Bolden staying for second year

[jamsession3]

It's a bit ironic that in all their off-court problems, UNC missed out on a large number of their recruiting "targets" and it turned into a good thing for them. Just think, they've been recruiting the same guys as Duke, UK, Kansas and Arizona....those guys just all spurned them. What's happened because of that is their roster is full of good players who are primarily juniors and seniors and not viewed as NBA prospects when they're young, college players. So, yes, while UNC is clearly showing you can win without the one-and-done model, it's also not something they clamored to do.

Also, Duke was exactly the kind of team this past season that I can appreciate. It just didn't work out. We had three upperclassmen who were vital cogs on a national championship team two seasons ago and a sophomore who had a breakout season. Sprinkled in there was one outstanding freshman, a freshman who at one point was outstanding but has battled injuries, and two additional freshmen who many thought could be multi-year players. The roster setup this season was good, IMO, but I admit next year isn't shaping up the same.

Right now is a tough time to be a Duke fan. And everyone shares in the blame....be it the staff or the players.

You might have better results with next year's roster.

There were too many issues that could not be address between just November and March. Injuries, OAD, consistent play from players, playing time, talent, lack of talent, individual agendas, attitudes, fans, etc... I know coaches, players, parents, and others involve have these discussions during recruitment, but things look so much different when the season is progressing.

 

[BOOGIEMAN1914]

thornton came in behind jones and did a pretty good job...so for now it is just this season and next if we miss on duvall and dont get a grad transfer

 

[jamsession3]

It's a challenge right now, for sure. Lots of legit points above. Ideally, we'd recruit some 3-4 year types and 1-2 one and done, top 5 types, each year and would then have a good mix. I think Frank Jackson is that 3 year type; so are Kennard and Grayson. If there wasn't so much upheaval this year I think all three could have been back or at least two. We still might have two come back. Or three. That gives us some vets.

The second issue is more the make-up of the actual team. After Jones left, we have not had a PG. If we don't get Duval, we won't have one for 3 straight years. This goes to the challenge of recruiting and recruiting a better make-up if possible. If K recruits a 3-4 year PF, but then, recruits over-top of him with a OAD PF, and does so 2 years in a row, then that's a mistake and it's basically a waste to recruit the 3-4 year (see Jeter).

But, then again, if you are recruiting a 30th or 50th rank player, he needs to develop. Jeter had some injuries but he just did not develop. To be honest, many of the recruits that stay at Duke do not develop a great deal from their freshman year. A few do but not enough.

Another problem may simply be that kids who go to Duke expect to become great players and be drafted in the NBA (unless they are a fan early on and want to go there regardless - like a Grayson, even though he has NBA potential).

Jeter's people felt he was not going to get the opportunities down the road. With Carter, Vrank, and Javin, where will there be space or opportunities for growth? He was given the chance this year with injuries to Amile, Bolden and Giles, but it did not work out. This redshirt year will help his game, and hopefully correct some of the mistakes he made this year.

 

[chov1125]

It's a bit ironic that in all their off-court problems, UNC missed out on a large number of their recruiting "targets" and it turned into a good thing for them. Just think, they've been recruiting the same guys as Duke, UK, Kansas and Arizona....those guys just all spurned them. What's happened because of that is their roster is full of good players who are primarily juniors and seniors and not viewed as NBA prospects when they're young, college players. So, yes, while UNC is clearly showing you can win without the one-and-done model, it's also not something they clamored to do.

Also, Duke was exactly the kind of team this past season that I can appreciate. It just didn't work out. We had three upperclassmen who were vital cogs on a national championship team two seasons ago and a sophomore who had a breakout season. Sprinkled in there was one outstanding freshman, a freshman who at one point was outstanding but has battled injuries, and two additional freshmen who many thought could be multi-year players. The roster setup this season was good, IMO, but I admit next year isn't shaping up the same.

