Category Archives: Duke Basketball

Loss to Boston College was disappointing, but not shocking

No real surprise- Boston College needed a win for an NCAA berth and they bared down and got the win.  True, they lost to Harvard, but they defeated UNC in Chapel Hill and now have 19 wins.  Traveling to Chestnut Hill is the longest road hggwcqqocyalbck_200902160208111trip in the ACC, add to that the Sunday slot no team wants to play in and it's no real surprise here that Duke lost.  Oh!  Did I mention coming off the emotional UNC game?  Besides, when a team hits little runners thought he lane, you know you are in trouble.  Those are the kind of shots a defense wants to see, unless of course they fall.  In short, give the Eagles credit for their effort and Skinner has proven to be one of the better coaches in the ACC going after players under the radar in recruiting.  Keep in mind, the last time BC beat Duke was in 1985, so the law of averages caught up to the Dukies.

Still disappointing - Duke had a comfortable working margin and let it get away from them going into the half.  While it's not a shameful loss, Duke had their opportunities to win yet came up short.  You never want to lose a close conference game.

The good - Kyle Singler and Gerald Henderson continue to put this team on their backs.  Inspired play from Lance Thomas helped keep Duke in the game.  In fact, Duke was pretty much always in this game.  The season is far from over and there is plenty of time to correct the issues.

The concerns- The guard play production was not at the level it needs to be.  Paulus and Smith had combined numbers that fell short of what a food PG should produce.  Jon Scheyer is mired in the worst shooting slump of his career, but he keeps shooting and that's the only way to break out of a funk.  The defense has let up a ton of points in the last two games and BC and UNC's shooting percentages were ridiculous.

Brutal stretch continues - Duke is no longer in contention for the regular season at 7-4 and must now find a way to make sure they remain in the top four to avoid a play in game.  With Wake Forest and Florida State at home and Maryland, Virginia Tech and UNC on the road it will take a rejuvenated team to get the job done.

Don't overlook St. John's - Duke has a very fragile psyche right now and it is important for them to focus on St. Johns and try and build good work habits - the ones they started the year with.

High School Hoops Edition No. 10

kelly-150x150High School basketball seasons across the nation are starting to come to a close and teams are looking toward upcoming conference and state play-offs.  Ryan Kelly scored 33 points and secured 17 rebounds in his last regular season game at Ravenscroft.  The Ravens defeated Cary Academy 88-65 to finish the season at 24-6 and 6-0 in conference play.

Christ School defeated Greensboro Day 50-33 and locked up a #1 seed in their upcoming tournament.  Mason Plumlee had a bit of an embarrassing moment on a dunk attempt in the game.  The Greenies are now 29-2 and 11-0.

Gonzaga knocked off Bishop McNamara 61-55 on Friday night to retain 1st Place in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference.  Tyler Thornton scored 13 points as the Eagles improved to 22-3  and 13-2.

Andre Dawkins scored 20 points as Atlantic Shores routed Alliance 98-35 on Friday night.  Dawkins made two 3-pointers in the game.  On Thursday, Dawkins made five 3-pointers and scored 27 points as Atlantic Shores rolled over Broadwater 99-43.

Harrison Barnes squeezed in a trip to Cameron Indoor Stadium between two Ames Little Cyclones victories.  On Thursday, Barnes scored 25 points and made seven 3-pointers as Ames defeated Fort Dodge 92-43.  On Tuesday, Barnes scored 15 points as the Little Cyclones rolled to a 80-43 victory over Indianola.  Nine of Barnes points came via the deep ball.

Be sure and stay tuned to Blue Devil Nation to keep track of Duke commitments and recruiting targets throughout the upcoming conference and state play-offs.  BDN will continue to bring you recaps with links to articles from newspapers across the country.

Josh Hairston talks of his first Duke-UNC game in Cameron

Class of 2010 commitment, Josh Hairston took time to talk with Blue Devil Nation Premium about experiencing his first Duke-Carolina game in Cameron.  He dsc05640touched on the play, his chats with other Duke commitments and Harrison Barnes.  Talk about it on our Blue Devil Nation Premium message board.

What did you think of the game and Cameron itself?

