When you stand at 6-9 and weigh in at 254 pounds it's hard not to be noticed but Duke verbal commitment Tyler Adams is laying a bit low. Adams has been the subject of a lot of rumors of late but he told BDN that there was nothing to it. "Naw, naw, thats just rumors, something that got out," said Adams in a recent chat with BDN Premium.
Adams continued, "I've been working [private] out real hard and trying to get my academics straight to get ready for the season." That season begins in the first week of November where he will try to help his team break in some newcomers to their lineup.
Tyler has been adjusting his game to his size and he, as we've told you before, loves to mix it up down low. In fact, when BDN listed the quote "I like to bang," in a past articles headline the quote made it's way around becoming a coined phrase to describe the big kid from Mississippi.
"I don't think I'm growing any taller but I am filling out with more muscle now. My conditioning coach has been pushing me really hard," said Adams in our latest prospect update.
It had been a couple of weeks since he talked with anyone from the Duke staid he stated that Coach James kept in touch and discussed his progress and goals.
Adams said that he was working on his turnaround jumper and a hook shot. "I'm trying to play with a bit more finesse on the offensive end, working on my shot," said Adams.
"They [Duke] want to use me as a back to the basket guy, one they can throw the ball into. They talked about Shelden Williams and how they want to get a big man that they can depend on."
The Adams family lives 12 hours by car away from Durham and that prevents him from coming to Countdown to Craziness but he said he hopes to make it to some games this year. BDN will let you know if anything worth mentioning happens with Adams in future updates.
A Monday Musings tradition is the Cheerleader of the Week - Lance King, BDN
It's time for another edition of Monday Musings where I talk about whatever comes to mind with concerns to the Duke Athletic programs.
Tide rolls in, Tide rolls on, Tide rolls out
When Alabama fans travel, they do so in force and when their fan base got wind that they could feel Wallace Wade Stadium the trip was considered a tourist event for many of their fans. Waves of Crimson filled the Triangle area this past weekend where they boosted the local economy by six millions bucks. In all honesty, it was closer to an Alabama home game than a Duke one for the crowd was 60-40 from my vantage. It was mere seconds before one realized that Duke didn't stand a chance against a superior team. Fans watched on as several athletic plays made one realize that this Bama team was just down right nasty good. As the dust cleared from a 62-13 day and what seemed like the longest first quarter ever the Bama fans slowly packed up and headed back to the Deep South where they'll take on Arkansas in a dandy matchup.
In comes Army
It won't take long for Duke fans to miss the huge crowds from the Alabama game for there will be plenty of tickets available when Army rolls in. And you know what? They can run the ball and the Blue Devils have trouble stopping the run. This has become a stressful situation for the football team for they so badly need this win and it adds a ton of pressure. Despite Duke's early struggles they open as a 6.5 favorite.
Live and learn
One day down the road when Sean Renfree looks back on the Alabama game, he will realize the many lessons he learned. Renfree rushed some passes on Saturday where film shows he could have held the ball a full two seconds or so more. One must remember just how young Renfree is and that he is a tireless worker. There is no doubt that he will be a really good quarterback as his career progresses.
Devils entertain recruits
We've already listed the names of several football prospects which visited campus this past weekend, but hoops was at work as well. A key PG prospect Quinn Cook was on campus where he hung out with players, namely Nolan Smith. Marshall Plumlee was seen towering over fans at the game as well and while I did not see Michael Gbinije, he was there. There were a couple of more names as well which we will cover as the week goes on.
Coah K looking cool in his not so cheap sunglasses. You know, the song? Okay, nevermind. Coach K honored at the half.
Duke Baketball casts a huge shadow
No matter how ballyhooed the football game can be in Durham, basketball casts a huge shadow over athletics at all times. Cameron Indoor Stadium saw about three thousand visiting fans at one time or another this past weekend and Coach K was honored at midfield at the half for winning another Gold for Team USA. The excitement is already upon us and it should be for this years team will be the pre season number one ranked team in America. Alabama fans who recognized Duke players were asking for their autographs as if they were celebrities and there were plenty of comments overheard. FWIW, the pre season magazines are hitting the stands hard and Kyle Singler, Nolan Smith ad Kyrie Irving are all on the first three All Americans teams in each one. Oh, and ESPNU will televise part of Countdown to Craziness.
Scalpers took a bath on Game Day
Scalpers are a necessary evil for folks always need tickets but when dealing with them you often feel like a shower is in store. In short, they make used card salesmen look appealing. Many of them made a killing with on line services leading up to the game but everywhere you turned on game day tickets were available below face value. This often happens when anticipation outweighs the desire for the game has been called a sell out keeping many folks in front of their flat screens at home.
Pick the score contest winner
Tom4Duke was this weeks winner predicting a 62-17 Alabama win. You can win one month of BDN Premium by sending us your Duke-Army pick via Twitter this week and being the closest to the score. If you nail it, we'll give you three months of premium access. The rules are simple - 1- you must have the winner, 2- be the closet to the actual score of both teams. Example - You pick Duke to defeat Army 24-17 and the score is actually Duke 28-24, you are 11 total point off and of course the lower the number, the better for you. Had you picked Army to win, you would have been automatically out.
Cooper Helfet took the time to strike a pose for Blue Devil Nation on Photo Day - Rick Crank, BDN Photo
DURHAM - It didn't take long for Cooper Helfet to prove Coach David Cutcliffe right when he was labeled a playmaker. During yesterdays press conference, Cutcliffe stated that playmakers are guys who want the ball and the brash and confident Helfet fits that mold. BDN took time to chat with the Duke tight end and here is what he had to say via BDN Audio -
Duke's Mason Plumlee chats with BDN - Photo rights Rick Crank, BDN
DURHAM, N.C. - The Blue Devil Nation caught up to Duke's rising sophomore Mason Plumlee during the N.C. Pro Am last evening. We talked to Mason about his off season efforts work, his thoughts on the freshman, his brother Marshall and more.
Mason's stat line for last night - 15 points, 7 rebounds, 1 block,1 steal, 5 assists. Stay tuned to BDN for a full report on last evenings action and a talk with Nolan Smith who dropped 43.
Tyler Thornton is showing off his game at the N.C. Pro Am, photo Rick Crank special to BDN. pixbyric.com
DURHAM, N.C. - On the first night of the N.C. Pro Am incoming Duke freshman Tyler Thornton laced up his sneakers only to find himself on a team of 18 players. The coach didn't know who Thornton was, so he sat there on the bench for the whole first half. When I slipped word his way, Thornton played in the following half and was very effective in his brief minutes.
Thornton's playing time has increased since that first evening and most fans who've watched him play come away impressed. Thornton is the kind of player simply does what it takes for his team to compete.
He has showed the ability to be a good defender always hustling on defense and it is quite obvious that he has worked on his outside shot this off season. BDN caught up to Thornton after a recent game and got his thoughts on what it is like to finally be on the Duke campus.
Marshall Plumlee shows up at the N.C. Pro Am where he plays with his brother Mason. Rick Crank Photo, may not be used without permission from photographer or BDN
DURHAM, N.C. - When Marshall Plumlee committed to Duke we were tipped off that he would not go to Las Vegas but instead would spend time with his brothers on campus thorugh August. BDN caught up with Marshall during last evenings N.C. Pro Am event where he played alongside his brother Mason. Marshall played as if he belonged on the court showing off his ability to run the hardwood and in the process scored 12 points which included a nice alley oop from Mason which ended in an emphatic dunk. Listen to Marshall as he opens up about why he chose Duke and shares details for the first time about how that went down. Stay tuned for our nightly Pro Am article [private] as well.
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