an option they haven't had in years—a backup post player who still has the ability to finish above the rim and be an offensive threat (that hasn't happened since Nate James and Casey Sanders shared minutes in 2000-01).

Don't expect Plumlee to start next season or pass three-year starter Thomas in the rotation, but if Miles can develop into a 10-minute, five-point per game player and move ahead of Zoubek in the post, he'll be in great shape to play a big role in the 2010-11 season.

What If Plumlee Doesn't See More Playing Time?

In 2010-11, Duke will be without Thomas and Zoubek because of graduation. There is a good possibility that Kyle Singler will leave for the NBA after next season as well, so there could be plenty of room in the post for both Plumlees.

Josh Hairston is the only power forward coming in that season (although Duke could technically add one more player to that class), so it's unlikely that Plumlee would be buried in the rotation fighting for playing time.

Nevertheless, it's rarely a good thing for a player like Plumlee to go consecutive seasons without much floor time.

He could certainly play for a number of solid programs all over the country, so transferring isn't out of the question. Duke has had three players transfer in the last three seasons, some of whom got more burn than Plumlee, so transferring wouldn't be without precedence.

If Plumlee can't crack the rotation next season, it's not unreasonable to think he could wind up looking for another school, even with his brother on the team.

The Blue Devils would love nothing more than to see Plumlee develop into a significant presence in the post.

He has the size, speed, and athleticism necessary to contribute in a big way, and if his court awareness and mental game can come around, the Blue Devils could have more versatile and mobile big men than any team in the ACC for the next three years.

Duke has thrived when they've had deep, athletic frontcourts in the past, and Miles Plumlee is certainly a key part of the Blue Devils having that luxury.

There are still a lot of unanswered questions about his development, and he is just a sophomore, but next season will definitely be a decisive one in terms of his future with the Blue Devils.

The "What Ifs" of Duke Basketball: Gerald Henderson

Justin McTeer — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:56:32 -0400

It hasn't even been two weeks since Duke's offseason officially began, and speculation about the future of Blue Devil basketball is already in full swing.

A lot has already happened since the loss to Villanova in the Sweet 16.

Kyle Singler quickly confirmed that he is returning for his junior year. Coach K officially offered John Wall, whose future at Duke seems slightly more like a real possibility since John Calipari left Memphis (Wall's former recruiting leader). Seth Curry transferred to Duke moments after Wall's visit to Durham.

There is a lot happening in the world of Duke basketball, and there are countless unanswered questions and uncertainties remaining, few of which are more pertinent than the status of Gerald Henderson.

Henderson looks like a lock for a lottery pick in this year's NBA draft, an opportunity few players would walk away from. But the Blue Devils would likely be a Final Four favorite, and Henderson a legitimate NPOY contender, if he decides to return.

Duke fans will probably learn Henderson's intentions within the next few weeks, but it's never too early to speculate (that's what off-seasons are for).

What Happens if Henderson Leaves

If Gerald Henderson declares for the draft, Duke will be without it's most athletic player next season.

Henderson was Duke's most dynamic scorer, and one their best perimeter defenders, with the raw talent to completely take over a game on both ends of the floor.

John Wall could definitely alleviate the drop in scoring Henderson's departure would create, but the possibility of him playing for Duke next season is as uncertain as Henderson's return.

Elliot Williams will be expected to play a much bigger role in Henderson's absence.

Williams is every bit as athletic as Henderson (he actually has the higher vertical of the two), and he has already proven his defensive capabilities. Since earning a starting spot in February, Williams showed flashes of potential greatness similar to the occasional displays Henderson put on for Duke fans in his first few seasons.

While Williams has shown a strong affinity for getting to the basket and finishing around the rim (his dunk against Villanova was mind-blowing), he lacks Hendeson's mid-range game.

To be fair, Henderson's ability to consistently hit pull-up jumpers didn't emerge until his sophomore season, and Williams will likely devote a lot of time to developing that aspect of his game before next season.

