17-18 team

[Mac9192]

Now that we're in the dull area, nothing much at this moment in the sports world interesting, wanted to see what everyone's realistic expectations for the upcoming Duke team are. I think Duke will be really good.
To me they have the chance for #6. Several reasons why in my opinion:
1- Coach K will have a different look and intensity about him. I'm not being disrespectful about his coaching, I just think he's probably still chapped with how last season went and is chomping to kick some you know what.
2- A true point guard. I've never seen Duval play, but if he's what those that have seen him play, then we're in for a treat.
3- Allen. He feels the same as a player as Coach K does as the coach, and will want to kick some you know what as well.
4- Chemistry. I truly think this team will have what last years team didn't.
5- Interior presence. This team won't get pushed around down low, and also will give the team offensive production.
6- The year after. Other than 92, Duke's titles have come a year after exits earlier than expected. The 2000 team may be an exception.

We will see, but I'm as excited about this team as any in quite a while, and wouldn't be a bit surprised to see Coach K win number 6, and how fitting would it be for Allen to win titles as a freshman and a senior?

 

[dukiejay]

I'm excited, but I'm excited every year. I think the upcoming season will bring some fan apprehension because of how last season went. None of us could have seen what was coming.

With a young team there's always a lot of question marks. We have many.

-Can Grayson become Grayson again? He has to put last season behind him. He should have a facilitator this time around. I'm encouraged by that. If he keeps his head straight he's the least of our concerns.

-Off the point about Grayson, how good can Trevon be? He's uber-talented and gets the rock from day one at Duke. It's no easy task.

-Does Marques take a giant leap? I'm skeptical here. If Duke wants to play fast, then how does he fit? Marques is our biggest question mark, imo.

-Wendell Carter. Kid is a beast. It's hard for me too envision a scenario where's he not one of our two (or three) top scorers.

-I wasn't a fan of Gary two years ago. In fact, when it seemed for a period Duke had backed off some I wasn't upset. But I think he had a little awakening. He craves big situations. That's a good demeanor.

-Our bench. I know I assumed the starting five above, but we're going to need support. Javin must shine. Can Jordan be a true threat as a freshman? Is Jack White ready to take this opportunity? Vrank....can you be mean?

This team has a ton of talent. They're unproven, though. More than any team we've had in a long time. Even while 2015 was unproven, their moxie carried them at times. We can be really, really good....but I don't think a similar campaign during the Ingram year is out of the question. And even that team was pretty good in their own right.

 

[SwatX1]

Duke seems to always thrive when we have a true, really good point guard. I believe Duvall will be that, and we will be really good. We should have good scoring options in Cater and Allen. Duvall, and Trent will score some, and everything we get from the bench will be icing. I believe we will be good. Good enough to sweep unc, win the ACC, hang G's jersey, and hang #6.....Problem is...I said the same thing this time last year!!. Honestly though, if Duvall and Carter are as billed, and Grayson has a good year, that is obviously going to open things up for the other players, maybe even enough for some of them to perform above expectations with the defense focusing on the first 3. We've all been doing this long enough to know that you never know how incoming players will perform, but we've also been doing it long enough to know that sometimes, even when it doesn't look like they will, Duke finds a way.

 

[SwatX1]

I don't want to wish summer away just yet, but MAN I am ready for some basketball...it seems SO far away!

 

[Jake1985]

The team has it all on paper and will meet the eye test. To me, the most key component is players accepting their roles for the good of the team.

I very curious to see how the young talent adapts to playing in college games, learned how to defend both as a team and individually as well as which players step up to provide depth.

This year's Duke team has the pieces; now it's just those pieces fitting together as one.

 

[pisgah101]

DJ what made you not crazy about Trent? Cuz I'll be honest I'm not too impressed right now and just don't see it from him.. hoping I'm deff wrong though!

 

[dukehokie]

DJ what made you not crazy about Trent? Cuz I'll be honest I'm not too impressed right now and just don't see it from him.. hoping I'm deff wrong though!

I won't speak for @dukiejay, but personally, for me Trent always seemed like a chucker in the Austin Rivers mold and with the potential pieces we'd have for this season (at the time mind you), he didn't seem like a great fit. USA Basketball seemed to make a change in Trent. He showed an ability to defend and distribute as well. He also rebounded pretty tenaciously from the guard spot.

