Bleacher Report - Duke Basketball

Duke Basketball Player Profile: Brian Zoubek

Mike Kline — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:55:44 -0500

This is the continuation of a series profiling Duke's basketball players and what they hope to contribute to this year's team.

It has been a frustrating three seasons for senior Brian Zoubek.

The 7-foot-1 center has suffered through an inconsistent and injury-plagued career so far as a Blue Devil.

Coming in with a class of Lance Thomas, Gerald Henderson, and Jon Scheyer, Zoubek was billed as a legitimate 7-footer, something Duke had never really had under Mike Krzyzewski.

His first game out of the gate was encouraging, as he scored in double figures. Duke fans were jumping for joy for "Zou."

Only problem is, the inconsistency that has followed has been Zoubek's calling card.

Ask any fan and you will likely find varying opinions of Zoubek. Some might call him a total bust. Others might say he in on the verge of a breakthrough year. While those like me will just figure he is what he is: nothing more, nothing less.

Zoubek, without question, has been a hard worker, even if he hasn't lived up to some of the lofty expectations some fans may have had for him.

It has been easy to focus on his shortcomings. He is slow, and at times clumsy in his footwork. He has been foul prone and has done more traveling than Jack Kerouac.

Not to mention, he has never played like a true seven footer. How many times has he been out rebounded, had his shot blocked or been just plain embarrassed by quicker and smaller players?

If you are answering "a lot," then you are probably not in the Brian Zoubek Fan Club. But before you put him out to pasture, why not give this lovable giant one more chance?

First of all, he is finally healthy and in three games this year, Zoubek has shown some improvement. He at times has played as big as his frame by keeping the ball high on rebounds and shot attempts.

And while he will never be your typical post-up-type player, he can be an opportunistic scorer. He has shown the ability to score points off put backs and offensive rebounds.

He also, at least last year, isn't too bad on the free-throw line, which is always good for a big man.

Zoubek isn't likely to see much time against smaller teams and for good reason but against the right teams, expect to see more of him.

He has clearly bulked up this year, and when ACC play starts, he is likely to be useful against teams with large front courts.

He has shown the ability to be a respectable rebounder and he at times can cause opposing bigs problems, as he did against Florida State's Solomon Alabi last season.

And if all else fails, he can provide Duke with five fouls.

Regardless of your opinions of Zoubek, he definitely can serve a purpose for this Duke team. Finding that purpose probably will depend on what team the Blue Devils are playing at the time.

Oh yeah, and did I mention the beard? That is another first in the Krzyzewski era, at least as far as I can remember.

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The NBA's All-Duke-North Carolina Team

Steven Merriam — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:47:11 -0500

Roy Williams and Mike Kryzewski have had many of their star players join the NBA in the past years. Some of these players became stars as expected but others never prospered like once thought. The North Carolina-Duke rivalry is arguably the biggest rivalry in all of college sports.The Duke and North Carolina basketball programs are two of the most represented programs in the NBA along with the Connecticuit Men's basketball program. Duke and North Carolina have been the staples for many years and will be for many years to come. Since the teams are such rivals and so comparable I decided to compare the Duke and North Carolina alums and make The NBA's All-Duke-North Carolina Team.

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Duke Basketball Player Profile: Olek Czyz

Mike Kline — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:12:34 -0500

This marks the first in a series of profiles on Duke's Basketball players and what they can hope to contribute to this year’s team.

Olek Czyz has inspired one of the most original cheers to come from the Cameron Crazies in years.

"You got Czyzed on!" Those are the words that follow a dunk by the sophomore Duke forward.

Czyz, who has been a crowd favorite pretty much since he stepped onto campus, was known coming out of high school for his ability to dunk.

Unfortunately for him, in his freshman campaign, he didn't get that opportunity very often.

Last year, he seemed lost and out of place and had many fans wondering what if any impact he would ever have in Durham. In the first three games of the year, it is clear that Czyz has shown the ability to develop into a useful role player.

He simply just looks more comfortable and confident on the floor. And while he is likely to see his playing time decrease as the season goes on, he isn't without a purpose for this and future Duke teams.

