Gerald Henderson Q & A – His thoughts on Coach K, his Dad, the Texas game, leadership, Villanova and more

Henderson leans into a shot
Henderson leans into a shot

Gerald Henderson talks about the bench play in the win over Texas, Villanova, his Dad's playing days with the Boston Celtics, being a leader and more.  Enjoy -

Your thoughts on Villanova ...

It should be a good game.  They're a really hot team right now and played a really good game against UCLA where they pretty much dominated the whole game.  It should be a good match-up for us.

You grew up in Philadelphia ...

I grew up in Villanova.  Back home, I live about fifteen or twenty minutes from there.  My sister went there, I had a cousin that went there.  You know, they recruited me, so I'm pretty familiar with all their coaches and most of their players.

So, they were your second choice?

It came down to Duke and Villanova.  I took an official here and there, those were my only two.  I think my host was Kyle Lowrey.

Did you grow up pulling for them out of the Big Five?

I guess it was 'Nova because they were the closest to me.  My Dad took me to their games when I was little.

Speaking of your Dad, he has some great memories in Boston where he played with the Celtics.  I guess it'll be kind of a homecoming for him?

He's got a lot of friends back there.  A lot of people that are close to me.  He always talks about that those were his best years as a pro.  Not just on the basketball court, but in terms of just living and him having a good time as a basketball player.  Those were the best times.

Do you think with all that's going on that there will be a lot of distractions?

I think the way we travel and our managers ... (laughed), I don't think there will be many distractions.

Does your Dad stay in touch with former teammates?

Nobody that's on the team now, but different people like Bill Russell he still talks to.  I can't really think of any of the guys, but he still keeps in touch.

Does he ever talk about that big steal against the Lakers in the NBA Finals?

Yeah, he doesn't talk about it as much.  Every now and then somebody will come up to me and say they saw it on ESPN Classic.  It's probably one of the best moments of his career.  (Henderson made a key steal vs. the Lakers in the NBA Finals, which helped his team win the game and the series.)

Earlier in the season, did you think you would be where you are now (Sweet 16)?

When we lost to Boston College, our season could have gone a lot of different ways.  I wasn't even sure at that time we would make the tournament.  Nothing is guaranteed.  We could have gone backwards from there, but we just were not going to let that happen.  Me, John and Kyle being the leaders kind of took it on our shoulders not to let that happen.

Your thoughts on Coach K -

I've said all season that his passion is something I've never seen in anybody before.  I think winning that Gold Medal has given him even more passion just wanting to win another championship and do something nobody else has ever done.  He's our leader and we get strength from that.

On his relationship with Wayne Ellington and his family -

His parents are really close to me, especially his Dad.  He's been to all our high school games and him and my Dad always sit next to each other yelling at us.  That's something I will never forget.  They actually moved again and  I have been to their house.  It's good to have a close family like that, when mine just comes down for the games ... it's good to have them here in case I need anything.

Which Dad was the worst critic?

That depends on who was playing good.

On hanging out on occasion with the Ellingtons -

His Dad does more of the cooking than his Mom.  Big Wayne will cook up fried chicken, rice, string beans, everything.  He will cook up everything.  It's good to have a place to get a home cooked meal away from home.

As a leader, do you feel any added pressure going into such a big game?

I don't really look at it as pressure.  There is a lot of responsibility on Jon, Kyle and, well, everybody.  I just look at it as something I have got to do.  If we want to accomplish some of the things we set forth at the beginning of the year, I have to play well.  Jon has to play well.  Kyle has to play well.  Everybody has to play well!  That's how it is.  I just look at it like you go after it and put everything into it and see what happens and see what you are made of.

With all the foul trouble against Texas, did you get nervous with reserves playing key roles?

That gives us confidence and should give that confidence as well.  Elliot is making some really good plays.  Rebounding and going after that ball (Scheyer pass).  He was just really being a presence in there.  And Dave made that play at the foul line.  That should give them all confidence and show them that we have confidence in them in those situations.