Right now is a tough time to be a Duke fan. And everyone shares in the blame....be it the staff or the players.

We agree for the most part but we disagree on it being a tough time. We have no idea right now what our roster will look like next year. Once the dust settles and we do know our roster we have no idea how that roster will gel. Just as easily as things could go sideways as they did this year, things could align as they did in 2015. A lot of talented players will be suiting up regardless of the ones that declare/transfer/commit elsewhere in the coming weeks. Miami football was once a proud program that was full of the top players in the country. Things began to turn for them in a negative direction. Now their 5 stars have been replaced with 3 stars and their ceiling every year is merely competing in the ACC and going to a bowl. It is a tough time to be a Miami football fan. IMO it is still a great time to be a Duke basketball fan.

I refuse to buy in to the crap that our fans are spewing all over this board. Not you for sure but a lot of posters on here sound like spoiled little brats that aren't getting everything they want. In a perfect world our 4 year players would each get their Quinn Cook moment and our one and dones would get their Tyus/Jahlil/Justise moment. But as Geno Auriemma said so perfectly this is real life and we all have to realize that. When you recruit one and done players they are going to want what is best for them. Sometimes what Duke wants and what the individual players want match up, sometimes they don't. If we lose some future recruits because our leader runs his program based on earning time and not being entitled to it, so be it. But our roster will be talented next year for sure, regardless of the coming weeks. That is where I think we disagree.

 

[SoCal Dukie]

Bolden could do so well playing along side Carter; double-teams would be a very limited issue....

 

[sheyduke]

Unless I'm mistaken, we've had more than one OAD exactly twice in Duke's history. 2015, when we won a national championship. And 2017 when we won the ACC tournament championship, becoming the first team to ever win four games to win the ACC tourney.

As much as I dislike the OAD world for personal reasons (much prefer watching the kids develop at Duke for 3-4 years), I think Duke is doing just fine at figuring out how to live in the OAD world.

We were the first five seed to win four games straight to win the ACC tourney. Six and seven seeds had done it before in three games just never a five I think that's how it went

 

[DukeJim99]

It's great to want a particular blend of freshman OAD elite athletes, and solid, four-star upperclassmen, and to always have a talented, mature point guard to run the show. But you just can't predict how things will go.

In 2015, Jah was the only guaranteed OAD. Justice was a maybe. Tyus was never expected to be a OAD. But then he was. That had a ripple effect. DT came in a year early because Tyus left. And DT played OK, but probably not up to his standards.

If things had gone differently, we'd have had Tyus here in 2016 (and maybe 2017). DT would have shown up in 2016 and he'd probably still be here. Would we have gotten Frank Jackson then? Who knows?

My rambling point is simply that it's all fine to have a game plan of who to recruit and why. But reality doesn't work out quite as cleanly as one might hope.

 

[dukiejay]

We agree for the most part but we disagree on it being a tough time. We have no idea right now what our roster will look like next year. Once the dust settles and we do know our roster we have no idea how that roster will gel. Just as easily as things could go sideways as they did this year, things could align as they did in 2015. A lot of talented players will be suiting up regardless of the ones that declare/transfer/commit elsewhere in the coming weeks. Miami football was once a proud program that was full of the top players in the country. Things began to turn for them in a negative direction. Now their 5 stars have been replaced with 3 stars and their ceiling every year is merely competing in the ACC and going to a bowl. It is a tough time to be a Miami football fan. IMO it is still a great time to be a Duke basketball fan.

I refuse to buy in to the crap that our fans are spewing all over this board. Not you for sure but a lot of posters on here sound like spoiled little brats that aren't getting everything they want. In a perfect world our 4 year players would each get their Quinn Cook moment and our one and dones would get their Tyus/Jahlil/Justise moment. But as Geno Auriemma said so perfectly this is real life and we all have to realize that. When you recruit one and done players they are going to want what is best for them. Sometimes what Duke wants and what the individual players want match up, sometimes they don't. If we lose some future recruits because our leader runs his program based on earning time and not being entitled to it, so be it. But our roster will be talented next year for sure, regardless of the coming weeks. That is where I think we disagree.