Being without Henderson would also give Nolan Smith more offensive freedom instead of being Duke's fourth or fifth option on offense. If Duke can land a point guard in the next few months, expect to see a lot of Smith on the wing.

If Duke can't add another guard to its lineup before next season, the loss of Henderson will put a big dent in the Blue Devils' back-court depth.

However, the added height that Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly add will allow Duke to go with a bigger lineup than in years past, so Duke should be able to manage.

All of Duke's remaining guards (Scheyer, Smith, and Williams) are offensive-minded, so the scoring burden should be picked up by someone. But make no mistake—a player of Henderson's caliber is not easy to replace, and in close game situations, Blue Devil fans will be wishing Henderson was on the floor.

What Happens If Henderson Stays?

If Gerald Henderson stuns the college basketball world and elects to turn down a lottery pick in the draft, Duke should go ahead and retire his jersey before the season even begins as Blue Devil fans will hold him in higher regard than any player in recent memory.

Duke would return all of its starters if Henderson stays, and that is a situation that any team in the nation would covet.

However, Henderson's return will not make Duke a lock for the Final Four, even if they begin the season with another high preseason rank.

Even if the Blue Devils' field the same lineup as last year (an extremely weathered and experienced lineup), they would still be far too reliant on the three-point shot and prone to losing rebounding battles.

Whether it's going with a bigger lineup or reworking it's offensive strategy, Duke will still need to make some significant adjustments in order to be a true Final Four contender, even with Henderson in the lineup.

Henderson grew a lot as a player this past season, developing his outside shot and mid-range game. If he comes back next year with an improved ability to go left and a more consistent long-range shot, he could be ready to take the Blue Devils further than they've been in more than five years (especially if one of Duke's big men can become an offensive threat and take some of the burden off Henderson and the other guards).

The next few weeks will reveal a lot about Gerald Henderson's status as a Blue Devil. He's one of the best NBA prospects to come out of Duke this decade, and Blue Devil fans will certainly wish him well should he go to the next level.

The Duke faithful are on pins and needles awaiting his decision, but no matter when he leaves, whether it's now or after graduating, his contributions to Duke (and his frequent Sportscenter Top 10 appearances) will be greatly missed.

The "What Ifs" of Duke Basketball: John Wall

Justin McTeer — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 18:43:23 -0400

It's a popular opinion that the Duke program is in a state of free-fall.

It isn't.

The Blue Devils didn't have the season fans were hoping for, but they made progress.

In 2007, they won 22 games and lost in the first round of the ACC and NCAA tournament.

In 2008, they won 28 games and made it to the semifinals of the ACC tournament before losing in the second round of the NCAAs.

This year, Duke won 30 games on their way to an ACC title and a return to the Sweet 16.

Vintage Duke? Not quite.

A step in the right direction? Absolutely.

With the season over, Duke is looking to continue its steady (albeit slow) climb back to the top of college basketball, and they are looking for a point guard to lead the charge.

Their hope is currently directed to the nation's top unsigned 2009 recruit, John Wall.

Wall has been targeted by Duke ever since Kenny Boynton chose Florida late last year, but most experts have believed the Blue Devils have, at best, an outside chance at landing the future NBA player.

But that could all change as Wall made his first official visit to Duke for a sit-down with Coach K on Sunday.

What if John Wall commits to Duke?

Duke's point guard problems have been front and center in the media's coverage of the Blue Devils over the past few seasons.

Greg Paulus was supposed to be the best point guard to enter college basketball in the 2005-06 season, but he never lived up to that billing.

Nolan Smith was brought in as a promising understudy for Paulus, but after two years, it's clear that running the point isn't his specialty.

Jon Scheyer did well taking care of the ball as the third option at the point this season for the Blue Devils, but he doesn't have the speed or skill set to run the Blue Devils' desired brand of fast break-oriented offense.

John Wall, simply put, would be the answer for Duke's point guard problems.

He has ridiculous speed, great court vision, explosive athleticism, and incredible scoring ability.

