Monthly Archives: August 2009

Duke Football

Duke QB’s pace Saturday’s scrimmage

1DURHAM, N.C. -- Quarterbacks Thaddeus Lewis, Sean Renfree and Sean Schroeder combined to complete 25-of-39 passes for 240 yards to highlight Duke's 65-snap scrimmage on Saturday afternoon at Wallace Wade Stadium.
"There were some nice plays made offensively and there were some big hits and some nice plays made defensively," Duke head coach David Cutcliffe said following the scrimmage.  "It is going to be a great tape for us to study.  One area in particular that I'm interested in right now is where we are with our kicking game.  I was pleased with Thad (Lewis).  He's been hurt but looked somewhat full speed today and I really thought he did a nice job making plays."
Renfree threw for a team-high 93 yards by hitting on 11-of-18 throws while Lewis was seven-of-12 for 86 yards.  Schroeder was seven-of-nine through the air for 61 yards with one touchdown and one interception.  Schroeder's touchdown pass covered 10 yards and went to sophomore wide receiver Preston Scott.  Freshman running back Desmond Scott led all receivers with six catches for 39 yards while rookie wideout Conner Vernon had three grabs for 42 yards.
"I thought our passing  game, to the eye, was more crisp than what it was with the ones and the twos," Cutcliffe stated.
The Blue Devils had 12 completions cover 10 or more yards on the day.
On the ground, redshirt sophomore running back Cameron Jones picked up a scrimmage-best 49 yards on just three attempts while sophomore running back Jay Hollingsworth rushed four times for 28 yards including a one-yard scoring run.  Redshirt freshman Patrick Kurunwune contributed 32 yards on 10 carries while Desmond Scott added four carries for 25 yards.
"Desmond was busy, and was good," Cutcliffe said.  "He was more consistent than he's been and looked more comfortable with his assignments.  It was a good growth day for him."
Defensively, sophomore safety Matt Daniels caused and recovered one fumble while redshirt sophomore cornerback Colin Jones registered one interception.  Freshman defensive end Brandon Putnam chipped in one quarterback sack and one pass breakup.
Junior kicker Will Snyderwine booted a 27-yard field goal and successfully converted his lone PAT attempt.
Duke opens the 2009 season at home against Richmond on September 5.  Kickoff at Wallace Wade Stadium is set for 7 p.m.  Season and single-game tickets may be purchased online at GoDuke.com or by calling the Duke Athletic Ticket Office at 1-877-375-DUKE.
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing: Sean Renfree 11-18, 93 yards; Thaddeus Lewis 7-12, 86 yards; Sean Schroder 7-9, 61 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Cameron Jones 3-49; Patrick Kurunwune 10-32; Jay Hollingsworth 4-28
Receiving: Desmond Scott 6-39; Conner Vernon 3-42; Donovan Varner 2-32; Brandon King 2-32
SCORING SUMMARY
Jay Hollingsworth 1 run (Will Snyderwine kick)
Will Snyderwine 27 FG
Preston Scott 10 pass from Sean Schroeder (Sean Schroeder pass failed)
Duke Football

Around the ACC: Basketball and Football updates

DukeWith Mychal Parker's verbal commitment, Coach Gary Williams is putting together some talent with the Class of 2010. Parker, ranked number 55 by scout.com, joins Terrance Ross (62) and Terrell Stoglin. Maryland is still in the running for Tobias Harris, C.J. Leslie, Roscoe Smith and Damontre Harris.

This Fayetteville Observer listing of the Top 50 prep football players in North Carolina is from last week, but a quick look at the names and schools they are considering shows the Duke Blue Devils continuing to improve their standing with in-state talent. Ten of the fifty players are either considering Duke or have already committed to the Blue Devils.  Go Duke has posted a synopsis of today's public scrimmage.  Freshman running back Desmond Scott had a nice day.

Boston College ran a 100 play practice that featured a sputtering offense. This Boston Globe article states, "Fumbles, sacks, and dropped passes were all on the play chart." The article also contains a breakdown of the ACC's bowl game deals.

In Atlanta, Coach Paul Johnson, in discussing Georgia Tech's Friday scrimmage, stated, "There were some guys who already took the weekend off before we got out there." This AJC article, has a brief look back at Duke's 2003 victory over the Ramblin' Wreck.

Injuries along the defensive line are becoming a concern for the Miami Hurricanes. Defensive ends Eric Moncur, Gavin Hardin, and Adewale Ojomo are all limited. The details are available from the Miami Herald.

Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden is optimistic about the upcoming season. In this article, from the Tallahassee Democrat, Bowden asks, "How close are we being to where we were in the '90s?" Click the link to read his answer.

Clemson wide receiver Jacoby Ford has been named to the Fred Biletnikoff watch list.

