Yeah even if Kelly didn't get injured this year and he continued to be really good I still doubt he would have been a first round pick. Definitely think he would have gone in the 2nd though.

Laley23;1393285 wrote:Yes, of course it takes injury into account lol. Dude probably wont play the rest of the year.

I have no doubt he'll be back. The staff and Kelly himself have indicated that early March, either for Miami or Carolina, is a goal. He'll be back, I just hope it's prior to the ACC Tournament. He can't come back just for the NCAAs, or it will be virtually impossible for him to reacclimate himself with the team.

I do agree with the majority here that Kelly would not be a first round draft pick. Had he continued playing this year at the high level he was and not gotten injured, however, I think he easily could have been taken in the second.

That's life.

Duke demolished Virginia Tech tonight in Blacksburg, 88 to 56. This is a competitive Hokie team, too, one that features the country's leading scorer, beat Oklahoma State, and took both North Carolina and North Carolina State to overtime in the last three weeks. And Duke humiliated them on their home court, hitting 12-of-17 from three for the game.

Seth Curry dropped 22 points, including hitting five-of-six from three. He's scoring 20 points per over his last seven games, including knocking home 22 threes. If it weren't for the nagging foot and ankle injuries he's been playing through all year long, Seth Curry would likely be giving Va Tech's Eric Green a run for national scoring champ. That's how good Curry has been on basically one ankle. He's so good.

Duke wouldn't need Kelly to be a 100% to see improvement on the defensive end. He can defend the goal a bit more and will help on dribble penetration by preventing shots at the rim thanks to his height. He is a difference maker even if he doesn't score.

Early March would be great but given the way he is still limping around it seems like a pipe dream.

ccrunner609;1394088 wrote:Yep.....when Curry went to Duke and a few posters were singing praise about how he was a top player in the country....others that think they know everything did nothing but bash him.....boy they were wrong. His personal development was surely slowed after going to Duke since his playing time and opportunities to have the ball go through him was minimal. Now that he is "the man" he is going to have some big games. Doesnt hurt that Duke has a big man that defenses has to stop that allows Curry to get more open looks

I think you are right in that there has definitely been a lot of silent backtracking here about Curry. The dude is 84 points shy of 2,000 career points. He is a GREAT college player. And playing this year on one foot, yet is third in the ACC in scoring and on pace to win conference player of the year honors if he keeps shooting at such a torrid pace.

The player everyone is forgetting about is Rodney Hood.

He was in a brutal situation last year on a team with very little passion and a lame duck coach.

With their size and athleticism, Parker and Hood will be a nightmare combo. Throw in Suliamon, Cook, Murphy, Dawkins and Jones, lots of shooting options for the Blue Devils. My question is who is going to really step up and be a force inside? Jefferson, Plumlee and Hairston? Will it be enough?

Azubuike24;1394493 wrote:The player everyone is forgetting about is Rodney Hood.

He was in a brutal situation last year on a team with very little passion and a lame duck coach.

With their size and athleticism, Parker and Hood will be a nightmare combo. Throw in Suliamon, Cook, Murphy, Dawkins and Jones, lots of shooting options for the Blue Devils. My question is who is going to really step up and be a force inside? Jefferson, Plumlee and Hairston? Will it be enough?

I can't wait for Hood. Coach K and Chris Collins have both already commented that Hood might be the best player at Duke right now. Some of that may be coach speak -- you obviously want to build your players up, especially when they are sitting out as red shirts, in order to bolster their confidence and belief that they are already integral parts of the team -- but I saw him play in the Blue-White game, and he was by far the most natural talent out on the floor. He's a 6-8 swingman with the ability to put the ball on the floor and attack as well as float around the perimeter and drill the three. A perfect small forward in the Duke system.

