Monthly Archives: February 2011

Duke Basketball

BDN Post Game – Mason Plumlee talks the win over Georgia Tech

Mason Plumlee by Lance Images for BDN

DURHAM  - BDN spoke to Mason Plumlee in the Duke locker room after his team scored a 79-57 win over Georgia Tech in Cameron Indoor Stadium. Plumlee is averaging over 10 rebounds a game in conference play and he scored 9 points and 9 rebounds for the second straight game. Plumlee dished 3 assists as well.

Duke Basketball

Duke defense locks down Georgia Tech for 79-57 win

DURHAM - The Duke Blue Devils came out of the gate a bit slow after anticipating Georgia Tech would play it's big lineup.  Instead the Yellow Jackets played a smaller, quicker line up and had some success. with it.  After some adjustments Duke settled in and walloped the visitors by a 79-57 score.  It was a rough and tumble first half but the refs managed to keep the game from getting out of hand but that didn't stop Coach Mike Krzyzewski from getting his first technical foul of the season. 

That fired Duke up and they went on a tear, breaking open a close game as the half came to an end.  Once again Duke was led by Nolan Smith who dropped a game high 28 points on a variety of moves.  Smith grabbed 7 rebounds from his guard position as well and added 4 assists to his total.  Fellow senior, Kyle Singler, added 15 points and 9 rebounds.

The Blue Devils were strong in the post as well where they outscored the Yellow Jackets 40-24 and they held a 21-4 edge in second chance points.  Despite fouling out, Mason Plumlee scored 9 points to go with his 9 boards as he continues to be good on the glass.  Ryan Kelly added 10 points and 6 rebounds and both players earned Coach Krzyzewski's praise.

"The big guys keep getting better.  You get better if you want to get better," said Krzyzewski after his 994th career victory.  He continued by saying, "Mason and Ryan had good games and our defense continues to improve."

Seth Curry also continued his solid play of late, garnering a team high 6 assists to go with his 9 points.  Freshman Tyler Thornton helped with 6 points while draining 4 straight free throws.

In the end Duke won with defense and the effort may well have been enough for them to regain the nations top spot in the polls due tomorrow.  Duke will face a very solid Temple team next this coming Wednesday evening.  Duke pushes their season record to 12-1 in the ACC which is good enough for first place and 25-2 overall.

Sidebar -Ryan Kelly scored in double figures for the seventh time this season.  Seth Curry's 6 assists were a career high.  Duke has won 34 straight home games.  Duke is 15-0 at home on the season with two games remaining.  Singler has started in 95 consecutive games.  Mason is up to 10.2 rebounds per game in ACC play.  Nolan has 20 or more points in 16 games, tops in the ACC. Smith passed Bobby Hurley on the Blue Devils All Time Scoring list.  Duke has won 25 or more games in 24th time in school history.

Duke Football

Duke was among the first schools to offer top 2012 RB Keith Marshall

Duke was one of the first schools to offer top RB Keith Marshall

Raleigh’s Keith Marshall is widely regarded as the top running back in the class of 2012. At 5’11” and 180 pounds, Marshall has impressed coaches and scouts with his electrifying speed and quickness. Highlights of Keith’s junior year can be viewed here. After his impressive junior season at Millbrook High School, Marshall holds verbal scholarship offers from nearly every major college football program. Duke and North Carolina were two of the first schools to offer the elite running back, and he remains wide open at this stage in the process.

BDN: Can you start off by describing the strengths and weaknesses of your game for someone who hasn’t had a chance to see you play?

My biggest strength are my speed, acceleration, and vision. I’m working on getting bigger and stronger so I will be effective between the tackles at the next level.

BDN: What are some of the goals you have for yourself and your team this fall?

My biggest goal is just to get better and it’s the same for my team.

BDN: As you approach your college decision in general, what are the most important things you are looking for in a college?

The relationship the players have with each other and with the coaches. I also look at the academic program.

BDN: What schools have you recently heard from? Who were the first schools to contact you? What schools have you heard from the most often?

I’ve heard from probably over 50 schools. The first schools to offer me were UNC, Duke, and Georgia. I hear from a lot of different schools on a regular basis so I can’t say who I hear from the most.

BDN: Which schools have you had a chance to visit so far? Were there any schools you came away particularly impressed with?

I've visited UNC, UGA, Clemson, South Carolina, NC State, Duke, Florida, and Alabama. I was impressed with all of them.

BDN: Do you have any plans for other visits this spring or summer?

I’m not sure yet but I know we'll be taking a lot of trips this spring and summer.

BDN: It’s still very early in the process, but ideally, when would you like to make your college decision?

I'll make my decision whenever I’m sold on a school and I know that’s definitely where I want to go.

BDN: Is there anything else you think is important for ACC football fans to know about you?

I have a 4.25 GPA and the fastest I’ve been timed at in the 40 is 4.25.

BDN: Thanks a lot, Keith, and best of luck to you.

Thanks.

Duke Football

Duke was the first to offer elite in-state RB Todd Gurley

Duke was the first to offer Tarboro RB Todd Gurley

Led by elite running back Todd Gurley, Tarboro High School successfully defended their 2009 State Championship and finished 16-0 in 2010. Gurley, a 6’1” 195 pound athlete, finished the season with 30 touchdowns and was named to the 2A All-State team. Highlights of his junior year can be viewed here. Thus far in his recruitment, Gurley has focused on schools close to home, but he is certain to attract national attention at camps this summer. Duke is looking to add an elite running back in the class of 2012 and was the first school to offer Gurley a scholarship. Todd visited Wallace Wade Stadium last fall and was in Cameron Indoor Stadium last week for the Duke vs. North Carolina men’s basketball game.

BDN: Can you start off by describing the strengths and weaknesses of your game for fans who haven’t had a chance to see you play?

My power, and I’m just aggressive. My weaknesses would probably be – I don’t really know, to tell you the truth, my weaknesses.  I haven’t really pointed it out.

BDN: What are some of the things you’ve been working on this offseason?

Put more weight on my body, like I need to become a little bit more of a bigger back, and just use my vision more.

BDN: What are the most important things you are looking for in a college?

You know, tradition, not too far from home, and just the community, the city, and the school.  Just, you know, I have to feel like I’m at home, but I’m not home.  Just the coaches and everything.

BDN: What schools have you recently heard from? Who were the first schools to contact you?

Duke was like, Duke was the first.  NC State, then UNC and ECU.  I’ve visited Duke once.

BDN: How was your visit to Duke?

It was good, I went for the Duke versus Miami game, to go see them play against Miami.

BDN: Growing up in North Carolina, is there a school that you’ve grown up following?

[Pause] NC State.

BDN: Do you have any plans for other visits this spring or summer?

Yes, I have plans to visit NC State, Duke, ECU, go to camps there, go to camps at every one of those, and at Clemson too, I have a coach who’s starting to recruit me from there, too.

BDN: Is there anything else that you think is important for college football fans to know about you?

I am a very versatile player, I also play both sides of the ball.  Not just running back, I can play safety, and I am just a very competitive athlete.

BDN: Thanks a lot, Todd, and best of luck to you.

All right.