Blue Devil Nation Video was on hand to speak with Seth Curry during this weeks media day. Check out the latest -
Seth Curry talks of Coach K’s emphasis on defense in practice
Tag Archives: Seth Curry
BDN’s Duke Basketball Notebook – the season is upon us
It's time for this season fourth edition of BDN's Duke Basketball notebook as the Blue Devils are set for tip off. On to the yapping -
Duke has a tough opener vs Belmont, Maui Invitational bits
It's been a long time since Duke opened with an opponent as dangerous as Belmont, who they play Friday at 9:00 in Cameron Indoor Stadium. You have to go back to the 2001-02 season when Duke came away with a 1 point victory over Seton Hall. Normally, teams schedule a walk through game in their opener but not Coach Kryzewski, at least not this season. Belmont returns everybody of significance from a 30 win team a season ago and they have veterans at key positions. Meanwhile Duke is young, really young and they will have their hands full in that Belmont is much better than the opponents they faced in their two exhibition wins. This game is actually a part of the Maui Invitational, an event the Blue Devils have never lost a game in, but Duke will advance win or lose, while Belmont then plays at Memphis, a team the Duke could meet if they defeat Tennessee which is expected in the opening round. Former Wake Forest Coach David Odom set up these games and Duke could have probably backed out but Krzyzewski knew this game would offer a chance to prepare his team for the likes of Kansas, Memphis, Michigan or UCLA, all top rated teams in the Maui Invitational. Duke will see a well drilled team in fundamentals in Belmont and while I think the Blue Devils will win, the game could be a lot closer than people think.
Duke turns around to play in mere hours against Presbyterian on Saturday
Duke will turn around after some time for sleep and face Presbyterian at home. This game will be a walk through and a test for the young Blue Devils legs. They will need to bounce back quickly in Maui so this game too is somewhat by design. The reason I say somewhat is that Duke thought this would be a 7:00 game but instead it is a 9:05 tip off. Interestingly, the 4:30 tip off on Saturday will be about the time the first half is ending for the football team who travels to Virginia for a 3:00 start.
The word is Defense
In talking to the players on media day, the word all of them mentioned is a Duke staple, that being "defense." Be it Seth Curry or Austin Rivers, all the Blue Devils said that what they were working on after the two exhibition games was getting it together on the defensive end of the court. Duke and defense ... so what's new? Speaking of Seth Curry, we'll have a video interview with him up in shor
Krzyzewski approaches all time wins mark and there is lots of media attention
If you are not behind the scenes covering Duke, you may not realize how much media pull Krzyzewski has been handling. Everybody, every outlet from here to Asia wants a piece of Coach who is approaching the all time wins mark. If Duke wins their two home openers, he can break the record at Madison Square Garden in New York versus Michigan State. If the Blue Devils slip, that home ticket against Davidson will likely triple in value. Regardless, Krzyzewski will be honored upon his return. There are a bevy of specials on, starting tomorrow on ESPNU and speaking of ESPNU, both of the Blue Devils home opener will be televised by that network. Mike Breen and Doris Burke will be doing the opener, no word on the following evening but likely the same team. Anyhow, back to the demand on Coach K's time ... there will be several newspaper specials and shows in the works and we'll keep you posted on them either here or through one of our social network outlets.
BDN Social Networks, join now!
Speaking of our social networks, we have a new Facebook group, called Blue Devil Nation and it is an open group, meaning all can participate. Just follow the link to your right and I will approve you in short time. There you will find some great photo galleries from the games as well as off beat fun pics. And you definitely want to follow us on our popular and informative twitter site.
Duke-UNC Alumni Game Update
The promoters had little time to assemble the Duke-UNC Alumni game and as we mentioned on twitter, the game has been postponed. They are still trying to bring it together but if the NBA and players reach an agreement, it will be a pipe dream. None of these events which you are hearing of around the nation are sanctioned by the NBA, so players take the risk of injury. That fact has kept the event from being held at Cameron Indoor Stadium or the Dean Dome in that they want no part of possible injuries. Of course, players want to play and earn a little coin during the lockout, so it may very well happen yet and it will be at N.C. Central University and it does, don't be shocked if there are two games, you heard that here first.
A salute to the military on Veterans Day
In recognition of Veterans Day on Friday, Nov. 11, Duke Athletics will show its support of our servicemen and servicewomen by inviting over 250 armed forces personnel to Cameron Indoor Stadium to attend the Duke Men’s Basketball season opener against Belmont at 9 p.m. The soldiers from the Marine Corp Air Station Cherry Point, Marine Corp Air Station Cherry Point Single Marine Outing, Camp Johnson and Camp Lejeune will attend the game free of charge and standing amongst the Cameron Crazies in the student section on Friday night. If you know somebody that fought for oyur country, thank them on this day. Prior to the game, there will also be a moment of silence as we remember all those who have been lost while defending our freedom.
