On the brink of something special.

[Showenuff]

Now I know we have our posters here who border on negative, still believe we're heading for another first round flameout and all that jazz, but the truth of the matter is, that very likely isn't going to happen with this team. Yes, I know exactly how the Dance goes and anything can happen, but this team is showing me things even veteran teams have not in the past. Provided Okafor pulls through this ankle incident, this team , unlike years past, has all the bases covered and is loaded for bear to go deep in this tourney. A true big man. If Okafor doesn't fill that slot nobody can. Quite a luxury to have in the paint. Athletic slasher, in comes Winslow. This kid has really been growing throughout the season. His confidence is there now and he's going to the rack like a man on a mission as well as really picking it up in the rebound department. Amile and Matt are filling in nicely now as well. Even Grayson is starting to show signs that he will be ready to contribute in the battles ahead. And then , there's "Twin Turbo." Tyus and Quinn are really showing America who the top backcourt in the country is. Decision making is at an all time high there as well as shot selection. They know when to slow it down, they know when to speed it up. Been a while since I thought we had a team who could go the distance. This one can. Sure , safe money says we don't win it all, but we've got just about as good a chance as any team in this nation to get it done, and with the heart, never say die attitude and Coach we've got on board, I'm liking our chances. I like our chances even if we drop one or two more before the dance. When K looks in the eyes of this crowd and tells them your 6 games from destiny, well, i'm gettin shivers just thinking about it.
At any rate, how lucky are we to have witnessed this team grow up and compete? It's been one of the most fun seasons I've had in quite some time. GO DUKE ! !

 

[dukiejay]

This team has "it". FWIW, that doesn't mean everything because one shot or one bad half can change everything.

That said, we have leaders, go-to players, and a great coach that our players believe in. While I'm always cautiously optimistic going into every postseason, something about this bunch has me really excited too.

 

[DiehardDukeFan4Life]

I think that a lot of the people that don't think we can win the championship this year think that because we only have 8 scholarship players but I think they're ignoring the fact that those 8 scholarship players are among the top players in the country. Like you I believe that we've got a great shot at going all the way this year, especially with the way that we've been playing recently. If Okafor can recover from his ankle injury quickly and have no lingering effects then it's just a matter of continuing the level of play that we've been playing at recently.

 

[aah555]

I agree. IMO, this is the best and most complete team we've had at Duke (at this stage of the year) since 03-04. Not sure if we're quite good enough up-front to beat UK / have enough perimeter size to defend their guards, but I do like our chances to make noise in the NCAAs as long as Jahlil's health remains intact. I do wish we were more settled on our defensive approach at this point of the season, but I think we're probably good enough on O to compensate for our defensive deficiencies.

 

[timo0402]

Lot of negativity for sure as there always is. Especially when you go through some down times. But i remember specifically posting, "if we're still having these growing pains/issues in mid february, color me concerned, until then, im not." Well here we are. And we're 24-3 and we've got three winnable games before the rematch at Chapel Hill. We win that and we're 28-3....

We've got as good a shot as anyone not named UK. They'll go the rest of the way undefeated until the final 4. That's a fact. But then the pressure on them becomes huge, can they be the first undefeated team, can they make history. I love that.

Dynasty or Destiny?

 

[aah555]

Originally posted by DiehardDukeFan4Life:
I think that a lot of the people that don't think we can win the championship this year think that because we only have 8 scholarship players but I think they're ignoring the fact that those 8 scholarship players are among the top players in the country. Like you I believe that we've got a great shot at going all the way this year, especially with the way that we've been playing recently. If Okafor can recover from his ankle injury quickly and have no lingering effects then it's just a matter of continuing the level of play that we've been playing at recently.

Yes. 8 is more than enough if everyone stays healthy. The 09-10 team won a title with an 8-man rotation that, in practice, really only went 7 deep on most nights. Obviously that team was older and played at a slower pace, but it's certainly not a prohibitive problem. It would be nice if we still had Semi to give us some more front-court depth if we run into foul trouble, but we clearly have enough depth to make a run. We're not going to win a championship with a heavy dose of Marshall, Grayson, and Matt, but they're certainly good enough to provide solid bench contributions if forced into that position.