As for the state of the front court next year, there's no way Marshall Plumlee will be ready to contribute anywhere near starter's -- or even sixth man's -- minutes. Which leaves Duke without a true center. I think the Blue Devils will be forced to play small with Amile Jefferson at center or in some special cases even smaller with Parker and Hood manning the front court -- in certain scenarios that combo could create a major problem for opponents -- and Dawkins, Sulaimon and Cook on the perimeter. Jefferson has shown flashes of an almost Stacey Augmon-like game with the way he can contort and stretch his body and will his way to the basket to score. I'm confident he'll continue to develop and provide Duke a tough force inside. I think he can be a great player. Hairston is a role player and I just don't see him ever progressing beyond that.

Hood is legit. I was pretty pissed he went to Duke. I know UK was mentioned, and Cal has talked with him before. He's a great talent. Reminds me a little of Tayshaun Prince, not as lanky, but freakishly able to move around the court with ease.

I'm actually shocked he transferred because he could be in the NBA right now. I guess not all 5-stars bolt...

Any chance Coach K goes after a Senior/graduate student big man transfer like Roy did with Justin Knox or Frank Haith did with Alex Oriakhi?

Azubuike24;1394648 wrote:Hood is legit. I was pretty pissed he went to Duke. I know UK was mentioned, and Cal has talked with him before. He's a great talent. Reminds me a little of Tayshaun Prince, not as lanky, but freakishly able to move around the court with ease.

I'm actually shocked he transferred because he could be in the NBA right now. I guess not all 5-stars bolt...

Any chance Coach K goes after a Senior/graduate student big man transfer like Roy did with Justin Knox or Frank Haith did with Alex Oriakhi?

I think there is definitely a chance that K would go after a player like that if the right opportunity presented itself. Duke was very interested in Alex Oriakhi last spring, and Oriakhi was scheduled to visit Durham before ultimately deciding on Missouri. The Duke staff really wanted Trey Zeigler as well.

Speaking of that topic, are there any high-profile, big man transfers available? I don't recall any off hand right now.

As you say, though, there is always the chance of a grad student becoming available. That'd be great.

Not that I know of, but transfers usually blow up in April and May. Hard to really know since guys are still in-season with their teams.

Azubuike24;1394661 wrote:Not that I know of, but transfers usually blow up in April and May. Hard to really know since guys are still in-season with their teams.

True. I thought perhaps I missed one that happened prior to the Christmas break.

Duke rolled past BC today at Cameron. Was up 30 at several points 24 points for much of the 2nd half. Suilamon had 27 Amile had 14 and BC had basically nothing on the offensive end for much of the game.

Post game Ryan Kelly was at the podium. He said he is targeting the VaTech game for the comeback. Dressing senior night, no idea how much or if he'd play. Ditto for Carolina.

Devils play in Charlotttesville on Thursday night at 9pm then Saturday at home vs. Miami. Duke will lose one of these I figure. Hopefully not both.

Nice easy win today.

Hoping the "targeting" talk from Kelly and the staff translates into "we don't want Miami to know Kelly might be playing."

As for today's game, Rasheed Sulaimon was brilliant. He dropped a career high today with the 27 points and 3-of-5 shooting from downtown. Cannot wait to see him as a sophomore.

I did hear that Miami has been added as a tenting game. Traditionally only Carolina requires advance walk up and the occasional Maryland game in the mid 2000's, however the Miami game was recently added. It will be a raucous atmosphere in Cameron for sure.

Apparently Kelly practiced yesterday. DukeBasketball Instagram sent a picture out that showed Kelly in the practice huddle in practice garb. Good news, dunno if he will see time tonight in Charlottesville.

As expected Duke struggling in Charlottesville.

Virginia lost to Old Dominion. They are 4-25. :thumbup:

And this is why I just don't watch Duke very often. Nothing goes well when I watch.

Azubuike24;1398179 wrote:Virginia lost to Old Dominion. They are 4-25. :thumbup:

Duke would too if I was watching.

Joe Harris is GOING OFF.

And Seth Curry is having a real, real nice 2nd half.

I think Mike DeCourcy said that if Virginia wins it would be the biggest spread in W/L in terms of RPI ever. ODU is 323 (L) and Duke is 1 (W). Difference of 322 lol.