Rick Petri joins Duke Football Staff

DURHAM, N.C. – Duke head football coach David Cutcliffe announced on Thursday the addition of Rick Petri to the Blue Devil coaching staff.  Petri, a 34-year veteran in the college ranks including a six-season stint with Cutcliffe at Ole Miss, will serve as an assistant coach and coach the defensive line.
 
In addition, Cutcliffe announced that defensive coordinator Jim Knowles will assume the lead role with Duke’s practice scheduling, weekly preparation and game day play-calling.
 
“We are very fortunate to strengthen our defensive staff with the addition of Rick Petri,” Cutcliffe said.  “Rick is widely known in the coaching profession as one of the top teachers of defensive line play, and his track record of preparing young men for the National Football League speaks for itself.  Also, his ideas and methods of helping players mature into young adults fit very well with our philosophies.
 
“Jim Knowles will coordinate our defense,” Cutcliffe continued.  “Rick will coach the defensive line, Jim Collins the linebackers and Derek Jones the secondary.  I believe with this group of coaches we have assembled the finest defensive staff in America.”
 
Petri served on Cutcliffe’s staff at Ole Miss from 1998-04, helping the Rebels to a 44-29 record and four bowl victories.  In 2003, Ole Miss went 10-3, captured a share of the SEC Western Division title and defeated Oklahoma State, 31-29, in the Cotton Bowl.  While with the Rebels, Petri coached the defensive tackles and tutored a pair of first team All-SEC selections in Kendrick Clancy and Jesse Mitchell.  Clancy went on to be a third round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2000 NFL Draft.
 
Petri comes to Durham after spending the 2010 campaign at ACC member Miami.  Last year the Hurricane defensive unit ranked among the league’s leaders in pass defense (1st), pass defense efficiency (1st), opponent third down percentage (2nd), opponent first downs (2nd) total defense (3rd), sacks (3rd), and scoring defense (5th).  Under Petri’s guidance, senior Allen Bailey earned All-ACC honors after leading the Hurricanes in quarterback sacks.
 
From 2005-09, Petri was on the staff at Kentucky where he helped the Wildcats to four consecutive bowl game appearances that included victories over Clemson (2006 Music City Bowl), Florida State (2007 Music City Bowl) and East Carolina (2009 Liberty Bowl).  In Lexington, Petri coached three future draft picks in Myron Pryor (6th round, New England, 2009), Jeremy Jarmon (3rd round, Washington, 2010) and Corey Peters (3rd round, Atlanta, 2010).
 
A native of St. Louis, Mo., Petri got his start in coaching at Pittsburg State (1977-78).  He then spent 10 years on the staff at Arkansas State before a three-year (1989-91) stint at Ole Miss under head coach Billy Brewer.  During his first stint in Oxford, Petri coached Kelvin Pritchett, who was a first round choice of the Dallas Cowboys in 1991 and spent 14 seasons with the Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars.
 
After one season at Louisiana Tech (1992), he enjoyed three seasons at Miami (1993-95) as the Hurricanes went 27-7, won two BIG EAST championships, finished all three seasons ranked in the Associated Press national poll and played in both the Fiesta and Orange Bowls.  In addition, Petri coached three future first round NFL draft choices in Warren Sapp (Tampa Bay, 1995), Kenard Lang (Washington, 1997) and Kenny Holmes (Houston, 1997).  Sapp went on to earn NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1999.  In 1994, the Hurricanes led the nation in both scoring defense and total defense.
 
From 1996-98, Petri tutored the defensive ends at South Carolina where he helped develop John Abraham, a first round pick of the New York Jets in the 2000 NFL Draft.  One of just 25 players in NFL history to record 100 or more sacks, Abraham completed his 11th professional season in 2010 and earned his fourth trip to the Pro Bowl after helping the Atlanta Falcons to the NFC South Division championship.
 
Petri is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Rolla.  He and his wife, Marsha, have two sons, Brad and Kory.

Landen Lucas: Like Father, Like Son

At 6'7," Richard Lucas was an undersized center, who averaged fifteen points and nearly ten rebounds per game for Don Monson and the Oregon Ducks as a senior in the early 1990s, while battling routinely against bigger players at his position in the Pac-Ten. His reputation was that of a player willing to bang inside and out-hustle his competition on the glass, dive for balls, and sprint down the court, which made him a crowd favorite and had the Oregon faithful chanting "Luuuuke."

