Lots of changes this season, departure of Singler Smith and Kyrie. Thankfully Duke is playing exhibition games in Dubai and China this summer/fall in advance of the season. Preparation like this will do wonders for a group that is in need of leadership. (Side note, ESPN will televise the exhibition games apparently)

Should be interesting to see who emerges

Will Thornton start at PG or will the freshman Quinn Cook be given the reigns.

Will K start three guards and two bigs?

Miles Mason Kelly Hariston Gbinije...that is a stout front line, but are any of them offensively charged in the paint?

Despite the questions, the talent is there and the arrival of Austin Rivers has certainly made the sting from Kyrie's departure a bit more bearable.

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I'm really gonna hate Austin Rivers.

Rivers might be the most overrated high school player since Harrison Barnes. Obviously, this is a jab, but still, Barnes was preseason 1st-team All-American last year.

John Wall wasn't. Derrick Rose wasn't. Michael Beasley wasn't. Kevin Durant wasn't. Greg Oden wasn't. Eric Gordon wasn't.

This just shows you the ridiculousness of how the UNC hype made Barnes, ONE OF, but NOT the consensus #1 player in his class, a ridiculous pick for the award. Not only is it crazy, but his HS class, 2010, was a "down" class compared to the 2009 class, where 3 of the NBA's top 4 picks (Cousins, Wall, Favors) didn't make it.

What does this have to do with Austin Rivers?

There is a mystique surrounding Rivers. Partly because he's Doc's son, partly because he's going to Duke, but I think he's going to be vastly overrated going into this season. There are at least 3-5 players in this class, who I think are better prospects AND will be overall, better college players next year. While Rivers will probably put "great numbers" and have the spotlight on him, he's vastly overrated going into the season...

Give me Anthony Davis, Bradley Beal, Michael Gilchrist, James McAdoo and Marquis Teague over Rivers. I also think Tony Wroten, LeBryan Nash and Quincy Miller, because of the situations they are going into, will allow them to really elevate their stock after this year. Rivers will be a good player, but he will be exposed both as a point guard and as a defender.

Barnes ended up playing very well at the end of last season, but you're right. He never should have been a pre-season All-American...no freshman should. Rivers may take time to adjust to the next level, much like Barnes, but he'll end up being solid. I'll despise him if he's even half of what he's made out to be.

Rivers is no Harrison Barnes IMO.

Barnes wasn't a cocky kid like Rivers, Barnes didnt ask to be over hyped thats just the media, so jabbing at him is irrelavant its not his fault they put him on that list, as mentioned before no freshman should be. He played great at the end of the season and hopefully plays amazing this year.

Last time I checked UNC didnt control Yahoo, ESPN, AP polls and USA today polls so how did UNC media get him on that list?

The UNC-hype, which has nothing to do with UNC directly. You know, the same thing that somehow got the Wear twins on the McDonald's All-American team? We won't get into the ACC/ESPN debate, that's another issue, but I'm not blaming Barnes or UNC for the hype he got pre-season last year. It is what it is.

Azubuike24;840336 wrote:Rivers is no Harrison Barnes IMO.

In what sense? Better, worse?

Could just be me, but I thought Harrison Barnes was one of the 5 or 10 best players in the country at the end of last year.

He isn't as good as Barnes...but that's just my opinion. It's still July.

Azubuike24;843821 wrote:He isn't as good as Barnes...but that's just my opinion. It's still July.

Agreed on both.

Rivers is not as good as Barnes is right now,
Rivers is better than Barnes was at this point in Harrison's first year.
I think Barnes' ceiling is a bit higher because of the position he plays, size, athleticism.

Rivers will be just fine. Duke will need him to break down defenses and get his own shot, much like they needed Kyrie to do that last year at times. If he can get into the teeth of the defense his ability to pass the ball will help spot shooters like Curry and Dawkins excel. I am interested to see how he facilitates to Mason Miles and Ryan Kelly.