Wall would bring Duke back into legitimate Final Four contention. He would transform Duke's already solid recruiting class of Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly (Wall's AAU teammate) into its best recruiting class in years.

Getting Wall would be a momentous event for the Blue Devils, who have lost out on four top recruits in as many years with Brandan Wright, Patrick Patterson, Greg Monroe, and Kenny Boynton all opting for other schools— they might be due for a recruiting battle to go their way.

What if Wall Doesn't Come to Duke?

If Wall goes elsewhere (and Duke certainly isn't in the lead for his services), the Blue Devils will still need to find an answer for their point guard woes.

Unsigned point guard prospect Eric Bledsoe is a player that has come into the Duke recruiting discussion, but questions about his academic eligibility have come up recently.

Nolan Smith could still develop into a solid distributor, but he's more natural as a shooting guard.

Of course, Jon Scheyer could resume his recent stay at the position, but Duke would need to develop into a half-court oriented team in order for that to work. With Duke's post deficiencies still an issue (Mason Plumlee might be an instant boost in that area next year, but that's not guaranteed), playing a slower brand of offense probably isn't Duke's best path to another Final Four.

John Wall could be the best thing to happen to Duke basketball since Jason Williams rode into Durham nearly 10 years ago.

His recruitment will certainly be a priority for Coach K in the upcoming weeks, and a lot is riding on his decision for one of the top programs in college basketball.

Creature vs. Creature: Duke, Villanova Set To Clash in the Sweet 16

Justin McTeer — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 22:02:14 -0400

Take a good look at the bracket.

Study each region and contemplate the matchups.

With so many top seeds still in play, there are several notable games coming up—North Carolina vs. Gonzaga, Michigan State vs. Kansas, and Oklahoma vs. Syracuse come to mind.

In the midst of so many potential great games, the ensuing battle between No. 2 Duke and No. 3 Villanova in the Sweet 16 game of the East Region looks to be as good as any.

The Blue Devils and the Wildcats are almost mirror images of one another.

They are both perimeter-oriented teams who can run the floor and shoot from outside. Both teams sacrifice traditional post play for speed and versatility. They are both playing very, very well.

In what looks to be a classic-in-the-making, Bleacher Report writers and unashamed fans Justin McTeer (Duke) and Ryan Brennan (Villanova) discuss why their respective teams will advance.

What has been your team's defining moment this season?

Justin: There are several moments to choose from; Duke's first ACC championship or second round NCAA tournament win since 2006 would be obvious choices.

But for me, this squad's defining moment came against its hard-fought second game with Maryland in late February.

Early in the second half, Maryland's Dave Neal delivered a knockout screen to Duke guard Nolan Smith, giving Smith a concussion. On Duke's next possession, Gerald Henderson threw down a jaw-dropping dunk on three Maryland players and proceeded to silence the Maryland crowd with an intense scream.

Chills went up (and down) my spine.

That play was proof that this season's Blue Devils, unlike the Duke teams of the previous two years, are tough. They can take a team's best punch without falling down, and they can win through adversity.

Ryan: After a weak non-conference schedule and falling short against all ranked opponents, it appeared Villanova was destined to have another mediocre season.

That all changed at the end of January, though, when the Wildcats played their final game at the Wachovia Spectrum and upset No. 3 Pittsburgh 67-57.

It was at that point that Villanova proved to the rest of the Big East they were a force to be reckoned with. They solidified that notion the following week when they scored 102 in back-to-back games (the first time in the history of the program that they had scored triple digits back-to back) and took out ranked Syracuse and Marquette teams.

Which team is better prepared for the Sweet 16?

Justin: Although the Blue Devils have been to the Sweet 16 in 10 of the last 12 seasons, the core of this Duke team has never made it this far in March.

Villanova, on the other hand, has been to the Sweet 16 or further in three of the last four years.

Still, the Blue Devils are the better prepared team going into Thursday's matchup.

Before entering the NCAA tournament, seven of Duke's last eight games were against teams that made it into the field of 65. The Blue Devils won six of those seven games (they have currently won 10 of 11), losing only to North Carolina.