Fast forward to this season, with the departures we now have experienced, his bulldog mentality and confidence couldn't have come at a better time. He's going to have his freshmen adjustments, but he is the type of player this team is going to need as it will lack some identity early on.

I certainly have changed my mind on Trent, and that was pre-commitment. I think he'll be an excellent player under K.

 

[nets on nets on nets]

I won't speak for @dukiejay, but personally, for me Trent always seemed like a chucker in the Austin Rivers mold and with the potential pieces we'd have for this season (at the time mind you), he didn't seem like a great fit. USA Basketball seemed to make a change in Trent. He showed an ability to defend and distribute as well. He also rebounded pretty tenaciously from the guard spot.

Fast forward to this season, with the departures we now have experienced, his bulldog mentality and confidence couldn't have come at a better time. He's going to have his freshmen adjustments, but he is the type of player this team is going to need as it will lack some identity early on.

I certainly have changed my mind on Trent, and that was pre-commitment. I think he'll be an excellent player under K.

I thought this as well about 2 years ago, when it seemed like the 2017-2018 Duke team could have been one of the deepest and most talented Duke teams ever. (Losing Frank, Kennard-thought for sure he'd still be here, Bamba, Knox, etc. has changed that thought obviously.) Didn't believe there would be enough balls to go around to have Trent on the perimeter with all our other weapons.

However, times have changed and we are going to need Trent's guts on the perimeter. Yes, he does fit the Austin Rivers mold on the offensive end, but I do believe he will buy into defense more than Austin did during his freshman year at Duke.

Funny thing is...Austin has turned into a solid NBA perimeter defender, he received "other receiving votes" on the All-NBA defense ballot.

 

[dukephysics]

DJ what made you not crazy about Trent? Cuz I'll be honest I'm not too impressed right now and just don't see it from him.. hoping I'm deff wrong though!

Not to be mean here, but why aren't you impressed? I mean what are your reasons?
I like him. I think he's got a great looking shot, he is athletic and aggressive, seems tough. I think he'll be a good defender (which I think is an absolute must for us this season). I like him as much or more than I liked Frank Jackson coming in. And I liked Frank too.

 

[pisgah101]

Not to be mean here, but why aren't you impressed? I mean what are your reasons?
I like him. I think he's got a great looking shot, he is athletic and aggressive, seems tough. I think he'll be a good defender (which I think is an absolute must for us this season). I like him as much or more than I liked Frank Jackson coming in. And I liked Frank too.

Not mean at all and to be honest idk LOL but he's never struck me as an impact player but I pay a lot less attention to this stuff then most. And thanks hokie for your response sounds good

 

[dbav]

I'm excited, but I'm excited every year.

This! It's Duke basketball so I'm excited no matter how the season turns out.

As always, I'm looking to see how those unsung guys do along the way. I would like to see jumps from Vrank, Javin and Jack, and I would love to see how Tucker and Goldwire do early in the season.

 

[Showenuff]

I think it's going to be a frigging HOOT to watch some of the stuff Tricky Tre' pulls off. This kid is the human highlight film. LOVE Wendel and you just have to think Grayson is going to be amazing this year.

 

[Swervin_Irvin_Duke]

I think Trent will struggle on defense.

 

[hart2chesson]

I am extremely excited about the five I think K will put on the floor. A strong pg and inside strength are two things we really didnt have last year. Concerned somewhat about our depth as our holdovers really havent played much. If they do well, and Tucker can contribute some meaningful minutes I think the potential is there for a serious run.

Oh yeah the master, THE G.O.A.T is angry the way things ended at Duke and down the road. Thats a Huge Plus in our favor!!!

OFC

 

[dukehokie]

I think Trent will struggle on defense.

That would suck because he may be this team's best perimeter defender.

I think he will draw the other team's best assignment, which may prove to be a difficult task. But he has the motor and measurables to succeed
on that end.

 

[Mac9192]

That would suck because he may be this team's best perimeter defender.

I think he will draw the other team's best assignment, which may prove to be a difficult task. But he has the motor and measurables to succeed
on that end.

Yeah I don't know where that comment came from. To me the x factor on all this is K. I think he's still steaming from this past season and will be extra motivated. The kids will see fire out of him and follow his lead

 

[dukiejay]

DJ what made you not crazy about Trent? Cuz I'll be honest I'm not too impressed right now and just don't see it from him.. hoping I'm deff wrong though!

