J_Logan's Blog

What’s wrong with Duke?

By J_Logan | View all Posts
Posted Friday, March 27, 2009 10:13 AM   21 comments
After watching the Blue Devils get run out of the gym by the Villanova Wildcats Thursday, it got my gears working.

Duke is a far cry from its legendary teams of the early 90’s or the 2001 national champion squad. They’ve been consistently good over the past few seasons but can’t seem to compete with the elite programs when it comes to a deep tournament run.

What’s the biggest issue holding back Blue Devils basketball?

I’m pointing to the school’s academic standards. Duke is a prestigious school when compared to some of the surrounding postsecondary institutions. Players committing to Duke know they have to attend class as well as practice, which isn’t appealing to a lot of top-tier, one-and-done talent that is using college as a springboard to the pros.

The Blue Devils have lacked that special individual for a while. Gerald Henderson is a good player – not great – and took three years to play to his potential. Mike Krzyzewski may have the patience to wait for these players to blossom but the rest of country’s best programs are passing him by while he does.

Duke doesn’t bring in game breakers. The Blue Devils load up on Mr. Basketball winners that may suit a particular role in Coach K’s schemes but don’t have that ability to take over when the team needs a bucket.

Duke’s top recruit coming in next season is the versatile 6-foot-9 Ryan Kelly out of Raleigh.  Last time I checked, the Blue Devils had one of those. According to Rivals.com, the Blue Devils have the 15th ranked recruiting class next season.

It seems every year Duke loads up on McDonald’s All-Americans but nothing changes. They have become the Bermuda Triangle of recruiting. Talent goes in and doesn’t come out.

Unless you want to count Josh McRoberts. What’s that guy up to anyways?
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DoubleUp4Life says:
03/27/09 10:14AM
Coach K is Overrated
sgarhs1 says:
03/27/09 10:23AM
They shoot and shoot and shoot 3's... they will live and die by them.  And very rarely a team like that will win it all.  They have no toughness. 

If I was coach K, I would be recruiting a dominate inside presence hard.  Something to open the 3 point shots.  But if you punch them in the chin vey unlikely they get back up

volstud50 says:
03/27/09 10:25AM
They are an average team when they don't have the refs on their side!
WillyWonka says:
03/27/09 10:27AM
They are weak and cant shoot and have nobody that is a true defender.

Awful team.

Megamaniak says:
03/27/09 10:42AM
Too soft, too many jump shooters... too many white boys.

Duke lost their mystique a long time ago now... it's not what's happened?... it's been happenening... take 'em away from Cameron, and they're just a regular squad.

mohjo says:
03/27/09 11:12AM
dido on willywonka comment and everybody else for that matter no D equals no championship

 

Just like UNC and Memphis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MaineRoad says:
03/27/09 11:32AM
They don't appear to have any athletes.  Everybody looks quicker to the ball.  Too much time spent worrying about taking fake charges, and too little time spent deveoping an inside game of any sort.  Watching them over the past couple of weeks, you have to wonder how they won as many games as they did. 
Ramathorn02 says:
03/27/09 11:34AM
lack of talent.  A pretty bad UT team should've beaten them.
ridi71 says:
03/27/09 11:35AM
Where is the guy who posted 3 reasons why Duke would cover by 10 points? Maybe he already knows he is never allowed to talk again....
tmpeus78 says:
03/27/09 11:35AM
They are a bunch of over achieving average players. 
Bostngy28 says:
03/27/09 11:37AM
whatever the answer is I hope UNC does not have the same prob right now.......

Took them big already tonight.
Osirus13 says:
03/27/09 11:38AM
They lived and died by the 3 in there 2001 -2002  teams as well but they did have a boozer down low. Thats the difference.