Clash In Cameron, there will be both boo birds and cheers
Now that Mitch McGary has singed with Michigan, the boo birds will likely be out in Cameron on December 17th during the Clash in Cameron which features the nations top high school players. McGary and his Brewster Academy will play the 7:00 game, while the nations top rated player and major Duke prospect, Jabari Parker will take to the court at 9:00. Stay tuned foe more details.
Rasheed Sulaimon is a Duke Blue Devil
Rasheed Sulaimon put pen to paper on signing date and he is now an official Duke Blue Devil. Welcome to Duke, Rasheed! In case you are wondering the early signing period began on November the 9th and runs until the 16th. The next signing period will be from April 11th to May 16th.
BDN will be on the scene all season long
BDN coverage will be top notch again this season. We are scheduled to be at every game with the exception of #2 ranked Ohio State in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge,at Georgia Tech, at Clemson. That's all but three games that we'll be at live and in person via our wonderful staff. Terry Rains will be in Maui reporting for us and we look forward to that and Andrew Slater will be in New York when Coach K hopefully sets the all time wins mark. And as always, the original press row tweets from Cameron will continue all season long. It all started in the national championship season when we were right their in the middle of it all be it on the court for the celebration or in the locker rooms. BDN gets out there to bring you the best possible coverage we can and that's why this is the most Duke-centric no official site out there! We can't wait for the season to start!
BDN brings you video highlights from Countdown to Craziness
Blue Devil Nation in conjunction with Ball is Life brings you this highlight video from Countdown to Craziness. Let us know how you like it? Be sure to check out the Austin Rivers mix as well.
Monday Musings looks at the Duke Men’s Basketball Team
In this weeks addition of Monday Musings, we take a look at each player on the men's basketball team and share our thoughts on their performances during Countdown to Craziness. We are more than aware it is hard to tell much from a partial Blue-White game but having watched the Blue Devils as much as we do, there are some trends developing. We are working on BDN highlight videos, so look for those today and a photo gallery as well. As for the Cheerleader of the week, it will return in the next edition of Monday Musings.
Miles Plumlee - Miles looked like the senior leader we are all hoping for scoring 15 points and grabbing 8 rebounds in the game. Miles is a great run jump athlete and he seems to have found the groove of bringing that athleticism in a consistent manner. He is a clear starter for this seasons team and the guy Duke can turn to for toughness.
Mason Plumlee - Mason dropped in 9 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in an underwhelming performance but he played well down the stretch for the Blue team. I have such high hopes for Mason that I hold him to a different level of expectations. His numbers still translated to around 15 points and 9 rebounds if he had played a full game. Mason is in the rotation of the top six Duke players and a likely starter.
Seth Curry - I told everybody that would listen over the summer that Seth Curry would take a tremendous leap in his junior season and he made me look like a prophet scoring a game high 28 points with his smooth style of play and he led the team in assists with 4. We called your attention early on that we felt he would get a look at the PG spot and folks, he is the starter there which Coach K said in a clear manner with his post game comments. I will vote for Curry to be first team All ACC on Wednesday at ACC Operation Basketball, something I told other sports writer friends who paused at the notion when first mentioned. I will bet he has their vote now.
Austin Rivers - Rivers had his Cameron debut after walking out to Frank Sinatra's "My way," scoring 14 points and pulling down 5 rebounds from the wing guard spot. I was the first to get to him in the locker room and the entire herd soon followed my lead. Such is the nature of things when you are one of the most hyped players in the country. Rivers six turnovers to a single assist was a bit disturbing but fans will need to wait it out a bit to see his best. I see Rivers going down a road similar to Harrison Barnes last season where he gets better and suddenly the light goes off. Coach K warned of lofty expectations with concern to Rivers, saying comparing him to Kyrie Irving would be a mistake in that the PG spot is easier to step into. As usual, I agree with Coach.
Ryan Kelly - There was much talk abut the off season improvement of the bearded one known as Ryan Kelly, His numbers of 12 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks are numbers I feel he will put up on a consistent basis, Kelly simply plays withing the teams framework and I think he will be one of the top for scorers for Duke this season.
Andre Dawkins - Dawkins did not shoot the ball well and ended the game with 7 points and 1 board. Still, I know Coach K wants him to keep shooting. Dawkins is currently in the top six players rotation and there is no reason to think this will change.
Josh Hairston - Hairston put up 6 points and pulled down 5 rebounds showing that he can produce at the forward spot. It'll be interesting to watch his development this season and see if he can crack the rotation.
Quinn Cook - Cook dropped in 7 points, grabbed 2 rebounds and dished 2 assists in 17 minutes of play. I heard some say, he's better than they thought he would be. Look folks, Cook has a lot of potential and he simply needs to make a grab at the leadership reigns by getting his teammates involved. I liked Quinn Cook the first time I saw him and he does have the ability to develop into a leader with more confidence on the court. There is no shortage of confidence off the court as he admits in our recent video interview with him.
