Duke Basketball: Top 10 Reasons Some Blue Devils Fans Think the Sky Is Falling
Duke fans are some of the most passionate about their school's basketball team.
But like any group of fans of a successful program, there are those who prescribe to the chicken little syndrome each and every time the Blue Devils lose a game.
Here is a look at 10 reasons or excuses fans are using following their team's first loss of the season. From the realistic to the ridiculous, they are all here and, in some cases, they are really being said.
Duke Has No Inside Game
1 of 10
Miles and Mason Plumlee were expected to be the solution to Duke's inside scoring issues this season.
And with the exception of a few brief moments, they haven't been what fans have been hoping for. Still, they aren't entirely useless.
This is a more realistic concern, but if anyone was expecting either to be the second coming of Elton Brand or Shelden Williams, they are mistaken.
If they can figure out how to get some offensive rebounds and finish near the basket, Duke will be just fine.
Duke Is Struggling Without Kyrie Irving
2 of 10
Kyrie Irving was clearly the best player on the team, if not the country, when he was lost with a toe injury.
That team includes two All-American candidates in Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler. The loss is a realistic concern and Duke has had to adjust and prepare to play differently without the star point guard.
But his loss is not the reason Duke lost to Florida State and it won't be the reason if the Blue Devils don't win a championship this season. It hurts, but it isn't as all encompassing as many think.
Duke Relies Too Much on Three-Point Shots
3 of 10
Many feel Duke relies too much on three-point shots and you would have plenty of evidence to back it up. Duke shot 35 in the loss to Florida State after all.
Still Duke's offense, like it or not, is perimeter oriented. It has been for the better part of 15 years, if not all of the Krzyzewski era, and isn't likely to change.
If Duke pulls down five or six more offensive rebounds on those missed shots, something it did effectively last year, the Seminoles (or any opponent) have fewer possessions and the Blue Devils get more scoring opportunities.
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Duke's Interior Defense Is Weak
4 of 10
Many feel Duke's lack of a dominant big man affects its ability to defend in the post.
Just because the Blue Devils lack a shot blocker the caliber of Shelden Williams doesn't mean they are weak.
Duke employs, and always has under Krzyzewski, a pressure man-to-man. The bigs often hedge out and over-play passing lanes to help force turnovers. At times they mess up, get beat or are late getting back.
Risk and reward. We could try telling Krzyzewski about these concerns, but it is doubtful he will be really receptive to them.
Duke Doesn't Play Enough Non-Conference Road Games
5 of 10
Road games build a team's character and help a team play through adversity.
So far this season, Duke has played one true road game and lost it. Since it was a conference game, it means the Blue Devils played no true non-conference road games.
It has recently been Krzyzewski's position to play non-conference opponents, aside from Big 10/ACC Challenge games, on neutral sites.
Those type of teams are only going to be seen outside the conference, namely in the NCAA Tournament, where the games are played on neutral sites. The only real reason to play a non-conference opponent on their home court is to prepare for the conference season's road games.
As of yet, no coach has ever said his ultimate goal was to win all of the conference road games. Not that they aren't important, but Coach K builds his non-conference schedule to prepare for the NCAA Tournament, not conference road games.
Duke Is Not Athletic Enough
6 of 10
Athletic is defined several ways. Doug Gottlieb of ESPN amped up the talk last season when he called Duke "alarmingly unathletic."
Are there more athletic teams than Duke? Sure, and Duke has played and beaten several of them this season and last.
But to call them unathletic is just wrong. Miles and Mason Plumlee, for all their faults, are both amazing jumpers and run the floor very well. Nolan Smith goes without saying and Andre Dawkins, Seth Curry and Kyle Singler are athletic enough.
Duke Doesn't Use Its Bench
7 of 10
Duke often is criticized by even its own fan base for not using its bench enough during the season.
Mike Krzyzewski plays and substitutes by feel and always has. If he feels a certain matchup is working or not working, he will make a change.
He doesn't prescribe to scripted substitution patterns to make fans, players, or anyone else for that matter, happy. He makes the moves he feels will help the team win.
If his best players play 40 minutes and win, what is the problem?
If they play 40 minutes and lose, it is a problem to some. But if they played 31.5 minutes and lost, would those same critics claim he should have played his best players longer?
Seth Curry Has Been a Disappointment
8 of 10
Seth Curry's arrival and debut were greatly anticipated. He is the son of a former NBA great and brother of former college star Stephon Curry.
The fact is Seth isn't Stephon, but that doesn't make him a disappointment as some are currently claiming.
He is still a scorer and a very smart player, even if he is not as good as his older brother. He is certainly an asset to the team. He is still learning to play against more elite competition and will be an instrumental part of the team's future this season and beyond.
Nolan Smith Is a Ball Hog
9 of 10
Nolan Smith is an All-American candidate and some have lumped him in the National Player of the Year discussion.
When Kyrie Irving went down, Smith assumed the point guard role and has flourished. Still, two less-than-stellar games involving him committing some uncharacteristic turnovers and forcing some ill-advised shots has many questioning the Duke star.
Duke would not be where it is now without Smith. He prepared all season to play the scoring guard role and has been forced into a distributor role. And while he did start out on fire, as the competition improves so will the bumps in the road.
Duke fans should be patient. His decision making will improve and the Blue Devils will be just fine.
Mike Krzyzewski Is Just Being Out-Coached
10 of 10
Believe it or not, some claimed after Duke's loss to Florida State that Mike Krzyzewski was out-coached by Leonard Hamilton.
One comment posted on a Duke fan site went as far to say Krzyzewski is regularly out-coached by "ACC coaches with any length of tenure."
While these fans are clearly frustrated, pointing to Krzyzewski's record in the ACC is proof of that notion being wrong.
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