Caleb Swanigan to announce next week at Nike Hoops Summit

[ScheyerIsOnFire30]

What do you guys think? Winner of Duke MSU gets him?

 

[dukiejay]

I think Caleb is taking his recruitment more serious than that. But it doesn't mean he's not watching and seeing how they both try and utilize guys in the post.

I've felt good about Swanigan for a few months and just have a hunch. Hopefully he chooses Duke. He'd be a huge get.

 

[ScheyerIsOnFire30]

He's a big boy at 6"8 270. His game reminds me of Dakari Johnson somewhat.

 

[JCColsCane]

Don't have a real good handle on this kid, but really think Michigan State gets him. I think he has favored them all along.
Go Duke!!


JC-OFC

 

[jibip]

With Jeter, Obi, and Plumlee, our front court for Swanigan looks pretty crowded. But I'd love to get him if he wants to come. Ingram and a PG would be the top needs though

This post was edited on 4/1 8:17 PM by jibip

 

[aah555]

Originally posted by jibip:
With Jeter, Obi, and Plumlee, our front court for Seanoga. Looks pretty crowded. But I'd love to get him if he wants to come. Ingram and a PG would be the top needs though

I think it depends entirely on how ready Obi is to play at this level. The fact that we're making a late push for Swanigan suggests to me that the staff isn't fully comfortable with the idea of having Obi be the only true banger on the roster.

With that said, my gut feeling is that he's probably headed elsewhere -- particularly in view of the facts that Jeff Capel looks to be leaving at the end of the year and we've started recruiting some lower-tier big guy prospects to fill out this class.

 

[DukeDenver]

MP3 is all the big we need. He's gonna start at the 4 and 5 simultaneously.

He'll average 80 mpg.

 

[dbav]

Hopefully Luke and Chase did some good work on him this week.

 

[stanleyduke]

I don't see Jeter and Swanigan as being impact bigs in their freshman year. Need them though to build depth and develop for down the road.

 

[LH24ND]

What nags at me is I don't think we are involved with anyone past the couple we know of. This roster badly needs a couple more recruits this spring. The Capel thing is a huge concern as well.

 

[SpartanHaze]

MSU has felt very good about him for a long time, however it might be fading. Rumors around MSU circles is that it will be Cuonzo Martin and Cal. Purdue is also pushing extremely hard, but I'll believe that when I see it. I would never count out Duke or Kentucky for a recruit like this.

I hope I'm wrong, but not feeling like MSU at the moment.

 

[LastWaltz]

Are we expecting Capel to take ASU? At this point the only major jobs out there are ASU, Bama, and Depaul assuming Shaka takes Texas. Are Bama and DePaul better than being the #1 assistant at Duke. Greg Marshall just stayed at Whichita St rather than go to Bama. I think Capel needs to be very smart in his next choice especially if he has any desire to eventually be on the short list when K retires.

 

[dukiejay]

Originally posted by LH24ND:
What nags at me is I don't think we are involved with anyone past the couple we know of. This roster badly needs a couple more recruits this spring. The Capel thing is a huge concern as well.

There are a ton of players on the radar, but right now everything is on hold with Duke being in the Final Four. I assure you Duke will be adding players in the coming month or so. They are also looking at graduate transfers who can step in and help right away. Be patient.

As for Capel, everything is quiet on that front for obvious reasons. Personally, I'd be surprised if he left for any of the available jobs out there....but I could certainly be wrong. Something tells me he might be the person who replaces K when the time comes...

 

[vcugreg]

I agree with DJ. It really touched Capel when K called him and asked if he'd come home. He's said numerous times he's home now. I think he stays in hopes of being K's next in line.

Also, for those worried about recruiting, don't forget about the graduate and immediate transfers out there... there have been several players that already announced that they will be transferring with immediate eligibility available. I wouldn't be surprised if we picked one up to fill the roster in for next season.

 

[aah555]

Realistically, is there any chance Capel could do much better than an Alabama / ASU type job after what happened at the close of his terure at Oklahoma? I somewhat doubt it (particularly in the case of Alabama). They are both mid-tier power 5 programs that a good coach can have some success at, even if they are not easy jobs.

As for the Duke position, I just don't think there's any substitute for head coaching experience. Unless K intends to essentially subvert the hiring process by pulling a Dean Smith (i.e., a retiring a month before the season to force the AD to hire internally), I think Capel significantly improves his odds of getting the job by leaving and proving that the end of his Oklahoma tenure was just an unfortunate blip on the radar (as opposed to the Elite 8 being the blip). Personally, I just don't see how Jeff could get the head job here in any kind of open hiring process based on his current trackrecord -- particularly in a world where there will inevitably be some high-profile outside hires who would definitely be interested, and guys like Mike Brey, Chris Collins, Bobby Hurley, and maybe even Wojo are bulding HC resumes.

 

[dukiejay]

K has handed off more duties to Jeff Capel than any other assistant before him. Capel heads up recruiting, runs most practices, and leads Duke's scouting of upcoming opponents. In addition, through rumblings of a few key Iron Dukes, K has made it clear that he wants his successor sitting by his side during his final years of coaching.

The Oklahoma job didn't end the way Capel could have hoped, but he did lead them to one Elite Eight and was never implicated in the Tiny Gallon ordeal. I can assure you K wouldn't have brought him back on board had he been.