Do you think playing in close games like in the last couple of weeks has helped this team grow?

I think it's good for us.  As a team we are still evolving.  It's funny that every game we play could be your last one, but yet we can still get better.  Teams will play us differently and we have to adjust what we are doing and get better at those things.

BDN Premium Q & A – Kyle Singler talks about the tournament

Kyle Singler - BDN Photo
Kyle Singler - BDN Photo

Kyle Singler sat down and answered a few questions just after Monday's practice.  The Blue Devils will soon head to Boston for their Sweet 16 match up with Villanova.

Are you still running on adrenaline from the last game or is that behind you now?

Shoot!  I'm still kind of running on it.  I'm still running on it from a couple of weeks ago - the ACC Tournament.  We're in a good place as a team and we're having a lot of fun. [private]

Was there a time this season when you didn't think this Duke team would make it this far?

Afraid is not the word, but throughout a season you're going to go through your highs and lows as a team.  It's the time where you bond as a team and I think this team has a good chemistry.  And, um, it's tough to break up this team, we've gone through tough times, we've gone through good times.  We know what both sides are like.  There really was no time in the season when we felt like the season was going in the tank.

What's it like to play these late games which end after midnight?

We're kind used to them by now.  You try to break up the day by taking naps so it really doesn't seem like a midnight game.  I think the one thing that happens is the game isn't over until 2:00 or so after interviews.  It's tough to go to bed after those games.  You're looking at a 3:30 or 4:00 bedtime.

You're a west coast guy, so you should be used to it ...

(smiling) Yeah, well I changed my clock.  It's the best time of the year so it really doesn't matter when you play.

Do you think the change in the line up played a big role in turning the season around?

I felt like that was the right change that needed to be made.  Our personnel, we have the right people just to mold a great team together.  It was just time and I think it turned out to be for the better.

Duke has played in many sweet 16's, but what does it feel like for you to play in your first one?

For me?  It's very special.  I'm very excited, my family is excited and fans especially are excited.   It's just an exciting time at Duke because we haven't been there for a while.  It's a good accomplishment, but we can't be satisfied with the Sweet 16.  It's kind of a benchmark that we got to.  Now, we have to stay hungry like we have throughout these last couple of weeks. [/private]

Duke Football lands a highly rated OLB in the Class of 2010

olaniyan_aramide_200x255During a recent press conference designed to kick off Spring Football, Duke Coach David Cutcliffe ended the session talking about recruiting.  "It's the best response we've got since being here.  It's never a dull moment in recruiting, it's every single day," said the second-year coach when asked how things were going with the 2010 class.

Duke was set to take to the football field the next day, but it was clear that the staff was working just as hard off the field.  "You go out there (practice) tomorrow and coach ball but when we come back in the first thing we are going to do is start recruiting.  That's the first thing we do as a staff in the meeting every day," said Cutcliffe.

It just so happens that Duke had a young man attend that opening practice, named Aramide Olaniyan.  The budding high school standout liked what he saw, not only in practice but on campus.

Olaniyan is about 6'-2" and weighs in near 200 pounds.  He plays his high school football for Woodberry Forest School in Woodberry, Virginia.  Olaniyan has been featured in Sports Illustrated's "In the Crowd" and is on the ESPNU Top 150 Watch List.

Once he returned home, he talked over the visit with his parents and after Duke defeated Texas on the hardwood, he called Zac Roper to say Duke was the place for him and that he wanted to commit.

He later talked to Coach Cutcliffe and was comfortable with the entire Duke staff during their recent "Junior Day."  Olaniyan had wanted to give his verbal before leaving Durham but was encouraged to think it over and make sure which he did.

Academics played a strong role on his decision as did the availability to come in and compete right away at his position, which will likely be outside linebacker.

The Duke verbal recorded 60 tackles, 27 for losses and 13 sacks as a junior.

