Comments for Duke Report

Comment on FanTake: No Chicken Little Here by BobFord

BobFord — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:53:22 +0000

Finally I find someone on this blog who is aware that the Duke basketball program is NOT in decline. Nowadays, with the obsessive focus on recruits and first-year players, a lot of people forget about the value of having seniors on the team. Duke will have three seniors in the starting lineup, four if Dawkins doesn't take a year off. They will have a real point guard in the lineup. Counting the two blue-chip freshmen, (Amile Jefferson, yes!) Duke will have plenty of depth with ten players capable of contributing quality minutes. Duke will have a better team chemistry than last season, with no one-and-done mucking things up, along with better team play on offense and especially defense. They will be strong from three-point range with pretty strong play inside (contrary to the myth that duke's big men only set screens and rebound).
Duke will be a top ten team. Any predictions beyond that — with any school — are more wishful thinking than anything else. There are too many good teams in college basketball nowadays to cite any team as a favorite to win the championship. Duke will be among the contenders.

Comment on Interested in writing about Duke Basketball? Read this to find out how. by Warren Fox

Warren Fox — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:34:19 +0000

JIm,
I am one of the few Duke fans living up in Maryland Terrapin country. I would be excited to write some articles and give my perspective on Duke basketball.
Jefferson signing is much needed great news..
,

Comment on Amile Jefferson’s Decision Could Brighten Duke Fan’s Expectations by finer

finer — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:48:53 +0000

I'll bet you said the same thing in 2010. You are very negative and it is my opinion that we COULD be very good in 13

Comment on Interested in writing about Duke Basketball? Read this to find out how. by Mitchell

Mitchell — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:53:17 +0000

Hey Jim,
I am interested in writing some articles about the Duke Program. I have been a huge fan for many years and enjoy writing as well!

Comment on Amile Jefferson’s Decision Could Brighten Duke Fan’s Expectations by Ches

Ches — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:10:10 +0000

Mike: I'm with you. I understand the collective frustration of being turned down by one player after another, but Amile Jefferson is no superstar. Yes, he would help but he will not transform us from a good to great team. In many ways, his recruitment reminds me of Lance Thomas who also signed late. By the time he was finally ready to sign, the excessive hoopla made him out to be the second coming of Grant Hill. As we know, Lance was never a superstar but a very high energy defender who came into his own as a senior. My guess is Jefferson may be more talented than Lance (certainly on offense) and he may stay 3-4 years, but his real value will come down the road and… that is good enough for me.

Comment on Andrew Wiggins, Theo Pinson and Tyus Jones Talk Duke Basketball by Darfur Deng

Darfur Deng — Sat, 12 May 2012 19:13:37 +0000

It's a video not an article, which reveals a bias that is a clear reflection of ones lacking in the area of their IQ.
Certainly not a failing readily found among most of Dukes most loyal of fans. I'm actually surprised you made past the math hurdle to even post your pathetic attempt at a reply.
I personally place more stock in what a player says about his recruiting choices than I do in some one who merely interprets what they say. Thanks Jim O for just posting the video rather than an article with your opinion of its content.

Comment on Andrew Wiggins, Theo Pinson and Tyus Jones Talk Duke Basketball by Kim Anderson

Kim Anderson — Sat, 12 May 2012 09:41:51 +0000

This kind of bogus come-on is what drives us, the genuinely interested fans- but not fanatically, flawed, no real life hangers-on, absolutely nuts. Please deal in the plausible, not the wildly speculative when slanting these articles and especially developing the headlines. Not doing so is irresponsibly inflating fan expectations, which will eventually lead to ugly grumblings and dissension. These athletes are kids, after all, and its not fair or helpful to them or fabdom to create expectations out of whole cloth. Duke fandom is already uncomfortably close to the total reality disconnect that is the expectations of the "big BLUE Nation" that is, sadly the college b-ball world view of Kentucky Wildcats fans.

Comment on FanTake: In Midst of Dreary Off-Season, Hope Still Remains by BobFord

BobFord — Sat, 12 May 2012 04:01:10 +0000

The blogosphere seems convinced Duke has had a terrible offseason. I disagree. I believe Duke has had a good offseason. Getting Amile Jefferson will make it even better. Consider all the good news:
1) Austin Rivers departs for the NBA. He was a one-and-done. He played like a one-and-done. More focused on individual glory than on the team. Often hogging the ball because he was auditioning for the NBA. Teamwork and team chemistry suffered. Good riddance!
2) Mason Plumlee considered leaving a year early, but decided to play his senior year. Excellent!
3) Duke picked up Rasheed Sulaimon, one of the top high school prospects in the nation. Did you hear about his performance in the McDonald's all-star game?
4) More good news. Duke did NOT pick up Shabazz, a definite one-and-done in this year's high school class. I was concerned getting a one-and-done for the third straight year might begin to do long-term damage to Duke's basketball program. Duke is not a place for one-and-dones.
5) Along the same lines, it's good Duke did NOT get Tony Parker. By now, we've seen enough of his personality to see he is not a team player. He is all about Tony Parker and likely fancies himself a one-and-done, even though he is nowhere near that good.
6) For that matter, it is good Duke didn't get the guy from UConn, another attitude case. It's good the guard from Central Michigan didn't transfer to Duke. The Blue Devils have enough guards and didn't neeed to over-crowd those positions. It would be good if forward Rodney Hood transfers from MSU, although he would sit out a season.
7) As for next season, Duke has two very promising freshman who red-shirted this year, Alex Murphy and Marshall Plumlee. We will see a Blue Devil squad with good chemistry, good teamwork, good depth, and better talent than many people seem to think. Duke will have a top-ten team. As usual. My only request to Coach K is: no more one-and-dones. No Jabari Parker next year, no players who won't commit to playing at least three years, preferably four.

Comment on Andrew Wiggins, Theo Pinson and Tyus Jones Talk Duke Basketball by Dave

Dave — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:24:04 +0000

Don't get your hopes up…LOL

Comment on Interested in writing about Duke Basketball? Read this to find out how. by Cory

Cory — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:27:46 +0000

Hi Jim,
I'm no professional writer, but I am a big time Duke fan going back to the J-Will days. I'm not an "insider" and I don't have "sources", but I would enjoy giving my perspective from time to time.
Thanks!