Former Dukie, Carlos Boozer, has really been playing well for the Chicago Bulls and he's a big reason they hold their divisions lead. Bull's fans are concerned that the return of to the lineup will disrupt team chemestry, so stay tuned.
We are hearing Player of the Year talk concerning senior Duke standout Nolan Smith. That came as no surprise to me as I discussed the possibility of Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith splitting votes during the ACC's media day in Charlotte. To his credit, Winston Salem writer Bill Cole, tabbed Smith as his pre season favorite in the ACC while many played it safe with Kyle Singler.
Duke lost Co-Marion Hobby to Clemson this past week and I have both good and bad vibes from this latest happening. One would think he'd remain in a stable situation before heading to Death Valley where the fans have little patience if their team is not winning and Dabo Sweeny has yet to prove himself. On the bright side of things, Duke will have a fresh look on defense and we'll stay on top of who Coach David Cutcliffe will hire.
Duke Basketball will entertain two prospects tonight against Maryland. Alex Murphy pays a visit to Durham and he is high on Duke's wish list and likely down to Duke and Boston College, in my opinion. Duke will also entertain Jabari Parker, a young stud who you'll hear more of as we move forward. There is the possibility of Quinn Cook showing up as well. For those who are there tonight, make them feel welcome. For more on recruiting, join BDN Premium and gain full site access.
We are opening up our Duke-Maryland prediction contest on twitter. Get your pick in and be the closest to the score and win one month of BDN Premium Access. Also, follow us on twitter and Facebook and we'll keep you in the know. Our tweets along the Road to the Final Four hooked a lot of people last season and we'll continue updates from press row all season long.
And congrats to Trajan Langdon who was named to the FIBA All Decade Team which is quite an accomplishment.
DURHAM, N.C. -- All-ACC defensive tackle Vince Oghobaase announced on Monday that he will return to Duke for the 2009 football campaign to play his final season of eligibility for the Blue Devils.
Oghobaase has fulfilled requirements for his degree in sociology, and will continue his undergraduate studies to pursue a second degree as well as a certificate in markets and
Vince wants another year under Hobby
management. Earlier this month, he submitted his name to the NFL draft advisory board and received confidential information regarding his potential status for the upcoming 2009 draft.
"I honestly feel there is a time and place for everything, and deep down in my heart I know Duke is where I want to be next year," said Oghobaase. "When we arrived here, we set some goals both academically and athletically and we have some unfinished business on the field. We want to continue to turn things around for the program and we have a great foundation for success. We have some outstanding players returning on both offense and defense and in the kicking game. We have holes to fill as we lost some great seniors, but the foundation is there. On the defensive line, we have Ayanga (Okpokowuruk), Wesley (Oglesby), Kinney (Rucker), Charlie (Hatcher), Patrick (Egboh) and Brandon (Harper) all coming back with experience and we will strive to be an exceptional unit. If we continue to work hard as a team and do everything the coaches ask of us, we can reach our goals of winning games and playing in a bowl game.
"I was dissatisfied with receiving honorable mention All-ACC last year," continued Oghobaase. "I am highly confident with another year of development I can earn first team all-conference, All-America and defensive player of the year honors. These are very attainable goals. I know I can develop further under strength Coach (Noel) Durfey and d-line Coach (Marion) Hobby. I feel another year with them will put me over the top and evolve me into one of the elite defensive tackles in the country. I accomplished my goal of graduating from Duke, and now I'll concentrate on the markets and management certificate. That will be just another thing in my pocket I can use after football."
Oghobaase will be one of five returning starters on a defensive unit that made significant improvement in scoring defense (-9.8), total defense (-67.4), rushing defense (-28.7) and passing defense (-38.7) while facing the second-most difficult schedule in the nation -- a ledger that included 10 bowl eligible teams and the top-ranked FCS squad in James Madison.
"This decision indicates Vince's strong commitment to both his education and our football program," said Duke head coach David Cutcliffe. "I think he probably shocked some people when he chose to come to Duke four years ago, and I think this decision will probably shock some people. But people need to understand that Vince is a young man of great character who has a tremendous understanding of what is important. He values faith, family, education, hard work and the desire to be successful. Choosing a college to attend isn't a four-year decision, it's a forty-year decision, and Vince wants to make sure that his total college experience is the best it could possibly be. Vince did his homework and reached this decision.
"In regards to football, it is without question that we're thrilled to have one of the best defensive tackles in the country returning for his senior season," continued Cutcliffe. "He'll have an opportunity to earn All-America recognition next year. Vince will continue to get better under the guidance of Marion Hobby, and I'm confident that he will put himself in a better position for the professional football ranks over the next 16 months."
Oghobaase enrolled at Duke in January of 2005 following a prep All-America career at Alief Hastings High School in Houston, Texas. After redshirting his first season, he has started
Vince wants another season under Hobby
the past 36 games on the Blue Devil defensive front, amassing 128 tackles, 29.0 tackles for loss and 11.5 quarterback sacks. His 29.0 career tackles for loss rank 11th on Duke's all-time chart. Oghobaase has played his best football late in the season, posting 14.0 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 11 career November games.
This past season, Oghobaase posted 51 stops, 9,0 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks and five quarterback pressures, ranking 10th in the conference in sacks. En route to earning honorable mention All-ACC honors, Oghobaase closed the 2008 campaign on a high note by registering 25 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks over the final five games of the year.
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