Now, nearly twenty years later, Landen Lucas is a 6'9" junior reserve post player for national power Findlay Prep. In late July, he decided to leave the comfort of home in the Portland area and nearby Sunset High School, in order to spend the next two years working on individual skill development, preparing his frame for college basketball, and getting used to studying away from home. The decision has paid early dividends, as Landen lost a significant amount of weight immediately and has seen his recruitment heat up, with defending National Champion Duke University has begun contacting him and evaluating whether there is a fit.

Blue Devil Nation watched him at the Pangos All-American Camp in Long Beach in June, caught one of his games for the Northwest Panthers at the Super 64 in Las Vegas in late July, and recently watched him play twice at the Hoop Hall Classic. After his last game at Springfield College for the Hoop Hall Classic, BDN spoke with this son of an English professor about Duke's recent interest in him, his development and competition at Findlay, why he looks at the unique pairing of Tim Duncan and Dennis Rodman as basketball role models, and the attributes he shares with his father.

Let's start off by talking about the transition to Findlay.

You know it was a big transition and it would be anytime someone goes from normal high school basketball to prep school basketball, let alone to Findlay. It's just a big jump, even in practice. It really took a few weeks to get used to everything and settle in, but now it's fine.

Do you live in the much discussed players' house?

No, I actually live with Nigel. We're both from Portland so that helps.

Was it a big deal for your family, you know, you[private] moving away and trying to develop your game at Findlay?

Oh, yeah, it was definitely a big deal. It was hard for them to let me go, but they knew that it was the best decision, at least from a basketball standpoint.

Now, as I recall, you first visited there in late July. You showed up to the Vegas tournaments a few days early so that you could do a walk around of the campus and make sure you were comfortable. Is that correct?

Oh, yeah, exactly, I came early just to check it out and make sure I didn't step on there and get a really weird feeling (laughs).

(laughs) No, that'd be terrible.

Yeah, I mean I was already ninety-nine percent sure before I got there, but I wanted to be a hundred percent sure. Once I got there, though, I knew and it was a no-brainer with the coaches they had and the facilities they offered.

Touch on the facilities.

It's just awesome. They've got top notch everything. They provide you with everything you need to get better. It was the best decision I could make.

What do you feel is your biggest strength right now?

My strengths are being mobile and being a factor around the basket, both on defense and in our offense. Just being a presence.

What do you feel you need to work on most?

The things I think I need to work on are my explosiveness, you know, now that I've dropped the weight. This summer I want to get back in the room and work on adding strength.

You definitely look like you've lost body fat. The first time I saw you was at the Pangos this year in Long Beach.

Oh, yeah, yeah, absolutely, but, you know, we're just working on my body a lot. I know that, once I get to college, they'll have me prepared and in good shape for everything.

Touch on how your body has changed from August until now.


Oh, it's been a massive change. I dropped seventeen pounds in practically the first month. My body has dropped dramatically. The thing we're trying to do now is add weight back, but as muscle.

Do you have any sort of timeline for how you'd like to handle your recruitment?

Yeah, I'd like to narrow it down this summer and, after that, I sift it further. Then, in the fall, I'll take my official visits and decide.

So, this is not going to be a thing where, in a week, I'm gonna read that you just pulled the trigger and committed to somebody. You're not gonna do that to me, right?

(laughing) No, no, no, don't worry about that. I wouldn't do that to you. No, no, no, that's definitely not gonna happen. (laughing)

(laughs) I mean that's cool. It's your life, if you find something you like in the next week, just jump on it.

No, no, don't worry. Nothing like that's going to happen. I want to be one hundred percent sure about whatever school I'm looking at. Just like I did here, I can't be completely comfortable with a school until I walk on the campus and meet with the people that'll be a part of my life,

That's completely understandable. It'd be like buying a car without doing a test drive. I know you've visited Oregon recently. What are some other visits you taken and what ones do you have planned?

I've been to Oregon, Oregon State, Washington. My Dad was just at Arizona St., but he was there for the BCS game. I really haven't gotten to see too many outside of the West Coast. I think, you know, the more I go on the better.

Do you have any planned right now?

Yeah, actually, I have one planned right now. My mom and I are going to visit Harvard in March.

Okay, great.

Yeah, we'll try to probably visit some more East Coast schools when we're out here.

Coach Amaker is having a great season. He beat Boston College and just won against George Washington.

Yeah, absolutely, I've talked to Coach Amaker quite a bit.

Is there a player or two that you try to model your game after?

Yeah, I try to take a mix of people. Offensively, I really try to watch Tim Duncan and his mechanics.Defensively and in terms of rebounding, I would love to be anywhere near Rodman's rebounding. I know he..

