Yearly Archives: 2009

Duke Basketball

Gardner Webb at Duke – Official Game Notes

Miles and Zoubs face one another in practice - BDN Photo
Miles and Zoubs face one another in practice - BDN Photo

Game 9

[8 AP/8 Coaches] Duke (7-1) vs. Gardner-Webb (3-4)

Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009  •  7:00 p.m.  •  espn2

Cameron Indoor Stadium (9,314)  •  Durham, N.C.

The Opening Tip

Duke (7-1), ranked eighth in the AP poll and ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll, faces unranked Gardner-Webb (3-4) on Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday’s contest will be aired by espn2 with Mike Patrick and Len Elmore calling the action.

The Last Time Out

Duke posted an 80-71 win over St. John’s on Saturday, Dec. 5 in their last outing. The Blue Devils jumped out to a 40-24 lead at the half and finished the game with five double-figure scorers.

Junior Kyle Singler led the way with 17 points, eight rebounds, three assists and four steals.

The starting guard tandem of Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith combined for 31 points, nine assists and zero turnovers in 70 minutes of action. Smith had 16 points for his sixth straight game with 10 or more points, while Scheyer had 15 points and a team-high six assists. Scheyer has now played turnover free basketball in five games this season.

Seniors Lance Thomas and Brian Zoubek provided punch off the bench with 11 points each. Thomas also matched a game-high with eight rebounds, while Zoubek added seven boards. The duo finished the game 9-of-12 (.750) from the field and 4-of-5 (.800) from the foul line.

The Blue Devils outrebounded the Red Storm, 41-31, including a 17-8 edge on the offensive glass. Duke converted its 17 offensive rebounds into 17 second chance points. Thomas led the way with four offensive rebounds, while Zoubek and Scheyer each grabbed three.

Numbers Game

l Duke has won 33 straight home games against unranked opponents, dating back to a 68-67 loss to Florida State on Feb. 4, 2007.

l The Blue Devils have won a current NCAA-best 73 consecutive non-conference home games.

l Duke has won 46 straight December home games, dating back to a 62-61 loss to Michigan on Dec. 8, 1996.

l The Blue Devils are 157-26 in the month of December under Coach K. Duke is 49-4 since the 1999-2000 season in December contests.

l The Blue Devils have won 12 straight games against teams currently in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Duke is 15-4 all-time against the Atlantic Sun.

l Duke is ranked No. 1 in the latest RPI (ratings percentage index), according to CollegeRPI.com and Sagarin. The Blue Devils’ strength of schedule is also ranked first overall by CollegeRPI.com.

l Duke leads the ACC and ranks third nationally in free throw percentage at .798 (134-of-168). Five Blue Devil regulars (Andre Dawkins, Nolan Smith, Jon Scheyer, Kyle Singler & Lance Thomas) are shooting 80.0 percent or better from the charity stripe.

l Senior Jon Scheyer has led Duke in assists in all eight games this season. He ranks second nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (8.4:1) and has played five turnover-free games on the year.

l Junior Nolan Smith has scored 10 or more points in six straight games to match a career-best string of double figure scoring games. He is averaging a team-high 17.2 points per game, an +8.8 ppg. scoring jump from a year ago.

l Duke is the only team in the ACC with more than two players ranked in the top 10 in scoring. Nolan Smith (third, 17.2), Kyle Singler (fourth, 17.1) and Jon Scheyer (eighth, 15.8) combine to score 50.1 of Duke's 82.0 points per game (61.1 percent).

l Jon Scheyer has reached double figures in scoring in 20 straight games. He has scored 10 or more points in 84 of 112 career games.

l Junior Kyle Singler has made at least one three-point ifeld goal in 23 consecutive games. He currenlty ranks 14th at Duke with 134 three-point field goals in 79 career games.

l Andre Dawkins is second in the ACC in three-point field goal percentage (.513) and tied for second in threes per game (2.5).