I thought it was a very good game and that Duke played very hard.  You've got to give to Carolina, they're  every good team, but Duke gave them a run for their money.  Just walking in the gym with my Mom and seeing all the players and the fans, they were yelling and screaming and I just turned to my Mom and smiled.  It was just crazy, unlike anything I ever experienced anything like that before.

We spent the night so I was able to stay a little longer and wait for the coaches to get down with the press conference.  I got to talk to all the guys  and they just said they had it and they lost to a very good team.  They gave credit to their guys.  I really enjoyed myself.

So, are you looking forward to playing in an environment like that?

I am.  I was talking to Ryan Kelly [private] about it and told he was lucky because he will be a part of it next year.  Me and Tyler have a couple of more years left.  He was there with me.

Harrison Barnes was at the game with you.  Did he enjoy himself? 

Aw man, he really enjoyed himself.  A lot of people were making a big deal because he had on a Duke shirt ... him and his sister.  Tyler and I were talking to him and introduced him to everybody.  He had a great time

Did you get a positive feeling about Harrison?

I did!  I got a real positive feeling.  Harrison is one of those kids who keeps his feelings to himself.  What I took from the visit was it was very positive.  I think if Duke stays on him, they'll get him.

It gets pretty hot when Carolina comes in ...

We walked in and it was cool outside, but as soon as you stepped into the gym, even where we picked up our tickets was cool, but then we got into the gym and it was like the heat was turned all the way up.  As soon as I sat down, I started sweating and it was so hot from all the people inside.  You could see it was hot because all the players were slipping on the court, so it was just crazy.

Were you able to talk with Coach K?

I didn't talk with him one on one, but Coach talked to Tyler, Harrison and me about how the team fought and overall he was happy with how his guys played.  But it was a little disappointing to lose.  We were in the locker room before the game.

So, you were able to check out the locker room atmosphere?

I went back there for the UVA game and they get hyped up but with the UNC game it was unlike anything I'd ever seen.  You could hear yelling and screaming from outside the locker room and everybody was  getting hyped.  I kind of got hyped and I wanted to go out there and play!  Harrison was joking with me because he wanted to find an extra jersey and play.

I appreciate your time and good luck the rest of your high school season.

Yes sir, anytime, thanks. [/private]

Duke Basketball Team Report, looking back and looking ahead

Coach K's Birthday -Let's start off by wishing Coach Mike Krzyzewski a happy birthday.  I remember when Coach first came to Durham and I'm glad we have both seen birthdays since that time.  We are truly lucky that he came to Duke and I am in awe of the job he has done.

Looking back on UNC, the positives - Duke found it's offense in that game and the staff wants that to carry over.  The Blue Devils competed until the end. 

Singlers elbow was hardly intentional
Singlers elbow was hardly intentional

To simply play in a game like this helps prepare teams for the wars ahead.  For the most part Duke neutralized the perceived player of the year Tyler Hansbrough.

Why UNC won -They were the better team - you have to give them that.  Ty Lawson has really turned it on after a sluggish start to the season.  UNC spread the floor well in the second half which allowed Lawson to operate and find the open man.  The Heels would have been in a big hole in the first half if it weren't for the Fraser three point shots, his play was vital and timely.  UNC was 27 of 31 from the free throw stripe and got there a lot more than the Devils.  UNC shot the ball very well.

The AC - There is no getting around talking about this.  Fans were miserable from the heat and a look back at the film shows the Duke players slipping much

Most of Hansbroughs points came on free throws and a desperation three point shot
Most of Hansbroughs points came on free throws and a desperation three point shot

more often than their opponent.  Many of those slips came in the second half and unforced turnovers allowed UNC to spurt ahead for good.

Singlers elbow -  How anyone can see that Single intentionally tried to elbow Hansbrough is beyond me.  If you look at his hand, it's going for the ball.  Tyler is a tough kid, yet he went down to the floor like it was a left hook.  Is there a such thing as a "rabbit elbow?"