Alex Murphy - During the Blue teams rally to win, Murphy played a key role down the stretch. He took a baseline drive with authority with the game on the line, was fouled and sank both free throws. That was his only 2 points to go with a rebound, 2 key steals at crunch time and a team high and pleasantly surprising 3 blocks. Murphy is getting adjusted to the speed of the game and the physicality but he is a smart basketball player that coach K praised.
Tyler Thornton - "We've got another good guard," stated Mike Krzzyzewski when questioned about the play of Quinn Cook and he is talking about Tyler Thornton a steady performer with good on ball defensive skills. Thornton has played and can play with the ACC's best point guards for he did so all through high school. Nice depth at the guard spot for Duke this season. Thornton had 3 rebounds from the guard spoit to go with a bucket and an assist.
Michael Gbinije - Silent G scored 3 points grabbed 1 rebound and had 1 assist as the first man off then bench. He will need to be more aggressive to earn minutes but he does a lot fo things that doesn't show up in the box scores and has potential to leap into the top ten quickly.
Marshall Plumlee - Having followed Marshall for several years on the AAU circuit, I can say that he gets bigger and better each time I see him. The third Plumlee plays with a revved up motor and enthusiasm and that over time will translate into him being a factor.
Cameron Crazies - Leading up to the game, I will give them an A-, during the game a grade of C is at hand for they were very average. Okay, it's early and some tradition needs to be learned. The Crazies went silent when the game started with disjointed cheers. Part of that is understandable, but that performance was in no way acceptable behavior if a game was at hand. I feel certain they'll improve their game just like the team will in that we are all connected here in some way,.
The event itself - It's always a feel good time and that will nevr change. There is a genuine love affair between Duke and their fans, both being faithful to each other. May the Countdown to Craziness event live forever.
Countdown to Craziness is Upon Us
DURHAM, N.C. – The Duke men's basketball team tips off the 2011-12 season on Friday, Oct. 14 with the third annual Countdown to Craziness. For the third consecutive year, ESPNU will be on hand to cover the events as part of its four-hour Midnight Madness Special. GoDuke.com and ESPN3.com will carry the event in its entirety.
“Countdown to Craziness has been highly successful the last two years and we are excited to start this season with another terrific event," said head coach Mike Krzyzewski. "The start of the basketball season is always special, and surely, Friday will be a great experience for our players, staff and fans alike. We are looking forward to taking the floor in Cameron and getting the 2011-12 season underway in an exciting fashion."
Countdown to Craziness will feature live music, inflatable games, highlight videos honoring past champions and the Duke basketball tradition, videos by Duke University Improv, live performances and on-court contests as well as the annual Blue-White scrimmage and a dunk contest.
Broadcast legend Bill Raftery along with Lou Canellis will be on site for Countdown to Craziness as part of ESPNU's coverage of the opening weekend of college basketball.
Countdown to Craziness Schedule of Events
5:30 p.m. – Inflatable Games, Live DJ, Face Painting
7:30 p.m. – Doors to Cameron Indoor Stadium Open
7:30 p.m. – On-Court Promotions and Student Performances Begin
8:30 p.m. – 2011-12 Duke Blue Devil Player Introductions
8:55 p.m. – Blue-White Scrimmage (Two 12-Minute Halves With a Five Minute Halftime)
9:45 p.m. – Dunk Contest
Monday Musings – Duke Basketball & Football, Cheerleader of the week
Well it certainly is an exciting time of year for Duke fans with the football team riding a three game winning streak and the basketball team set to kick off practice. A lot of us in the media joke about taking vitamins this time of year in that the hours can be brutal with both basketball and football kicking it into high gear at the same time. Then, you have to add recruiting to the picture, for us, anyhow. So, yes, a test of true endurance is coming up and I can only hope I am rested enough to deal with it. Of course, there are a lot of worse things to be doing than being court-side for Countdown to Craziness or the sidelines for the Florida State game, so I'll make due.
Basketball is here!
Let's face it, Duke is a Goliath to many for the program is college basketball royalty and breaths the rare air of constant contention for championships. While most are awaiting Countdown to Craziness, the coverage begins in earnest on Wednesday, when Duke holds their annual media day. BDN will of course be on the scene to bring you information as it happens in that we are hands on with our unique and faithful coverage.