Duke Basketball

The Runnin’ Bulldogs are Headed to Town

DukeGardner-Webb (3-4) has dropped four straight games leading up to their arrival at Cameron Indoor Stadium to face Duke (7-1). The Runnin’ Bulldogs have been plagued by turnovers as they average 22 per game. An inability to take care of the basketball does not bode well for a team playing against the Blue Devils. Duke has forced their opponents to turnover the ball an average of 13.8 times per game this season, which equates to a +2.88 turnover margin for the Blue Devils.

Duke and Gardner-Webb have one common opponent this season the University of Charlotte. On November 17, Duke defeated Charlotte 101 – 59, while on December 12, Charlotte defeated Gardner-Webb 95 - 66.

Gardner-Webb’s leading scorer is Grayson Flittner (6’0” 200) at 12.3 points per game. Flittner is a dangerous 3-point shooter. While he is averaging only 37.3 percent from behind the arc, the senior tied a Dean E. Smith Center record with nine made 3-pointers earlier this season, while scoring 32 points, during a 93 – 72 loss to the Tar Heels. Duke does not desire for Flittner to tie any Cameron Indoor Stadium records in this game.

Auryn MacMillan (6’8” 235), another senior, is the Runnin’ Bulldogs center and averages 9.3 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. MacMillan had a season high 14 rebounds against UNC-Asheville on December 4th.

At forward, sophomore Joshua Henley (6’3” 215) averages double-digit rebounds with 10.3 per game. It would be easy to dismiss Henley as too short to make a difference on the glass against the tall Blue Devils; however, he pulled down 10 rebounds in the game against Carolina’s big and talented frontcourt.

A pair of six foot guards complete Gardner-Webb’s starting lineup. Senior C.J. Hailey averages 9.3 points per game but he also turns the ball over an average of 2.7 times per contest. Freshman Brian McNair averages 5.8 points and 3 turnovers per game.

Gardner-Webb plays a deep rotation with eleven players averaging double digit minutes. Stefon Johnson (6’6” 215) and Jonathan Moore (6’4” 190) average 17 and 13.5 minutes per game respectively, off the bench. Moore is the team’s fourth leading scorer at 7.8 points per game. Senior Anton Silver (6’3 175) averages 5.8 points per game in just 10 minutes of playing time.

The keys to the game will be:

1. Duke must turn up the defensive heat on Gardner-Webb. As previously stated, the Runnin’ Bulldogs are turnover prone and Duke must facilitate Gardner-Webb’s generosity by pressing the ball and converting turnovers into points. While this edition of the Blue Devils does not pressure the ball to the degree past Blue Devil squads have, Gardner-Webb is a team Duke should pressure hard and often.

2. In the half court, the Blue Devils should look to pound the ball into the post. Duke has a significant size and strength advantage and they need to exploit that advantage. This is a contest in which Duke’s big guys should dominate the Runnin’ Bulldogs.

3. Finally, Duke must avoid overconfidence. Gardner-Webb has neither the size nor talent to beat the Blue Devils. However, this game is the type of game that sets up the opponent to shock the World, such as when Gardner-Webb defeated the Kentucky Wildcats in former coach Billy Gillispie’s second game in Lexington.

Gardner-Webb will bring a deep and experienced team into Cameron Indoor Stadium and I’m confident they will play with grit and determination. However, in the end, the Blue Devils are a much superior team and will send the Runnin’ Bulldogs back to Boiling Springs with a fifth straight loss.

Duke Basketball, Duke Basketball Recruiting News

High School Hoops 2010 Edition No. 5

Tyler Thornton 3This edition of our running feature on high school basketball action starts off in our nation's capital with coverage of the D.C. Classic. The Gonzaga Eagles featuring future Blue Devil Tyler Thornton are hosting the tournament. Also participating is perennial California powerhouse Mater Dei the alma mater of current Villanova and ex-Blue Devil Taylor King and Carolina's Travis and David Wear. [private]

This week’s coverage begins with links to a tournament preview and quarterfinal game results. The preview has information on all eight teams. In the quarterfinals, Tyler Thornton scored 18 points in Gonzaga’s 83 – 69 victory over Jesuit (Dallas) TX. Gonzaga utilized pressure defense to spark their running game and opened the game up in the third quarter.

