The hatred for Duke runs free and clear due to the fact that they have a huge sweat factor. The Puke Blue Devils will either cover the spread or lose the spread by 1-3 points. Plus they have many questions to answer such as where Austin Rivers stands in his freshmen season, is Ryan Kelly for real and can Duke play defence?
As a card carrying Tar Heel Honk, it's tough to do this, but much respect must be extended to Coach K for his NCAA Men's Hoops Wins record he achieved with his win vs. the current best coach in college sports, Tom "to the" Izzo and Michigan State.
Coach Sha-chef-ko-whats-going-on-in-the-kitchen-ski gets the absolute most out of his players. Many examples can be made but most recently getting a top recruit in Kyrie Irving last year. However, upon Kyrie's toe injury that took him out for the rest of the regular season after 8 games, Nolan Smith parlayed this opportunity as the new starting PG into a 2011 Outhet Player of the Year Award season. Nolan was a distinct untapped talent that Coach K schemed into using as the new penetrator for the Poo Devils into a 20 ppg guy.
Coach K will have to perform some more miracles with this years team. It looks like he is running a similar offensive and defensive playbook, but as of now Duke doesn't have the horses to repeat any deep run into the Madness.
First off, Freshman G Austin Rivers is a talent. He's getting some great box scores to start his career, but it seems like he is forcing many drives and shots similar to the shots Kyrie took last year. Right now, he seems like a poorman's Kyrie Irving and until Austin can find a niche within the Duke offence, he'll be resorting to forced drives to the hoops and long range jumpers shot out of the rhythm of the offence. He will still find his own game, but it remains to be seen when that will happen.
The Blue Devils came into the season with these questions at guard especially after losing Smith and Irving. So the consensus was that they would need to depend on their forwards, especially Jr. Fwd Miles Plumlee. The issue with Miles is he is still a talent. He can drive to the hoop, hit the odd jumper form the short corner and he can bang on the blocks and score in bunches. But he seems to be the Tony Romo/Mark Fraudchise of the NCAA. He'll perform well in easy situations, but it remains to be seen how he'll react to pressure cooker situations in ACC action or the Madness. Right now, he is a fair weather player. I don't see him as a reliable focal point for the Doo-doo Devils come winning time.
Then there's the other Plumlee brother, SR. Mason Plumlee. He has developed into a huge body but has not fulfilled his potential as he still has awkward one-on-one post moves and lacks full control of his body causing him to get into early foul trouble.
Mason has already been replaced in the starting lineup by Jr. Fwd Ryan Kelly. Last year, Kelly was out of his element in the paint but could shoot the long range jumper. This year he has found some much needed foot speed and has an improved first step for both ends of the court. He's had consistent 15-17 games, using the improved game to go with his proven shooting ability.
The x-factor with Duke is the remaining guards in Jr. guards, Andre Dawkins and Seth Curry. Curry has a lot of pressure on him and he's stepping up as Duke's leading scorer so far at 16 ppg. His strength is his 3-pt shot, but he has worked hard at increasing his point guard responsibilities, and it remains to be seen, like Miles Plumlee, how this new role will fit Curry deep into the gauntlet that is the ACC season and March.
Dawkins seems like this year's Nolan Smith with his untapped talents and patience to unleash his potential once he get more opportunities. He won't be the penetrator to the hoop like Nolan Smith, but moreso a 3-pt assassin.
Finally, as with tonight Maui Invitational clinching 3 point shot, Soph. G Tyler Thornton is a huge spark. He's a limited talent but has the hustle that Coach K can't keep on the bench.
There are some unorthodox parts to the gears that turn Duke, but Coach K will most likely find a way to make the Poo Devils' Top 25 talent into a Top 10 ranked team. But Duke horrible lack of defence upon giving up too many drive-n-dishes almost at will, will ensure an early exit in March with a one and done Madness.
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