While Czyz is known for his powerful dunks, he simply just doesn't have the ability at the division one level to create those opportunities for himself against the best opposition.

That being said, the areas that would benefit him to work on the most if he wishes to see more time are defense and rebounding.

Last season, Czyz was a major liability on the defensive end. He is still not great but is heads and tails above last year. If he continues to improve his footwork and play defense with his head rather than just his athleticism he can be a solid defender.

Where Czyz can contribute the most would be in rebounding. He certainly has the body for it and the athleticism. But like Dennis Rodman use to say you have to want to rebound.

If Czyz does that and puts his heart into it, he could end up being an excellent rebounder for the Blue Devils.

And who knows maybe with that improved defense and rebounding prowess he could put himself in a position to "Czyz" on even more people in the future.

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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.

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Why Nolan Smith Is the Key to Duke's Success, Season

Tyler Lambert — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:28:56 -0500

When Duke took the court versus Coastal Carolina in the NIT Season Tip-Off, big names and big guys alike reigned supreme.

ACC Player of the Year candidate Kyle Singler and senior point guard Jon Scheyer got most of the attention, with the young frontcourt players also receiving the spotlight.

One thing was missing when the last buzzer sounded, when Duke had wrapped up a 74-49 victory over Coastal Carolina and advanced to the second round of the tournament: Nolan Smith.

While freshman guard Andre Dawkins carried most of the load at shooting guard, racking up 13 points in only his second game at Duke, the last piece of the puzzle seemed to be missing.

The junior shooting guard Smith was suspended for the first two games of the season by the NCAA for playing in an unsanctioned summer league during the offseason. While it may not seem like a big deal at the moment, imagine if Duke lost Smith to some type of injury this season.

Who would help carry the load? Who would be the leader on the floor when Scheyer and Singler aren't in the game? Who could fill in for Smith?

The answer to the questions above is no one. No one on this Duke team can penetrate through double teams and drive to the hoop like Smith can. No one possesses the natural athletic ability and swagger that Smith offers to Coach K and his staff.

No one will be able to fill the void during the season if something happens to Smith, and that was made apparent during the first two games of the season for Duke. With Smith out of the lineup, Duke had to play at a slower pace.

Scheyer is a great point guard, and has fit in the role perfectly; however, he is not equipped to lead Duke on the fast break.

That’s where Smith comes into play.

During the first part of last season, Coach K inserted Smith as the point guard of the team. Although he was not able to hold that position for long, he proved to Coach K that he could lead Duke on the fast break, most of the time swinging the ball out for a wide-open three-point attempt from Scheyer, Singler, or Gerald Henderson.

Singler is the focal point of this Duke team, with Scheyer a statement of consistency. Both are very valuable to Duke’s season, especially if they want to be in contention for a Final Four appearance.

However, the key player to Duke’s success and season is Nolan Smith.

If Smith can develop his game and make it look somewhat similar to that of Henderson’s from last year, there is no telling how far Duke can go in the NCAA Tournament.

Smith is the piece of the puzzle that has been missing during the first two games of the season. When he is inserted into the starting lineup in the NIT second round matchup versus Charlotte, look for Duke to resemble a team of excellence, pride, and a team that has a newfound “swagger.”

It is this “swagger” that makes Nolan Smith the most crucial part to Duke’s success and season.

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Forgetting Harrison Barnes: A Duke Fan's How-To Guide

Mike Kline — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:42:17 -0500

Friday afternoon was a bit of a downer for Duke basketball fans, to say the least.

Not only did the one recruit fans have been waiting on for months spurn their beloved Blue Devils, but he did so for his sworn enemy.

Ouch!

From what I saw the reactions from fans varied anywhere from suicidal to downright nasty.

To quote Jay from the movie Chasing Amy, "Look at these morose mother scratchers (edited for the kids) right here."

And on Friday it looked as if Harrison Barnes had indeed "pooped" (again edited) in Duke fans' collective cereal.

Many Duke fans, like any other group of fans, don't tend to handle rejection well, especially at the hands of North Carolina.

But I believe I've compiled a list of things fans can do to help ease their pain.

Enjoy the New Season

Fans had little time to mourn before getting back to work as the official season tipped off Friday night.