I should have prefaced that I don't mean 'tough' in a literal sense. It's tough from a mental aspect right now....and that's coupled with Duke's difficult season and UNC playing tonight. Trust me, it's still good to be Duke. It was 10 years ago, it is today, and it will be next season too.

 

[LastWaltz]

It's a challenge right now, for sure. Lots of legit points above. Ideally, we'd recruit some 3-4 year types and 1-2 one and done, top 5 types, each year and would then have a good mix. I think Frank Jackson is that 3 year type; so are Kennard and Grayson. If there wasn't so much upheaval this year I think all three could have been back or at least two. We still might have two come back. Or three. That gives us some vets.

The second issue is more the make-up of the actual team. After Jones left, we have not had a PG. If we don't get Duval, we won't have one for 3 straight years. This goes to the challenge of recruiting and recruiting a better make-up if possible. If K recruits a 3-4 year PF, but then, recruits over-top of him with a OAD PF, and does so 2 years in a row, then that's a mistake and it's basically a waste to recruit the 3-4 year (see Jeter).

But, then again, if you are recruiting a 30th or 50th rank player, he needs to develop. Jeter had some injuries but he just did not develop. To be honest, many of the recruits that stay at Duke do not develop a great deal from their freshman year. A few do but not enough.

Another problem may simply be that kids who go to Duke expect to become great players and be drafted in the NBA (unless they are a fan early on and want to go there regardless - like a Grayson, even though he has NBA potential).

This is a great post. At Kentucky the expectation is the entire roster will flip annually. K is kind of half in half out and that is creating issues with the development of the 3-4 year players. It is hard for them to consistently wonder if they will be recruited over even if they develope. A kid like Jeter has progressed some but in the past you wouldn't have expected him to contribute until his junior year. The roster management is the biggest concern/issue

 

[imajericho_rivals]

Four games not three. Four.
This season is a mixture of everything and imo no one isn't out of the cross hairs of blame but. It is what it is.

Did Pitt really have six transfers? Never mind it was three.

It is 5.

Cam Johnson is the fifth.

 

[imajericho_rivals]

Justice Kithcart
Crisshawn Clark
Damon Wilson
Corey Manigault
Cam Johnson

And it may not be done.

Stallings was a terrible hire for Pitt and they will be bad for a good while I'd suspect.

 

[dukiejay]

Stallings was a terrible hire for Pitt and they will be bad for a good while I'd suspect.

I agree.

 

[youngman42]

Jeter's people felt he was not going to get the opportunities down the road. With Carter, Vrank, and Javin, where will there be space or opportunities for growth? He was given the chance this year with injuries to Amile, Bolden and Giles, but it did not work out. This redshirt year will help his game, and hopefully correct some of the mistakes he made this year.

That's exactly my point. As I wrote:

"If K recruits a 3-4 year PF, but then, recruits over-top of him with a OAD PF, and does so 2 years in a row, then that's a mistake and it's basically a waste to recruit the 3-4 year (see Jeter)."

 

[skysdad]

I was expecting an announcement by now from at least one of the guys in question. Say yeah or nay and let's move on. It could have an impact on the recruits left non committed. OFC

 

[youngman42]

It's great to want a particular blend of freshman OAD elite athletes, and solid, four-star upperclassmen, and to always have a talented, mature point guard to run the show. But you just can't predict how things will go.

In 2015, Jah was the only guaranteed OAD. Justice was a maybe. Tyus was never expected to be a OAD. But then he was. That had a ripple effect. DT came in a year early because Tyus left. And DT played OK, but probably not up to his standards.

If things had gone differently, we'd have had Tyus here in 2016 (and maybe 2017). DT would have shown up in 2016 and he'd probably still be here. Would we have gotten Frank Jackson then? Who knows?