Only three of Villanova's final eight games prior to the tournament were against NCAA tournament teams. They won two of those three games (losing to Louisville in the Big East conference tournament), but also lost to Georgetown in that eight-game stretch.

I'll be the first to admit the Big East has proven that it's the better conference this season with it's tournament record, but Duke closed out it's season strongly against the top teams in the ACC while Villanova got to pad its win column against teams like Rutgers, Depaul, and Providence.

Throw in Duke's nation-leading SOS and extremely high RPI rating, and the Blue Devils look like the more tested team.

Ryan: Nova started the season 0-4 against ranked opponents, but have since been an impressive 6-1 (their only loss coming against Louisville in the semifinals of the Big East tournament).

They have been involved in eight dogfight games where the outcome was decided by five points or less, and they are 6-2 in those instances. Their ability to pull through in so many close games proves the Wildcats are a team that can deal with the intense pressure the Sweet 16 offers.

Villanova has also been the perpetual underdog this season and has had to continuously prove themselves (this prepares you for the Sweet 16 better than anything). They faced three teams that were in the top spot at one point this season (Louisville, Connecticut, and Pitt), and in those four games they lost by six twice, by one once, and won by 10. Those three top-ranked teams also happen to be three of the No. 1 seeds at the Big Dance, so their Big East competition has conditioned them to be extremely competitive with the best that college hoops has to offer.

This isn't to say that Duke didn't have a tough schedule that prepared them for the Sweet 16 (they do, after all, have the No. 1 SOS), but there's something to be said for facing three No. 1 seeds during the regular season.

The ACC provided the Blue Devils with a ton of great opponents, but they wound up losing twice to the only ACC No. 1 seed in the tournament (UNC).

What are the keys to winning the game?

Justin: Duke needs to do what they have been doing for the last month—hold their own on the boards, take care of the ball, and run the offense through Gerald Henderson.

Just like they did in the Texas game, the Blue Devils have shown that they don't need to outrebound teams to win (even though they have a +3.2 rebounding margin on the season); they just need to stay close. The Wildcats are not likely to dominate Duke on the boards, as they only average two more rebounds per game than Duke and are slightly smaller than the Blue Devils.

The one thing Duke does better than most teams in the nation is take care of the ball. In the last five games, Duke is only turning the ball over 10.2 times compared to Villanova's 14 turnovers per game in the its last five contests. That's right on par with Duke's +4.17 turnover margin (the highest in both the ACC and the Big East), which spells trouble for the Wildcats.

When Duke runs their offense through Henderson, good things happen for the Blue Devils. Henderson is perhaps the most athletic player in the tournament. He has a dangerous mid-range game, finishes around the basket, and draws fouls left and right.

When Henderson has the ball, even when he's not scoring well (which isn't often), he demands the attention of multiple defenders, freeing up other players for open looks.

If Duke executes in these areas, they'll be fine against Villanova.

Ryan: Villanova's success is going to stem from controlling the frontcourt, and Dante Cunningham is a force under the basket.

The 6'8" senior forward has had to face off with the best big men in the country, including co-Big East Players of the Year Hasheem Thabeet of UConn and DeJuan Blair of Pitt, and Luke Harangody of Notre Dame (Big East Player of the Year 2008). Despite facing bigger players under the basket, Cunningham has emerged as a star for the Wildcats this season.

In controlling the frontcourt, Nova has to also play tough perimeter defense. In recent history, Duke has lived and died by the three-ball, and without a dominant big man, this season has been no different. The Blue Devils are shooting 35.5 percent from beyond the arc, but in their losing efforts they are only connecting 25.6 percent of the time. By forcing Duke to shoot contested long-balls, Nova will be able to keep the Blue Devils' three-point shot percentage down.

The Wildcats have to be careful not to over-defend on the perimeter, though, because they need to avoid creating holes at the top of the key where Gerald Henderson can take quick, deadly shots.

