Bolden staying for second year
- Thread starter vcugreg
- Start date
Wish List....
1. Get Duval, I feel like it's been stated once or twice that Duke could use a PG.
2. Keep 1 of Luke/Grayson. Highly highly unlikely we keep both, think we should feel fortunate if we keep one. Think Luke would be crazy to stick around, his stock will never be higher, even if he wins Nat'l POY next season. Grayson, I really have zero clue.
3. Get either Knox/Bamba. Think Knox would fill more of an immediate need, both have star potential.
4. DEVELOP DEPTH INSIDE. I feel like the people automatically penciling in Vrank/Javin could be in for a rude awakening next winter. After this past season, I won't believe anything about interior depth until it actually happens. Yes, Carter and Bolden should see major minutes though.
1. Get Duval, I feel like it's been stated once or twice that Duke could use a PG.
2. Keep 1 of Luke/Grayson. Highly highly unlikely we keep both, think we should feel fortunate if we keep one. Think Luke would be crazy to stick around, his stock will never be higher, even if he wins Nat'l POY next season. Grayson, I really have zero clue.
3. Get either Knox/Bamba. Think Knox would fill more of an immediate need, both have star potential.
4. DEVELOP DEPTH INSIDE. I feel like the people automatically penciling in Vrank/Javin could be in for a rude awakening next winter. After this past season, I won't believe anything about interior depth until it actually happens. Yes, Carter and Bolden should see major minutes though.
Hopefully Carter and Bolden see them together. Let's pray
Wouldn't fit in cannot shot the three worth a damnK has a year of eligibility left and plans on taking over the PG spot himself.
Let's add that he'll be in Durham for the summer as well. He missed the entire summer this past season and it showed at the very least in his conditioning, which was an area of improvement for him to begin with.
Theres a difference between optimism and being delusional... I hope I'm closer to the optimism with the roster then delusional... this past season has been tough for us all... expectations were super high and we didn't live up to them due to all the reasons they have been beat to death. Also the school 8 miles down the road won the national title and that makes it hurt even worse. I get this and I was frustrated much of the year. Any optimism at this point I'm all for. Could the staff have done a better job, of course, could other players have played more.. absolutely! This is in past and it's a new chapter today. I'm not going to sit here and guarantee a national championship next year or say we will beat UNC twice next year, but I am going to be more optimistic and hope for the best when it comes to this team next year and going forward.
Sorry to ramble on like this... just wanted to try and provide some optimism.. and if you don't look at it that way then that's completely fine... that's why I like this board, a lot of different opinions but the one thing we can agree on is we are all Duke fans!
Duval/Allen/Knox/Javin/Carter
Duval/Jackson/Allen/Knox/Carter
Duval/Jackson/Allen/Carter/Bolden
Allen/Jackson/White/Knox/Carter
So many fun ways to do this.
I am not sure he missed the entire summer. We were on campus in early June for the K camp and he was on campus then.
Truth. He missed the early conditioning. That's all. Jack missed the summer workouts. Good catch.
So it sounds like Carter is going to play the five, so re
if Carter is the playing the 5 with Bolden, then Duke should have room for Bamba at the Four along with Delaurier because Bamba wants to play the four I have read. He would definitely start at the four.
I honestly think if we get Duval and Knox and Allen comes back.. I could be
Duval
Allen/Jackson
Knox
Carter
Bolden
now... I would not be shocked at all that if Allen comes back we miss Knox and if Allen goes we get Knox
I don't know anything besides what's said on here but it's my thought
If we get Knox that doesn't say at points during the game you won't see at the 4... I just don't think that will be the primary spot.. but like I said I've been wrong more than right
I just hope we don't play small ball. Not sure that works for us. You need an actual 4 that's versatile. Putting a 3 down low may be good offensively but it doesn't help on defense or rebounding.
I think Carter can be versatile in this offense... I loved amile but if you watched him, he rarely stepped out and shot that 10-12 ft jumper.. everything was going to the basket... carter can hit that jumper and will take it... that's why I think he can play the 4... now if we get Knox will he play the 4 at points... sure I can see a scenario where that may happen... but I think with bolden back carter mans the 4
That was one of Amiles few weaknesses. He couldn't hit that jumper which clogged the paint a bit at times. Carter as you pointed out can knock that down and I'd think he and bolden would be a great duo down low. They need to both be here from the start this summer to gain chemistry and understand how to play together.