My rambling point is simply that it's all fine to have a game plan of who to recruit and why. But reality doesn't work out quite as cleanly as one might hope.

Several insiders talked about at least two and very likely all three as OAD before the season began. I thought it was likely at least Jah and Justice were pretty certain. And, of course

Duke made a mistake in pushing Thornton to come early. He wasn't mature enough and he had meddling family. That's not a good combo. They should have just gone PG-less last year (It wasn't a national title type team) and let Thornton come in this year. He'd have been a year older; he'd have been more mature physically, emotionally, socially, and from a basketball standpoint.

Of course, it's ridiculous to expect a team to have a perfect line-up every year. You will have down years but you can give focus and explain to recruits they will get their chance but also whether you think they are potentially OAD or a 3-4 year player. It's not a full-proof system. None are.

But, the point is, Duke isn't really trying that.

 

[DFerryFan]

Did Coach K tell the team he's retiring? Is that why everybody's bailing?

 

[pisgah101]

Did Coach K tell the team he's retiring? Is that why everybody's bailing?

If he's retiring I wish he'd hurry up and say it lol silly to drag anything in anymore. But nah I doubt it strongly

 

[DukeDenver]

Whenever you have two and a possible bigs transferring that's a major problem. He need to hire a big man coach to be real. People quick to holler Okafor but he was just a DAWG before he came in. Everyone knew he would be a man. Just like the other bigs to come through Duke that were good. They were already good. Coach K is into the stupid small ball with wing players trying to play down low. It's not working. Justise was just different. He was draymond. These other 3s are built like him physically or mentally. I just hope we get Duval and Coach K isn't 3 ball crazy next year. I don't blame Bolden at all. Worst coaching job of Coach K career

Between the two of them, they had like 10-15 good plays and 100s of terrible plays. They never showed much on the floor, even if both have great potential. The mental speed just wasn't there for either guy. What are coaches supposed to do about that? Sometimes guys are just tall and can't ball. Or maybe you're right and we aren't running the right drills and not putting the bigs in good spots. I do know that our guards aren't looking to feed the post all that often unless Amile is down there. Maybe that's because Bolden and Jeter look like baby deer when they go into their post moves. Both of them looked like they were on ice with the ball in their hands. But I'm sure it's K's fault. All evidence certainly points that way.

 

[imajericho_rivals]

I was expecting an announcement by now from at least one of the guys in question. Say yeah or nay and let's move on. It could have an impact on the recruits left non committed. OFC

Probably all just gonna qnnounce for the draft without an agent.

 

[LouisiAaron]

This is the dumbest thing I've heard in quite some time. K literally was out for almost 25% of the season... Worst coaching job??? He got this team to put together what is arguably the toughest 3 back-to-back games ever won to win an ACC crown... Not to mention that each team they beat in that stretch had an extra night's rest on them. Such a terrible job coaching...

I don't care how long he was out. He did terrible with this team. He recruited a traditional team and played small ball with them. This is why we barely have big men now. They don't want to be apart of that non sense. If you're going to be a small ball team from now on just recruit small ball players. Don't go out and recruit all these bigs to decorate the bench.

 

[LastWaltz]

Between the two of them, they had like 10-15 good plays and 100s of terrible plays. They never showed much on the floor, even if both have great potential. The mental speed just wasn't there for either guy. What are coaches supposed to do about that? Sometimes guys are just tall and can't ball. Or maybe you're right and we aren't running the right drills and not putting the bigs in good spots. I do know that our guards aren't looking to feed the post all that often unless Amile is down there. Maybe that's because Bolden and Jeter look like baby deer when they go into their post moves. Both of them looked like they were on ice with the ball in their hands. But I'm sure it's K's fault. All evidence certainly points that way.