It had nothing to do with his game. There were just rumors coming out of his old high school in Minnesota (the same high school where Tyus played and Tre now plays) that he was a bit of an enigma and his dad thought very highly, in a bad way, of his son. I think the right people were eventually able to get in his ear and his dad stepped back some. Once the Trent family saw this becoming the 'talk' they seemed to come around. He's a dynamic player....shoots it well, has all the physical attributes (and more), is inspired on defense and plays with an edge. Like I said....it never had anything to do with thinking he couldn't play at a high level.

 

[dukiejay]

Yes, he does fit the Austin Rivers mold on the offensive end, but I do believe he will buy into defense more than Austin did during his freshman year at Duke.

I think so, too. And to be fair, I'm not sure it was Austin not buying in as much as it was Austin having to be the lead dog on offense that maybe hurt his defense. That team was a little offensively challenged.

 

[pisgah101]

It had nothing to do with his game. There were just rumors coming out of his old high school in Minnesota (the same high school where Tyus played and Tre now plays) that he was a bit of an enigma and his dad thought very highly, in a bad way, of his son. I think the right people were eventually able to get in his ear and his dad stepped back some. Once the Trent family saw this becoming the 'talk' they seemed to come around. He's a dynamic player....shoots it well, has all the physical attributes (and more), is inspired on defense and plays with an edge. Like I said....it never had anything to do with thinking he couldn't play at a high level.

Cool thanks

 

[Mac9192]

Pisgah, I think a reason Trent hadn't been talked about much is Duke has had so much go on at the guard and wing spot. A lot of people focusing on Duval and whether Jackson was staying, and was Knox coming. So to me, in a lot of people's eyes, he was an afterthought. Then Knox doesn't come, and people say 'wow Trent is a 5 star, and can play!' I don't think anyone had Trent starting until Knox chose Kentucky and Jackson declared. I've never seen him play, only hoping he's as good as his rating. If so, Duke is even more dangerous

 

[hart2chesson]

Yeah seems like our own fan interest per Gary kind of flew under the radar and then boom, Knox picks Ky and we got really excited about him. I think he will be a really good player for us... OFC

 

[Laettner]

Not reading one preseason article or listening to expectations. Learned that lesson last season.

 

[dukehokie]

Pisgah, I think a reason Trent hadn't been talked about much is Duke has had so much go on at the guard and wing spot. A lot of people focusing on Duval and whether Jackson was staying, and was Knox coming. So to me, in a lot of people's eyes, he was an afterthought. Then Knox doesn't come, and people say 'wow Trent is a 5 star, and can play!' I don't think anyone had Trent starting until Knox chose Kentucky and Jackson declared. I've never seen him play, only hoping he's as good as his rating. If so, Duke is even more dangerous

Had Knox come and Frank stayed he wouldn't have started. And he knew that himself as he expected both to be at Duke. He's now going to be thrust into a position even he didn't anticipate, but it's one he relishes in. And that is proving doubters wrong and playing like a straight up animal.

@Showenuff and I have a talked about it before off the boards, but this team truly will be "tougher" and "angrier" than last season's team. They may not be as talented, but they'll make up for that in hunger.

 

[LongTimeDukeFan]

Not reading one preseason article or listening to expectations. Learned that lesson last season.

Like getting too attached to a recruit before they commit.

 

[LongTimeDukeFan]

....I think Duke will be really good.
To me they have the chance for #6. Several reasons why in my opinion:

I think they have a chance every year

 

[LongTimeDukeFan]

I don't want to wish summer away just yet, but MAN I am ready for some basketball...it seems SO far away!

Every year it seems like I have to survive baseball season. Cannot wait for next year!

 

[skysdad]

I think they have a chance every year

I feel the same. I think we have a shot every year. Looking forward to the season and am also looking forward to football season. OFC

 

[hart2chesson]

[QUOTE="dukehokie, post: 11195664, member: 712"

@Showenuff and I have a talked about it before off the boards, but this team truly will be "tougher" and "angrier" than last season's team. They may not be as talented, but they'll make up for that in hunger.[/QUOTE]

Hoke, I think you and Show are correct and it goes back to what Mr Mac said in his thread starter. I truly believe the "anger" and "hunger" are going to originate from The GOAT after last year's disappointing early exit. I think Grayson will be pretty hungry too! OFC

 

[DukeRulesBasketball]

I am very excited about the potential of this team. Hopefully we can stay injury free and it wouldn't surprise me in the least to see Duke cut down the nets. We definitely have the talent!