John Wall Picks Kentucky: Why Duke Fans Should Still Be Happy

At long last, John Wall has made his decision—and while it might not be what some Duke fans wanted to hear, they still have reason to be happy.

Wall's recruitment signaled a change in philosophy for the Duke staff. For the first time in memory, Duke was openly recruiting and offered a scholarship to a player most believe will be a one-and-done.

Mike Krzyzewski caught some slack for it too. Many Duke fans saw Wall as a savior of sorts, the missing key in what would be a national championship run in '09, while others saw him as a troubled youth who would not fit into Duke's "team concept."

The pessimistic fans will claim this is another in a long line of missed recruits that shows Duke is on the decline. Duke has missed out on other big-time recruits in the last few years, so this is another nail in their coffin.

The optimistic fans will see this as exactly what it is—no big deal.

Duke fans have plenty to celebrate now that Wall has picked their pseudo rivals in Kentucky. Here's why.

Know Thyself

Duke fans can now focus on the team that will be and not the team that might be. For months, messages boards have been filling up threads with discussions over what next year's Duke team will look like.

Problem with that is for months, no one could really say. Would Gerald Henderson stay or go? Would Wall come, or would Duke go after Eric Bledsoe?

Well, the answers to all of those questions are now known, and Duke fans can now focus on whom Duke has and what they think the team has to do to be successful next year.

Not that the Duke coaching staff isn't doing that now.

No Shadow of Controversy

Now that Wall has decided to go elsewhere, perhaps the fans who felt his presence would somehow tarnish Duke's image will be appeased.

Now there will be no need to second-guess if he were to get in trouble or struggle academically. 

Those Duke fans can hold their heads high and not have to worry that a "troubled kid," who obviously didn't deserve an opportunity to change his image for the better, will not be walking the hallowed halls of Duke University.

Current Players Can Focus on Learning Their Roles

The team that will take the floor next year can focus on what the coaches are asking them to work on for next year.

There is too much speculation to get into, but many believe Duke will try to go big as long as one of the incoming freshmen can contribute in the post.

Knowing who has to work on what will be helpful for the current and incoming players. Most have to work on improving strength and quickness.

This move to a bigger lineup would allow Kyle Singler to play more of a three than the four he has played since arriving in Durham. Duke loses out on the athleticism Wall would have brought, but Krzyzewski will work on compensating for that, I'm sure.

Wall Didn't End Up Somewhere Else in the ACC

For a time there was the possibility that Wall was considering UNC or even Miami.

UNC would have been a much worse proposition for Duke fans, as Wall would have brought his talent to an already stellar group. He would have been the perfect weapon to lead a very good Tar Heel squad.

Miami, on the other hand, would have been more of a bruise to the ego than anything else. Miami has always had one or two pretty good players, but not enough to seriously be a threat in the ACC for the long haul.

Adding Wall would have helped Miami ease the loss of Jack McClinton, but not much else. They would not have been that much better with him.

As for Wall ending up at Kentucky, it could be a whole story in and of itself. Kentucky easily has the best incoming class, and if Jodie Meeks stays, I don't see a team short of Kansas being in the same class ability-wise.

Duke fans should therefore be happy Wall will don a uniform for the Wildcats next year. Perhaps that win in recruiting will finally help the UK faithful forget the fact that one shot has led them to hate Duke as much, if not more than, many UNC fans.

Time has not healed old wounds, but perhaps John Wall will.