Check out this interview with the recently committed Kyle Filipowski as he shares information on why he picked Duke. He props his relationship with Duke head coach to be, Jon Scheyer and much more. Check it out -
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Marques Bolden Talks Duke Basketball
Duke may well benefit from Marques Bolden's decision to remain on campus since the school break. The rising junior center is expected to play a key role on this seasons team. Instead of going home, Bolden has been working with coaches to get in the best shape possible while recovering from minor surgery on his nose. Blue Devil Nation caught up to the Texan big man yesterday for an interview. Here is what he had to say -
Coach K said earlier today that you remained on campus and would be working a lot with the staff. Can you elaborate on that?
Yeah, that's the plan. I had this surgery done after school and wanted to get it back right whole getting my body in the best shape it can be.
What was the procedure?
I had a deviated septum, so it was just a little small procedure. So now I am working out and taking summer classes and like I said trying to get in shape that I can.
Has it made a difference -- the way you are able to breathe when working out?
Yeah, there's a difference. I kid of got used to it at first but now that I've had the procedure I can feel a big difference in my breathing.
A lot is expected of you this season. It looks like you have a golden opportunity to be the man in the middle starting. Talk about that a little bit.
I am looking forward to it. It's just something you work for; to be able to do things like that. So, I am just thankful for the opportunity. We've got a great group of freshman coming in, along with the returning guys that played, so I am looking forward to the year.
You were not able to take a trip with the team last season when Coach K had a procedure. Do you feel the upcoming trip to Canada will be beneficial?
Yeah I feel like it's going to be real beneficial. Like you said, we were not able to take the trip last year so we don't know all the benefits. Instead of battling each other until the season starts we can play against competition and that will be good for us.
Coach K said he hadn't named captains yet, but is that something you think about a little bit being an upperclassmen?
Yeah, I mean I have obviously played on two great teams that had great captains so I have learned from them. And that is something if he were to give me that type of title, I would embrace it.
On some saying he has yet to live up to the hype he had coming out of HS -
Yeah, I feel like it's a personal thing. I really don't have much to prove to anybody other than myself and this coaching staff. So I am just working this summer and looking forward to this year.
It seems like you are just trusting the process, letting things work out in their own time. Would that be true?
Yeah, I mean I know the type of work I put in and I am confident in myself and the people around. I think we're going to have a great year.
The pre season prognosticators will probably say Duke has two players in the post who will play a lot. You're will likely play a lot of minutes. Will that put any pressure on you?
Naw. I feel like that would be a lot to think about. You just focus on being the best player that we can for this upcoming team. I really don't feel like we have to worry all the other little things. We've just got to focus on ourselves.
What is the one area that you feel like you need to improve the most on next season?
We are going to be more versatile. We've got a different group of guys compared to last season. We've got guys who can play different positions. Really, just being comfortable at each spot on the floor.
When I covered you school, you floated out a lot for some shots. Do you think that will be a part of your game this season?
Yeah. That is something I put a lot of effort into and I definitely feel like I can do that.
What has it been like to practice against players like Harry Giles and Marvin Bagley while at Duke?
It's been a huge help. You come here to get coached by the best and play against the best.
Luke Kennard is a name to watch
North Augusta, SC - Keep the name Luke Kennard in mind for you will be hearing more of the 2015 SG from Franklin, Ohio in the coming days. Kennard is a major target for the Ohio State Buckeyes and he was recently offered by North Carolina and yes, it looks as if Duke will get involved as well. Coach Mike Kryzewski joined Tom Izzo, Roy Williams and many other coaches just moments ago for his game and Blue Devil Nation caught up to the rising star and obtained this one on one interview with Kennard last evening. So join BDN Premium and get to know a new prospect on the radar. [private]
More to come! Discuss this article as a member on the BDN Premium message board. [/private]
The latest on Hood, Murphy and Sulaimon
Rodney Hood, Rasheed Sulaimon and Alex Murphy share their summer plans and more at Blue Devil Nation Premium. One on one interviews can be found on the members message board.
Duke Basketball Notebook – March Madness begins
It's time of year again when every team in America (well, those that are still playing) is in the same boat. You win, you advance or you lose and you go home. The stark reality of that makes for a bundle of emotions and nerves. Thankfully for Duke fans, Coach K is at the helm and this obviously will not be his first dance. But the road will be a tough one. BDN starts our tournament coverage today with the latest edition of our Duke Basketball Notebook.
Insanely loaded Midwest
The last thing I wanted to do was whine about the Blue Devils' seeding yesterday, but once the pairings were announced, I was like, "you've got to be kidding me." But it's not worth a lot of time at this point, because there are no words or actions that will change a thing and to get too caught up in it will serve no purpose moving forward. The Midwest field is loaded. I could point to all the teams and All American players in the region, but you've probably already heard all of that. So let me just say that a Louisville vs Duke matchup, should it happen, is a Final Four quality game at worst. In fact, in my opinion Midwest #3 seed Michigan State could feasibly beat all four of the top seeds in the West Regional on a neutral court and none of them would be an upset. In short, the committee did Duke no favors. While they claimed to look at a lot of factors in making their seeding and bracketing decisions, is seems their criteria were only loosely applied when it came to Duke. Over the course of this season, Duke faced a brutal schedule. Yet when at full strength, the Blue Devils lost a single game. Where is the reward for that? Why should this team have to play a rematch with a Louisville team which is the overall #1 seed, just to get to the Final Four, if Duke gets that far? Ridiculous.
