It's probably not a surprise that I disagree, but Okafor is not "vastly overrated." I know it was just a playground game, but he was easily the top big man in the post tonight en route to earning MVP honors for the game. Kid has great footwork and touch around the basket and runs the court really well for his size. I'm not saying he's as good as Parker or Wiggins was this year, but he'll be just fine.

I'm stoked for his arrival.

Consider he shared MVP honors with Justin Jackson, I'd say he wasn't easily anything.

If I'm judging these kids on this game, which I am not, I would think they all suck. Wait until these guys get to their respective campus' before we claim who is overrated and underrated.

A "down" class isn't a bad thing, it just means it might take until late in the season to really see who makes a big impact. I'm not dissing the class either. Heck, much of Kentucky's success next year is going to be based on how well 4 McDonald's All-Americans perform. With that said, unlike, we got spoiled with classes like Wall, Cousins, Henry...Davis, Kidd-Gilchrist, Irving...Randle, Wiggins, Parker, Gordon.

Like the 2010 class though, that class had nice depth and ended up pretty successful. It just took a little longer to show it.

reclegend22;1600224 wrote:It's probably not a surprise that I disagree, but Okafor is not "vastly overrated." I know it was just a playground game, but he was easily the top big man in the post tonight en route to earning MVP honors for the game. Kid has great footwork and touch around the basket and runs the court really well for his size. I'm not saying he's as good as Parker or Wiggins was this year, but he'll be just fine.

I'm stoked for his arrival.

Rec, I say this because...

He's not Anthony Davis. He's not Greg Oden. When a big man is the consensus #1 player in a class, there are big shoes to fill. I don't think anyone believes Okafor will dominate the sport the minute he steps on campus. That's why I say "overrated", in-comparison to the #1 big in other classes.

I could see him being Andre Drummond or DeAndre Jordan. Those guys didn't really impact the college game as expected, but both turned out really good.

wildcats20;1600263 wrote:Consider he shared MVP honors with Justin Jackson, I'd say he wasn't easily anything.

Considering Jackson isn't a center, I'd say Okafor easily was the best big man in the post (read center).

Azubuike24;1600324 wrote:Rec, I say this because...

He's not Anthony Davis. He's not Greg Oden. When a big man is the consensus #1 player in a class, there are big shoes to fill. I don't think anyone believes Okafor will dominate the sport the minute he steps on campus. That's why I say "overrated", in-comparison to the #1 big in other classes.

I could see him being Andre Drummond or DeAndre Jordan. Those guys didn't really impact the college game as expected, but both turned out really good.

Ok. Got ya. I can't argue that. There are very few Anthony Davises or Greg Odens.

If Okafor can give Duke Andre Drummond level production or a little better -- say, 13 and 8 or something -- I will be more than pleased. As I said, he's already got the footwork necessary to excel at the next level, which I think is the most important skill any center can possess. He's also willing to bang down low and work for position. Although he has nice touch around the rim, Okafor is not a finesse guy. So while he's not the next Olajuwon, Okafor is just what the doctor prescribed for Coach K.

reclegend22;1600407 wrote: Okafor is just what the doctor prescribed for Coach K.

In the perimeter oriented, 3pt shooting offense that K has always run? When has Duke/K had a post player that was the center piece of the Duke offense? I haven't seen Okafor play enough to make a judgement on how good he is. But playing in the philosophy that K has...is going to be interesting for a true post player like this. K has never been one to have or to focus an offense around a dom center. Most of the post players K has had, were able to step outside, at least in the medium range, to shoot the ball. Does Okafor have this ability? IF not, I could see him getting lost in this offense.

centralbucksfan;1600490 wrote:In the perimeter oriented, 3pt shooting offense that K has always run? When has Duke/K had a post player that was the center piece of the Duke offense? I haven't seen Okafor play enough to make a judgement on how good he is. But playing in the philosophy that K has...is going to be interesting for a true post player like this. K has never been one to have or to focus an offense around a dom center. Most of the post players K has had, were able to step outside, at least in the medium range, to shoot the ball. Does Okafor have this ability? IF not, I could see him getting lost in this offense.