Harrison Barnes visit -Well, at this point it's no secret tha Harrison Barnes visited for the game.  In short he enjoyed his visit and this was the second time he payed out of pocket for the journey.  We go into more detail in our subscription section - Blue Devil Nation Premium.  If you want to be in the know on recruiting, it's the place to be.  Discuss the latest happenings in our premium members only message board.

Next play, Boston College - This is indeed a trap game.  Duke is coming off an emotional and draining game and yet they travel to Chestnut Hill to take on a dangerous Eagles team.  This is the same team that went into the Dean Dome and came away with a victory.

Tyrese Rice - You can bet that Al Skinner watched the film and that the Eagles

Paulus will play a key role if Duke is to get a road win at BC
Paulus will play a key role if Duke is to get a road win at BC

will turn this guy loose.  For the second straight game Duke will face an elite PG.  How Duke defends Rice will be a key to the game.

The game is pretty darn important - Duke now has three losses and they have entered a log jam of teams in the conference.  True, all conference games are important, but responding well after defeat is almost a must for confidence.  This is the only time Duke plays BC this (regular) season. 

Brutal stretch -Duke has five road games at Boston College, St, Johns, Maryland, Virginia Tech remaining and just two home games against Wake Forest and Florida State.  Duke wants to carry some momentum into the tournaments and it will not be an easy task.  At this time, teams are jockeying for NCAA seeding.  Duke just happened to get saddled with a brutal conference schedule, another testament how unfair the unbalanced schedules can be.  In short, there is not a single game left where Duke doesn't have to give maximum effort.

Recruiting Update – Harrison Barnes pays a visit and more

While the game didn't end the way the Blue Devils wanted it to, they were able to entertain one of the nations top prospects.  Harrison Barnes (6-6,205) sat behind the bench sporting his Duke T-Shirt which was an encouraging sign.

Barnes came in just before noon yesterday and was able to meet with Coach Krzyzewski before taking in some of the gameday campus atmosphere.  He was

Barnes in his Duke T-Shirt walks off the court with Josh Hairston to enter the Duke locker room after the game
Barnes in his Duke T-Shirt walks off the court with Josh Hairston to enter the Duke locker room after the game

also accompanied by his Mom and sister who have now seen the "Gothic Wonderland," twice.

The key prospect was able to [private]spend time in the locker room with the team at half time and after the game.  He sat beside Tyler Thornton and Josh Hairston during the game.

Harrison Barnes (Class of 2010) Aimes, Iowa (6-6, 204) Aimes High School
Barnes is a very versatile and athletic player who will cause match up problems on the offensive end.  He has a good inside/outside game and quick leaping ability.  Barnes plays with a cool demeanor, one which belies his age.  Barnes has the ability to slash through defenders and rebounds well for his height.  He plays his AAU ball for Iowa Air Attack. 

Ryan Kelly was also at the game, but the Marshall and Mason Plumlee left the day before for school after a long weekend break which allowed both of them to spend time on campus.  Mason was able to work out with the team and lifted weights.  According to his Father, Mason is lifting at school quite a bit and his team is preparing for a shot at a third straight state title.

Hairston and Barnes seem to hit it off, but Andre Dawkins wasn't able to make it down.  I would have liked to have seen the gregarious Dawkins there to entertain Barnes, but there were game conflicts.

Speaking of game conflicts, that's what kept Wall away.  There were no surprise recruits behind the bench.

Back to Barnes - he did not commit on the visit, but Duke is in very good shape with him and they plan on simply letting the process play out.  According to those close to the program, Duke didn't really expect a commitment.  That same source said that Duke was in as good a shape as possible with Barnes and this his relationship with Coach K was very strong.  

We'll have more as it comes in and we of course will talk to Barnes.  However, I will allow him to get home and settled and keep in mind, his team plays tonight.  So, I will not be rude and pound his phone lines.  You guys know what kind of coverage you'll get.

