Food for thought on Coach K and dealing with OADs this year

[ticket2ride04]

Was just reading through the Bolden transfer thread and something triggered this line of thinking. Maybe it means nothing but it's at least something to consider.

We know something is off with the team chemistry. Too much smoke for it to be otherwise. Injuries, GA issues, transfers, players tweeting etc. In those few games when K went out, it looked like the wheels were going to come off. Capel struggled and the team looked bad. K comes back and rights the ship. Perhaps you guys will never know how much K did to hold it together from completely unraveling and get them as far as they did. Maybe Capel falls on his face and wins 3-4 the rest of the way.

Agains, I was just struck with this thought. As fans we always seem to consider the alternative in rosy terms. Sometimes the coach hides warts which is the best they can do in a bad situation. Maybe that is why there is so much TO this off-season. Start fresh and go it in a slightly different direction.

 

[Showenuff]

Oh neat, another OAD thread. Start another one! quick !

 

[ticket2ride04]

Oh neat, another OAD thread. Start another one! quick !

Sorry bud. Thought it was a stand alone thought putting a positive spin on K's ability to navigate a ****** storm.

 

[HuffyJB]

I personally am not really worried. If K were a relative new guy on the job, I might be freaking out. But he is the only guy standing with anything close to the resume he has put together. I know with 100% certainty that everything will ultimately be fine.

Fans are having trouble with this season, and I get that. It might be an over-simplification, but a lot of what went down is nothing more than really bad luck. A season where there was really only one guy healthy for every game, missed north of 50 games combined from top 8 guys, a lot of other games guys played injured, coached even missed a chunk of the season, etc. All of that crushed continuity caused a real lack of chemistry, but the chemistry issues were starting to get rectified, as evidenced by the incredible ACC Tournament. Then Duke had the bad luck of running into a SC team that was on another planet for a few weeks.

That is how stuff happens sometimes. Duke has had plenty of good bounces, and they will again. Just take a look at UNC: they have had some unbelievable luck lately. Their academic transgressions have put them in a situation where they aren't recruiting at the clip they are capable, and as a result they have had very little roster turnover. They have gotten a bunch of guys who are really good college players, but not good enough as underclassmen to make the NBA jump. If you think that was all some sort of master plan by Roy, I have a boat to sell you (he has been actively recruiting a lot of the guys who have been one-and-dones as various schools in the last 3 years). But it has certainly shaken out in their favor. Sometimes the ball rolls one way, other times it rolls another direction.

 

[Showenuff]

Sorry bud. Thought it was a stand alone thought putting a positive spin on K's ability to navigate a ****** storm.

You guys are winning a ship' tonight. Not to sound like an ***, but seriously, discussing that ****, especially with a unc fan, today, just not on my list.

 

[BOOGIEMAN1914]

you know what you are going to get with K...he has bent some, but he wont break....he gets plenty of media attention...games are always on and you get to see the product on the court...the stars that play...the short rotation....nothing is hidden...you decide to come...you gotta break into that rotation period or wait your turn...imo

 

[mrchmadness23]

Was just reading through the Bolden transfer thread and something triggered this line of thinking. Maybe it means nothing but it's at least something to consider.

We know something is off with the team chemistry. Too much smoke for it to be otherwise. Injuries, GA issues, transfers, players tweeting etc. In those few games when K went out, it looked like the wheels were going to come off. Capel struggled and the team looked bad. K comes back and rights the ship. Perhaps you guys will never know how much K did to hold it together from completely unraveling and get them as far as they did. Maybe Capel falls on his face and wins 3-4 the rest of the way.

Agains, I was just struck with this thought. As fans we always seem to consider the alternative in rosy terms. Sometimes the coach hides warts which is the best they can do in a bad situation. Maybe that is why there is so much TO this off-season. Start fresh and go it in a slightly different direction.

Your team is playing for a championship tonight and Duke is on your mind! I love it!!

 

[chov1125]

Merge and dismiss please, I honestly have no idea what the point of this thread is, there is not an original thought to be found.

 

[ticket2ride04]

You guys are winning a ship' tonight. Not to sound like an ***, but seriously, discussing that ****, especially with a unc fan, today, just not on my list.

