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Duke Basketball

One on One with Marvin Bagley

Marvin Bagley

The Duke Basketball team held their media day this afternoon.  I was fortunate enough to talk to incoming freshmen, Marvin Bagley III  one on one as the event started.  I would be later followed by ESPN the magazine who is doing an article on him in the near future.  Shortly thereafter, the media throng descended upon him

So the Q & A ahead will not be what you are seeing in the various videos which will come out in the next couple of days.

So, how has life been since you've been on campus?

It's been great.  Meeting new people and seeing more and more of the school I didn't see before.  I am just enjoying taking it all in one day at a time and I am having fun while doing it.

What other players have impressed you the most on this team?

Everybody.  Everybody is working together.  We're still trying to figure out each other but I am impressed with how hard we've been playing.  We still have a way to go but it is coming together for us, so I'm really excited at how good we can be.

What has been the biggest adjustment for you so far?

The speed.  The speed of the game.  It's a lot different from high school basketball.  With me just getting in and learning different plays and things, I have to learn it on the fly and fast.  So that is one thing I'm adjusting to, but I am doing a good job, I think, so I just have to keep it going.

I guess it has been kind of cool having family around with your Dad being from Durham?

Oh yeah.  It's been real good seeing them and family is always important to me.

What has Coach K's message been to you so far?

Just play together.  Take what we do individually and try to mold it into one team.  It is not I, it is we.  He just wants us to keep playing hard and together and make the game easier.

You guys are itching to play against somebody other than one another, right?

(Emphatic laugh) Yeah.  We are definitely ready.

Who do you go up most against in practice?

We are switching up all the time, but I usually go up against Wendell (Carter), Marques, JRob...I may even guard a smaller guy, so we are always switching it up a little bit and that is what makes the game so fun and exciting.

What assistant coaches have been working with you the most?

Coach Nate (James), Coach (Jeff) Capel.  They have been doing stuff with me before practice and watching some film after and stuff.  I am working on my mid range game and a lot of different stuff.

You will likely drift out to the three-point line I assume, or do you think that will happen?

I mean I'm just going to take what the game gives me.  I work on that stuff, I work on my threes and everything else. So, if I get the chance in the game to take that shot, I will take it.  They just told me to do what I do, play hard and just play the game and don't think.  So, whenever I get a shot I will take it.

Have you ever played on a team with this many big guys?  I mean that has to be sort of a luxury.  Will it be hard for you guys to figure each other out?

Yeah, it is my first time actually playing with multiple big guys.  So it is an adjustment for me personally.  I am going to be out on the wing a lot now and just being able to switch it up more.  That is one thing I am excited about -- expanding my game to the wing and becoming an all around player.  To be able to have enough big guys to allow me to do that is amazing.

Will you get out in the passing  lanes more, trying to use your length?

Yeah, just playing the game.  Getting a jump on the ball and getting hands on the ball...just trying to play basketball and get steals and go the other way and get some easy buckets.

What are you most looking forward to this season?

(Slight pause for thought) I am just looking forward to my first game.  My first game ever in Cameron is exciting for me.  I think about that every day.  Just being able to go out there and finally play against somebody else and play together.  I am really looking forward to that.

How do you guys get along off the court.  Are you guys pretty tight?  

Oh yeah.  Off the court, everybody are brothers.  As people say we are the brotherhood.  Off the court we hang out and laugh with each other and play NBA 2-K.

Just being able to be a college student you learn.  You see a lot of different things being in college.

You played with Chris Paul.  Some people assume you can just waltz in here and everything is easy for you.  What has been the hardest thing for you?

Just practices.  We practice all the time and really hard.  It is way different from high school but it is at a very different speed everyday.  So, you just have to drink a lot of water and make sure your body is right.

You got the Slam magazine cover recently.  Is that kind of cool?  How does than make you feel, overall?

It's a blessing being able to see my face on a magazine.  I am lost for words, but at the end of the day I can't let it get to me.  There are bigger things I am trying to accomplish and I understand that.  My focus is on coming out here and doing whatever I can to help this team win.

One last thing.  Your Dad has always been able to keep you grounded.  He has had this whole thing mapped out.  He won;t let you let, you, how can I say this -- get a big head.  I think a lot of people are surprised when they talk to you how down to earth you are and the focus you have on the big picture.

It's all bigger than this -- bigger than basketball.  Basketball is going to end some day, so I just have to stay humble and while I can, play this game.

Duke Basketball

Georgia State at Duke Official Game Notes

Opening Tip

• Duke opens the 2012-13 season Friday against Georgia State at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The game will air on ESPNU with tipoff scheduled for 7:02 p.m.

• Dave Flemming (play-by-play) and Fran Fraschilla (analyst) will call the contest for ESPNU.

• Duke is ranked No. 8 in the AP Poll and No. 8 and in the USA Today Coaches Poll. Georgia State is not ranked in either poll.

• The Blue Devils have won 12 straight season-opening contests including 10 of 12 victories by 10 points or more.

• Duke has won 94 straight non-conference home games, the longest current streak in the NCAA and one shy of matching the school record.