Countdown to Craziness
Man, can you believe that Countdown to Craziness is this Friday? It doesn't seem like that long ago when Nolan Smith came off the court in Greensboro, meeting Coach K in mid air for a hug after Duke won yet another ACC Championship. For those who have never been to the event, it's a religious experience for the fans with rabid Cameron Crazies rocking the house. And you see the freshman in their uniforms for the first time and simply gain our first look at this seasons team. It's off the charts from a fan perspective with skits, dunk contests and just flat out fun! It's always interesting to see what songs each player chooses to come out to as the lights are dimmed and spotlights glow. This years event will be broadcast online at ESPN3 but there is nothing like being there in person! The festivities start early on outside, so make a day of it by getting there early and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of all things Duke. For the record, many want to know which recruits will visit. The answer to that question is Matt Jones and Rasheed Sulaimon. Most all the juniors Duke is recruiting will have duties with Team USA, thus causing a conflict in scheduling. Rumors blew up that Tony Parker would be in, but as of today, that is not the case. But of course, Parker remains a player that Coach K and the Duke Family dearly want in Durham.
And then .....
Support the football team the next day as they take on Florida State, a team that was picked by everybody to win the ACC in the pre season, not to mention being ranked #5 in the country. This will be one angry group as they are coming off three straight losses including one to Wake Forest last week. The Deacs took it right at the Seminoles and that is what you have to do, be aggressive and play to win. Still, I hate facing a team that has gone as far to ban twitter among it's players yesterday, for you can bet we get their best shot. But this is a young Duke Football team with talent, so if they can match the intensity and play four full quarters of football, they will be in this game. Our football coverage will continue tomorrow after Coach Cut's press conference. A reminder, we tweet as he speaks, so tune into to our popular twitter home a little after noon and check out his comments. Folks, BDN has become the place for recruiting and team information due to the hard work of Patrick Cacchio with some assists from the rest of our staff. Patrick was in Miami to cover the big win over FIU, bringing you video interviews after the contest, And that is something not even the TV stations to claim. We are dedicated to covering Duke Football and this site is #Dukegang friendly.
Sean Renfree is the key
Sean Renfree is seeing the field better than at any time of his career in my opinion. The coaches have turned him loose allowing him to stay in when in the red zone and his confidence has soared during that time. Renfree is the key to the Blue Devils success, so if he gets protection, he will make Duke a tough out during a brutal stretch of games that remain on the schedule.
I think Seth Curry will blow up this season
The biggest question for Duke Basketball is where will points come from this season. With Nolan Smith, Kyle Singler and Kyrie Irving long gone, it is up to a lot of Blue Devils to step up to the plate for the opportunity is at hand. I said in early summer that I thought Curry will make that leap this season and I still feel that way as the season approaches. Curry is a scorer and he's gone through the Duke system enough to flourish in it this season. I look for Curry to be first team All-ACC at seasons end.
Cheerleader of the week
We like to salute the team behind the team and we're speaking of Duke Cheerleaders and the Blue Devil himself. Folks have kept asking me to start Cheerleader of the Week back up, a Monday Musings tradition, so we did.
Speaking of social media ...
If you are not following Blue Devil Nation tweets, you should be! We throw out a lot of information about recruiting, the teams and more. It all started a few years back when we started tweeting from press row in Cameron and that carried into the National Championship game where we sent out real time stats and what was going on that the TV cameras were missing. Sitting directly behind Coach K gave us a lot of insight even though I did duck when they were in the team huddle for I felt like I was seeing something I shouldn't, LOL. It was a fabulous experience and I loved sharing the moments with Duke fans. We share some recruiting information on twitter as well, but must save the best of that for out members, who help make BDN happen. In fact, if you like what we do, the best way to support us is to become a member. We also have Facebook open group which is of course called Blue Devil Nation and we welcome you there as well. It is set up for your participation.
Contests are a hit!
We love when fans take part in our twitter contests which have been a hit since their inception long ago. Every week of the football season you can predict the score of the Duke Football game and that goes for all men's basketball games as well. You win a trial membership to our premium section and get your name in twitter lights if you win, so head on over and get your picks in this week.
Cha, cha, cha,cha, cha, changes ...
Okay, that probably ticked off David Bowie in that it was a bit lame. We spoke of site changes a good while back and they are still coming. Since that time, BDN has been in talks with others as well about going under their flag. We have yet to make a decision on what we'll do but I must admit it is hard altering something I've built from scratch as it continues to grow in popularity. We feel this is a unique site that has brought fans as close to the programs as one can get and we'll not alter that without a lot of thought. We have a lot of passion for Duke Athletics here and that is one thing you can rest assured will continue. Thanks to all of you for making this place what it is today by following us. We hit the road running with our original blog which became an overnight success and we continue to refine and try and make the site better. We have built tremendous relationships which we cherish greatly for many of them are true and legitimate sources as well as friends. When BDN says something, it is generally taken as gospel and we are proud that we have always dealt with the facts. We have been and will continue to be the most hands on Duke site out there, thanks to the great staff we've assembled.
Stay tuned!
By late Wednesday afternoon, the Nation will go nuts with coverage #DukeStyle.
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