Knox can easily slide to the four in our offense and we've clearly had plenty of success with that type player. Everyone is gun shy saying to slide him or "play small" but he's 6-9.
Okay that answers my question that makes more sense. I was under the impression that Carter would be playing alongside Bolden at the five.
I for one am very excited about Bolden. His return tells me what I hope is the fact that he realizes exactly where he is and possibly what is expected of him. He has all the tools, I just think he didn't put forth the effort and apply them. My expectations are that he comes into the next Duke game in better physical condition, more confidence and way more hustle. Those 3 things combined with the awesome basketball body God blessed him with could end up an incredible thing to witness in the coming season. I think his decision wipes Bamba off the table, but I'm fine with that if Marques simply plays hard. If we land the PG we seek and have Wendell and Marques in that paint, I'm extremely positive. I don't like comments like, "I'm not gonna get excited anymore after this season." , To HELL with THAT! I'm excited. I know this coach who always likes to win a ship' after the team down the road wins one. I think he wants one more before he rides off into the sunset to. Don't be excited , it's your prerogative, but as for me, I'm pumped up big time for the next 2 years, the next 2 classes look to kick much ***! Like I said in another thread, I can't see us having to endure this many obstacles again, this season had a lot of ugly injuries and circumstances. Don't let it get ya down.....WE ARE DUKE !
Like I said in another thread, I can't see us having to endure this many obstacles again, this season had a lot of ugly injuries and circumstances![/QUOTE]
This has been my stance on it for a while now. The expectations at Duke are always high. That's a given. This coming season they were at a frenzy high. That's fine by me- I want to be the top. But this season got off the rails before the damn Countdown. It was unlike any other season I've ever seen in my life. If you're not excited or want to temper expectations going forward that is fine, but don't fail to acknowledge the major reasons why we weren't going to meet all of the lofty expectations that even K acknoledged were on us before the season.
This has been my stance on it for a while now. The expectations at Duke are always high. That's a given. This coming season they were at a frenzy high. That's fine by me- I want to be the top. But this season got off the rails before the damn Countdown. It was unlike any other season I've ever seen in my life. If you're not excited or want to temper expectations going forward that is fine, but don't fail to acknowledge the major reasons why we weren't going to meet all of the lofty expectations that even K acknoledged were on us before the season.
Oh yea I know we will see some small ball but majority of the game we need to impose our will on people with those big bodies under the goal. Then we will have rebounding at times the guards have to shoot a lot of threes
No we haven't had our best success with that type of player. Maybe offensively but not all around success. It worked with Justice because he was a big man in a 6-5 body. He was strong as hell too. Knox is a perimeter guy. To play in the paint you have to have a certain mentality. Golden State is so successful because of Draymond Green. Defense is his thing but he can make shots if you leave him. Knox isn't that type of guy. He's going to take defensive possessions off because he knows offensively he will be needed.
I predict a title every year. We always have a chance. I just hate small ball with a perimeter player at the 4. It just irks my nerve
This has been my stance on it for a while now. The expectations at Duke are always high. That's a given. This coming season they were at a frenzy high. That's fine by me- I want to be the top. But this season got off the rails before the damn Countdown. It was unlike any other season I've ever seen in my life. If you're not excited or want to temper expectations going forward that is fine, but don't fail to acknowledge the major reasons why we weren't going to meet all of the lofty expectations that even K acknoledged were on us before the season.[/QUOTE]
What's your opinion on Allen staying or leaving?
What's your opinion on Allen staying or leaving?[/QUOTE]
No clue. Would imagine he declares and doesn't hire an agent so he has the option. Unlike luke he's not a guaranteed first rounder.
I never said we have our best success with that type of player. I was saying that those types of players are extremely successful in that role with us. From Kyle to Jabari and Justise. Again if team success is only measured in how far we go in the tournament than we've had a ton of teams and players that I'd lable as not helping us. I'd also say if you take Jabari off the 2014 team, if you take Tatum off of this team those two seasons look a helllllll of a lot worse. Again my point wasn't team success, although you're not giving some of those teams the credit they deserve, but that our system helps prop those guys up each year.
Yes they are successful individually because Coach K usually features that player. They have the offensive skill set. Singer, Justise and Jabari were definitely hybrids. Tatum wasn't a hybrid to me. Those other 3 had size and strength that came with them so they had no problem really bangin. Jabari just so happen to not have any big man on his roster so he was pretty much the center. Duke never had a problem defensively until these last few years. I say if you go small your guards have to be ELITE defenders. That's how Nova got away with it.