Duke easily took care of business against an over-matched opponent.

And while that doesn't make up for the loss of a prized recruit to North Carolina, it does help to be able to go out and beat the crap out of someone afterwards.

The team looked fairly good doing it, so fans can at least take that point as a positive. Why worry about next year when this year is just getting started?

Look at Who Is Coming

If you must worry, then just look who Duke did manage to bring in for next season.

Sure Barnes would have been the jewel in the 2010 recruiting class, but it isn't like the Blue Devils are bringing in a bunch of slouches. Between Kyrie Irving and Joshua Hairston, Duke has secured two highly-rated players who will be able to add to the already solid nucleus.

Figure in Tyler Thornton, who could prove to be a capable player, and the cupboard is hardly bare.

Look Who Is Coming Back

The Blue Devils figure to bring back a lot of players with a lot of experience. At this point Duke will bring back Nolan Smith, Miles Plumlee, and Mason Plumlee—all starters.

If Kyle Singler decides to stay for his senior year, which may be a big "if" but still a possibility, that would surely help Duke fans forget about Barnes real quickly. Add in Ryan Kelly, Andre Dawkins, and Olek Czyz and the returning nucleus is strong indeed.

How About Some Curry?

Don't forget that Seth Curry, brother of Stephen Curry, will be eligible to play after sitting out this season following his transfer from Liberty. Curry appears to be the real deal and will certainly add more spice to Duke's offensive punch next season.

Add him to the returning unit, mixed in with the incoming freshmen, and that makes for a pretty good looking team.

Ignore the Carolina Fans

The hardest part about Barnes' decision for Duke fans is that it was like losing to North Carolina without even playing them.

Sure, recruiting is at times a competition with the future on the line rather than a game; it shouldn't sting as much as Barnes’ decision does. It absolutely kills the Blue Devil fanbase, but what makes it worse is the contingent of North Carolina fans who will be hell bent on rubbing it in and declaring Duke's demise because of it.

I have news for them; it will take more than the decision of a 17-year-old who can't even drive yet to end the Duke basketball program. Of course it hurts, but the Blue Devils' program wasn't built in a day, and it won't collapse in a day either.

For Duke fans, the best cure is also the hardest. Just ignore Carolina fans. Don't give their jabs the time of day and don't take the bait.

Those fans will try to get you into a who-has-a-better-coach-and-a-better-program discussion, and it just isn't worth the effort.

It’s like that scene in WarGames where Matthew Broderick challenges the computer that is trying to destroy the world to a game of tic-tac-toe.

There can be no winner in that game or the "who's better" debate.

So the best remedy is to turn a deaf ear and wait to see how things pan out on the floor. That is where it really matters anyway.

Don't Worry, There Is Another—Maybe

Mike Krzyzewski had often been criticized for his lack of widespread recruiting. In the past, he would focus his efforts on one guy, and if that guy chose to go elsewhere, there wouldn't be a second option. That has proven less than productive given the recent number of high-profile recruiting misses.

To me that is more of a flaw in the system rather than ability to recruit. So Krzyzewski has changed his system to compensate. After Barnes made his decision, the Duke staff was already in communication with Roscoe Smith, another highly-touted small forward.

Quincy Miller, another big-time recruit for the class of 2011, will be on campus Monday and attend Duke's game against Coastal Carolina.

So Duke fans obsessed with recruiting can ponder those names, and perhaps some others who may fill out an already solid 2010 recruiting class.

There Is No Time Like the Present

With all this obsession on the future, it is time to come back to the present.

This year’s team has played only one game, and there is an entire season left still to play. Enjoy it.

There is need to worry about tomorrow until it gets here. As fans we have no control over it, so it is best to worry only about today.

So if you are one of the Duke fans who is still moping around following Barnes' decision, snap out of it. This year's team needs your support now. No need to write them off, as they might end up being a pleasant surprise.

As for Barnes, the next time you will see him will be in the friendly confines of Cameron Indoor Stadium.

I'm sure the Crazies will give him a warm welcome.

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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).

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Duke Basketball: Blue Devils Make The Grade In Season Opener

Mike Kline — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:03:44 -0500

Duke opened it's 2009-10 college basketball season with a 96-62 win over UNC-Greensboro Friday night.