They're a team to beat ... no, they'll go out fast
I wouldn't give you a wooden nickel for the various talking heads' predictions this time of year. I have never been one to give too much weight to the "What have you done for me lately" bit. I didn't pick N.C. State, the pre-season favorite, to win the ACC as the media did, nor will I make too much over Duke's one untimely loss to Maryland in the ACC Tournament. Now that the parings have been announced, none of the so-called experts are giving Duke a chance, which Coach Krzyzewski may use as a motivator heading to Philly. But before the loss the Maryland, those same talking heads were close to naming Duke one of the teams to beat for all the marbles. Well, guess what? They still are a team to beat and their body of work shows they are capable of beating anybody anywhere. The fan part of me is loving the Blue Devils flying below the radar in a world which seems to think you're only as good as your last game.
Albany and the next game if you win, forget about the rest
It would not shock me if there were some grumblings within the program when you compare the Midwest bracket to the West, but you can bet that Krzyzewski and company are only focused on Albany and the winner of the Creighton vs. Cincinnati game. First things first for Duke. The Blue Devils should handle Albany and I am not taking them lightly, but I do not expect a Lehigh upset here. The next game will be very competitive and both Creigthon and Cincy offer different challenges, each a stiff one. We'll talk more about that later in the week.
Miscellaneous notes
- Duke has never played Albany in the NCAA Tournament.
- Duke is undefeated at 4-0 in the state of Pennsylvania in NCAA play.
- Duke is 79-24 in th NCAA Tournament under Mike Krzyzewski. This will be the Blue Devils' 37th overall appearance in the tournament.
- Looking for a Duke player to blow up on the offensive end? Don't. Danny Ferry went for 34 points in 1989 against Seton Hall. Jason Williams also scored 34 against UCLA in 2001 and Bobby Hurley dropped 32 against Cal in 1993. Duke is 1-2 in those games.
Putting a tough loss into perspective
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Duke was poised to have their first winning season since 1994 and had the Bearcats right where they wanted them, backed up on the five yard line on the verge of scoring, a long drive in place with a little over a minute left in the game. But the unimaginable happened. A fourth Blue Devils turnover turned a team on the cusp of jubilation to one that saw the longest pass play in Belk Bowl history create immense heartbreak just seconds later.
It was a painful way for the seniors who helped lead their team to a bowl game to go out. It was a tough way for the under classmen as well and it was tough on the fan base and a solid turnout of Blue Devil fans. Some people will point back to the fumble from Josh Snead who rushed for over 100 yards in the game. But in reality, one could point to many things if you are looking for blame and no one play lost this game.
When one takes a look at the stat sheet and you see a Duke win until you get to the turnovers. The Blue Devils had 36 first downs to the Bearcats 18 and they outgained them in yardage. Duke won the time of possession, were solid on third down while the Bearcats struggled in that area, but that season long bugaboo, known as the big play doomed the Blue Devils.
When the game first ended it was hard to see what Duke had done well from the glare of a few mistakes. Some say football is a game of inches, others point to the Football Gods wrath but whatever analogy is being used at the water cooler today, it was a team loss where no individual should shoulder the blame.
"We played well enough to win," said David Cutcliffe in the post game press conference and they did, save a play or two. Cutcliffe would later say, "We were that close," and they were. But to put the loss into perspective, one has to take into consideration where it all started. Redshirt Senior Lee Butler who started the season but was injured said it best mentioning that when he came to Duke, they were coming off an 0-12 season and he leaves knowing he helped his team to a bowl game.
It wasn't that long ago that Duke was simply seeking wins. Heck, they were seeking a win! And a bowl game? That was as they say, a pipe dream. So, yes, Duke lost the game and the team which could taste victory saw it snatched away in a most cruel manner. But a foundation is in place and no matter where you look be it the future on paper or the continued improvements of facilities and the dedication the the program, Duke Football is headed in the right direction.
To put the loss into perspective, they almost won. They were close to a win and close to a winning season. And you know what? The same was true about the North Carolina game going into the season or the Wake Forest one as well and Duke pushed through that wall this season with victories where they had failed misserably close before. Early in the Cutcliffe era, Duke just wanted a win, now people are expecting them and what a change that is.
So the point is Duke has lost heartbreaking games in the recent past but as the seasons go along in the Cutcliffe Era, they've steadily broken through barriers for big wins. That said, mark it down for the day is coming when they have more success. And while rebuilding is still in the works, they will return to a bowl if they continue to work hard and maybe this time they'll come away with a trophy to put beside the Victory Bell.
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