 

[DukeOrDie]

In years past, only having 8 guys would have scared me a little but this years team really does a great job of knowing how to not foul for the most part. (Marshall still drives me kinda nuts with this) We are seeing our guards especially "bodying up" other guards up the floor but with their hands up the whole time. Rarely have I seen our guards called for a foul for doing this. It just doesn't seem like we've been in foul trouble much at all this year like in years past. I too believe this team just gets it and is totally unselfish the way some of our teams used to be on a regular basis. They truly don't care how they win, just that they win. K has done a remarkable job so far with this team but we have 4 freshmen on this team who are as mentally tough as most veterans. I believe it's gonna be a fun month and some change fellas!

 

[HuffyJB]

When you have the best center in the country and two guys that are making a strong claim to being the best starting backcourt in the country, you have a chance.

 

[crazyduke3]

For a time I thought this team only had E8 as a cap at best......


but I believe they can hit F4 now. I have seen enough to think they can dig deep and reach the top quite possibly. For a while I didn't know but I've changed.

I'm still concerned about our defense at times, especially in the backcourt, the right matchup could ruin us, but these kids can really do it. The Clemson win said a great deal to me.

 

[GTHC_ GTH!]

Duke should be worried, I thought?

 

[stanleyduke]

Waiting for the "tired legs" narrative from the national media.

 

[Showenuff]

I was thinking about this thread the other night, found it today. Reminds me a LOT about this season. I'm hearing Giles looks real mobile on that knee now. If he ends up 100% , we're gonna wreak havoc this year. We have so many weapons this year, and we can morph into almost any style needed to combat the opponent. FAST and TALL? I'm so damned excited. Can not WAIT for CTC, want to get a first hand look at this monster team K is building.

 

[HuffyJB]

A blast from the past!

 

[timo0402]

Good dig up here Show. This season is going to fun. Let DJ enjoy his nice weather in Minny though and don't wish the season on him just yet.

 

[skysdad]

It's like deja vu all over again. Oops wrong thread. Maybe not. OFC

 

[DukeDenver]

Just win, baby.

 

[BOOGIEMAN1914]

when does poster info start coming out?...after olympics this summer?

 

[dukehokie]

I was thinking about this thread the other night, found it today. Reminds me a LOT about this season. I'm hearing Giles looks real mobile on that knee now. If he ends up 100% , we're gonna wreak havoc this year. We have so many weapons this year, and we can morph into almost any style needed to combat the opponent. FAST and TALL? I'm so damned excited. Can not WAIT for CTC, want to get a first hand look at this monster team K is building.

I'm taking bets on who's the first to crack the "this team has too many faults" bottle. Hahaha

 

[DukeDenver]

I'm taking bets on who's the first to crack the "this team has too many faults" bottle. Hahaha

We are scoring too quickly!

 

[dbav]

I'm taking bets on who's the first to crack the "this team has too many faults" bottle. Hahaha

We are scoring too quickly!

We are scoring too much!

We are getting too many rebounds!

 

[crazyduke3]

You guys are doing it wrong.

Bolden and kennard should be playing 20 minutes a game, were gonna lose in March because of this watch!

 

[skysdad]

Amille and Matt are gonna transfer if they don't get more minutes. OFC

 

[dbav]

We have too many scorers and not enough non-scorers. Same with rebounders.

Also, we are alarmingly athletic.

 

[jimlsumner]

My money is on "peaking too soon."

 

[twdukefan]

How could this team possibly lose? K doesn't know what he's doing, they're not going to win a ship this year

 

[Jake1985]

Games against Kansas, Mich St and the usual teams in the ACC will all present tough match ups. Do I think Duke will go undefeated? No
Do I think Duke could win a Nat'l Championship? Yes

 

[gottagonow]

"we should play the bench more in case of foul trouble"

or "come tourney time we'll need more bodies"

 

[HuffyJB]

Now that K, with his Olympic experience, has taken to diversifying his defenses far more than ever, will the argument go from "He needs to play some zone!" to "He's playing too much zone!"