We ain't winning tonight. Gonzaga is on a tear and we've stumbled and bumbled through the tourney. Like Wright last year, Few is due. It's their year. Metrics suggest they are an all-time team.

But I understand your sentiment.

 

[skysdad]

This morning my wife and I went to try a doughnut restaurant that had been getting great reviews in the area. We had never been there and were excited. When we got there several people were in line and we had to wait with me thinking this has to be the best doughnuts I will ever eat. When we sat down I was disappointed. Don't get me wrong they were good but not near what I was expecting.Maybe when I recruits commit we get excited in anticipation of how great they are going to be their freshman year and sometimes they aren't what we anticipated and we are disappointed and frustrated. Perhaps I should go back again and just expect a good doughnut. Maybe as Duke fans we need to take what the fountain gives us and not expect to win the natty every year. Nothing wrong in thinking we can do it but it's not going to happen. Lots of things can go wrong like this year or we could have a really bad game during the tourney like Lehigh. There's nothing wrong with expressing our frustrations and disappointments. Just appreciate our program, understand the underclassman are just that and always look forward. OFC

 

[HuffyJB]

This morning my wife and I went to try a doughnut restaurant that had been getting great reviews in the area. We had never been there and were excited. When we got there several people were in line and we had to wait with me thinking this has to be the best doughnuts I will ever eat. When we sat down I was disappointed. Don't get me wrong they were good but not near what I was expecting.Maybe when I recruits commit we get excited in anticipation of how great they are going to be their freshman year and sometimes they aren't what we anticipated and we are disappointed and frustrated. Perhaps I should go back again and just expect a good doughnut. Maybe as Duke fans we need to take what the fountain gives us and not expect to win the natty every year. Nothing wrong in thinking we can do it but it's not going to happen. Lots of things can go wrong like this year or we could have a really bad game during the tourney like Lehigh. There's nothing wrong with expressing our frustrations and disappointments. Just appreciate our program, understand the underclassman are just that and always look forward. OFC

 

[skysdad]

LOL.OFC

 

[ticket2ride04]

This morning my wife and I went to try a doughnut restaurant that had been getting great reviews in the area. We had never been there and were excited. When we got there several people were in line and we had to wait with me thinking this has to be the best doughnuts I will ever eat. When we sat down I was disappointed. Don't get me wrong they were good but not near what I was expecting.Maybe when I recruits commit we get excited in anticipation of how great they are going to be their freshman year and sometimes they aren't what we anticipated and we are disappointed and frustrated. Perhaps I should go back again and just expect a good doughnut. Maybe as Duke fans we need to take what the fountain gives us and not expect to win the natty every year. Nothing wrong in thinking we can do it but it's not going to happen. Lots of things can go wrong like this year or we could have a really bad game during the tourney like Lehigh. There's nothing wrong with expressing our frustrations and disappointments. Just appreciate our program, understand the underclassman are just that and always look forward. OFC

 

[skysdad]

That's funny too. OFC

 

[Mac9192]

This morning my wife and I went to try a doughnut restaurant that had been getting great reviews in the area. We had never been there and were excited. When we got there several people were in line and we had to wait with me thinking this has to be the best doughnuts I will ever eat. When we sat down I was disappointed. Don't get me wrong they were good but not near what I was expecting.Maybe when I recruits commit we get excited in anticipation of how great they are going to be their freshman year and sometimes they aren't what we anticipated and we are disappointed and frustrated. Perhaps I should go back again and just expect a good doughnut. Maybe as Duke fans we need to take what the fountain gives us and not expect to win the natty every year. Nothing wrong in thinking we can do it but it's not going to happen. Lots of things can go wrong like this year or we could have a really bad game during the tourney like Lehigh. There's nothing wrong with expressing our frustrations and disappointments. Just appreciate our program, understand the underclassman are just that and always look forward. OFC

But did you go when the "Hot and Now Light" was on?

 

[skysdad]

But did you go when the "Hot and Now Light" was on?