 

 

willywonky, they are not awful come one. Awful teams are 6-25 indiana or 0-18 depaul. Not a tournament team in duke. They are a good team just not up to there elite standards of years past

Osirus13 says:
03/27/09 11:39AM
  unc will have some problems next year though. Losing alot.Who know maybe even ed davis plays his way into the draft
pickenwinners says:
03/27/09 12:40PM
coach K is no way overated. Like you said duke recruits kids who actually attend class. You cant knock a coach for going after SMART athletes oppose to the ones who cant read but can score 40 on any givin night. The bottom line is they havent recruited a SEMI decent big man since sheldon williams who to say the least was not dominating but very good. When duke can get a decent big man who they can kick it into it will take pressure off there three point shooters. This is when duke plays its best ball. The problem here is simply recruiting there is nothing else to it. Get a dominating big man and duke will be back in the winners circle in no time.
MiKeY_J says:
03/27/09 01:25PM
I am a MD fan and it gave me great pleasure watching Duke get outplayed, outhustled and out coached last night with that being said tho, I cant knock Coach K. This is this Duke team is mediocre at best and the fact that they were this successful is partially based on reputation. I have no idea how he gets away with all the calls they get , Shyer must have traveled 6 or 7 times last night with no call on ANY.

Your in the bonus with 9 minutes to go in the first half yet you continue to run your O based on the outside game. He should have put williams , smith or even that polesmoker Paulus in at PG moved Shyer to Off G and Henderson at 3 , go small and get to the bucket. Take advantage of mismatches yet he is so stubborn he refused and didnt make the switch until it was to late. That being said the better team won last night and it should have been alot worse ...NOVA kept them in the game by taking horrible shots in the 1st . Every year Duke gets 5 HS All Americans and yet every year they underachieve but its never Coach K's fault ...how do you overachieve with a roster full of so called top recruits?

gah824 says:
03/27/09 01:28PM
bunch of jumpshooters. no inside presence or physical presence inside. teams drive at will against them and dont have to worry about a hard foul as duke is soft. i am sure i am repeating what everyone else is saying though.
johnnymo says:
03/27/09 01:32PM
Nice post J-Lo and I couldn't agree with you more. Roy Williams has been killing Coach K at recruiting since he got to North Carolina High School. Hopefully last night was another wake-up call that willl finally convince him to get bigger and blacker. At least Henderson and Singler probably don't go pro now.

P.S. - Ridi I was the one who said Duke would win by double digits. I guess that's what I get for having faith in my team. If everyone who had a blog on sports gambling was right 100% of the time then I guess we'd all have Covers Experts pages.

Let me guess...you're a UNC fan? Or is it UConn? Maybe Pitt this year?

J_Logan says:
03/27/09 02:12PM
I think Henderson goes this year and Singler might as well.

Duke will never compete with UNC as far as recruiting goes. Until Duke starts offering basket weaving and ballroom dancing instead of R&D, the Blue Devils will remain a solid basketball program thanks to their tradition and coaching. But not a legit national title contender.

bracks says:
03/27/09 04:09PM
I disagree with a couple of things.

Henderson has made himself a NBA player. He s legit. But serves him right being a mainline PA guy and look who kncoked him out?

Recruiting s No.1. No big men. Williams wasn't that good, but you need him in this style. One of my friends said something that I agree with 10%. Paulus is to Puke what Cris Nix was to the CrimiNoles. A pg has always been the key. And he has been the worst recruit I have ever seen. Lawson doesnt help this point to just throw it in their face.

Osirus- Really, Heels are going to "struggle"? This is NC, we don't rebuild, we Reload. No.1 recruiting class and finally a Jersey kid playing their, since JR Smith was too good and went straight to the NBS

bracks says:
03/27/09 05:37PM
Johnny-

You still crying? FAITH IN OUR TEAM? TRING KNOWING YOUR TEAM 1ST.

Yeah, anyone who' s not on Puke just roots for the highest seed.

KingSerf says:
03/27/09 10:58PM
Let's be frank.

Duke must recruit more than a few strong, physical, smart...African American basketball players if they ever hope to reach the Final Four again.

Coach K must embrace thug life!

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User: J_Logan
Joined: October 2008
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