Speaking of Henderson, if Nova can figure out a way to draw fouls on him early, the tone of the game will change completely. Henderson has had four or five fouls only four times this season. In three of those games the Blue Devils lost, and in the fourth they managed to escape Rhode Island by three.

On the offensive end, Villanova needs to have quality ball movement. They average 15 assists per game, and they will easily hit that if the backcourt can swing the ball quickly for open looks. Corey Stokes and Scottie Reynolds have accounted for over 60 percent of the Wildcats' three pointers, and together they are shooting just under 40 percent.

Who will be the X-factor?

Justin: Gerald Henderson would be the obvious choice, but Dwayne Anderson has the potential to contain Henderson (emphasis on potential).

Kyle Singler is another story.

Singler and Dante Cunningham have nearly identical statistics, with Singler having a slight edge in points, rebounds, and assists. But Cunningham is not a perimeter-oriented player like Singler (he's only taken two three-point shots all season), and he'll likely be matched up with Lance Thomas around the basket.

That leaves Villanova's Shane Clark and Antonio Pena as the likely candidates to guard Singler. Fortunately for the Blue Devils, Singler has the clear advantage in these matchups.

Last season, Singler only averaged six points per game in postseason play and the Blue Devils went 2-2 in those games. So far this year, Singler is averaging 16.2 points per game since the end of the regular season and Duke is 5-0 in postseason play.

Singler is the X-factor that will carry the Blue Devils past Villanova.

Ryan: Dante Cunningham.

He leads the Wildcats in points, rebounds, and blocks. After not being on any All-Big East teams in 2008, he was named to the All-Big East second team and received the Most Improved Player Award in 2009.

When the Wildcats pounded UCLA in the second round, Cunningham grabbed a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds in only 24 minutes. If he can keep that intensity up against Duke, the Wildcats are going to walk away with the "W."

Who else will have a big game?

Justin: Jon Scheyer is one of the most overlooked players in the country. He's dangerous, smart, consistent, and much more athletic than most people think (he generally gets one of the tougher defensive assignments).

The Blue Devils have been a different team, and Scheyer a different player, since he took over at the point. He's had multiple 30-point games, very few turnovers, and won the ACC tournament MVP. Even in Duke's one loss to the Tar Heels since the lineup change, Scheyer scored 24 points on a perfect 10-for-10 shooting performance.

Scheyer has thrived when being matched up with smaller point guards, able to shoot and pass over them at will. He has a three-inch height advantage on Scottie Reynolds as well as a much longer build, which should give him the edge in the point guard battle.

Reynolds is a great player, but the ingredients are in place for Scheyer to have a big game.

Ryan: Scottie Reynolds needs to take the Blue Devils by their horns and create opportunities for himself and the rest of the Nova squad.

He had a rough couple of games to end the season, but the captain got himself back on track against the Bruins. He has committed 93 turnovers over the course of the year, but 10 of them came in the two games before UCLA (where he did not turn the ball over).

The other Wildcat who needs to have a big game is the Big East Sixth Man of the Year, Corey Fisher.

Midway through the season the sophomore guard went to the bench after starting, and he has been incredibly successful in his new role. He is third on the team in points at 10.9 points per game, but since coming off the bench he has averaged nearly two extra points per game. He has also been much more efficient from beyond the arc—his three-point percentage has increased from 30.6 to 39.6.

Who has the coaching advantage?

Justin: It wouldn't be fair to throw out statistics comparing Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski with Villanova's Jay Wright.

Krzyzewski has been coaching much longer and has one of the best resumes in the history of the game, but Wright is one of the best young coaches in America.

This season has been a special showcase of Coach K's talent, though.

He started the season by shaking things up in a big way, replacing three-year starter Greg Paulus with the more athletic Nolan Smith.

Smith and the rest of the starters led Duke to its first No. 1 ranking in three years, but things started to fall apart shortly after that achievement.

That is, until Coach K made more surprising adjustments.

After Duke lost four of six games midseason, Krzyzewski made a change to Duke's lineup that no one saw coming when he moved Scheyer to the point and brought rarely-used reserve Elliot Williams (who hadn't even played in Duke's previous two games) into the starting lineup, placing Smith on the bench with Paulus.

