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March ready Point guard?

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denverexpat

All-Conference
Feb 1, 2006
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Good article on ESPN...though it pains me to say that
And a great question. Looking back at the winners in March they almost unanimously have great PG play. That said, how is it that Duke does not have a true PG every year?
If you were to build a program, which recruiting path would you take? PG or Center first? Wing scorer or defensive rebounder? I know all of the above is an answer but would be interested in your input on priority - you play the coach of a D1 program - where do you go first? Would you play fast or grind it out?

My choice - PG would be #1, Athletic wing scorer #2, insider rebounder #3....then fill in the blanks....but every year i would make sure i had a true PG to run the team.
 
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DukeJim99

Senior
Feb 17, 2015
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Well, Tyus wasn't expected to be OAD and Derrick T wasn't expected to transfer. So, I think it may be a bit harder to "make sure you always have a true point guard" than one might originally think.

I agree generally with the idea in the article that it makes it a LOT harder to win a college championship without an elite PG. Not impossible, but tough.
 
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LongTimeDukeFan

All-Conference
Nov 20, 2009
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I am biased in my opinion....imagine that on a message board....LOL

I have felt the PG position in the most critical -- maintaining high assists and low turnovers. The ability to set the team's mental thermostat.

I look at guys like Bobby Hurley, Jay Williams, Tommy Amaker, Quinn Synder, and Tyus Jones and the quintessential point guards.Now along comes Jon Scheyer and is told to play a role that is not primarily his strength. How did he do? Great! He did not have the highest assists in the box score, but his assist/turn over ratio was to die for. As a matter of fact -- I think he got his chances to play at the next level because of that PG play. How did he do it. He was a senior.

Now we are lacking a true PG and have Grayson and Frank playing the roles. Grayson seems to be doing the better job then Frank, but give Frank credit for doing an OK job. The difference? Grayson is a junior.

Duke has a true point guard more years than not. Grayson has the skill and the wisdom that comes with a little more age to run the show. He has to come to peace with the media position that he (and Coach K) put him in. If he can do that then we'll be fine. If he can't then we'll still be ok, but with a significantly less of a chance of making it far in the tourney.

Coach K's brillance is revealed most in his ability to create winning teams from what he has been dealt. He's been dealt a very good hand this year -- the season is long and my confidence is high....but like I started this comment -- I am biased in my opinion.
 
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denverexpat

All-Conference
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dukephysics said:
I think those guys are just harder to find.
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I would agree - especially in todays score first world - so does that make missing out on true PG's like Coleman even more concerning? It would be interesting to be a fly on the wall during recruiting conversations to see where Coach K places the most priority. In coach we trust.
 
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dukephysics

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Jul 27, 2016
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denverexpat said:
It would be interesting to be a fly on the wall during recruiting conversations to see where Coach K places the most priority
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I don't know where they put priority but I know where they are really good.
Small Forwards the last few years: Tatum, Ingram, Winslow, Parker, Hood. Those over at THR that say the most logical place for Knox is at UNC are, well completely wrong.
 
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timo0402

Heisman
Feb 24, 2009
13,868
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I'm hoping for both Duval and Garland, one for next year, one for the year after. I'm mostly hoping that Grayson and Frank can serve that role this year.
 
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Showenuff

Heisman
Nov 21, 2006
21,624
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Garland is amazing. He's been amazing since he was knee high to a grasshopper. I found some of his ballgames when he was tiny and the kid was BALLIN" even then, haha!
 
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sheyduke

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Apr 13, 2010
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Mine would be pg and small forward.

Imo, the pg is at the head of the team and a sf that can bring the ball up and pass and score spreads the floor for the sg to drive or shoot with your two bigs able to set into position for rebounding and scoring off an assist or put back.
 
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DukeDenver

All-American
Nov 21, 2010
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Point men are somehow still undervalued. Anticipation and vision are hard to identify.
 
