Duke Basketball: 9 Reasons Dukies Will Go Undefeated This Season
The undefeated season. Seemingly impossible, it’s happened only seven times in NCAA history and those were legendary ball clubs.
The University of San Francisco did it under the leadership of Bill Russell. UCLA accomplished the feat with Kareem and then fives years later with Bill Walton. UNLV made it all the way to the championship game in 1991 with an unblemished record only to lose at the hands of Grant Hill, Christian Laettner and the rest of the Duke Blue Devils.
So why do I think Duke can accomplish what no team has since Bob Knight’s Hoosiers in 1976? How can I make such an improbable proclamation? Read on to find out.
Coach K
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When you talk about Duke’s success, it all starts with Mike Krzyzewski. Under his lead, the Blue Devils have won four national championships, won 12 ACC titles, and made 12 Final Fours.
The Hall-of-Fame coach is one of only six men in NCAA history to eclipse 800 wins and has a 77-22 record in the tournament.
This is the man who was hand picked to bring the US national team back to its former glory. A three-time Naismith Coach of the Year. Every one of his teams pours their blood, sweat and tears on the defensive end and it shows.
Even when he doesn’t haul in elite talent (which is rare) his teams are so fundamentally sound and so intense defensively that they can compete with anybody.
Kyle Singler
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Last season as a junior, Singler averaged 18 points and 7 rebounds while cutting down on his turnovers. He was a sniper from downtown hitting 40 percent of his long-range bombs.
The 6’9" forward can play big when necessary or utilize his guard like skill set. Singler’s high release allows him to take high quality shots, even with very little room.
Singler can catch and shoot, pull up for the mid-range jumper or even take it to the hoop. He’s more athletic than people give him credit for, has a high basketball IQ and is a terrific passer.
While he’s not an explosive athlete, there is very little Singler can’t do. A year after winning the Final Four MVP, Singler looks even smoother, more confident, and ready to cut down the nets yet again.
Kyrie Irving
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A season ago Duke won the national title without a real point guard. Jon Scheyer was a terrific shooter and turned in a better than expected season – but he’s not a legitimate floor general. In freshman Kyrie Irving, the Blue Devils have found just that.
ESPN’s third-ranked recruit, Irving is a future NBA All-Star. His unbelievable quickness allows him to beat his defender without a second thought. He’s always in control and finishes well around the basket. He has range from deep, but has proven to be most effective when he attacks the basket and draws help from the big man.
Already you can see his high level of maturity, especially for a freshman. Irving is calm and composed, yet intense and passionate. On the defensive end? He displays perfect fundamentals, coupled with lighting quick footwork.
The Chris Paul comparisons may not be completely accurate, but the fact that it’s not completely off base says a whole lot. He offers a dynamic point guard that they have lacked since the days of Jay Williams, who by the way, won the national championship his last year at Duke.
Double Trouble
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As a diehard Boston College fan and season ticket holder, the Duke game is typically the highlight of my year. I make sure to watch the Blue Devils a few times before the match-up and find that one fatal flaw. Pinpoint their Achilles heel. Usually it’s their soft bigs that are allergic to rebounding. Not this year.
Junior big man Miles Plumlee and his more talented younger brother Mason defy the Duke stereotype. Both 6’10" and around 240, these are athletic big men that can pound the offensive glass utilizing their high motor.
Miles, in particular, is agile and explosive with a repertoire of back to the basket moves and a nice face-up jumper. He runs the court well and can finish with both hands. I wish BC’s center could finish with just one.
After averaging just four points and three rebounds last season in limited playing time, Miles is averaging 11 and 8.5 through his first six games while adding 2.3 blocks. These twin towers give Duke a great interior presence to compliment their perimeter scoring.
Shooters
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A lot of times the elite teams lose when they end up in a jump shooting competition. I don’t think that will be a problem for this season’s Duke team.
Nolan Smith shot 39 percebt from downtown last season, Andre Dawkins hit at a 38 percent clip (up to 55 percent this season), the aforementioned Irving and Singler (41 and 37 percent respectively). Oh, and did I mention Stephen Curry’s younger brother Seth?
After averaging 20 points per game as a freshman at Liberty, he transferred to Duke where he’s shooting 47 percent from deep in the early going. Even the big men can shoot at Duke. Just look at 6’10" sophomore Ryan Kelly who’s shooting 71 percent from three-point land.
They make free throws. They have range. What more can you ask for?
Strength of Schedule
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As an ACC supporter I hate to admit this, but the conference is weak this year. North Carolina was expected to be improved with the addition of top ranked freshman Harrison Barnes, but they’ve already lost to Minnesota and Vanderbilt.
Meanwhile Wake Forest lost to VCU, Stetson and Winthrop while my beloved Eagles lost at home to Yale. That one sends shivers down my spine.
In fact, the only team that is currently ranked remaining on their schedule? That would be tomorrow’s game against Michigan State.
If Duke can escape the Spartans, their only truly challenging games are at Florida State (January 12), at Virginia Tech (February 26) and their final game of the season in Chapel Hill against the Tar Heels.
Senior Leadership
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Without fail, one of the most significant traits teams have that advance deep into the tournament is senior leadership. With that criteria, the Blue Devils are looking good.
Both Singler and Nolan Smith are seniors and have been starters for multiple years. They have seen everything there is to see on the college scene, and can be invaluable resources for some of the younger players.
Whenever a team's two best players are seniors, they will do everything in their power to ensure their career doesn’t end without cutting down the nets.
Smith and Singler combined to average over 71 minutes per game last season, meaning that experience will be on full display.
Cameron Crazies
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Watching a Boston College game is a sad sight. Even for conference games, you’d be lucky for half the arena to be filled. If we reach that halfway mark, it’s a pretty good bet that the visiting team traveled well.
In fact, I’ve sat front row, center court at nearly every game I’ve ever seen at Conte Forum. In Durham? You wouldn’t know it’s the same sport.
The student section of 1,200 is located as close to the court as you can be. The fans are almost on top of the players. Energizing their favorite home team while causing fear and panic for the trepid visitors, the thousands of face-painted fans in Krzyzewskiville epitomize the energy that drives college basketball.
It’s arguably the most hostile environment in college basketball and gives Duke an immense advantage on their home court. In fact since 2000, Duke has lost only 11 games at home! More to the point, they’ve finished with a clean slate at home three times during that span.
Winning out at home is almost more of a probability than a possibility.
The Kansas State Game
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So far, the most significant game of the 2010-2011 college basketball season has been Duke against Kansas State. The Blue Devils were taking on the nation's fourth-ranked team on a neutral court, with both teams looking to make a statement.
The supposedly 'neutral' game was actually located a mere two hours away from the Wildcats' home arena, and the Sprint Center stands were covered in purple. Nonetheless, Duke manhandled the Wildcats 82-68.
Pre-season all-American Jacob Pullen (19.3 ppg as a junior) was held to four points and four turnovers on 1-of-12 shooting. The freshman Irving shut down his highly decorated counterpart while spreading the wealth on offense.
Duke finished with five players in double figures while forcing 21 turnovers. That type of offensive balance, defensive intensity and good shot selection (6-for-12 from beyond the arc) creates the perfect winning formula.
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