Duke Basketball Recruiting News

Barnes and Irving shine in Boost Mobile Elite 24 game

Harrison Barnes
Harrison Barnes

(For complete coverage, join BDN Premium for coming interviews with Irving and Rivers)
ESPN RISE held the fourth annual Boost Mobile Elite 24 game tonight at the Gaucho’s Gym, Bronx, N.Y., after a two-hour rain delay forced the game to its alternate site from the planned Rucker Park location (where the game was played its first three years).  The game featured 24 of the nation’s top prep players, regardless of grade or shoe affiliation, from across the country; Boost Mobile Elite 24 players are selected by a committee of high school basketball experts: ESPN RISE Magazine, ESPN Scouts, Inc. and other leading talent evaluators.
Before a standing-room-only crowd of approximately 1,800, that included Celtics Coach Doc Rivers and New York Knicks’ Wilson Chandler, the Skip to My Lou/White Team, coached by Celtics’ Rajon Rondo and Kings’ Tyreke Evans, defeated The Goat/Orange Team coached by Timberwolves’ Kevin Love and Buck’s Brandon Jennings 133 to 120.  Doron Lamb and Tobias Harris stood out on the winning team garnering co-MVP titles; Josh Selby and C.J. Leslie were co-MVPs for The Goat/Orange Team. Skip to My Lou’s Doron Lamb was the game’s high scorer with 23 points; he also had six total rebounds and five assists.  The Goat’s C.J. Leslie had a double/double with 15 points and 11 total rebounds; he had two assists.
BOX SCORE
Name High School Pos. Class Rank Score
Austin Rivers Winter Park (Winter Park, Fla.) PG 2011 No. 2, ESPNU Super 60 9
CJ Leslie Word of God (Raleigh, N.C.) PF 2010 No. 9,  ESPNU 100 15
Cory Joseph Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) PG 2010 No. 30, ESPNU 100 2
DaJuan Coleman Jamesville-DeWitt (DeWitt, N.Y.) PF 2012 No. 1, ESPNU Terrific 25 0
Dion Waiters Life Center (Burlington, N.J.) SG 2010 No. 14, ESPNU 100 15
Doron Lamb Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) SG 2010 No. 33, ESPNU 100 23
Harrison Barnes Ames (Ames, Iowa) SG 2010 No. 1, ESPNU 100 18
Jared Sullinger Northland (Columbus, Ohio) PF 2010 No. 2, ESPNU 100 8
Joe Jackson White Station (Memphis, Tenn.) PG 2010 No. 21, ESPNU 100 10
Josh Selby Lake Clifton (Baltimore, Md.) PG 2010 No. 8, ESPNU 100 18
Josh Smith Kentwood (Covington, Wash.) C 2010 No. 10, ESPNU 100 4
Kendall Marshall Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.) PG 2010 No. 19,  ESPNU 100 2
Kyrie Irving St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) PG 2010 No. 6, ESPNU 100 16
Myck Kabongo St. Benedict’s (Newark, N.J.) PG 2011 No. 14, ESPNU Super 60 16
Perry Ellis Wichita Heights (Wichita, Kan.) PF 2012 No. 2, ESPNU Terrific 25 2
Phil Pressey Episcopal School (Dallas, Texas) PG 2010 No. 31, ESPNU 100 4
Rakeem Christmas Academy of the New Church (Bryn Athyn, Pa.) PF 2011 No. 13, ESPNU Super 60 6
Roscoe Smith Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) SF 2010 No. 16, in ESPNU 100 22
Terrence Jones Jefferson (Portland, Ore.) SF 2010 No. 15, ESPNU 100 8
Terrence Ross Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.) SF 2010 No. 39, ESPNU 100 2
Tobias Harris Half Hollow Hills West (Dix Hills, N.Y.) PF 2010 No. 7, ESPNU 100 20
Tony Wroten Jr. Garfield (Seattle, Wash.) PG 2011 No. 5, ESPNU Super 60 9
Tristan Thompson Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) PF 2010 No. 11,  ESPNU 100 6
Will Barton Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.) SG 2010 No. 5,  ESPNU 100 18