Olaniyan had offers from Auburn, Boston College, Michigan, Pitt, Stanford, Tennessee, UCLA and Wake Forest.

Sweet 16 – Villanova vs Duke Game Notes

BDN Photo
BDN Photo

Blue Devil Bits

Duke has won five straight games and 10 of its last 11 contests. The Blue Devils are 30-6 on the season, the program’s 10th campaign with 30 or more wins. All 10 of the 30-win seasons have been under Mike Krzyzewski. 

The Blue Devils posted wins over Binghamton (86-62) and Texas (74-69) in the Greensboro pod to advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the 24th time in school history.

Duke is ranked sixth in the AP poll and fifth in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll. The Blue Devils have now been ranked in the top 10 in 36 consecutive AP polls.

The Blue Devils are the No. 2 seed in the East Regional. Duke has claimed the No. 2 seed eight times in school history and boasts a 23-6 (.793) record from that position. The Blue Devils claimed the 1991 National Championship as a No. 2 seed.

Junior Gerald Henderson averaged 18.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in Duke’s wins over Binghamton and Texas. Henderson scored a game-high 24 points in the win over Texas for his 11th 20-point game of the season.

Duke was 16-of-34 (.471) from three-point range in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Jon Scheyer was 6-of-12 (.500) from behind the three-point arc, while Kyle Singler was 5-of-8 (.625) from three-point distance in the two wins.

Sophomore Nolan Smith averaged 12.0 ppg. in wins over Binghamton and Texas. He was 7-of-12 (.583) from the field and 8-of-9 (.889) from the foul line in the contests.
 
 
Numbers Game

Duke has 88 NCAA Tournament wins to rank fourth all-time. The Blue Devils are fifth all-time with 117 tournament games played.

Mike Krzyzewski is the winningest coach in NCAA Tournament history with 71 tournament wins. Coach K will pass Dean Smith for the most tournament games coached on Thursday. The meeting with Villanova will be Krzyzewski’s 93rd NCAA Tournament game on the Duke bench.

The Blue Devils are 55-14 (.797) all-time, with a string of eight straight wins, when playing out of the East Regional.

Duke has failed to advance past the Sweet Sixteen just once under Mike Krzyzewski in nine NCAA Tournament East Regional appearances. The Blue Devils have reached seven Final Fours under Coach K from the East Regional.

The Blue Devils are 104-43 all-time against teams currently in the Big East conference. Duke is 2-0 versus the Big East this season.

Duke is 9-6 in NCAA Tournament play against Big East conference teams, including a 2-1 mark versus Villanova.

Kyle Singler, Gerald Henderson and Jon Scheyer have each scored over 500 points this season, marking the seventh time in school history (1978, 1986, 1990, 1999, 2002, 2005 & 2009) that feat has been accomplished.

Since becoming Duke’s starting point guard on Feb. 19, Jon Scheyer has scored in double figures in 11 straight games. He is averaging 19.1 points per game and 3.3 three-point field goals made per game in that span. He also has 27 assists, 19 steals and just 13 turnovers during that stretch.

Junior Gerald Henderson has reached double figures in scoring in 27 of the last 28 games for the Blue Devils. The Merion, Pa., native has 10 games with 20 or more points during that span.

Kyle Singler and Jon Scheyer are a combined 64-of-136 (.471) from three-point range over the last 11 games. Duke is averaging 8.5 threes per game in that stretch.

Sophomore Nolan Smith has reached double figures in scoring in three of Duke’s five games since returning from a concussion suffered on Feb. 25. Smith came off the bench to average 12.0 points per game in wins over Binghamton and Texas.

Gerald Henderson, Jon Scheyer and Kyle Singler combine to average 48.2 points per game for the Blue Devils. The trio accounts for 61.7 percent of Duke’s scoring output.