No, I think he's player that you never hear mentioned because I think they're afraid of getting tied in with his off-the-court stuff, but was an excellent rebounder and defender and should be looked at by young forwards.

Yeah, exactly, I mean I'm almost afraid to say it because then people think you don't mind his attitude problems or that you're crazy.

No, I think it's an interesting answer. I loved to watch him defend and angle for rebounds.


Yeah, he loved to rebound and that's what I'm about, not his other stuff.(laughs)


Sure, he was about 6'8." How tall are you right now?

I'm 6'9" right now. So, I'm a little bit taller than him, but I would love to have that talent or develop that talent when it comes to rebounding.

Now, I know your dad played at Oregon and I want to get to that in a second, but how tall is he and how tall are you projected to grow to?

My dad's about 6'7" and my mom's six feet. Hopefully, I'll be able to grow another inch or two. I'd like to be at least 6'10" flat footed and 6'11" with shoes on.

From a position standpoint, what are most schools recruiting as, a four or five? And which do you prefer too?

You know a lot of people come up and say, "Yeah, you could play the four" and everybody wants to play the four and be outside, but what I want to do is be a five that can play the four, instead of being a four that can play the five. I like to stay inside and I love banging against other guys. I enjoy that. It's what I'm about. I love going out there and banging. I don't need the status or the other stuff that some guys are looking for. If I can help my team win just doing that, then I'm happy. All I care about is getting the W. That's all I need.

Can you tell the audience a little bit about yourself away from the court?

Well, I've talked to a lot of coaches and the thing is, as far as school goes, is that my work in the classroom has helped open doors for me in basketball as well. I've been talking with the coaches at Harvard lately. All I really do is play basketball, study, and then go to school. My mom is an English teacher and so she always stresses education.

Well, you're clearly articulate.

Thanks, I think that by succeeding in school it's really helped open opportunities.

Now, did she teach at your old school? Was that an issue for you at all?

(laughs) She taught when I was younger, but I was too young to…She's actually now an English professor.

Well, congratulations.

Yeah, she's now teaching in Portland at Portland Community College.

Who's the best player you've faced so far?

Christmas. I'm not sure his first name, but, man, was he a beast to deal with.

Rakeem Christmas. Yeah, when he's motivated and focused, he's a great shot blocker with a very good body.

Exactly, we played Christmas' team and he was just so bouncy, you know, and he had strength and size. He was really good competition for me. That was at a tournament recently.

Back to your dad, Richard, for a second, he played at Oregon in the 80s. They've just built the new arena with the, um, unique floor. Is there any pressure for you to stay in-state and play for the Ducks, either from him or the local fan base?

Oh, no, no. I mean, of course, the Oregon fans would love for me to come and play there, but, for him, as a parent, he just wants the best situation for me.

So, he's cool with wherever you go.

Yeah, he's cool with anything. He even let me talk to Oregon State, you know, so..(laughs)

Oh, alright, he must be if he let you talk to those guys.

You came out of the Portland leagues. Touch on the level of competition that that you now face, both in practice and on Findlay's schedule, which is arguably the toughest in the country. It's an amazing leap.

Yeah, it's ridiculous. i mean it sounds bad, but, when we go to games..

It's easier.

(laughs) Yeah, exactly, when we go to games, it still goes much easier than practice. I mean practice is so intense. We run them like we're competing for a championship in practice and everyone is intense.

Who do you face off with or match up with in practice? (Winston) Shepard?

Yeah, I'm usually on Shepard and sometimes (Anthony) Bennett, but, yeah, usually I go at Shepard. We've got good competition to deal with every day. It helps me get stronger and then, with our schedule, you go against other good guys. It forces you to raise your game.

In terms of AAU and camps, what are you planning on doing this year? I'm sure that a lot of programs are going to make a run at you.

I'm sticking with Northwest Panthers. I like the coach a lot and he's helped me and he understands me. In terms of camps, the only one that I'm really set on is the NBA.

You did that one last year. How was that experience?

It was awesome. It was the first time I was facing really top, top competition, you know. Dealing with older guys. For me to be able to deal with them, it gave me a sense of accomplishment. It was an honor to get invited.

Do you prefer to face-up or play back-to-the-basket?

I mean I like playing back-to-the-basket, but we're trying to work on developing a face-up game.

Yeah, frankly, it seems as though you're playing a lot more away from the basket here than you did at any of the events over the summer.