Also, any members not on the message board you should be for lots of information is there.  This visit was no surprise for members there who knew before any other site. [/private]

Duke Basketball Team Report going into the UNC game

The offensive woes of late - While Duke has struggled in conference games offensively, averaging 70.6 ppg, they still remain third in the conference overall at 78.2.  During yesterday's press conference, Krzyzewski openly joked about his offense in the last couple of games before taking on a serious tone saying, "We're still trying to find our identity offensively.  But we are trying to find ways of incorporate more people, not just the three point shot.  We need to put ourselves in a position to get fouled a little bit more and get it into the post.  Not just the post for big men, but Gerald.  We're still very much developing there.  The offense has got to get better."  Duke is clearly waiting for the offense to come into its own but with eight regular season games left it has become a concern.  "Our offense takes on the identity of our key players," said Krzyzewski who will adjust his offense to roster personnel.

The defense is solid -"Our defense and rebounding is up a notch or two  from last year and that's why we've won," said Krzyzewski.  The Blue Devils are letting

Henderson hopes to continue his play of late vs UNC
Henderson hopes to continue his play of late vs UNC

up just 61.0 ppg, but they will be tested like no other game versus UNC who averages 92.3 ppg. 

Rebounding is solid - Duke is third in the conference in rebounding despite their lack of depth inside.  The team has bought into how important this is.  UNC will surely try to dominate the glass in Cameron and it'll take one of Dukes better efforts to offset this.

Dave McClure -A huge plus of late has been the outstanding play of Dave McClure who is showing senior leadership.  "David has always been a solid player in our program and a part time starter.  What he's done this year is be an outstanding defender and the ultimate role player.  He's done a lot of little things that end up being big things.  In the game Saturday, he's probably good for gaining 18 possessions for us - thirteen on rebounds and five  keeping the ball alive.  That's a lot of points and there is no stats for that," said Krzyzewski of his play.  He went on to say his role was similar to what Dennis Rodman use to do for the Bulls which is high praise. 

Greg Paulus will start- Kryzewski announced that Greg Paulus would start on Wednesday.  "Greg didn't so much re-earn his spot, he will start obviously 

Dave McClure has been to consumate role player this season
Dave McClure has been to consumate role player this season

against, or maybe not so obviously against Carolina.  Greg played a great game on Saturday.  He did that while we as a group were going through a very adverse time.  When somebody steps up when we are going through adversity, that's the best.  He played a great game, he was all over the place," said Krzyzewski.  He went on to say that Paulus has dealt with a lot of frustration not being able to prepare in the off season for his senior year due to injury.

Nolan Smith is okay and ready as well -"This is a good thing for Nolan.  Nolan is a much developing player.  He's played really good basketball for us.  All of a sudden you are in intense conference play and we are not functioning well offensively puts even more pressure on him," said Krzyzewski.  Expect to see both Smith and Paulus play together some versus UNC and Smith is still considered to be a starter.  Smith later stated that he was okay with the decision, but it was clear it may have motivated him a bit to for now, lose his spot at the "1" position.

Gerald Henderson- "For over a month now, he's been pretty good," said Krzyzewski, calling him their most established player offensively.  Henderson keyed a second half run versus Miami but had only two points in the first half.  "In the first half, he was more of a shooter and in the second half he attacked.  He has to remember that's who he is." said Coach.

Kyle Singler -"Physically, he's okay.  He's just playing like a warrior.  Maybe he needs to be a little bit more precise on his technique when shooting.  He's missed some lay ups that have been in and out.  He just needs to keep doing it.  We need f

Paulus will get the start against Carolina
Paulus will get the start against Carolina

or him to stay aggressive, but physically he's okay," said Krzyzewski.  Singler had been sick but is better now.  In short Duke wants him to shoot through his many drought.

How to slow the UNC offense- Krzyzewski said it would be a huge challenge and that it would take a team effort to slow them down.  He also made reference to how important bench play would be in this game.  "To win big games you try to play well for forty minutes and that's what we are going to try to do and they are going to try an not let us play well," stated Krzyzewski.

Interesting K quote- "None of my players are where I want them to be because I always want them to be better."

Closing K quote - "You know, we get a chance to play a game of this level.  Not many programs in the United States would ever play this level of game and we get to play it twice.  Historically, this game has helped both programs win or lose because you've been tested.  I think that's the most important ... over the years Duke and Carolina have made each other better.  It's a good game to be at and a heck of a game to be in."  He went on to say that the most relevant thing in this game is that both teams were 7-2 in the conference and atop the conference coming into the game.