In the semifinals, Gonzaga faced Calvert Hall (Baltimore) and came away with a 66 – 51 victory. Tyler Thornton scored 16 points and Gonzaga once again used a blistering defense to lead from start to finish.

The Championship Game featured Gonzaga versus Mater Dei. Tyler Thornton scored 18 points and earned MVP honors as Gonzaga used an 11 – 0 run in the fourth quarter to come from behind and win the championship 62 – 59. Thornton turned a critical steal into a coast to coast basket to improve Gonzaga’s lead to 61 - 57.

Josh Hairston scored 10 points and Montrose Christian cruised to a 74 – 25 victory over Liberty. On Saturday, Hairston scored 17 points as Montrose defeated St. Mary’s Ryken 74 – 59.

Quincy Miller scored 25 points in the opening game of the Best of the Midwest Shootout to lead Quality Education Academy to an 87 – 82 victory over Brehm Prep.

Roscoe Smith recorded a double-double of 21 points and 13 rebounds as Oak Hill Academy defeated Carolina Forest 100 – 52. Coach Krzyzewski was in attendance.

Winter Park High School is ranked # 3 in the Orlando Sentinel's Super 16. The Orlando Sentinel has another Austin Rivers feature article posted. On Saturday, Rivers led all scorers with 18 points as Winter Park defeated Montverde Academy 55 -52 in the Hoops with a Heart Classic. Monteverde was ranked # 1 in the Super 16.

Christ School trounced Asheville HS 70 – 35. Marshall Plumlee scored seven points for the Greenies.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has a Greater Metro Conference preview article posted. This is the conference which includes J.P. Tokoto and Menomonee Falls HS. In Friday night action, Tokoto scored 14 points as Menomonee Falls defeated West Allis Hale 72 – 47.

Trey Zeigler scored 21 points and pulled in eight rebounds, but Mt Pleasant was routed, 65 – 38, by Saginaw Arthur Hill.

Looking at the week ahead, Gonzaga and Montrose Christian will be in Honolulu for the Iolani Classic starting on Thursday. On Friday, Christ School will be participating in the Chick-fil-A Classic and Winter Park will be at the City of Palms. [/private]

BDN Premium Articles

Duke Basketball is hitting recruiting trail during the break

Roscoe Smith is a player Duke is targeting - BDN Photo
Roscoe Smith is a player Duke is targeting - BDN Photo

The Duke Men's Basketball team will have been off for ten days before facing Gardner Webb but that doesn't mean the staff  hasn't been hard at work on the recruiting trail.  As I said in an earlier post Duke will attend Roscoe Smith's game [private] tomorrow evening.  Nothing has changed in that they are looking to get him on campus.  With him playing for Oak Hill, this may or may not happen soon in that their team plays a lot of games so at this time nothing is etched in stone.  Duke remains very much in the race for his services.

Duke also visited Trey Zeigler this past week and they have been keeping tabs on this kid for over a year now.  Think versatility when you talk about this swing player.  Michigan and Michigan State join UCLA and others who have offered this athletic product.

Staff members made it up to Josh Hairston's game this week and Josh has seemingly made the right choice of schools for his game is visibly improving.

The Devils also took in Tyler Thornton this week as well and you can hear of all these players latest news by following Bob Green's High School Hoops Report which is becoming a popular premium update for members.

While I fully expect no real action to take place on the Austin Rivers front for a while Duke also made sure they took in one of his games during the break and Rivers is making it no secret that the Blue Devils are firmly in the picture.  While he remains a UF commit, he will be visiting a Duke regular season contest.  That game has yet to be determined.

As for Tashawn Mabry from Rocky Mount High School he was of course at the St. John's game with his family and they seemed to have had a great time.  Coach K has never seen the kid play and Nate James is the lead assistant to date with Mabry.  Very, very early in the process.