Yeah, well, I think they're trying to help me develop my game away from the basket, but I do like to face-up and see the spaces and who is helping, when they throw a zone against us.

How are things going academically for you at Findlay? Excellent, I hope.

Yeah, I mean I've got a 4.0 here.

That's good. I'm glad to hear somebody's cracking a book around here.

(laughs) Yeah, yeah.

Yesterday, the local paper here ran a story about Duke contacting you.

Yeah, it frankly came out of the blue. I never really expected it.

Nate James contacted you.

Yeah, exactly, Nate James contacted me. Nate James and we've been in touch. He's now trying to get to know me, you know, and my family.

You're in, sort of, an evaluation stage.

Yeah, yeah, and, you know, he says that, from what he sees and what he's heard, I'm the type of player they need or are looking for in the 2012 class. The thing is that the more I look at it and I've never really thought of them like that, but I think I could help their team out. The more I look at it. The more I understand it.

From afar, what do you know about their program and what's your impression of Coach Krzyzewski as well?

You know, from afar, you always hear that Coach K is "the man." It doesn't get any better than that. In terms of the program, what I hear about the program is that they, you know, they need somebody to come in and who doesn't need a lot of shots to be productive. Someone who can just get it done. So, I like to hear that. Results.

You're comfortable in an uptempo running system. They're looking to run and you're capable.

Yeah, absolutely, if they're looking to run than I'm looking to run, whatever they need, as long as I can help them win. I can fit in.

What do you know about the University?

University-wise, I don't know too much about them. I've never been on their campus and I really don't know too much about it. I do know that if this starts to pick up, I'm going to head out there and visit. Take a look, get a feel for it, and make sure that I like it.

Do you follow college basketball or the NBA fairly closely?

Oh, yeah, I definitely watch all kinds of basketball. I watch it all the time to try to pick up on things. Duke is on TV everyday or, at least, every game. That's actually one thing that they talked to me about. They're on TV all the time and their kids are in the spotlight and being interviewed and they need kids that can deal with the spotlight. They need kids that can be in that spotlight and be okay with that.

Playing at a school like Findlay helps you get used to being in the spotlight and playing in front of coaches, large crowds, and reporters.

Yeah, absolutely, that's the thing. You'd die here if you can handle the spotlight.

Do you have any brothers, Landen?

Yeah, two of them, younger ones. There's three of us.

Thanks for your time, Landen

Sure, I appreciate it. Nice meeting you. [/private]

Duke goes nine players deep in 92-78 win over N.C. State

Photo courtesy GoDuke.com

RALEIGH - Last season the N.C. State Wolfpack served up some home cooking by shooting lights out in the RBC Center against the Duke Blue Devils, the eventual national champion.  This year, there was a different result as Coach Mike Krzyzewski played nine players significant minutes and each of them contributed.

Duke ran out to a 42-28 half time advantage and then held off each run the Wolfpack tried to muster as both teams scored 50 points each, thus giving Duke a 92-78 victory.  There are many story lines on the Duke end, but we'll go with the improved play of the bigs as the difference maker.

One can always depend on Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler to play well and tonight was no different.  Smith tossed in a game high 22 points to go with 6 assists which keeps him atop the ACC in that category.  In fact, he leads the league in scoring and assists.  Singler started slow, but was key down the stretch scoring 14 of his 18 points in the second half.

But it was the Duke front court that came to play this evening, be it the brothers Plumlee or Ryan Kelly.  Miles Plumlee, who has sat the bench the last two games, played his best game of the season tallying 11 points and 8 rebounds while his brother Mason scored 7 points to go with his game high 10 rebounds and a whopping 6 blocked shots.

During the post game, Miles Plumlee exclaimed, "I think we have a chance to be one of the best front courts in the nation and tonight we showed that."

Then, there was the play of Ryan Kelly who was a perfect 4 of 4 from the field which translated into 11 points and he too worked the boards hard finishing with 8 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. 

"I just wanted to come home and be aggressive and went out there and tried to make plays for the team and we came out with a win," said Kelly.

The Blue Devils shot 50% from the floor and that helped them to a 17-1 overall record and 4-1 in the ACC.  Duke outscored the Wolfpack in the paint by a 32-30 margin and held a 10 rebound edge when the dust cleared.

"That's the best we rebounded all year.  The Plumlees had 9 rebounds each and Ryan Kelly had 8 and Josh Hairston gave us some positive minutes.  All nine guys contributed in the win," said Mike Krzyzewski who now has 885 career wins.

