dlazz;1595953 wrote:

oh really

I actually see a lot of Brett Nelson -- and, for a Duke example, Jon Scheyer -- in Kennard's game. He's a legit combo guard with unlimited range who would undoubtedly play a lot of point guard for Duke as an upperclassman (after Tyus Jones is gone).

While, like Scheyer, Kennard isn't an athletic freak, he has a tremendous basketball IQ and oftentimes those types of players are even more valuable. Plus, at almost 6-5, Kennard has great height for a combo guard. That was a huge advantage for Duke with Scheyer.

Kennard is a Dukie

This is huge for Duke. A combo guard of that skill is the kind of recruit that can change a program. His services will be even more valuable considering Tyus Jones might only be around a couple of years.

reclegend22;1596004 wrote:I actually see a lot of Brett Nelson -- and, for a Duke example, Jon Scheyer -- in Kennard's game. He's a legit combo guard with unlimited range who would undoubtedly play a lot of point guard for Duke as an upperclassman (after Tyus Jones is gone).

While, like Scheyer, Kennard isn't an athletic freak, he has a tremendous basketball IQ and oftentimes those types of players are even more valuable. Plus, at almost 6-5, Kennard has great height for a combo guard. That was a huge advantage for Duke with Scheyer.

Brett Nelson? Blast from the past

Ironman92;1596187 wrote:Brett Nelson? Blast from the past

Brett Nelson is one of my all-time favorite college basketball players. Loved watching that kid play. He was a gunslinger in every sense of the word, but also a great point guard for Florida in the post-Teddy Dupay era. I vividly remember a shot he took mid-shot clock against Kentucky in the O-Dome. It was from the tip of the Gator at half-court -- a legit 35 feet -- and didn't even hit the rim. The ball hit the bottom right-hand corner of the backboard, prompting Brad Nessler to say, "Whoa Nelson!"

Anyway, I loved his game.

reclegend22;1596196 wrote:Brett Nelson is one of my all-time favorite college basketball players. Loved watching that kid play. He was a gunslinger in every sense of the word, but also a great point guard for Florida in the post-Teddy Dupay era. I vividly remember a shot he took mid-shot clock against Kentucky in the O-Dome. It was from the tip of the Gator at half-court -- a legit 35 feet -- and didn't even hit the rim. The ball hit the bottom right-hand corner of the backboard, prompting Brad Nessler to say, "Whoa Nelson!"

Anyway, I loved his game.

He and Randy Moss on the same little hick West Virginia high school football and basketball teams.

Ironman92;1596203 wrote:He and Randy Moss on the same little hick West Virginia high school football and basketball teams.

That was Jason Williams, not Brett Nelson.

ccrunner609;1596133 wrote:YES

He'll be losing to 15-14-13 seeds in no time!

Terry_Tate;1596209 wrote:That was Jason Williams, not Brett Nelson.

Yup, DuPont HS, north and east of Charleston. From what I remember Nelson is from Dunbar, south of Charleston.

edit- wrong on my part, Nelson is from St. Albans, still south and west of Charleston, right next to Dunbar. And he's too young to have been playing with Moss at the time.

Terry_Tate;1596209 wrote:That was Jason Williams, not Brett Nelson.

Lol....thanks. It didn't sound right but I rolled with it anyways.

Ironman, we got hold of a pirated tape of DuPont playing some team in the WV tourney with Moss/Williams. Those guys were ridiculous, I think Moss put down at least 7 dunks, and they were playing against a very good team (Oak Hill?).

Ironman you will love this, and the accents:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAC-R85tbb4

This wasn't the game that I saw in full pirated.

Manhattan Buckeye;1596258 wrote:Ironman, we got hold of a pirated tape of DuPont playing some team in the WV tourney with Moss/Williams. Those guys were ridiculous, I think Moss put down at least 7 dunks, and they were playing against a very good team (Oak Hill?).

I have DuPont's 1992 state championship game on VHS. Haha. Bought it on ebay when I was in middle school and obsessed with White Chocolate.

That is likely the same tape I saw.

--although I think it was 1994, not 1992

Manhattan Buckeye;1596277 wrote:That is likely the same tape I saw.