Since that change, Duke is 10-1.

Krzyzewski has shown an incredible ability to adjust and succeed this season, and those adjustments have led the Blue Devils to 30 wins while giving Coach K three players (Paulus, Smith, and Brian Zoubek) with significant starting experience now coming off the bench.

Wright is a great coach, but Krzyzewski is one of the all-time greatest and he doesn't appear to be slowing down.

The coaching advantage belongs to Duke.

Ryan: It's hard to argue against a coach who's already in the Basketball Hall-of-Fame, but Jay Wright has the edge over Coach K this season.

Coach K is one of the best coaches basketball has seen.

Ever.

He's been the ACC Coach of the Year five times, NCAA Coach of the Year three times, and led Team USA to a gold medal this past summer. But the most recent of those awards came in 2000, while coach Wright received the Big East Coach of the Year this season.

But awards and accolades aren't going to define who has the coaching edge during Thursday's game—it's the track record from the season.

Wright benched two of his sophomore starters during the season—Corey Fisher and Corey Stokes—who both started during their freshman seasons. Despite coming off the bench, the duo are third and fourth on the team in scoring and have become more productive in their new roles.

As mentioned above, the Wildcats are 6-2 in dogfights where the game was decided by five points or less. The only way to be continuously successful in those situations, especially in the toughest conference in college hoops, is through great coaching.

It's because of tough coaching decisions that Wright has been forced to make this season and great coaching at the end of games that Villanova has the slight coaching advantage over Duke.

Who advances to the Elite Eight?

Justin: This will be a great game, one of the best in the entire tournament.

Villanova is a fantastic team and the way they handled UCLA was extremely impressive (even it was on their home court).

In the end though, the Blue Devils are too tough, versatile, well-coached, and hungry to let this game go.

The Blue Devils will survive and advance, winning 82-73.

Ryan: Nova.

The Wildcats were successful against the best conference in college basketball, especially down the stretch. Cunningham needs to establish himself in the frontcourt—he is going to be an extremely tough matchup for Duke. Nova's guards need to also go strong to the bucket and drive at Singler and Henderson to get them in early foul trouble.

No one denies that this is going to be a dogfight of a game, but this is where Villanova's experience in these situations is going to come into play.

Villanova 74, Duke 70.

Photos courtesy of the Associated Press.

Don't Doubt Duke: Five Reasons the Blue Devils Are Final Four Contenders

Justin McTeer — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 11:18:13 -0400

You would be hard-pressed to find a Top 5 team that just won one of the toughest conference tournaments in the nation who is looked upon as skeptically as the Duke Blue Devils.

But if there was one lesson learned from the ACC tournament, it was to respect Duke's ability to win.

Duke showed a variety of ways to earn a "W" in the three games it played in Atlanta's Georgia Dome.

They won with poise when they overcame a horrific first half against Boston College to turn in a brilliant performance in the second, hitting clutch shot after clutch shot on their way to a one-point win. They won with toughness when they outlasted a Maryland team that simply refused to lose in the ACC tournament. They won convincingly when they handled a hot Florida State team that had just beaten the North Carolina Tar Heels.

The point is that they won, and winning is what the Duke program is all about.

It's not that difficult to understand why the Devils are so highly doubted, given the fact they haven't made it past the Sweet 16 in five years despite being lower than a No. 2 seed only once in that stretch, and they haven't made it past the first weekend of the NCAA tournament since J.J. Redick and company graduated in 2006.

The faces of the current Blue Devil team are not synonymous with winning, even though they have won at least 20 games in each of the last three seasons.

At Duke, it's all about what you do in March, and this junior-led squad was 4-6 in March over the past two years.

They have already matched the last two year's March wins this season.

This season, Duke finds itself in one of the toughest regions the NCAA tournament has to offer, with teams like Pittsburgh, Villanova, Florida State, Xavier, Texas and UCLA standing in the Blue Devils' way to the Final Four.