Duke is averaging 9.3 turnovers per game over the last 10 contests. The Blue Devils have recorded less than 10 turnovers in six of the last 10 contests and lead the ACC in turnover margin at +4.2 topg.
 
Duke In The NCAA Tournament  -
Duke, making its 33rd NCAA Tournament appearance, has been one of the best NCAA Tournament teams in the history of college basketball. The Blue Devils’ .752 winning percentage (88-29) in NCAA Tournament play is the best all-time. Duke ranks fourth in NCAA Tournament history with 88 wins and fifth in games played with 117. The Blue Devils remain one of three programs to make five or more consecutive Final Four appearances (the Blue Devils advanced to the Final Four every year from 1988-92).
 
Duke As A No. 2 Seed -
Duke earned a No. 2 seed in the East Regional, marking the eighth time it has claimed a second seed in the NCAA Tournament. Duke was also seeded second in 1979, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1994, 1997 and 2008. The Blue Devils have advanced to four Final Fours as a No. 2 seed, winning the National Championship in 1991.

Blue Devils Vs. The Tourney Field -
Duke has played 19 games against teams in the 2009 NCAA Tournament field. Duke has an 13-6 (.684) record vs. teams that have reached the NCAA Tournament in 2009.
 
Duke In The NCAA Tournament Since 2000 -
 Duke has played in the second-most NCAA Tournament games (31) since 2000. The Blue Devils’ 23 wins are the second-most in that span as well.
 
Krzyzewski Looks To Build On NCAA Victories Record -
Mike Krzyzewski has 71 NCAA Tournament victories to his credit. On the strength of a 63-55 win over Mississippi State on March 20, 2005, Coach K passed North Carolina’s Dean Smith for the most NCAA Tournament wins by a coach in college basketball history. Here is a look at the all-time NCAA Tournament victory leaders among coaches:
 
Coach K In The NCAA Tournament -
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski has enjoyed tremendous success in the NCAA Tournament throughout his career. His .772 winning percentage (71-21) is the highest among all active coaches with a minimum of 40 NCAA Tournament games. His 71 NCAA Tournament victories rank first all-time, while his 92 tournament games is tied for first. Coach K is one of only four coaches in history to win three or more NCAA Tournament titles. Here is a look at Krzyzewski’s standing among all coaches in the NCAA Tournament:

Duke is Sweet 16 bound after defeating Texas 74-69

NCAA Texas Duke BasketballThe Duke Blue Devils are Sweet 16 bound after holding on to a 74-69 victory over Texas on Saturday evening.   Duke made some big plays down the stretch, starting with a Kyle Singler tip in that gave the Devils a two point lead.

Shortly thereafter, Singler was called for his fifth foul with 1:07 left in the game.  Gary Johnson stepped to the line and sank two free throws to tie the game at 69 apiece.  On the other end, Nolan Smith scrapped for a rebound off a miss and was fouled.

Smith, who ended the game with 11 points and a team-high 3 assists, calmly drained both of his free throws to give Duke a 71-69 lead.

The Blue Devils then leaned on their defense and kept the Long Horns from scoring, thanks to an incredible save.  Jon Scheyer made a save in front of the Texas bench, making a backhanded pass with his left hand all in the same motion.  That save was an almost perfect toss down court and Elliot Williams battled for the ball and was fouled by Johnson.

While Williams missed the two free tosses, a mad scramble ended with the ball in Gerald Henderson's hands.  "G" was fouled as he attempted to get a pass off while on his knees and that allowed him to seal the game with two free throws to give Duke a 74-69 win.

Henderson had a game-high 24 points and 6 rebounds, and his play helped Duke push their season record to 30-6.

Kyle Singler chipped in with 17 points and 7 rebounds and Jon Scheyer added 13 points to go with 3 steals.

Oddly, the Blue Devils were out-rebounded and outscored by 12 points in the paint, not to mention their bench had just 13 points to the Horns 24.  Duke didn't even have a single point on the fast break, but they did what it takes to win.