Well I think K has to hold some responsibility for evaluations. These kids didn'f step on Duke's campus and dramatically change. In CBB scholarships are limited and missing on dudes hurts. If anything the evaluations concern me.

 

[DukeDenver]

Well I think K has to hold some responsibility for evaluations. These kids didn'f step on Duke's campus and dramatically change. In CBB scholarships are limited and missing on dudes hurts. If anything the evaluations concern me.

I'm fine with taking bigs that aren't up to snuff on day one. I guess I'm not fine with taking mediocre bigs who think they'd be world beaters at another school. Jeter and Bolden would've been role players pretty much anywhere. You can't convince me that Bolden would've been a double double guy at Clemson. The dude was sucking wind and fouling after 5 minutes on the floor. That's not a huge deal as long as he works hard to fit into the system and waits his turn. Watch Vrankovic's body language. If Bolden had played with the same spirit, he'd have gotten more looks and K would be working on a way to get him more involved this offseason. But with a sour attitude, K can't help him help himself.

 

[DukeDenver]

I don't care how long he was out. He did terrible with this team. He recruited a traditional team and played small ball with them. This is why we barely have big men now. They don't want to be apart of that non sense. If you're going to be a small ball team from now on just recruit small ball players. Don't go out and recruit all these bigs to decorate the bench.

Maybe he told Bolden he'd have to run the floor and play in transition a lot and Bolden liked the idea since the NBA is headed in that direction? We don't know what promises were and weren't made.

 

[chov1125]

Well I think K has to hold some responsibility for evaluations. These kids didn'f step on Duke's campus and dramatically change. In CBB scholarships are limited and missing on dudes hurts. If anything the evaluations concern me.

I don't know for sure but I'm pretty confident K holds himself far more responsible than he ever should. I'm confident that K's biggest critique is himself. That is how successful people operate and it is what drives them
to be successful. As someone mentioned above it would be nice to know for sure how many years every incoming player is going to be in the program for. But that is certainly not the case. In fact it turns into an impossible math equation. How can someone predict a Tyus Jones and Justise Winslow playing themselves into the draft after 1 year? How can someone predict a Luke Kennard doing the same in 2 years? How can someone predict Semi leaving or Chase leaving or Derryck leaving? Sure the easy answer is play them. But that is certainly not always the case, as the Derryck situation revealed. You just don't know how long people are going to be around for and the even more difficult part of that is 1 and done players are even more unpredictable. We can sit here and blame K for personnel issues but unless we strictly recruit all 4 year players and play them all 40 minutes per game we just don't can't predict with certainty who is coming or going. That in a nutshell is college basketball today. We do the best with what we have. I will blame a coach when he quits or his players quit or we don't land recruits. I look at this past team and I see a group that fought hard all year I see coaches that coached their butts off all year and I see an incoming class (even right now) that has loads of talent. Things are fine in Durham.

 

[jamsession3]

I don't know for sure but I'm pretty confident K holds himself far more responsible than he ever should. I'm confident that K's biggest critique is himself. That is how successful people operate and it is what drives them
to be successful. As someone mentioned above it would be nice to know for sure how many years every incoming player is going to be in the program for. But that is certainly not the case. In fact it turns into an impossible math equation. How can someone predict a Tyus Jones and Justise Winslow playing themselves into the draft after 1 year? How can someone predict a Luke Kennard doing the same in 2 years? How can someone predict Semi leaving or Chase leaving or Derryck leaving? Sure the easy answer is play them. But that is certainly not always the case, as the Derryck situation revealed. You just don't know how long people are going to be around for and the even more difficult part of that is 1 and done players are even more unpredictable. We can sit here and blame K for personnel issues but unless we strictly recruit all 4 year players and play them all 40 minutes per game we just don't can't predict with certainty who is coming or going. That in a nutshell is college basketball today. We do the best with what we have. I will blame a coach when he quits or his players quit or we don't land recruits. I look at this past team and I see a group that fought hard all year I see coaches that coached their butts off all year and I see an incoming class (even right now) that has loads of talent. Things are fine in Durham.