The Blue Devils will now turn their attention to Wake Forest where they hope to garner another conference road win in a game that tips off 4:00 this coming Saturday.  Tickets are still available for the game.  Game Box Score

Duke, USF, and Memphis are finalists for Alabama TE David Reeves

TE David Reeves took an official visit to Duke in December

With a solid group of verbal commitments already in hand, Head Coach David Cutcliffe and the Duke coaching staff are looking to add another impact player or two to the class of 2011. For the past several months, Alabama TE David Reeves has been near the top of the Blue Devils’ wish list. The 6’5” 242 pound prospect from Greensboro East High School is the type of athlete that would have an immediate impact on the field in Durham. Reeves has earned praise from scouts and coaches for his great size, speed, and hands. The 2011 Alabama Sports Writers Association 3A Lineman of the Year, Reeves has also excelled on the basketball court and the track and field team for Greensboro. Blue Devil Nation recently spoke with the highly-coveted prospect about his recruitment.

BDN: For those fans who haven’t had a chance to see you play in person, can you describe in your own words some of your strengths as a player?

Well, I think that with my speed, I create mismatches with most linebackers, and with my size, most safeties won’t be able to cover me and jump with me. I play basketball, too, so I don’t think they can jump with me. I think that I have the awareness to be able to adjust to where I need to be.

BDN: I know some schools have talked about recruiting you for different positions. What position would you prefer to play in college where you think you can have the best impact?

Well, I really like tight end, so that’d be it.

BDN: It certainly sounds like your skill set is well-suited for that. You were named the 3A Lineman of the Year, which is a nice honor, so congratulations for that. How would you describe your senior year and what do you think led to your success this season?

Personally, I feel like I did a lot better. I was doing all the little things right this year. This is my last year, I want to make sure I leave an impression and make the young kids want to do good – do better than what I did.

BDN: Can you talk a little bit about where you are in the recruitment process?

Ok, well, as signing day comes closer, it’s going to get pretty hectic. I’ve got to remember that it’s a business and I can’t let the relationships I’ve build with the coaches that are recruiting me make me feel bad if I choose to go somewhere else. I’ve just got to keep in mind that it’s all business and the schools that I don’t go to, they’ll understand.

BDN: I think Duke was the first school you took an official visit to back in December. Can you talk about that visit and what your thoughts are on the Duke program?

Duke has been recruiting me since mid-season, yeah, I’d say about mid-season. Coach Middleton is my recruiting coach and he’s also the tight end coach. I had a good time when I came down. It was a lot different than I expected it to be. I had a lot of fun when I went out with the players and stuff and I really got along with them good. I think they’re trying to do something big – make a name for Duke football on the campus, and that’s where I could probably help them get it done.

BDN: You recently visited South Florida. Can you talk a little about that visit and their program?

Yeah, I had a good time. I enjoyed the city, enjoyed the people. Also, their Coach Scott, Coach Larry Scott, he’s my recruiting coach there and he’s also my tight end coach, so it’s the same way it is at Duke. I enjoyed the players and the time I spent with them, and the facilities and all that too. They’re still an up and coming program, but they’re going in the right direction also.

BDN: Do you have any other visits planned between now and signing day?

Well, I’ve got Memphis this week and possibly Mississippi State next week, but I think that I’ll probably make a decision between now and next weekend.

BDN: So Memphis this weekend and then a decision sometime next week?

Yeah.

BDN: Without necessarily talking about any specific schools, as you step back and make your college choice, what are some of the most important things you’re looking for in a school and a football program?

The overall atmosphere and support for the football players and football program. And the fan base, like, the exposure and all that. Mostly, the people like the coaches and the players. Yeah, the players are the most important because they’re going to be around all the time and if you don’t like them, you can’t have a good time in college.

BDN: That’s a great perspective to have. Growing up in Alabama and SEC country, how much have you followed the ACC and the Big East and what are your thoughts on those conferences and their style of play?

Well, yeah, you know I’m from an SEC area and it’s a big thing, you know, SEC football. I know that there’s competition everywhere, though, so I know that just because I’m not going to like a big SEC school, I’m still going to be competing with some of the best athletes in the country.

BDN: Thanks so much, David. I know you’re busy, so I just want to thank you for taking the time to talk with us and congratulate you on your success. I know we all wish you the best of luck with your decision.

Alright, thanks, I appreciate that.

David's senior year highlights can be viewed here.