If you take Jabari off that team they would've been terrible. Take Tatum off this team at the 4 and they actually wouldn't be any different than what they were. Ankle would've played the 4 and Giles and Bolden would've been forced to play the 5. Rebounding and defensively we would've been really good. Bolden and Giles never got comfortable because they barely played. If they were getting at least 20 mins a game by the time the tourney started they would've been playing at a high level.
I guess I'm the wrong person to talk expectations with. Every year for me is championship or bust. The goal is to win the title at the end of the day. So I go into every year saying Title or Bust for Duke. I've been like that with sports period. Not just Duke. You either win the title or you're a loser that year. Doesn't mean you aren't good. Just means you failed that year
I agree playing small and not being great on perimeter is a recipe for bad defense. I also agree Tatum is the worst 4 of the recent Duke hybrids. Jabari was thicker, Singler and Winslow were both warriors so it worked. I don't necessarily agree that this team had better options. Amile next to Giles and/or Bolden would've caused serious spacing issues, especially since none of those guys had back to basket skills, except Amile a little. I think K sacrificed D for better O, which is essentially where the game is trending, we just didn't do either consistently. Of course an argument can be made in favor of bucking that trend, especially if you look at the title game.
I hear you and at the end of the day it's about winning. I guess it just means that for however old you are you're going to be disappointed a ton, so I hope that means you have over the top enjoyed the five that we have won. I try and enjoy the process and seasons that occur, the ups and downs. It's part of being a fan.
Yes Tatum was the worst 4 but he still was a great player. That just wasn't the position for him. I don't think spacing would've been something we couldn't overcome. In 2015 we played 2 bigs that couldn't do much outside the lane and it worked out fine. We literally rotated lance and zoubek for the plumlee brothers. Only time we went with Kyle at the 4 was at the end when we had to have ball handlers and free throw shooters. Having too many guards is actually bad for Duke because the focus is solely on the perimeter. I think with time Giles and Bolden would've gotten comfortable. They didn't have a chance though. The guards hardly ever fed them.
I hate to lose so I take these tournament losses hard. I just don't watch the rest of the tournament after Duke. I'm really a football guy but I love Duke basketball. When they lose I stop watching basketball
Five- Bolden/Big V
Four- Carter/Javin
Three- Trent Jr/ Allen/White/Allen or Allen/ White
Two- Allen/Jackson/Trent
Pg- Duval(hopeful)/Jackson/Allen
That would be my projected lineup: I don't see Allen or Bolden returning to spend much time on the bench.
Either way Go Duke
Four- Carter/Javin
Three- Trent Jr/ Allen/White/Allen or Allen/ White
Two- Allen/Jackson/Trent
Pg- Duval(hopeful)/Jackson/Allen
That would be my projected lineup: I don't see Allen or Bolden returning to spend much time on the bench.
Either way Go Duke
I think the key is to try to enjoy the ride. Last season was an anomaly with the injuries and health issues. The season before we should've reveled in. I mean we beat UNC at UNC with 6 (really 5) dudes. Those kids gave everything they had (not saying this season's guys didn't).
And there were some positives this season.
- We won an ACC tournament title which we haven't done in some time.
- Grayson finished pretty well considering all that was going on with him.
- Harry got back on the court which is no short feat.
- Jayson grew up like a man before our eyes.
- Matt. Miami. You had to love that!
- Luke became an NBA player in spectacular fashion.
- We beat UNC twice (I'll take that)
- Chase pulled a CTC bottle flip (legend status)
Bottom line there were things to like this season, despite not living up to maybe some of the loftiest expectations ever (I heard better than the '99 team at one point). So I'd say, have fun with this offseason, enjoy your summers with your families and we'll do it all again in the fall!
I just want to know why Luke and Grayson are still waiting to say something? It doesn't hurt to declare without an agent if your trying to get an evaluation. If you're 50-50 that actually is the best route to go.
Nice post Shey, and let me throw Knox into the picture in case we get him.How does that impact things at the Three? Can we keep everyone happy???
OFC
Maybe they feel like they don't need to announce they're staying? One can always hope.
Well they don't exactly owe anyone a statement. They're both gathering information and when both feel ready to make a statement they will. Hart is correct on his thoughts tomorrow.