In all honesty, once Duke went after Just, Carter and Frank....Derrick, Chase and Semi probably started packing their bags.

The one issue that has not been discussed with this thread is that it's a BUSINESS. It about recouping and reloading.

 

[RanDEVILman]

Yeah how dare K recruit bigs and then allow them to get injured early in the year...The nerve. Then do a good job teaching his guys to play a style that doesn't require a focus on bigs, then have those bigs take awhile to return, then be in a battle to win conference games, then lose his most veteran big for a few games, then have his banged up team grind out like 8 in a row in the best conference in America, then win that same conferences tournament, all while beating a national title favorite 2 out of 3 times. Can't believe he didn't develop those bigs better...SMH. why can't we be like UNC and develop our bigs right away?...You know like how Hicks and Meeks were dominant as freshmen and sophomores? We all know Duke does a terrible job developing guys because it obviously can be done EVERYWHERE else in like 4-5 months.

 

[VaBlueDevil33]

Yeah how dare K recruit bigs and then allow them to get injured early in the year...The nerve. Then do a good job teaching his guys to play a style that doesn't require a focus on bigs, then have those bigs take awhile to return, then be in a battle to win conference games, then lose his most veteran big for a few games, then have his banged up team grind out like 8 in a row in the best conference in America, then win that same conferences tournament, all while beating a national title favorite 2 out of 3 times. Can't believe he didn't develop those bigs better...SMH. why can't we be like UNC and develop our bigs right away?...You know like how Hicks and Meeks were dominant as freshmen and sophomores? We all know Duke does a terrible job developing guys because it obviously can be done EVERYWHERE else in like 4-5 months.

Not saying you are wrong but you sound like a person that thinks K never and I mean NEVER makes a mistake

Dude he is human

 

[jamsession3]

Yeah how dare K recruit bigs and then allow them to get injured early in the year...The nerve. Then do a good job teaching his guys to play a style that doesn't require a focus on bigs, then have those bigs take awhile to return, then be in a battle to win conference games, then lose his most veteran big for a few games, then have his banged up team grind out like 8 in a row in the best conference in America, then win that same conferences tournament, all while beating a national title favorite 2 out of 3 times. Can't believe he didn't develop those bigs better...SMH. why can't we be like UNC and develop our bigs right away?...You know like how Hicks and Meeks were dominant as freshmen and sophomores? We all know Duke does a terrible job developing guys because it obviously can be done EVERYWHERE else in like 4-5 months.

Meeks played 16mpg as a freshman!

 

[UKat51]

If Bamba is going to UK, why hasn't he committed yet? Answer > He is waiting to see what happens at Duke. Then he will make a decision.

He is waiting for Adebyo to declare for the draft.

 

[LouisiAaron]

Maybe he told Bolden he'd have to run the floor and play in transition a lot and Bolden liked the idea since the NBA is headed in that direction? We don't know what promises were and weren't made.

Coach K has a short leash with young big men. He never let players play through mistakes. Coincidence how when Coach K wasn't coaching Bolden played his best. Capel let him actually play. In sports you have to let players get live action for them to get comfortable. Chase played pretty good at the beginning of the year. Who cares if they give up a basket. The defense without them was just as bad.

 

[RanDEVILman]

Not saying you are wrong but you sound like a person that thinks K never and I mean NEVER makes a mistake

Dude he is human

I agree that he makes lots of mistakes. I think him and every coach, heck even Play Roy, get killed on things that are actually way more complicated that we will admit. Can't develop a big guy...Simple play him more, or better yet hire a former big guy. I mean Roy has been killed everywhere for his time out usage, and not calling one, when some coached would've, set up Luke Maye for the shot of the tourney. Just saying, good coaches are good for a reason.