In Depth Interview with Shabazz Muhammad “Coach K lets you have freedom”

SPRINGFIELD, MA - Shabazz Muhammad is a physicaly gifted, 6'6" left-handed junior guard from Las Vegas' Bishop Gorman HS, where he has led the Gaels to back-to-back Nevada State Championships. Yesterday, he faced his toughest competition of the season in Springfield, Massachusetts at the tenth annual Hoop Hall Classic, as he squared off against 6'7" small forward Mike Gilchrist, a future Kentucky Wildcat, and the St. Patrick's Celtics of New Jersey.

Muhammad faced constant ball pressure from 6'3" Dexter Gordon, a very promising Western Kentucky signee, with nearly automatic double-teams every time he touched the ball from the Celtics. Shabazz struggled in the first half (2 for 7 shooting) against their pressure and three quick fouls helped limit him to an abnormally low five points in the first half, but halftime adjustments, including refocusing his mind, utilizing his size and strength advantage over their respective guards, and inflicting his athleticism and aggression on their decision to guard him closely, caused the southpaw to erupt for twenty-three second half points and ignite a Gaels comeback that ultimately was too late. The New Jersey Catholic school team, this year's likely mythical national champion, prevailed 79-63 in front of a national audience on ESPNU and a packed crowd at the birthplace of basketball.

Following the game, Shabazz spoke with Blue Devil Nation about his game against St. Patrick's, what he's looking for in a college program, his immediate impressions from Saturday's trip to Duke University for their game against Virginia, Quinn Cook, and why three schools stand out right now to him.

Let's start off with tonight's matchup with Saint Patrick's. Can you talk about the game in general and the defenses that they threw at you?

Sure, well, first of all, obviously, we played a great team in St. Pat's.

Is this the best team you've seen so far this year?

Yes, definitely, this is the best and I'd have to say by far too. As good an intensity as Saint Pat's brought to the game, we tried to match it and, at first, we just didn't. In the first half, they just beat us on the boards and outmatched us. We've just got to get back to work quickly. We can't accept that.

What second-half adjustments did you make personally? It seemed as though you were far more aggressive against their pressure after the half and you played with, well, more poised aggression. What, if anything, did you see differently?

Yeah, in the first half, I was just kind of pressing, but then I tried to slow the game down in the second half mentally. I tried to wait out my options in the second half and also get my teammates more involved.

Can you talk about the recent visits you've taken?

Yeah, I just took a visit to Duke. It was a nice experience for me, you know[private], talking to Coach K and going into Cameron Indoor.

And have you dealt with UCLA recently as well?

Yeah, I've just been talking with Ben Howland and those guys.

And at Duke you were talking with Coach K primarily?

Well, I was talking with Coach K and Coach Wojo. It was a great time for me there.

What was it like facing off against Mike Gilchrist today?

Oh, it was great going against Mike. He's a tremendous player. He's number one in the country as you saw out there tonight. He's doing really good and he just plays hard all the time. I tried to match his intensity and, you know, he's going to be a great player.

Were you incredibly frustrated with being foul trouble early on? You picked up your third on that drive to the left baseline.

Absolutely, when you're in foul trouble, you have to be frustrated. I just had to get my mind together and then focus clearly in the second half.

Shabazz Muhammad

You started driving a lot more in the second half. Was that to build a comfort level?

Oh, yeah, because in the first half they were kind of pressing up on me. So, in the second half, I just went right at it and took them to the basket. When they changed, I weighed my options and saw what I had to work with.

What do you think you've improved on most since August?

I think it's been my jump shot. I've been really working on that.

Still at Impact Academy?

I haven't been there in awhile, but I plan on going back there this summer to get working.

What did you see Dexter Gordon trying to do to you?

I think he was just trying to press up on me in the first half and go after my handle. In the second half, I just decided I'm going to have to blow past him. I was trying to dribble too much, I think, in the first half. You can't dribble when somebody is pressing up on you. I think I made the right adjustments.

You then tried to take him and Chris Martin (son of former Georgetown Hoya, Bill Martin) down low in the second half as well and get fed on the low left box.

Oh, yeah, that's the good thing about being a 6'6" guard. Other guards are shorter and, so, you can take them inside and really use it against them. Then, if they're around my size, you can take them outside and also use your strength.

How has it been to play with Rashad this year?

Oh, yeah, my brother, well, he's doing really good this year. He's trying to get it together. This was a very hard game for him obviously, but I think he's getting it together.

How did you plan to go after or play Michael Gilchrist.


Well, we all really watched him. We had tape on him and so we all tried to watch him so that we'd be okay with different match-ups. He's just a great player.