It will be interesting to see how it plays out....but I'd be quite surprised to see Capel leaving Duke this year. And if he does then I will acknowledge my theory being completely off base.

 

[LastWaltz]

Alabama is a black hole, that place is football 365 days a year. Grant and Capel have very similar backgrounds and I just don't see the upside there.

 

[TRU CANE]

Florida could open soon if Donovan goes to the league. There is speculation.

 

[aah555]

Originally posted by dukiejay:
K has handed off more duties to Jeff Capel than any other assistant before him. Capel heads up recruiting, runs most practices, and leads Duke's scouting of upcoming opponents. In addition, through rumblings of a few key Iron Dukes, K has made it clear that he wants his successor sitting by his side during his final years of coaching.

The Oklahoma job didn't end the way Capel could have hoped, but he did lead them to one Elite Eight and was never implicated in the Tiny Gallon ordeal. I can assure you K wouldn't have brought him back on board had he been.

It will be interesting to see how it plays out....but I'd be quite surprised to see Capel leaving Duke this year. And if he does then I will acknowledge my theory being completely off base.

Yes, obviously only K knows how much control he wants to exert over the next hire -- b/c, frankly, he holds the cards when it comes to retiring / implementing any type of succession plan. I am not a fan of powerful coaches trying to dictate the direction of the program after they level (ala Dean at UNC), but only Mike really knows whether he would like to have the power to name his successor and, if so, who that successor will be. While Capel is the top assistant now, this sort of speculation has followed a number of his top assistants over the years -- ranging from Dawkins, to Wojo, and now to Capel.
Personally, I'd definitely prefer an open hiring process where we go out and get the best coach available (as I don't see a Duke-version of Roy Williams out there), and would like to avoid a Guthrdige-Doherty type situation. However, we'll see.

 

[madrussian]

the vibes i am picking up are similar to jay's. i would be surprised to see capel leave for a arizona state or similar job. based on what has happened to this team over the past 18 months in terms of coaching i would think capel would be the hciw (head coach in waiting) -- if he wants it.

however if a quality program opened up and gave him lots of $$$....well.....

 

[OldasdirtDevil]

Coach Capel has been at Duke for 4 years, with 9 years of previous head coach experience. Knowing K is getting closer to retirement, and seeing how much of a workload K has entrusted in coach Capel it seems like he's being groomed as his successor imo. It may not happen, but it not's really that surprising if it does.

OFC
This post was edited on 4/2 8:38 PM by OldasdirtDevil

 

[Tim1515]

Capel could be taking the Kentucky job once it opens this offseason.

 

[DukiesDohK]

Originally posted by Tim1515:
Capel could be taking the Kentucky job once it opens this offseason.

Ohhhh...I see what you did there...

Man that'd be nice, not because I mind good competition from other good schools, which Kentucky has been for Duke with Calipari. It's because I, like many, can't stand Calipari. It'd be great if he goes to the NBA. I'd go from rooting for everyone, including UNC, over Kentucky to liking Kentucky if they hired Capel.

 

[dukiejay]

Originally posted by aah555:

While Capel is the top assistant now, this sort of speculation has followed a number of his top assistants over the years -- ranging from Dawkins, to Wojo, and now to Capel.
Personally, I'd definitely prefer an open hiring process where we go out and get the best coach available (as I don't see a Duke-version of Roy Williams out there), and would like to avoid a Guthrdige-Doherty type situation. However, we'll see.

Yeah, but that sort of speculation never really held any weight. I can't see Duke handing over the reigns to someone without any head coaching experience. Capel is much more polished than any of the other three you mentioned. And while you might prefer an open hiring process, you and I both know that's extremely unlikely.

It's hard to compare the UNC situation. If Duke fans were anything like UNC fans we could say Dean bailed on his team by retiring a few days before the season began. We all know that isn't true and wasn't his intent, but we could turn it into a BS story if we wanted.

The first hire after K will be a Duke guy. Is it Capel? I don't know. But he seems qualified based on the rope K has allowed him. He recruits at a very high level and knows the Duke system inside-out. We don't have a Roy-in-waiting....you're right. But what school does? K is one of the greatest of all-time so naturally there's going to be some growing pains.

I think the school (and K) would like to see the current model gain steam and not tear it apart. There's just as good of a chance the program takes a big dip with an outside hire as there is with someone who is part of the coaching tree.

 

[dukiejay]

RE: Swanigan

This thread has kind of been derailed, and I apologize because I'm the one guilty. So I'll try an steer back to Caleb.

The 2015 class doesn't come close to approaching the 2014 group in talent. It's not close. And truthfully, if this wasn't the one-and-done era this is the kind of year where Duke would have likely sat back a bit more and taken a smaller class. Unfortunately that doesn't appear to be an option.

Swanigan wants to be one-and-done. But over 50% of the kids playing in the McDonald's game have their sights on that. It doesn't mean it can happen. I've watched Swanigan....his game is much more polished that what he showed the other night. Do I think he's a one-and-done talent right now? Not even close. But he would step in and be a threat from day one and see major minutes in the post for Duke. His offensive game is more expanded at this stage than Marshall, Sean, and Chase. It just is.

We'll see. Swanigan likes the way Duke has used Okafor. I don't think he sees himself as the same kind of dominant post player, but he doesn't lack confidence. I can live with that. And I wouldn't be shocked if he stepped in and scored eight to 10 points a night right off the bat. He's a good player.