**A complete Box Score is attached.
Due to the rain delay and change of venue, the tape delayed telecast of the game, scheduled to air on ESPNU today, Saturday, August, 22 was canceled.  The ESPN RISE All-American Slam Dunk Contest was also canceled due to the weather.
Former Rucker player/coach and New York Post NBA columnist Peter Vecsey was a co-coach for The Goat and Brooklyn’s Lincoln High School coach Dwayne “Tiny” Morton co-coach for winning team Skip to My Lou.
The Boost Mobile Elite 24 game was the culmination of a three-day event which featured a late-night run at Madison Square Garden, a community service project at the Madison Square Boys & Girls Club (Bronx N.Y.), media day: panel discussion, practice session and scrimmage, and game.
Eight of the players have committed to colleges: Dion Waiters to Syracuse, Terrence Ross to Maryland, Myck Kabongo to Texas, Austin Rivers to Florida, Jared Sullinger to Ohio State, Kendall Marshall to North Carolina, Tristan Thompson to Texas, and Will Barton to Memphis.
Five of the players in the 2009 game also played in the 2008 game: Dion Waiters, Doron Lamb, Josh Smith, Jared Sullinger and Tristan Thompson.
The 2009 Boost Mobile Elite 24 consists of players that represent 16 states: Florida – 1; Iowa – 1; Kansas – 1; Maryland – 2; Nevada – 2; New Hampshire – 1; New Jersey – 3; New York – 2; North Carolina – 1; Ohio – 1; Oregon – 1;  Pennsylvania – 1; Tennessee – 1; Texas – 1; Virginia – 3; and Washington – 2.
About Boost Mobile Elite 24
Launched in 2006 by RISE Magazine, the Boost Mobile Elite 24 is the only basketball event in the country to feature the top 24 high school male basketball players regardless of class year or shoe affiliation.  Played at New York’s famed Rucker Park, Boost Mobile Elite 24 touts alumni that include NBA players Michael Beasley, Jerryd Bayless and Kevin Love, Brandon Jennings, Tyreke Evans and Jrue Holiday and college bound Lance Stephenson, Derrick Favors and John Wall.  The game has featured guest coaches that include current and former NBA stars Chauncey Billups, Kenny Anderson, Ben Gordon, Jason Kidd and Baron Davis; and its inaugural game was the subject of the documentary “Gunnin’ for that #1 Spot”, which debuted at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival, and was produced by Beastie Boy Adam Yauch and his production company Oscilloscope.
About ESPN RISE
ESPN RISE represents ESPN’s commitment to engage and elevate high school athletes by providing them with recognition, resources, information and inspiration that can motivate them to improve their skills and achieve their goals to be the best athletes they can.  ESPN RISE assets include ESPN RISE, GIRL, Hardwood and Gridiron magazines; ESPNRISE.com, Hoopgurlz.com and DyeStat.com; and more than 160 high school events including Elite 11, Elite 24, ESPN RISE Games, ESPN RISE National High School Invitational, Faster to First, Area Code Baseball and Nike Combines/Nike SPARQ Mini Camps.  ESPN RISE is uniquely positioned to provide high school athletes and the company’s core fans with compelling high school sports content across all ESPN platforms.
(Printed with permission from ESPN Rise, see web site links for further details)

Duke Football

Quick Hitter – Lee Butler prepares for his sophomore season

Butler defends the ball in practice - BDN Photo
Butler defends in practice - BDN Photo

Do you feel more comfortable going into your second season under Cutcliffe?

I feel a lot more comfortable.  I'm better prepared and stronger than I was and I run to the ball better

Your brother Lex  joins the team this season.  What's it like to have him practicing and playing with you?

It's not a major difference because I am a sophomore and on another side of campus.  I was use to just calling him at home, but now that he's here.  I can just go over and talk to him.

Do you still remind him that's he's a freshman?

Yeah, yeah.  I tell him that all the time. [smiling]

Whats it been like to up against freshman wideouts Conner Vernon and Tyree Watkins?

They're not guys that you can just go up to the line and beat down.  They are going to give you some movement at the line and are pretty good athletes.

Are you watching film and prepping for Richmond?

We're starting to work a little bit on their schemes.  We'll turn our attention to them completely very soon.

Duke Football

Meet the Devils Day and scrimmage this Saturday

BDN Photo
BDN Photo

DURHAM, N.C. -- Changes have been made to the Duke football program's Meet the Blue Devils Day scheduled for Saturday afternoon at Wallace Wade Stadium.

The festivities will begin at 3 p.m. with inflatable games and live music on the stadium concourse.  The Blue Devils will participate in a scrimmage beginning at 4 p.m., with head coach David Cutcliffe speaking to the crowd following the scrimmage.  Fans also will have the opportunity to enter raffle drawings to win prizes.
The event and prizes are sponsored by Andy’s Burgers Shakes and Fries, Delta Air Lines, Duke Federal Credit Union, Duke ISP Sports, Duke Stores, Durham Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Gatorade, GoDuke The Magazine, Herald-Sun and Time Warner Cable.

The Blue Devils open the season at home versus Richmond on Saturday, September 5.  Kickoff at Wallace Wade Stadium is set for 7 p.m.  Season and single-game tickets may be purchased online at www.GoDuke.com or by calling the Duke Athletic Ticket Office at 877-375-DUKE.