Blue Devil Nation Premium sat down to talk with Brian Zoubek where we discussed the Wisconsin loss and how the team bounced back with a victory over St. John's. BDN will continue to bring locker room reports after all home games and some road affairs all season long. We strive to get comments you will not hear elsewhere in an effort to bring yet another benefit to our subscribers.
[private] Just press [/private] play -
Andre Dawkins’ biological mother, Tamara Hill, and sister Lacey Dawkins were involved in a multiple car cash on Saturday, Dec. 5 in West Virginia on their way to the Duke-St. John’s basketball game. Lacey passed away on Saturday afternoon as a result of injuries suffered in the accident.
Here is a comment from Coach K on the tragedy -
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Andre’s sister, Lacey,” said head coach Mike Krzyzewski. “Andre is a terrific young man and his family is very important to him. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Dawkins’ family during this trying time.”
A note from BDN - Please allow the Dawkins family their privacy during this tragic event. We learned of this news on Saturday but felt it best that the family announce this on their own terms. Now that it has been officially addressed, we reiterate that the entire Blue Devil Nation sends forth prayers and well wishes. You are and will always be "our' Andre Dawkins.
Blue Devil Nation was once again on the scene after Duke defeated St. John's 80-71 on Saturday afternoon. One of the players who had a big game was Lance Thomas. The senior forward took the time to answer some questions which you can hear by simply pressing play -
The staff and membership of the Blue Devil Nation are deeply saddened by the news of the tragic loss of Lacey Dawkins, Andre's sister, in an automobile accident this weekend. News reports indicate that the accident occurred on I-77 in Pax, West Virginia on Saturday and that his mother was also in the car, but there has been no update as to her condition at this time.
We join the entire Duke community in sending our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to Andre and his family.
This edition of our running high school coverage includes updates on committed players Josh Hairston and Tyler Thornton as well as a game summary of the Findlay Prep – Christ School game, which was played at the Marshall County Hoopfest. Analysis and commentary on Duke recruiting target Marshall Plumlee rounds out the coverage. [private]
Josh Hairston and Tyler Thornton have been named to the initial All-Met Watch at the Washington Post. Hairston has transferred from Courtland High School to Montrose Christian for his senior season due to a desire to play against top tier talent. Thornton is back at Gonzaga and looking to lead the Eagles to a Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship. Last season, DeMatha defeated Gonzaga, 62 – 61, in the championship game.
Quinn Cook, a junior at DeMatha, is another familiar name on the list as is UNC commit Kendall Marshall of O’Connell High School and Maryland commit Terrence Ross who plays alongside Hairston at Montrose Christian.
The Washington Post has a detailed article posted on Hairston. Montrose Christian was scheduled to play their first game of the season on Saturday against Washington Lee High School, but the game was postponed. Montrose Christian is scheduled to be in action on Tuesday evening.
Gonzaga has blown away their first two opponents this year. Thornton scored 20 points in a 97 – 46 defeat of St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes and four points in a 90 – 32 defeat of Don Bosco Cristo Rey. The Eagles will be back in action on Monday evening against Carroll High who has started the season 2 - 0.
Christ School took on national powerhouse Findlay Prep on Friday evening at the Marshall County Hoopfest. I watched the game on the Internet via streaming video at ihigh.com. Findlay Prep led 21 – 16 at the end of the first quarter as they were able to get out in transition and score. Christ School kept the score close with accurate outside shooting.
In the second quarter, the Greenies took the lead on a pair of free throws going up 29 - 28. But Findlay Prep quickly responded and the first half ended with Findlay Prep leading 38 – 35.
Findlay Prep opened the 3rd Quarter with an 8 – 0 run before Christ School made two free throws to make the score 46 – 37. The teams continued to go at each other and the pivotal 3rd Quarter ended with Findlay Prep leading 59 – 47. Findlay Prep scored the first eight and last six points of the quarter.
Christ School fought back in the 4th Quarter via the 3-point basket, knocking down five, during the last eight minutes of the game, but in the end Findlay Prep was too much for the Greenies. The final score was 80 – 64.
Marshall Plumlee was largely ineffective in the low post as Findlay Prep fronted him and denied the entry pass throughout the contest. Plumlee scored two points and grabbed seven rebounds. Findlay Prep features Tristan Thompson (6’9” 215) who is the number four ranked player in the Class of 2010 and Godwin Okonji (6’8” 225) who is averaging 10 points and 10 rebounds per game. Like his brothers, Marshall runs the court well and is active on the boards. However, he missed two tip-in opportunities on the offensive glass. Just a junior, Marshall Plumlee needs a lot of work in the weight room over the next two years.
I do not want to make too much out of his performance in this game as it was the first time I have ever watched Marshall Plumlee play and he was up against physically gifted low post players in Thompson and Okonji. His 7’0” frame will fill out through natural growth and a workout regimen, while his ability to get up and down the court is already a solid asset.
On Saturday afternoon, Christ School faced off against Grace Prep Academy. The Greenies won easily 80 – 62. Plumlee scored nine points and had six rebounds.
On December 2nd, the Greenies dominated Asheville High School 104 – 48. Marshall Plumlee scored 10 points, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked eight shots in the game. [/private]
Durham, N.C. - Nothing cures a loss like a win and Duke got one today over a pesky St. John's team by the score of 80-71 pushing their record to 7-1 on the young season. During the post=game interviews it was clear that the residual effect from a close loss to Wisconsin still lingered.
In fact, Kyle Singler was adamant in not addressing the loss, wanting instead to concentrate on today's win. Singler once again led the Blue Devils with 17 points to go with his 8 rebounds and 4 steals. He was helped by the rest of the fab three in Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith. Scheyer didn't shoot the ball particularly well but still managed 15 points. More importantly, he dished a team-high 6 assists without turning the ball over a single time.
Nolan Smith was banged up after the Wisconsin game, but many of his 16 points came during key stretches in the game. But the bright spot for Duke was the play of seniors Lance Thomas and Brian Zoubek, who combined for 24 rebounds and 15 points. Both struggled against the Badgers but served notice that it was but one game.
Duke had several runs in the game, the biggest being in the first half where they scored 17 straight points after trailing 15-14. There was a second half run of 12-2 as well. Despite those runs, St. John's would never roll over.
It should be noted that the Red Storm also lost Justin Burrell to injury early in the game and Anthony Mason Jr. was out with a hamstring injury. Duke defended D.J. Kennedy well, holding him to 2 points before he got into a groove and finished with a team-high 18 points for St. John's, who suffered their first loss of the season.
The Duke team was visibly drained after the game where Krzyzewski said his team got back to Durham at 4 A.M. after the loss to the Badgers during the Big Ten - ACC Challenge.
While the win wasn't a work of art, it was just what Duke needed to settle in before a much needed ten day break where the team will take exams.
Stay tuned for the locker room report and interviews from Nolan Smith, Kyle Singler, Brian Zoubek and Lance Thomas.
Tidbits - Coach Krzyzewski exhorted the Cameron Crazies before the game and spoke of getting them in the spirit in order to lift his team. It worked well, for Cameron was good today.
- Nolan Smith has scored in double figures in every game he has played this season.
- Scheyer is shooting 90 plus percent from the free throw stripe this season and his 5 for 5 made attempts makes his season total 38 of 42. Again, no turnover today for Scheyer.
- Miles Plumlee's block brings his total to a team-high 12 for the season.
- Duke extended its non-conference home winning streak to 73 straight.
- Duke has not lost a game in December since Michigan in 1996.
- Singler 4 steals was his personal season high.
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