No wonder so many are skeptical of the Blue Devils chances to make a deep run in March.

Will they do it? Can they do it?

In March, there are no guarantees, but here are five reasons not to doubt the Blue Devils in the NCAA tournament.

5. They can win without the three-pointer.

One of the biggest myths about this Duke team is that they are reliant on the three-pointer to win.

While their hot shooting from downtown in the ACC tournament may have solidified that commonly held opinion, nothing could be further from the truth.

The Blue Devils simply are not a great three-point shooting team. They haven't been all season, and they've continued to win nonetheless.

In the regular season, they shot approximately 33 percent from behind the arc, yet managed to win 25 games despite having one of the toughest schedules in the country.

This is a Duke team that is insanely difficult to beat when they are accurate from long range, but they have still won all season long amidst the three-point shooting troubles.

4. They have a lineup that creates serious mismatches.

After losing four out of six games coming into mid-February, including back-to-back losses to UNC and Boston College, coach Mike Krzyzewski made a gutsy lineup change.

He moved a struggling Jon Scheyer to the point and inserted rarely-used freshman reserve Elliot Williams into the starting lineup.

Since that time, the Blue Devils are 8-1.

What Duke lacks in size with their front-court (Kyle Singler and Lance Thomas are both just 6'8"—not exactly an intimidating front line) they make up for in the backcourt. None of their starting guards are under 6'4".

Essentially, Duke starts four forwards, reminiscent of Illinois' Final Four "Flying Illini" of 1989.

They can switch on every screen, pass over presses (a weakness Clemson had exposed before the lineup change) and create defensive fits for opposing guards with their length and athleticism.

The starting five for Duke doesn't look like the championship lineups of years past, but don't be fooled—they are as tough of a matchup as you'll find in college basketball.

3. They are tough.

Despite lacking the inside presence of a dominant post player, and being a perimeter-oriented team (you won't see the Blue Devils run their offense through the post very often), Duke has a +3.0 rebounding margin on the season.

They don't rebound with size, they rebound with toughness.

Kyle Singler is one of the toughest players to play college basketball in a long time. In the ACC tournament, he averaged 18 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks per game.

He also played every single minute of every game.

Singler embodies the attitude that coach Krzyzewski wants this Duke team to play with.

Last season, Krzyzewski likened his team to a boxer who, despite having the right technique, didn't have the toughness to withstand a punch.

This season, they've looked like the Rocky Balboa of college basketball, being close to knocked out in mid-February, only to get back up and win.

Never was that so apparent than when Gerald Henderson threw down a monstrous dunk on three Maryland players on Duke's first possession after Nolan Smith received a concussion compliments of Maryland's Dave Neal when the Blue Devils played at Maryland.

That play sent a message to Maryland and everyone else in the country—the Blue Devils will not be bullied.

This Duke team plays with a chip on it's shoulder, and they have the toughness to beat teams that overpower them with size and strength.

Just ask Florida State.

2. They finally have a point guard.

Sure, Gerald Henderson has been playing out of his mind since ACC play started, emerging as a solid go-to guy in the mold of Grant Hill.

But Jon Scheyer, the ACC's most underrated player who just so happened to win the ACC tournament MVP, is the biggest reason why Duke is the ACC champion.

Before moving to the point guard spot in mid-February, two things were crippling the Blue Devils—Jon Scheyer was struggling and Duke couldn't find anyone (not Nolan Smith or Greg Paulus) to run the point effectively.

Both of those issues were solved when Scheyer was moved to the point.

Since the St. John's game on Feb. 19 (his first game at the point), Scheyer is averaging over 20 points per game (five more than his season average) and only 1.1 turnovers per game.

He's one of the primary reasons why Duke has a +4.15 turnover margin going into the NCAA tournament.

He takes care of the ball and keeps defenses honest with his ability to score inside and out.

The Blue Devils may still lack a low-post presence, but their point guard issues are solved.

1. They have momentum.

Say what you will about the importance of conference tournaments, but momentum is a priceless commodity in sports.