 

[dukehokie]

Chase Jeter is sitting too far away on the bench from Coach K. He's obviously in the doghouse and will end up transferring.

Also Scheyer is wearing green ties. An obvious thought that he's taking the Miami job when Laranaga leaves, mainly because K won't let him run practices. Worst Duke team since Austin Rivers.

 

[skysdad]

Mom, Dad and Uncle Vern can't be happy with (insert a player to be named half way into the season) P.T. He's out of here. OFC

 

[dbav]

I can't wait to see this team in action. If nothing else, the athleticism of this team will be fun to watch.

I actually feel like this team is much more balanced than the 2015 National Champs. We have some very good bigs that can rebound. A lot of perimeter shooting and athleticism. We have one classic wing and some larger guards that can play the wing. I think that there are a lot of great pieces that will allow the staff to be flexible based upon what's working in a particular situation.

Let's get this season started.

 

[dadecodevil]

The refs and announcers stop being Duke fans, which lead to at least a net loss of 15 points a game.

 

[Sophiakarly]

I agree with Jim, there are going to be times when this team is on that they absolutely Rock good teams. That's going to lead to the inevitable we are peaking too soon. The thing that I'm going to love about this team is that we're going to have a very large margin of error.

 

[LongTimeDukeFan]

There is nothing more fun than filling out the NCAA Tourney bracket and everyone that I know knowing I'm putting Duke as the champion. Happens year after year -- its not going to change this season either.

Duke is going to have an OUTSTANDING season.

 

[Neners]

You know, as fond as I am of the blue 5 I've been rocking since 2015, I would be open to changing my avatar pic again. Just sayin'.

 

[Dukesince90]

I actually feel like this team is much more balanced than the 2015 National Champs.

I agree. If we can get any play from our point guard that is close to Tyus "Stones" Jones, then this team is going to be one helluva show!

 

[dukehokie]

Oh yeah how could I forget "lack of a point guard". We have to add that to the list.

 

[skysdad]

Oh yeah how could I forget "lack of a point guard". We have to add that to the list.

( insert players name ) is just sitting on the bench a far away from the coaches as possible. He didn't even jump up and go berserk when Grayson dunked on both big luke maye and kennedy meeks. He's not happy. Look for a transfer soon. OFC

 

[dbav]

I would actually liken it to the Williams/Duhon backcourt. They were lead guards but not true point guards. However, either was able of taking over a game.

I think we will be hard to stop knowing any of our guards can run the point to some extent. That could create some match up nightmares in my opinion.

I guess I'm not looking for anything like Tyus from our guards. Much more like Williams/Duhon. It'll be fun to see how it works.

 

[timo0402]

I would actually liken it to the Williams/Duhon backcourt. They were lead guards but not true point guards. However, either was able of taking over a game.

I think we will be hard to stop knowing any of our guards can run the point to some extent. That could create some match up nightmares in my opinion.

I guess I'm not looking for anything like Tyus from our guards. Much more like Williams/Duhon. It'll be fun to see how it works.

I'm not a huge fan of that comparison. I thought both Jason and Chris were two pretty damn good natural lead guards. Jason could score with the best of them but he was a great distributor and he was a PG. Chris was a good shooter and slasher as well (nowhere near as gifted as Jason), but he was absolutely a pass first PG that could run a team- and did.

None of our guys on this year's team are PGs by trait, nor have they ever been. They'll try and hold down the fort, play the position by committee much like we did with Jon and Nolan, which I think is the more fair comparison. Neither of those guys was a PG by nature, maybe by size for Nolan but that's it. Jon adapted and learned to get us into our offense and I think we'll ask Grayson, Luke, Matt (who did it last year) and Frank (the most gifted of the 4 to play that position effectively well potentially) will all service that position at different times.