It wasn't Krispy Kreme. OFC

 

[youngman42]

There are several matters in this that have been discussed in a number of threads. Here's just a few thoughts:

1) When K recruits a top 10-20 player, the kid usually winds up getting 30 or 5 minutes. There's not much in between. If K loves the kid and he can play pretty decent - even if not great - he's getting minutes.

2) If you have to give a kid a "hard sell" to get him to come to Duke, then unless he gets minutes in his 1st year, he's going elsewhere. On Bolden - I think part of the problem there is that he was never a fit with Duke from a personality standpoint.

3) If K is going to stick to his guns about how he handles playing time, which is fine, then he needs to recruit kids, whether one and done or 3-4 year players, who demonstrate a strong work ethic in high school; have shown they can play with tough coaches. He needs to do better scouting. Otherwise, I think he needs to give minutes to kids and let them see a) they aren't good enough; b) they need to work a lot harder.

The best thing that could have happened with Bolden this year is to get minutes in a game against some tough front line players and let him get embarrassed.

I think K is so focused on winning each game that he can't let players on the court. He gets fearful of giving minutes to a guy he doesn't trust. That's different from an Izzo who doesn't care about losing games too much early.

 

[chov1125]

There are several matters in this that have been discussed in a number of threads. Here's just a few thoughts:

1) When K recruits a top 10-20 player, the kid usually winds up getting 30 or 5 minutes. There's not much in between. If K loves the kid and he can play pretty decent - even if not great - he's getting minutes.

2) If you have to give a kid a "hard sell" to get him to come to Duke, then unless he gets minutes in his 1st year, he's going elsewhere. On Bolden - I think part of the problem there is that he was never a fit with Duke from a personality standpoint.

3) If K is going to stick to his guns about how he handles playing time, which is fine, then he needs to recruit kids, whether one and done or 3-4 year players, who demonstrate a strong work ethic in high school; have shown they can play with tough coaches. He needs to do better scouting. Otherwise, I think he needs to give minutes to kids and let them see a) they aren't good enough; b) they need to work a lot harder.

The best thing that could have happened with Bolden this year is to get minutes in a game against some tough front line players and let him get embarrassed.

I think K is so focused on winning each game that he can't let players on the court. He gets fearful of giving minutes to a guy he doesn't trust. That's different from an Izzo who doesn't care about losing games too much early.

Getting 2-3 fouls in consistent 5 minute spans is pretty embarrassing. Marques got his chances he wasn't ready this year.

 

[Dad2ze]

Same reaction I had when I tried Duck Donuts for the first time.

 

[jamsession3]

There are several matters in this that have been discussed in a number of threads. Here's just a few thoughts:

1) When K recruits a top 10-20 player, the kid usually winds up getting 30 or 5 minutes. There's not much in between. If K loves the kid and he can play pretty decent - even if not great - he's getting minutes.

2) If you have to give a kid a "hard sell" to get him to come to Duke, then unless he gets minutes in his 1st year, he's going elsewhere. On Bolden - I think part of the problem there is that he was never a fit with Duke from a personality standpoint.

3) If K is going to stick to his guns about how he handles playing time, which is fine, then he needs to recruit kids, whether one and done or 3-4 year players, who demonstrate a strong work ethic in high school; have shown they can play with tough coaches. He needs to do better scouting. Otherwise, I think he needs to give minutes to kids and let them see a) they aren't good enough; b) they need to work a lot harder.

The best thing that could have happened with Bolden this year is to get minutes in a game against some tough front line players and let him get embarrassed.

I think K is so focused on winning each game that he can't let players on the court. He gets fearful of giving minutes to a guy he doesn't trust. That's different from an Izzo who doesn't care about losing games too much early.

K was not forced to trust players this year. He was able to play, 6-7 guys and be okay. Next year's team, especially if we lose Luke and Grayson, he will have to trust and take a lot of chances.

 

[diehardDUKIEnKY]

We ain't winning tonight. Gonzaga is on a tear and we've stumbled and bumbled through the tourney. Like Wright last year, Few is due. It's their year. Metrics suggest they are an all-time team.

But I understand your sentiment.

The ol reverse jinx, well played sir.