Duke Basketball: 8 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Coach K's 2011-12 Squad

In a day when there's 24/7 sports coverage, and up-to-the-second updates on just about any detail about any team possible, you might assume that there is nothing that you don't already know about Duke Basketball.

Borrowing from ESPN analyst Lee Corso's catchphrase: "Not so fast, my friend."

You may already know that the Blue Devils return three starters from last year's team that finished 32-5 overall and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16.

You also might know that Coach K is getting really close to the all-time college hoops' wins total.

But, I'm thinking that there is still a few things that you aren't familiar with about this year's Duke squad.

So, here are 8 things you probably don't know about the 2011-12 Duke Blue Devils:

8. The Recruiting Class of 2011 Doesn't Have the Most McDonald's AAs

Duke's recruiting Class of 2011 has three McDonald's All-Americans (MDAAs) in it: Austin Rivers, Quinn Cook and Marshall Plumlee.

Two other Blue Devils' recruiting classes also had three MDAAs:

• 1994: Steve Wojciechowski, Trajan Langdon and Ricky Price
• 2007: Kyle Singler, Nolan Smith, and Taylor King

But, three classes have had four:

• 1999 (pictured): Jason Williams, Mike Dunleavy, Jr., Carlos Boozer, and Casey Sanders
• 2002: J.J. Redick, Shavlik Randolph, Michael Thompson, and Sean Dockery
• 2006: Gerald Henderson, Jon Scheyer, Brian Zoubek and Lance Thomas

That's quite a list, isn't it?

Can this year's recruits deliver the same kind of results that these classes did? Maybe the better question is "Will they?"

Right now, no one knows.

7. Rivers Scored Almost 3,000 Pts , but Isn't the Top All-Time FL H.S Scorer

Incoming freshman Austin Rivers was the Naismith National Player of the Year coming out of Winter Park High outside of Orlando.

He scored 2,957 points in his four years of varsity play. That's a lot of points.

But, he is not the leading scorer in Florida high school state history.

Teddy Dupay (University of Florida) is the leading scorer with 3,744 points.

Chris Corchiani (NC State) put in 3,434. 

Brandon Knight (University of Kentucky, drafted by the Detroit Pistons) tallied 3,373 points

Kenny Boynton (University of Florida) rang up 3,346 points.

6. The Plumlees Are the First Bro Trio in ACC History to Play on the Same Team

The Plumlees are the first brother trio in ACC history to play on the same team.

They are just the second brother trio to play on the same Division I collegiate basketball team in NCAA history.

The Brennan brothers (Matthew, Thomas & William) who played at Villanova in 1957-58 were the first.

The Plumlee's are a true basketball-family

Not only does Miles, Mason, and Marshall play, but their dad (Perky Plumlee) played at Tennessee Tech and their mom (Leslie) played at Purdue.

On top of that, the Plumlees have a grandfather who played at Michigan Tech, an uncle that played at Wisconsin-Eau Claire and another uncle who played at Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

5. The Blue Devils Have No One Returning Who Averaged Double Digits Last Year

Having to contend with early departures just like any other program, Duke usually has a fairly established group of returning players in terms of on-court contribution.

This year's team does not have a single player who has averaged in double figures for the Blue Devils.

Seth Curry (pictured) averaged 20.2 points per game as a freshman at Liberty University, and he is the leading returning scorer (9.0 ppg) from last year's team.

Andre Dawkins (8.1 ppg), Mason Plumlee (7.2 ppg) and Ryan Kelly (6.6 ppg) have all showed the ability to score. Up until now, they have not done so on an every-night basis.

Will this "inexperience" present some challenges for this year's team? Who will step up and shoulder the scoring role(s) for the Blue Devils in 2011-12? 

4. There Is No Returning Player Who Averaged More Than 2 Assists Per Game

On top of the lack of proven scoring threats, Duke's play-making leadership, in terms of getting the ball to teammates so they can score, is a little slim.

Seth Curry leads all returning players with two assists per game. Mason Plumlee, believe it or not, is second among returning players in assists (1.6 apg).

While Austin Rivers can handle some of the ball-handling duties, he is primarily a two-guard.

Depending on the starting line-up that Krzyzewski puts on the floor, incoming freshman Quinn Cook (pictured) may be the best floor leader that the Blue Devils will have this season.

Cook, a pure point, was the No.7 in ESPNU Top 50 PGs.

3. Mason Plumlee Has More Rebounds Than Points

Every team needs players who are strong on the boards.

Mason Plumlee (MP2) fills that role for the Blue Devils. So far, in his two year's at Duke, he has more rebounds (414) than points (390).

However, Coach K needs more point production from MP2, his most legitimate inside option in 2011-12. MP2 needs to get more than tap-ins and put backs.

Will Krzyzewski make adjustments to his offense?

Is it possible with the departures of Singler, Smith and Irving that Plumlee and others will get more quality looks down low?

He will, especially if he can recapture some of his nastiness that he brought with him to campus.

2. While Ryan Kelly Has the Rep of "Great Shooter", He Needs to Add Consistency

Ryan Kelly came to Duke with the reputation of being a great shooting Big (6'11" 230 lbs.).

After all, Kelly won the three-point contest at the 2009 McDonald’s All-American Jam Fest.

In the sixth ACC game (against Wake Forest) of last year, he caught fire, shooting a perfect six-for-six from the field (including hitting all four of his shots from beyond the arc) and four-for-four from the line.

Blue Devil followers everywhere thought "Finally!"

However, Kelly only hit six more threes (in 30 attempts; 20 percent) in the final 14 regular season games.

In his two seasons at Duke, Kelly is 27-88 on Three-Point shots (30.6 percent).

Reports from the team's trip to China and UAE are very positive concerning Kelly's confidence, his shooting and scoring, as well as his overall play.

1. Coach K May Break Bob Knight's All-Time Wins Mark on the Road

Mike Krzyzewski finished the 2010-11 season with 900 career wins.

That puts him within two victories of tying and three of breaking Bob Knight's all-time record (902 wins).

Duke has released its 2011-12 Schedule.

After opening at Cameron against Belmont and Presbyterian (wins #901 and #902), the Blue Devils play Michigan State on Tuesday, November 15th at Madison Square Garden.

Duke's next game following their trip to the Big Apple is back home on campus against Davidson.

While it is possible that Duke could lose to Tom Izzo's Spartans, it is very possible that this historic victory will not come on Coach K Court at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Is that sad to anyone but me?