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denverexpat

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DukeDenver said:
Point men are somehow still undervalued. Anticipation and vision are hard to identify.
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Given how many times we have been undone by quick guards in the NCAAT and have benefited when we have had one - you would think they would be a huge fight to get them ahead of the scoring mania
 
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dukiejay

Heisman
Mar 2, 2005
11,293
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There's no question that a great point guard gives you a much better recipe for success. Look down the road....Joel Berry is one of, if not the best, point guards in the country. We saw how UNC looked without him those couple games earlier in the season. They were a completely different team.

That said, sometimes there's extenuating circumstances. Ultimately, that's what we're dealing with here. As mentioned above, no one anticipated Tyus to be gone after one season. No one. Now, it's hard for us to complain about the result, but you get my point.

Then came Thornton. Derryck came in early and immediately was handed major minutes. When Amile was injured it changed how Duke ran their offense some, which caused some of what was envisioned they'd do with Thornton to be had away with for the betterment on the team. Whether it was Derryck himself, or his family, they felt opportunities were better for them elsewhere. Both parties went their separate ways.

Then there's the reality of this being Duke. Kids have to buy in. Duke recruits the best players in the country every season. For some kids, like say a Matt Coleman, they see a situation where Duke is recruiting Trevon Duval for this season and Darius Garland for the following class. That's not always an easy pill for a top-40 kid to swallow when they know more immediate and prominent roles might await them someplace else.

There's a myriad of reasons why the season hasn't gone as many envisioned. We can list them out and break every single one down point-by-point, as we've been doing. In doing that, and when putting them side-by-side, I don't think point guard play would be at the top, but more to the middle. We've just dealt with a lot of sh*t this season. It's frustrating.
 
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Kobe #1

Sophomore
Feb 9, 2008
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Showenuff said:
Garland is amazing. He's been amazing since he was knee high to a grasshopper. I found some of his ballgames when he was tiny and the kid was BALLIN" even then, haha!
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The nice thing I see about him is his ability to use his body, he does not go up and finish right at the basket like he could being a superior athlete. He keeps the guy on his back hip and extends out to the bucket, I think that is a huge adjustment for pg's in their transition to college bb and he is ahead of the curve in that aspect.....he looks very solid and I think will make an impact from day 1 if we can land him. Love his game!
 
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Baller224

Junior
Feb 8, 2007
438
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Kobe #1 said:
The nice thing I see about him is his ability to use his body, he does not go up and finish right at the basket like he could being a superior athlete. He keeps the guy on his back hip and extends out to the bucket, I think that is a huge adjustment for pg's in their transition to college bb and he is ahead of the curve in that aspect.....he looks very solid and I think will make an impact from day 1 if we can land him. Love his game!
Click to expand...
Just got back from watching Darius. The kid can flat out play. He only missed one shot all night, but what was even more impressive was the difficulty of shots he was able to make. The two shots that wow'd the crowd (and myself) was when he drove the lane one time and hit a runner from just inside the free throw line, then another time he drove baseline and hit a finger roll. You just don't see that often at the high school level often. He would be a great get.
 
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Showenuff

Heisman
Nov 21, 2006
21,624
14,224
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pisgah101 said:
So
Does this mean you've changed your mind on Duvall?? :D
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Pisgah

I'd give you my true feelings on Duvall but you and most on here wouldn't like it. I'll stand by my first prediction though, I don't think he's coming to Duke. I never get all my predictions right bud, that doesn't embarrass me. I hit the target a lot though.
 
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pisgah101

pisgah101

Heisman
Dec 26, 2005
15,242
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Showenuff said:
Pisgah

I'd give you my true feelings on Duvall but you and most on here wouldn't like it. I'll stand by my first prediction though, I don't think he's coming to Duke. I never get all my predictions right bud, that doesn't embarrass me. I hit the target a lot though.
Click to expand...

Oh no I was just wondering if he is who you were referencing
 
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