When you come to a tournament or showcase like this or City of Palms, do you consciously enter the game or event with a different mentality than a regular season matchup against a league opponent? If so, what do you do differently?

Oh, yeah, absolutely, these guys are way, way better than the guys we usually play back in Nevada so we've got to make that big adjustment. We've got to play intensely right from the start.

In terms of the pre-game at here or the City of Palms, how are you preparing yourself? Watching those guys? Psyching yourself up? Focusing your energy?

Absolutely, we were watching them, but you've got to just focus and go from there.

Now, next week, you'll be matching up with Findlay.

Yen, they're obviously a great team too and I'm going to go watch them and we'll be practicing hard for them this week.

You clearly know Winston (Sheppard) very well. He's one of your best friends and an AAU teammate.

Oh, yeah, I know Winston (laughs) and all those guys very well. It's going to be a great game for us to play in and show that we've improved and for folks to come out and watch.

Was Gilchrist the toughest defender you've faced and, if so, what makes him such a tough defender?

Oh, yeah, he is. I think it's that he just plays each play so hard. He never relents or takes a possession off. His intensity and, I think, his effort or work ethic out there is the difference. He never stops or relents. Other guys do or they burn out quicker.

Evan Daniels: Was that your first game on television?

No, well, it was my first high school game on TV, but I played in that Elite 24 game on TV. I wasn't nervous. I think I just needed to make the adjustments earlier.

ED: How is the recruiting process going?

It's going good. I just visited Duke. Coach K is always a great guy. Talking to Coach Wojo and even talking to some of the players, guys like Kyrie and Nolan. Just talking with all of those guys was a great experience for me.

ED: Was that your first time to Duke?

No, it was my second time.

It seems like you're taking a lot of visits lately. Are there any other ones to know?

I've got one to Kentucky set up. The whole thing with the visits is that I want to make sure I'm making the right choice when it comes down to it.

How close are you, I'm sorry, to a decision?

Probably next year, but you know probably whenever the time feels right, that's when I'll make the decision.

ED: I know you said you had a top three of Duke and who were the other ones?

Oh, Duke, UCLA, and Kentucky, but I didn't mean to say "top three" necessarily. It's just that those three are standing out the most to me right now. They're the ones that are staying in the most contact and pursuing me the hardest right now. That's what I meant. I'll stick with that. The North Carolinas and Louisvilles are definitely not out of it.

What have those three done differently? Are they just on you harder?

I think that's so. That's fair. Just calling and constantly monitoring and checking in with me and my dad. I appreciate it a lot and they're very good about communicating with us.

ED: Now, what about visiting Louisville? I know at one point you were supposed to.

Oh, I already did actually.

ED: What about Carolina? Talk to me about those guys. What do you like about them?

Roy Williams is a great guy and a good coach. Talking to their players, getting feedback on how to play the game. It was a great experience.

ED: Do you see yourself taking another trip back there?

Probably, yeah, I think I am. I mean I've taken two visits there and you can never take too many visits. I'm just trying to do the best I can. I don't have any dates yet. But I'll just have to decide with my dad.

ED: What's keeping them from being in the top three level?

I just think a little bit of communication issues. I'm talking to them, but, with those other three schools, I'm hearing from them all of the time. They're definitely not out though. It's just..

What'll be some of the primary factors in your decision?

The primary factors in my decision? Not location, but just where I fit in and I'll talk to the coaches and the style of play will be a big factor in my decision.

What about the desire to play with other players you feel comfortable with? Does it matter to you? People talk about it all the time, but sometimes it's not a big deal.

Oh, yeah, absolutely. You want to play with other great players or at least guys that care about winning.

Are there any particular players, either in your class or older than you that appeal to you, or that you've thought about playing with?

Well, I mean I've talked to Kyrie and those guys and then today I talked with Mike out on the court.

Yeah, I noticed that.

(Laughing) Yeah, that's my boy, but I'm just talking to guys because I want to play for and win a National Championship. That's what it's about. That's why and what you work for.

So, it's fair to say, winning is very important to you?

Oh, yeah, absolutely.

I just wanted to make absolutely certain that you were quoted correctly about the three schools that were after you hardest. He didn't misquote you or anything? Not Evan, but the other guy, um, Jason.

Yeah, yeah, no, he quoted me correctly, but those are not just the top three. He just wanted to know who was after me hardest.