One of those things was the fact that Duke protected the ball, making just 9 turnovers.  Duke was also solid from the free throw stripe, but hitting 7 of 14 three pointers could have been the key.

The Blue Devils also held A.J. Abrams in check, not to mention harassing Texas' three-point shooters and holding them to 5 of 22.

Duke will return to Durham before departing for Boston, Massachusetts where they will play Villanova to see which team will advance to the final eight game on Saturday.

Stay tuned for more on this game and the NCAA Tournament from Blue Devil Nation.  And yes, I got lucky with my pick of Duke 75-70, missing each team's score by a single point.  Everybody gets lucky every now and then.

The road to the Sweet 16 runs through Greensboro – Texas vs Duke Preview

kterviewIf past history proves to be correct, then Duke may well advance to the Sweet 16 with their fourth win against no losses versus Rick Barnes and Texas.  On the other hand, if recent history is at work , then the Blue Devils may take the short trip home to Durham, once again saddened by an early exit.

Duke is now one of three ACC schools left standing after the first round, while Texas is among the undefeated teams from the Big 12.  Let, Duke or UNC go down today and rants of the ACC is overrated will dominate the air waves in the coming week.  If both go down, it will be known as Black Saturday, which mirrors Black Sunday where Duke and UNC lost on the same day to definitive underdogs.

Make no mistake that Texas is a formidable opponent, which has three kids who can rebound with anybody.  They may have the most explosive player on the court with A.J. Abrams, who nailed a bushel of three pointers in the Long Horns easy opening round win over Minnesota.

Abrams comes into the game averaging 26.0 ppg and he will likley make or break the Blue Devils or should I say the Blue Devils may make or break him with their defense.  The bottom line is that Duke will look to slwo him down and not give him any more open looks than necessary.

Texas inserted three guards into their lineup and have since been playing solid basketball.  The pre season top ten team fell just short of expectations, but their talent level is at, well, a high level. 

Where Texas rally flourishes is on the boards.  Dexter Pittman is a 6-10, 298 pound behemoth who continues to come into his own.  Pittman will be a difficult match up for Duke who will not be able to double team him but so often in that Damion Jones and Gary Johnson are athletic and probably both better players than Pittman.

Jones averages 15.2 ppg and 9.1 rebounds and is all over the place.  You may also remember Gary Johnson for Duke once took a long look at him.  Johnson sat out one season with heart problems. but he plays bigger than his 6-6 height and has good hops and the ability to do damage inside.

Duke will count on Elliot Williams, Nolan Smith and whoever switches to keep Texas from being able to dish to their bigs, which despite Abrams is the strength of their team.  The Blue Devils will very much need some good minutes from Brian Zoubek and Lance Thomas and as always will need to keep their true front court star, Kyle Singler out of foul trouble.

The X-Factor could be Gerald Henderson, a player capable of turning any game.  However, Henderson will face some athletic wings which will not allow him to drive like he is accustomed to unless Duke finds season in the defense which will most likely come from pushing the basketball up the floor when possible.

It is very important for Duke to hit their three point shots in this contest and canning the free throws wouldn't hurt.  Coach Rick Barnes is 4-8 versus Krzyzewski, but their are grumblings among some fans that Texas is due.

One more intangible, will be that UNC fans are likely to make this seem like a road game, despite their distaste for Rick Barnes, a story for another day.  This may allow Texas to reach deep and or gain momentum for runs, so Duke will have to focus on forty minutes of basketball.

While anything can happen in a game, if Duke is shooting the ball well from the three point stripe, I expect that they will fight through the recent bugaboo where they flamed out early.

This is a different Duke team, but still one developing it's psych.  Barnes expects Duke to come out hard early, but the Devils will not be allowed to get too jacked up by Krzyzewski who knows the final score is what counts and that the game will likely have some runs by both teams.

So, the pick here is Duke 75 Texas 70 in a hard fought contest.