--although I think it was 1994, not 1992

That could be right. It is early '90s. I'd have to dig it out and look. In fact, I may just do that later tonight. Ha.

reclegend22;1596134 wrote:This is huge for Duke. A combo guard of that skill is the kind of recruit that can change a program. His services will be even more valuable considering Tyus Jones might only be around a couple of years.

Rec - no offense, but Coach K's strategy takes the air out things like this a little. Go back and look at post #100 of this thread where you started suspecting this year's team would encompass Parker, Hood, etc.and it could be one of their best yet. Was losing to #13 seeded Mercer what you were predicting?

friendfromlowry;1596365 wrote:Rec - no offense, but Coach K's strategy takes the air out things like this a little. Go back and look at post #100 of this thread where you started suspecting this year's team would encompass Parker, Hood, etc.and it could be one of their best yet. Was losing to #13 seeded Mercer what you were predicting?

Yeah, I agree that, on the surface, Duke should have been much better this year. Certainly better than 26-9 and first-round losers to Mercer. The big difference between this year and the next couple of years, however, is that this year Duke didn't have a balanced attack. K's biggest mistake this season was not developing Marshall Plumlee, who actually does have the skills to perform as a serviceable center and he proved that in a few ACC games. K obviously had other plans. He won't sit top 2014 center Jahlil Okafor and that should give the Devils the balance they sorely lacked this season.

As I've said before, Coach K's offensive strategy is just fine. When Duke won it all in 2001, the Blue Devils launched a then-NCAA record 1,057 threes. This season Duke shot 787. The reason is worked in 2001 is Duke had Carlos Boozer on the block to balance things out.

News is breaking that Rodney Hood is leaving. Not a big surprise.

And I am sure Parker will follow, but I can't blame either for taking what they've earned (though maybe it's a good sign that Parker didn't bolt first. But probably wishful thinking).

The Luke signing yesterday kind of softens the blow as does the arrival of arguably the top point guard and center in this year's class. Really looking forward to Okafor. He was just named the Morgen Wooten National Player of the Year, after averaging 24.1 and 11.3 per. What I love about his game the most, however, is that he's an even better passer. The kid is a tremendous team player and will fit into Duke's attack really well.

Manhattan Buckeye;1596259 wrote:Ironman you will love this, and the accents:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAC-R85tbb4

This wasn't the game that I saw in full pirated.

Yeah.....that's definitely how they talk just across the river. Lol

Was able to stream a little bit of Coach K's presser today during lunch.

Says that his biggest regret over the last five years is not red-shirting Ryan Kelly. That was apparently something that was close to happening. No way Duke loses to Mercer this year with Ryan Kelly in the front court (and not to Lehigh either if he hadn't missed that game due to injury).

Also says that recruiting for 2014 is not yet finished. If both Rodney and Jabari are gone, Duke might go after a transfer. Myles Turner, the #2 center in 2014, is still available, but with Okafor already in the bag, not sure how realistic this is.

Says he will be at Duke for at least five years.

ccrunner609;1596617 wrote:who is at Duke for 5 years? Okafor?

K.

Yeah, K. God, if we had Okafor until he was 23, Duke might have a mini UCLA dynasty. Haha.

K says that Jabari coming back would be a "big-time decision." Likely means he knows Jabari is gone. But didn't elaborate on Jabari or Hood, even in light of Adam Zagoria's reports that Hood is gone. Says that he would love the opportunity to coach both again (obvious)

Says that Duke will have a point guard next year with outstanding leadership (Tyus Jones), a quality this team didn't have (speaking to nobody leading this year's team; obviously he doesn't feel Jabari fit that bill)

I assume that means that Quinn is all but done. No surprise. He'll be better in an off guard role as a spot-up shooter anyway. He'll likely play the same amount that Greg Paulus did after losing his regular spot in the rotation as a senior

Says the team better get used to playing AROUND Okafor. Thank you, K

Honestly, and I've always believed this, but I think K will be at Duke almost as long as Joe Paterno was at Penn State. Easily could see K in Durham until he is in his late 70s, which would be another decade (he's 67). He looks a legit five or six years younger than he really is and is in great health.

Paterno coached at Penn State until he was 81.