Yeah, I just wanted to make that absolutely clear with you that you weren't misquoted. Thanks. I happened to speak with Quinn Cook the other day after his game and he said that he was recruiting three guys: you, Alex Murphy, and Tony Parker.

Oh, yeah, Quinn and I talk. He's a great player.

He's a very nice kid too.

Oh, yeah, he is and, as a player, he gets his teammates involved. He's a true point guard. I like him and I like to play with him. We played out at the Boost Mobile 24 game and Adidas Nations. He's a fun guy to be with.

If you could just touch on your trip to Duke a little bit more and what Kyrie and Nolan were talking to you about?


Oh, sure, they were just talking with me about how Coach K lets you have freedom and they were absolutely correct. I was watching it with my own two eyes and they were absolutely correct. They let Nolan have the ball and, since his guy wasn't pressuring him, he just let him take it to him at will. He lets his stars play and, when they make mistakes, he says keep playing and so I mean I like that about them. He's a really good basketball coach and he's a really dedicated coach and he wants to win a lot.

One last thing, is Gilchrist the hardest player you've faced so far?

Yeah, he is because he's got size and now skill combined with amazing intensity. He's going to be a great player for Kentucky and do very well down there.

He'll fit in well in their dribble-drive offense. Thanks a lot for your time, Shabazz.

Oh, yeah, of course, absolutely. Anytime. [/private]

Duke at N.C. State Game Notes

The Duke Blue Devil - Photo -Lance King for BDN

Game 18[4 AP / 5 Coaches] Duke (16-1, 3-1 ACC)  vs. N.C. State (11-6, 1-2 ACC)
Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011 • 7:00 p.m.

The Opening Tip

• Duke faces N.C. State on Wednesday, Jan. 19 at the RBC Center. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m.
• The game is being televised by ESPN with Mike Patrick (play-by-play), Jay Bilas (analyst) and Jeannine Edwards (sideline) calling the action.
• Duke is ranked No. 4 in the AP and No. 5 ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, while N.C. State is unranked in both polls.
• The Blue Devils are looking to improve to 17-1 for the 10th time in school history. Duke has reached 17-1 in three of the last five seasons.
• Duke has won 34 of the last 36 games entering Wednesday’s game with N.C. State.
• Duke is looking for its 23rd straight win in the state of North Carolina. The Blue Devils’ last loss in their home state was on Jan. 20, 2010 to N.C. State.
 
Duke-N.C. State Series History• Duke and N.C. State have met 233 times heading into Wednesday’s game with the first meeting between the two schools coming on Feb. 9, 1912.
• The Blue Devils lead the all-time series 136-97, including a 6-3 mark at the RBC Center.
• N.C. State won the last meeting between the two schools, 88-74, on Jan. 20, 2010.
• Duke has not lost back-to-back games to N.C. State since the 1994-95 season. The Blue Devils are 28-5 against the Wolfpack in that span.
• Mike Krzyzewski is 44-20 at Duke against the Wolfpack.
• Krzyzewski recorded his 800th career coaching victory with an 87-86 win over N.C. State at the RBC Center on March 1, 2008.
 
Numbers Game

l The Blue Devils have had at least one player score 20 or more points in each of the last 12 games.l Duke has collected 40 or more rebounds in three of the last four games. The Blue Devils are averaging 40.8 rebounds in five January games.
l The Blue Devils rank fourth in the NCAA in scoring at 85.5 points per game. Duke is 16-0 on the year when scoring 70 or more points in a game.
l Duke has won 22 consecutive games in the state of North Carolina. The Blue Devils’ last loss in the state was at N.C. State last season.
l In conference play, senior Nolan Smith leads the ACC in scoring (23.5 ppg.), assists (6.0 apg.), steals (2.5 spg.) and minutes played (39.8 mpg.). He also ranks second in free throw percentage (.963) and tied for ninth in three-point field goals (2.0 3pg.).
l Senior Kyle Singler has scored in double figures in 52 of his last 57 games. He is tied for sixth at Duke with 111 career double-figure scoring games.
l Nolan Smith is tied for the ACC lead with eight games with 20 or more points scored. He has topped the 20-point mark in seven of the last 10 games and two times in league play.
l Sophomore Mason Plumlee has raised his rebound average by 5.4 rebounds per game from a year ago. He ranks fourth in the ACC at 8.5 rpg. Plumlee ranks second in league play at 11.5 rpg, including an ACC-high 8.3 defensive rebounds per game. l Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler are averaging 44.5 points combined over the last six games. The senior tandem has accounted for 56.2 percent of the Duke offense in that span.