• Friday’s contest marks Mike Krzyzewski’s 1,219th career game, fourth-most in NCAA history. He is entering his 38th season as a head coach (33rd season at Duke).

• Coach K has led the Blue Devils to 16 consecutive seasons with 20 or more wins, the second-longest active streak in the NCAA.

Duke-Georgia State Series

• Friday’s contest is the first meeting between the schools.

Duke vs. the Colonial Athletic Association

• Duke is 39-3 all-time against teams currently in the CAA, including a 22-0 mark under Mike Krzyzewski.

• Duke has a +23.0 average margin of victory in its 22 wins over current CAA teams under Coach K. The Blue Devils have won 18 of the 22 contests by 10 or more points.

• The Blue Devils have won 27 straight games against teams currently in the CAA. Duke’s last loss to an active CAA team was an 85-82 road defeat to William & Mary on Feb. 19, 1953.

• Duke lost to VCU, 79-77, in the opening round of the 2007 NCAA Tournament when the Rams were a member of the CAA. VCU left the conference this year to join the Atlantic 10.

Numbers Game

l Duke, ranked No. 8 in the AP Preseason Poll, has been ranked in the top 10 of the AP Poll for 94 consecutive weeks. The last time Duke was not ranked in the top 10 was Nov. 19, 2007.

l Duke is 78-29 all-time in season openers, including a 30-2 mark under Coach K.

l The Blue Devils have won 12 straight season openers. The last loss in a season opener came in 1999 when Duke opened the season with a 80-79 loss to Stanford in the opening round of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic in New York City.

l The Blue Devils have won 30 consecutive home

openers and are 31-1 in home openers under Mike Krzyzewski. Duke’s last loss in a home opener was a 76-75 double-overtime defeat to Vanderbilt on Nov. 28, 1982.

l Duke returns 45.8 percent of its scoring from last season, including three double-figure scorers in Seth Curry (13.2 ppg.), Ryan Kelly (11.8 ppg.) and Mason Plumlee (11.1 ppg.).

l Senior Seth Curry is averaging 15.0 points per game in his two season-opening games at Duke. He is 8-of-10 from three-point range in the two contests.

l Senior Mason Plumlee is the leading returning rebounder in the ACC with 726 career rebounds. He also has 17 career double-doubles to lead all ACC returnees.

l Seth Curry has made 64 three-point field goals in each of his two seasons at Duke. He enters the 2012-13 season with at least one made three-point field goal in 14 straight games. Curry missed a significant portion of the 2012-13 preseason while resting a lower right leg injury.

l Freshmen Amile Jefferson (13.0 ppg) and Rasheed Sulaimon (16.0 ppg.) combined to average 29.0 points per game in Duke’s two exhibition contests. The rookie tandem was 23-of-39 (.590) from the field in exhibition play.

l Mason Plumlee recorded double-doubles in both exhibition games for the Blue Devils, averaging 20.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in the two wins. He shot 71.4 percent (15-of-21) from the field and 64.7 percent (11-of-17) from the free throw line in the two contests.

l Duke has had five double-figure scorers in each of its last three season openers.

Duke Basketball

Duke Basketball Team will get a taste of the Army – Practice set for Fort Bragg

DURHAM, N.C. – The Duke men’s basketball team will be in Fayetteville on Oct. 15 for a preseason training and practice session at Fort Bragg. The Blue Devils will stay in the barracks on Sunday, Oct. 14 in preparation for a day of military-style training and practice.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to train and practice at Fort Bragg,” said head coach Mike Krzyzewski. “It will be a unique experience for our guys to go through PT and the obstacle courses. We are looking forward to the training session as well as practicing in front of the military personnel.”

Duke will participate in morning formations, flag raising and physical training along with roughly 20 soldiers from the base. The PT session will include a stretch, push-ups, sit-ups as well as a two-mile run and will be led by a sergeant major from Fort Bragg. The team also will tackle a pair of obstacle course on the base prior to holding an afternoon practice at Funk Gym.

The final hour of the practice will be open to military personal and Krzyzewski is expected to address the crowd following practice. He is also scheduled to talk to a group of roughly 300 military leaders at the Pope movie theatre prior to returning to Durham.

Duke opens the 2012-13 season on Friday, Oct. 12 with its annual preseason media day and an evening practice.

Duke Basketball

This week in Duke Basketball

With the summer heat upon us, many are vacationing at favorite destinations or kicking back in their air-conditioned homes, trying to stay cool.  But if you are a Duke fan, it's hard to relax for too long without turning on your computer or smart phone for the latest updates.  When you have a basketball program like Duke to follow, things are always hot, and this summer has been a constant sizzle.

Viva Las Vegas

Along with assistants Chris Collins and Steve Wojciechowski, Duke Head Coach Mike Krzzyewski is hard at work in the dry Vegas heat, and they've settled on who will represent Team USA in the fast approaching Summer Olympics in London, England.  In case you missed it, here is the roster that was announced over the weekend.  While there is an admitted shortage at the center spot, this team is athletic, long, and quick.  While there are a number of high-profile players unavailable due to injury or other reasons, Coach K has nevertheless assembled a team of men who badly want to represent the Red, White and Blue, and that is extremely important.  BDN's Andrew Slater is on the scene in Las Vegas bringing you the latest; he will pay a visit to camp tomorrow and will provide his insights for members of BDN Premium, our extended subscription service.

