Duke Blue Devils Thread

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friendfromlowry

Senior Member

6,239 posts
Mar 22, 2014 10:40 AM
I understand wanting to stay to further develop your game or education, or just not wanting to be a professional basketball player yet...but I don't put much faith in a 19-20yo kid literally walking away from a lot of money.
Mar 22, 2014 10:40am
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centralbucksfan

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5,111 posts
Mar 22, 2014 2:16 PM
This game, as others I have seen when Duke loses, is upset by inferior teams( in past years), just amazes me. As GREAT a coach as K is, and he is certainly one...he lets his teams just shoot themselves to a loss. 37 three point shots? Are you kidding me!? This is happened in the past as well. I don't recall the game when they had a big lead vs someone, and they continued to just fire away from long range. Team came back, and beat them. At what point during one of these games, halftime, a timeout, or whatever...does he tell them to STOP shooting the 3!?? Odd...very odd.
Mar 22, 2014 2:16pm
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birddog23

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1,086 posts
Mar 22, 2014 2:54 PM
centralbucksfan;1595011 wrote:This game, as others I have seen when Duke loses, is upset by inferior teams( in past years), just amazes me. As GREAT a coach as K is, and he is certainly one...he lets his teams just shoot themselves to a loss. 37 three point shots? Are you kidding me!? This is happened in the past as well. I don't recall the game when they had a big lead vs someone, and they continued to just fire away from long range. Team came back, and beat them. At what point during one of these games, halftime, a timeout, or whatever...does he tell them to STOP shooting the 3!?? Odd...very odd.
Lol it didnt matter and nothing odd about it. Duke was 7 of 25 (28%) from 2pt FG. Compared to 15-37 (40%) from 3pt FG. It was not their offense that lost them the game, it was their piss poor defense.
Mar 22, 2014 2:54pm
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centralbucksfan

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5,111 posts
Mar 22, 2014 3:44 PM
birddog23;1595017 wrote:Lol it didnt matter and nothing odd about it. Duke was 7 of 25 (28%) from 2pt FG. Compared to 15-37 (40%) from 3pt FG. It was not their offense that lost them the game, it was their piss poor defense.
Sure as hell did matter. Defense is not good in half court, but when you shoot that many 3's, much of that ends up creating difficulty in your transition defense as well as your ability to get offensive rebounding. Any team that shoots that many 3 pt shots, its going to come out on the losing end more times than not. Duke is way too athletic, too many studs to not be attacking the rim. And when that happens, you get to the FT line as well. Mercer made 23 FT to Duke 12. Shot 28 to Duke 13. So don't tell me shooting that many 3's made no difference. It most certainly did in many facets of the game.
Mar 22, 2014 3:44pm
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birddog23

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1,086 posts
Mar 22, 2014 3:52 PM
Seriously, did you watch the game? Mercer played zone and packed it in. Duke couldn't penetrate, luckily they could make 3's. Duke could NOT go inside due to Mercer's defense.

Also Mercer didn't get anything in transition. That wasn't the issue.

Also Duke killed Mercer in rebounding and especially offensive rebounding. That wasn't the issue.

Letting Mercer score 78 points and shoot 55% was the issue.
Mar 22, 2014 3:52pm
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birddog23

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1,086 posts
Mar 22, 2014 3:53 PM
Offensively you have bad games occasionally. Defensively you can bring it every game. This Duke team didn't have that in them unfortunately.
Mar 22, 2014 3:53pm
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ernest_t_bass

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24,984 posts
Mar 22, 2014 4:01 PM
ccrunner609;1594741 wrote:fuck Duke I am so pissed
My day just got better.
Mar 22, 2014 4:01pm
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reclegend22

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8,772 posts
Mar 22, 2014 7:40 PM
birddog23;1595030 wrote:Seriously, did you watch the game? Mercer played zone and packed it in. Duke couldn't penetrate, luckily they could make 3's. Duke could NOT go inside due to Mercer's defense.

Also Mercer didn't get anything in transition. That wasn't the issue.

Also Duke killed Mercer in rebounding and especially offensive rebounding. That wasn't the issue.

Letting Mercer score 78 points and shoot 55% was the issue.
Yep. And why I didn't mind Duke launching 37 threes. In fact, I wish they had shot more than 40. Duke might have escaped.

It was defense that beat Duke. Its own. Offensively, Duke had its best showing of the year from behind the arc, with Cook hitting seven threes and Sulaimon hitting five. I would have liked to have seen Duke get the ball inside to Parker a little more in the last three minutes to try and get some points at the line, but with as hot as the Blue Devils were from outside, I can't blame them for taking the open threes against the zone the majority of the game. That's the shot Duke wants.
Mar 22, 2014 7:40pm
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birddog23

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1,086 posts
Mar 23, 2014 4:58 PM
2015 recruit Luke Kennard announcing his decision tomorrow night at 745pm

His only official visit was Duke for what it's worth.
Mar 23, 2014 4:58pm
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reclegend22

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8,772 posts
Mar 23, 2014 5:02 PM
Kennard has been to UK several times on unofficial visits. So it's either Duke or UK.