After winning the ACC tournament, the Blue Devils have momentum.

In the last two seasons, Duke has come into the NCAA tournament losing at least two of its final three games. That doesn't bode well for NCAA tournament success.

This season, they come in winning three straight (all against NCAA tournament teams no less).

Furthermore, seven of their last eight games have been against NCAA tournament teams (the eighth was a win against bubble team Virginia Tech). The Blue Devils won six of those seven games, losing only to North Carolina in a hard-fought game.

If that doesn't convince skeptics of Duke's ability to win against NCAA tournament competition, nothing will.

It's March Madness and anything goes.

If the tournament proves to be as unpredictable as the season has been, few brackets will look respectable going into the Final Four.

But do yourself (and your bracket) a favor—don't doubt Duke in the NCAA tournament this season.

ACC Champion Duke Blue Devils Back in the Saddle Again

Justin McTeer — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 17:46:00 -0400

ATLANTA—It wasn't long ago that the Duke Blue Devils were a fixture in the ACC Tournament title game.

Just three years ago, they had played in nine consecutive ACC Championship games, winning seven. During one stretch (from 1999 to 2003), the Blue Devils won five straight titles.

But since Duke legends J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams graduated in 2006, the Blue Devils had only mustered one win in the ACC Tournament.

That just changed.

Beating the Florida State Seminoles 79-69 on Sunday, Duke won their seventh ACC Tournament title in this decade.

FSU threw everything they had at Duke, including Toney Douglas (who coach Krzyzewski said is his "favorite non-Duke player" in the press conference), who put up 28 points. But it wasn't enough to handle a polished and poised Duke team.

Just how polished did the Blue Devils look?

They only had four turnovers against the best defensive team in the ACC. They outrebounded the biggest team in the conference. They shot 48 percent from the three-point line. In general, they did whatever they had to do to win.

For the majority of this particular Duke team, which is led by juniors Jon Scheyer and Gerald Henderson, it was their first taste of being the best. That's something that only senior reserves Greg Paulus, Marty Pocius, and David McClure could vaguely remember.

"It's a long time in coming," said Henderson, a starting gaurd for the Devils. "We put a lot of work into building our team into what it is today. Winning this championship is an accomplishment, because we've waited a long time for it. It feels good."

It "feels good?"

That might be the understatement of the season.

This Duke team has come under more public scrutiny for their failures than any team in recent memory.

Last season, after losing to West Virginia in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, talk that the Duke mystique was gone ran rampant. Even the West Virginia players cracked jokes about how good Duke wasn't in the press conference after the game, taking shots at how unbelievable it was that many of Duke's players were McDonald's All-Americans.

After that game, Henderson and Scheyer left the court with their arms around one another, immediately embracing and shouldering the responsibility of bringing Duke back to championship status.

"I think we'll always remember walking off the court like that," said Scheyer. "We wanted to remember that moment, remember what it felt like. That's something we never wanted to experience again, and I think we did whatever we could to not let that happen."

When the final buzzer sounded earlier today, Henderson and Scheyer hugged each other as if to say "mission accomplished."

Both turned in incredible performances against Florida State.

Henderson had 27 points (his third 25-plus-point game against the Seminoles this season), and Scheyer put up 29 on his way to winning Tournament MVP honors.

Since moving to the point guard spot for the Blue Devils, Scheyer has thrived, scoring more and taking exceptional care of the ball.

"What I'm seeing is magnificent play," said Krzyzewski of Scheyer's performance running the team's offense. "He's such a good player that, placed in that level of responsibility, someone who is really good will show you even better things. We're not going to make highlight tapes of him leading the fast break, but he's done a great, great job."

A "great job?"

Now that might be the understatement of the season.

The Blue Devils entered this tournament being labeled underachievers by the media.

They left with a different label: champions.

"They came into this tournament as winners," said Krzyzewski. "Now, they're champions. That's a cool thing."

A "cool thing?"

One more correction—that is the understatement of the season.