USA U-17 dominates

The U-17 team representing our country rolled past all its competition in a display which truly reflected what teams can do when they play together.  Of all the American international teams in the past decade that I've personally seen, this team had perhaps the best chemistry.  No less than five players on the team have caught Duke's recruiting interest, including PG sensation Tyus Jones.  The kid will not wow you with his athleticism or with his frame.  But this stat sheet stuffer always gets it done on the court while playing with a cool beyond his years.  Jabari Parker also returned from an injury to help Team USA cruise to an easy win, and Jahlil Okafor was named MVP of the event after the team walloped Australia 95-62 yesterday to win the gold medal.   For more on Team USA's U-17 victory, go here.

Speaking of recruiting interest

BDN Basketball Recruiting Analyst Andrew Slater is battling the Vegas heat to cover the Lebron James Skills Academy, which is just loaded with prospects.  Julius Randle tops the list of interest for Blue Devil fans, but there are many more kids showing off their skill sets in front of the nation's top NBA and college scouts, in an event that winds down today.  Among the players who have the Blue Devils' interest are SF Semi Ojeleye, who told Slater his list would soon be trimmed to a more manageable number.  We are also taking another look at Marcus Lee, Andrew Wiggins, Austin Nichols, and the already committed Matt Jones.  Live reports from Vegas are on our Premium Message Board (for BDN Premium members) and more interviews are on the way.  As always, BDN pays close attention to the national recruiting scene as well, and we'll be sharing all the latest we've gathered from our extended network of sources.

Rodney Hood

For Duke fans, the Lebron James Skills Academy has been a debut of sorts for recent Mississippi State transfer Rodney Hood.  The sleek 6'8" newcomer has been impressive.  He gave Slater a wonderful in-depth interview, in which he shed light on many issues, including the one-and-done rumors that circulated after a former Mississippi State teammate's comments suggested the possibility.  Want to learn all the latest on Hood?  Join BDN Premium and you will get just that, with this detailed and informative interview.  Here is the Welcome to the Hood piece from Slater.

Other Dukies shining in Vegas as well

Duke got a major shot in the arm when Mason Plumlee decided to return for his senior season, and the big man has been working all summer long on his game.  Plumlee seems more focussed, and we have the latest reports from firsthand views of him going up against the nation's best in Las Vegas.  And then there is Ryan Kelly, who has been working just as hard as Mason; we will unveil a revealing interview with the rising senior captain later this week.

N.C. Pro-Am starts back on Tuesday

The Pro-Am will kick back into gear this week, and several Duke players are expected to play, though it will be hit-and-miss for a bit.  With three players in Vegas and others committed elsewhere, it may be the end of this week or even into next week before Duke is represented in a big way.  Still, it will be nice for local fans to get a shot at seeing off-season improvements, and BDN will be in the house to bring you all the updates.  We have a long relationship with the promoters of this fine event, and we encourage everyone to head over for some serious summertime fun in one of the nation's top events of its kind.  Here is a link to the official site.

Alex Murphy to London

If you have read our past reports, you know that redshirt freshman Alex Murphy has  been having his way against the competition while playing for the Finnish National team.  Murphy has a good sense of humor and always jokes with BDN about our traditional lead-in, "This is .... with Blue Devil Nation."  I can tell you firsthand that Murphy is both excited and confident about this coming season, and that gives us reason to feel good right along with him as the summer unfolds and we look forward to Fall.

Austin Nichols invited to Nike Hoops Summit

Okay, so a lot of players are invited here but we thought we would mention that Austin Nichols, a key Duke prospect, has confirmed that he will be in Washington. D.C. for the event.  We have a nice interview with Nichols on the way and, for the record, he earned high praise this weekend from our pal Dave Telep, who raved about his skills.

Andrew Wiggins a Kentucky lock?

Not according to our own Andrew Slater, who was told by the ridiculously talented Canadian that he did not understand where those rumors came from, and that he was still wide open.  Wiggins also mentioned that the Duke staff had been calling his coaches.  Of course, you can learn more by becoming a member of our site.

Less than 100 days

We are under the century mark in the countdown to the start of the college basketball season.  Just sayin'.

Kyle Singler dunk impresses

In case you missed the news, former Duke star Kyle Singler is coming back from Spain and will ball with the Detroit Pistions this season.  He had one heck of a dunk recently.

More to come

We took a few days off last week recharging the batteries.  With renewed energy, BDN will soon be reporting live from a number of basketball recruiting events, and football will start to come into focus as well, with ACC Operation Football kicking off in Greensboro later this month.

In closing, we ask for your continued prayers for injured Duke football player Blair Holliday, who remains in a coma at UNC Hospital after a tragic boating accident.  We will let you know of any changes in Blair's status, and hope all continue to send their best wishes and positive thoughts to his family, while respecting their privacy.  Thanks.