Also FWIW, he's making his decision less than 72 hours after Duke lost to Mercer.

As discussed in the recruiting thread, his visit to Duke went great, so I have great hope.
Mar 23, 2014 5:02pm
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birddog23

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1,086 posts
Mar 23, 2014 5:08 PM
Just saw a tweet that he was quoted saying - "I think people will be surprised. I've been leaning this way for a while."
Mar 23, 2014 5:08pm
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Terry_Tate

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7,606 posts
Mar 23, 2014 5:11 PM
I'll be surprised if it is anywhere but Duke.
Mar 23, 2014 5:11pm
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reclegend22

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Mar 23, 2014 5:12 PM
birddog23;1595631 wrote:Just saw a tweet that he was quoted saying - "I think people will be surprised. I've been leaning this way for a while."
You have to think that means Duke, if we're ruling the other schools out due to him never visiting them (as far as I know). He grew up a UK fan so he would surprise absolutely no one if he chose the 'Cats.

Maybe he wants to show Duke how committed he is even in light of this weekend's events, because I never thought Kennard would commit this early (during the tournament).
Mar 23, 2014 5:12pm
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reclegend22

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Mar 23, 2014 6:29 PM
ccrunner609;1595687 wrote:I coach in his league and he is just a nasty bball player. Best white kid I have ever seen
Whom would you compare him to from Duke (historically)?
Mar 23, 2014 6:29pm
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Azubuike24

Senior Member

15,933 posts
Mar 23, 2014 10:21 PM
ccrunner609;1595687 wrote:I coach in his league and he is just a nasty bball player. Best white kid I have ever seen
You'd think being a coach in his league would pay at least $20...SMH.
Mar 23, 2014 10:21pm
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Azubuike24

Senior Member

15,933 posts
Mar 23, 2014 10:22 PM
ccrunner609;1595859 wrote:smooth lefty that can take it off the dribble. Kinda got a Grant Hill type game.
Kennard is 6'4 while Grant Hill was 6'8. That's the best you got?
Mar 23, 2014 10:22pm
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birddog23

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1,086 posts
Mar 23, 2014 10:24 PM
He's not Grant Hill.
Mar 23, 2014 10:24pm
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Prescott

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2,569 posts
Mar 23, 2014 11:27 PM
Taylor King
Mar 23, 2014 11:27pm
reclegend22's avatar

reclegend22

Cool Hand Luke

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Mar 23, 2014 11:45 PM
prescott wrote:Taylor King
Despite the unceremonious ending to his Duke career, I loved Taylor King's offensive game. He was closer to 6'7 than 6'4, so he had an unusually high release point for a shooting guard -- and also the quickest I've ever seen. King was in shooting motion before the pass even hit his hands.

If Kennard possesses King's range, which was as soon as he stepped across half-court, as well as a game off the dribble to compliment it, I'd be pretty pleased. From what I've read about the kid, Kennard also doesn't appear to come with any off-the-court baggage. In addition to his pack a day smoking habit, King was a total head case. He simply didn't want to work for success. Kennard appears to be a grounded kid.
Mar 23, 2014 11:45pm
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birddog23

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1,086 posts
Mar 24, 2014 8:24 AM
ccrunner609;1595918 wrote:no shit shirlock. I said that he had his style of game.
Hill was a freak athletically though and didn't even shoot threes. You're right that Kennard is very, very smooth and a exceptional shooter. Makes it look easy actually. But athleticism is his weakness right now IMO.

Can we say Nik Stauskas type player??
Mar 24, 2014 8:24am
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MontyBrunswick

Mar 24, 2014 9:50 AM
He's going to UK. Book it.
Mar 24, 2014 9:50am
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birddog23

Senior Member

1,086 posts
Mar 24, 2014 9:54 AM
dlazz;1595937 wrote:He's going to UK. Book it.
Honestly I won't be shocked if he went any of the 3 (Duke, Kentucky, or OSU).
Mar 24, 2014 9:54am
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MontyBrunswick

Mar 24, 2014 9:55 AM
My friends dad's uncles boyfriend's sister said she knows him and he's going to UK because he wore a blue shirt to school today.
Mar 24, 2014 9:55am
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birddog23

Senior Member

1,086 posts
Mar 24, 2014 10:06 AM
dlazz;1595942 wrote:My friends dad's uncles boyfriend's sister said she knows him and he's going to UK because he wore a blue shirt to school today.
Was it Duke blue or UK blue??????
Mar 24, 2014 10:06am
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MontyBrunswick

Mar 24, 2014 10:11 AM
birddog23;1595951 wrote:Was it Duke blue or UK blue??????
Mar 24, 2014 10:11am