 

[VaBlueDevil33]

I agree that he makes lots of mistakes. I think him and every coach, heck even Play Roy, get killed on things that are actually way more complicated that we will admit. Can't develop a big guy...Simple play him more, or better yet hire a former big guy. I mean Roy has been killed everywhere for his time out usage, and not calling one, when some coached would've, set up Luke Maye for the shot of the tourney. Just saying, good coaches are good for a reason.

That's BS that he hasn't devolved any big men...total BS....Bolden obviously didmt work hard enough IMO to EARN playing time....it's not given its earned

 

[RanDEVILman]

That's BS that he hasn't devolved any big men...total BS....Bolden obviously didmt work hard enough IMO to EARN playing time....it's not given its earned

Ok....Not sure if you meant to respond to me or not...I never made that argument except as sarcasm. My point is the same as you...He never gets the chance, big men seem to take more time....When given a chance they tend to work out at Duke. Since OAD years we tend to play more small ball bc those guys tend to be more ready

 

[pisgah101]

He is waiting for Adebyo to declare for the draft.

This isn't supposed to be a shot or anything but Bam really declaring? The dude was pretty terrible IMO

 

[DukeDenver]

Coach K has a short leash with young big men. He never let players play through mistakes. Coincidence how when Coach K wasn't coaching Bolden played his best. Capel let him actually play. In sports you have to let players get live action for them to get comfortable. Chase played pretty good at the beginning of the year. Who cares if they give up a basket. The defense without them was just as bad.

So K demands to see effort in practice and good overall body language? Sounds like a Westpoint man and Bobby Knight protege. I'll take my coach. You can have Capel.

 

[DukeRulesBasketball]

This isn't supposed to be a shot or anything but Bam really declaring? The dude was pretty terrible IMO

Better than Skal was and Skal got drafted but that was a weaker draft class also, but still Adebayo is better than Skal IMO.

 

[VaBlueDevil33]

So K demands to see effort in practice and good overall body language? Sounds like a Westpoint man and Bobby Knight protege. I'll take my coach. You can have Capel.

Well brace yourself because in a few years you will have both as our head coach....Capel after K retires

 

[jcdevilfan]

Well folks, there have been some very good opinions in this post, and some ?. But that is all they are, opinions, and that is what this board is supposed to be all about. I really hate to see people insulting each other because of his or her opinion. If you don't like what someone has to say, don't respond, unless it is going to be a friendly discussion. Geez, let's all take a "Chill Pill" and enjoy what we have.
We are talking about a youngster here that is trying to find his way, and a program that had a pretty disruptive year, even though I personally think it was pretty good, when everything is taken in context. We are just all so spoiled with the success of this program, it is not even funny. Times are changing and every program is apt to suffer from their problems, it's how you adapt that counts.
As far as Bolden is concerned, I would like to see him return next year, only if he is "all in"! I really hope the Staff is not trying to talk him into coming back, because from my life experience, that hardly ever works out for the best. I also believe his mind is probably already made up, and if he wants to leave, the sooner the better.
We are here to support the program, yes, even through a couple of bad years. I have no doubt that this will all work out, we have and will lose some players, but we will replace them and the Staff will learn from their mistakes. This is still DUKE and will remain on top of the College Basketball world, so let's just try and remember, IT'S GONNA BE OK!
Go Duke!
OFC

 

[TWARedRaider01]

Its from Adam Rowe so take it for what its worth...hopefully not "fake news"

Sources: Duke C Marques Bolden returning for sophomore year


http://duke.247sports.com/Bolt/Sources-Duke-C-Marques-Bolden-returning-for-sophomore-year-52127472

 

[DukeDenver]

Its from Adam Rowe so take it for what its worth...hopefully not "fake news"

Sources: Duke C Marques Bolden returning for sophomore year


http://duke.247sports.com/Bolt/Sources-Duke-C-Marques-Bolden-returning-for-sophomore-year-52127472

Sources: Using the term 'sources:' makes people think you know something.