BDN Premium will be on hand for some coming holiday tournament events and we'll finalize that schedule by next week.  More to come ... [/private]

Duke Basketball, Duke Basketball Recruiting News

High School Hoops 2010 Edition No. 4

Austin RiversBlue Devil Nation continues its season long coverage of high school basketball with updates on Austin Rivers, Josh Hairston, Tyler Thornton, J.P. Tokoto, Trey Zeigler, and Marshall Plumlee. The High School Hoops articles will be a weekly feature at Blue Devil Nation as they were the past two years; Edition No. 4 is being posted just four days after Edition No. 3 due to a significant volume of activity taking place on the hardwood these past few nights. Blue Devil Nation encourages everyone to check back late Sunday evening for High School Hoops 2010 Edition No. 5. [private]

Austin Rivers earned MVP honors at the Rotary Tip-Off Classic as Winter Park HS won the championship. Rivers scored 20 points, in the championship game, as Winter Park defeated Winter Springs 59 – 32. In the semi-finals, Winter Park defeated Oak Ridge 71 – 57. The Orlando Sentinel has a video recap posted. Rivers scored 28 points and drained seven 3-point shots in a 70 – 43 opening round victory over Lake Brantley.

In his next game, on Tuesday (Dec 8), Rivers scored 21 points in a 75 – 34 victory over Colonial.

Josh Hairston played his debut game at Montrose Christian in the Caron Butler Invitational in Washington D.C. Hairston scored 26 points as Montrose defeated Theodore Roosevelt HS 63 – 47. Theodore Roosevelt was 2 – 0 coming into the game. Montrose Christian and Hairston’s next game is on Friday night.

Tyler Thornton drew an offensive foul with 28 seconds remaining to seal Gonzaga's 64 - 59 victory over Carroll High. Thornton scored 16 points, including going 6-6 from the charity stripe, and delivered four assists in the game. He is shooting 90.9 percent from the free throw line through three games. Gonzaga and Thornton will be back in action on Thursday evening.

J.P. Tokoto scored 19 points as Menomonee Falls defeated Milwaukee Marquette 56 – 36. Menomonee Falls and Tokoto will be back in action on Friday night.

Trey Zeigler was the leader in scoring and rebounding with 30 and 13 as Mt Pleasant defeated Midland 69 – 46. He also dished out seven assists. In this article, from The Morning Sun, Mt Pleasant Coach Sam Taylor states, “Trey was solid. But it won’t be his best game of the season I can tell you that.” Duke University representatives attended the game to scout Zeigler (I heard through the grapevine it was Nate James, but I cannot confirm who was in attendance). Here is another recap of the action.

Marshall Plumlee grabbed nine rebounds to go along with four points as Christ School opened conference play with an 80 – 67 win over Rabun Gap. Plumlee is averaging 7.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game through the first nine games of his junior season.

In case any of our faithful readers have not already seen this article with two embedded videos, here is a Kyrie Irving preview from MassLive.com. [/private]

Duke Basketball

The latest GoDuke Weekly is out

coach kDURHAM, N.C. -- The Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009 edition of GoDuke Weekly is now live by clicking here!

This week's edition features:

  • Duke football teams with N.C. Central for Shoebox Christmas Program
  • Ronald McDonald House Duke Athlete of the Week -Jasmine Thomas (women's basketball)
  • The 2010 Duke Basketball Yearbook published last week
  • Senior Profiles - Alison Whitaker (women's golf), Ken Sullivan (men's cross country)
  • Recap of the past week in Duke Athletics
  • This Week in Duke Athletic History
  • ACC Standings
  • Duke women's basketball tickets
  • Barry Jacobs Feature - Thaddeus Lewis Ends Career As One Of Duke's Best
  • A.J. Carr Feature -  Duke Center for Sports and the Law to Host Panel Discussion
  • Five Things You Should Know About ... full court pressing with Jasmine Thomas (women's basketball)
  • Blue Devil Snapshot
  • Campus Corner
  • They Said It

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