So with the first game in the books how did the Blue Devils score on their first test of the year?

Offense- B+

As a whole the Blue Devils were efficient, shooting almost 60 percent from the floor. Lead by Jon Scheyer and Kyle Singler, Duke controlled the tempo for most of the game.

Aside from some sloppy second half moments and some ill advised passes in the high post from the bigs, Duke offensive unit did as you would expect in a season opener against an over matched opponent.

There appeared to be good movement without the ball as well as some good passing from the perimeter to the post.

Defense- C

Seeing Duke play zone defense will take some getting used to, but Friday night's game showed exactly why they will need to show even more zone.

While the Blue Devils are a big and athletic team they appear at first glance to lack an abundance of lateral quickness.

Teams with quicker guards will be able to beat Duke defenders off the dribble. This will be acceptable if the interior defenders can provide a shot blocking presence which they showed glimpses of against the Spartans.

There were a few occasions when the smaller and quicker UNCG guards exposed some flaws in Duke's man defense. More zone against quicker teams will almost be a requirement at this point.

Jon Scheyer- A

A solid all around performance from Scheyer. In addition to scoring 18 points he picked up where he left off last season leading the Duke offense.

While not a flashy point guard he is smart with the ball and did a nice job taking care of each possession as the floor leader.

Kyle Singler- A-

Singler came out of the gate like the preseason All-American he is, however cooled down at the end of the first half and for most of the second.

Against better competition he will not be able to go long stretches without getting some looks at the basket like he did Friday night.

Still he managed 20 points.

Overall all though he handled himself quite well in his first real game as a true perimeter player.

Lance Thomas-B

It was pretty much the same ole same ole for Thomas. He hustled, rebounded well and was opportunistic with his scoring.

He picked up some frequent flier miles with all the traveling he did though.

And while he may play the point on defense he needs to remember he isn't one on offense.

Olek Czyz- B

Czyz not only surprised me by starting, but that he actually looked like a basketball player for most of this game.

He is not a gifted creator offensively but he can sure finish around the basket.

His defensive aggressiveness was encouraging and he stands to be one hell of a rebounder if he works at making that his thing.

Miles Plumlee- C-

Mile Plumlee was the most disappointing of all the starters. It wasn't that the had an awful game, he just made too many mistakes.

Obviously with this being the first game of the season it is understandable.

He was a force on defense and on the boards which made up for a few ill advised shots and or passes on the offensive end of the floor.

Andre Dawkins-B

Dawkins shook off the jitters after a rocky start and played some solid basketball on both ends of the floor.

He certainly can earn some valuable minutes this year and Duke will need his athleticism and shooting stroke in addition to his ball handling skills.

Like most freshmen he needs to learn to avoid the silly fouls but he handled himself nicely in his first real college game.

Ryan Kelly-C

It wasn't a bad performance from Kelly. He actually showed me more than I thought I'd see from him.

From all appearances he is a heady player with a nice stroke.

As long as he can find a way to stay active when he is on the floor and avoid just hanging out on the perimeter waiting for his shot then he will see some playing time.

Brian Zoubek B-

If it wasn't for his second half performance, Zoubek would have netted the worst grade.

His first half performance was pretty much like the previous three years sloppy, clumsy, and plain painful to watch.

He really stepped things up in the second half and everything looked better. If he can contribute that type of performance off the bench Duke will be all the better for it.

Overall Performance C+

The Blue Devils did what most would have expected from them by taking care of business against an inferior opponent.

Yet there is still much work to be done. Considering one if not the most athletic player for Duke, Nolan Smith, had to sit out things could have been worse.

This years team stands to be the best rebounding Duke team that I can remember. But as was said during the broadcast they will have to work for it.

They can't just assume they will get rebounds because they have big guys. Duke's bigs will still have to work the glass on both ends of the floor.

I will be interested to see how Mason Plumlee fits in offensively and defensively when he does return from his broken wrist.

All in all not a bad performance. If they can sure up some of their defensive breakdowns, cut down on the sloppy play on the offensive end, and avoid the silly fouls it stands to be another good year in Durham.

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