Duke has had plenty of "traditional", low-post centers during K's tenure who weren't known for stepping out to shoot the jumper. In the last 15 years, there's Elton Brand, Carlos Boozer (although, to your point, he did have a nice 12-footer in addition to skills on the block), Shelden Williams and Mason Plumlee. All were First Team All-Americans and major cogs in the Duke offense, despite K running more of a perimeter-centric attack. While perhaps not to that level, Okafor will fit in just fine.

Mason Plumlee was the Pete Newell National Big Man of the Year in 2013. He averaged 17.1 points as a senior, so evidently Coach K at least drew up a few plays each game that did not involve shooting a three in order to give Mason the ball. Point being, there's room for everyone in the Duke offense. I keep saying this, but people who only see Duke as this Grinnell-like, three-point crazy gimmick offense seem to forget that in 2001 the Blue Devils shot 1,057 threes on the year, an NCAA record at the time, despite having an All-ACC caliber center in Carlos Boozer on the team who averaged just under 14 and 7.

reclegend22;1600510 wrote:Duke has had plenty of "traditional", low-post centers during K's tenure who weren't known for stepping out to shoot the jumper. In the last 15 years, there's Elton Brand, Carlos Boozer (although, to your point, he did have a nice 12-footer in addition to skills on the block), Shelden Williams and Mason Plumlee. All were First Team All-Americans and major cogs in the Duke offense, despite K running more of a perimeter-centric attack. While perhaps not to that level, Okafor will fit in just fine.

Mason Plumlee was the Pete Newell National Big Man of the Year in 2013. He averaged 17.1 points as a senior, so evidently Coach K at least drew up a few plays each game that did not involve shooting a three in order to give Mason the ball. Point being, there's room for everyone in the Duke offense. I keep saying this, but people who only see Duke as this Grinnell-like, three-point crazy gimmick offense seem to forget that in 2001 the Blue Devils shot 1,057 threes on the year, an NCAA record at the time, despite having an All-ACC caliber center in Carlos Boozer on the team who averaged just under 14 and 7.

Exactly. And almost all of them had the ability to step out and shoot the ball. They were not tradtional post players. My question is, not seeing Okafor play often, does have that capability? From what I know, he is more of a traditional post player...

centralbucksfan;1600513 wrote:Exactly. And almost all of them had the ability to step out and shoot the ball. They were not tradtional post players. My question is, not seeing Okafor play often, does have that capability? From what I know, he is more of a traditional post player...

Of the Duke centers I mentioned, Carlos Boozer is the only one who regularly shot anything more than a 10-footer in a non-desperation scenario. Although he occasionally took a jumper, Shelden Williams did most of his work on the block and Mason Plumlee's range was 3 feet. I have no idea what you're referencing.

You're right in that Okafor is more of a traditional post player, just as Shelden Williams and Mason Plumlee were. He will do really well in that role and really help open up the Duke offense even more.

Lol at Brand, Williams or Plumlee shooting anything outside of 6 feet.

When is the college 3pt/dunk contest this year?

KB0938;1600629 wrote:When is the college 3pt/dunk contest this year?

Tonight at 9 p.m. on ESPN.

For Duke fans: Andre Dawkins is competing in the 3-point contest.

reclegend22;1600634 wrote:Tonight at 9 p.m. on ESPN.

For Duke fans: Andre Dawkins is competing in the 3-point contest.

Thanks

Laley23;1600561 wrote:Lol at Brand, Williams or Plumlee shooting anything outside of 6 feet.

I imagine Coach K would be pretty pissed to find out that Shelden Williams was in fact a hybrid center with the ability to pop the three.

reclegend22;1600643 wrote:I imagine Coach K would be pretty pissed to find out that Shelden Williams was in fact a hybrid center with the ability to pop the three.

Career 4 for 12 from three in four years. Mad ability

Azubuike24;1600651 wrote:Career 4 for 12 from three in four years. Mad ability

No doubt. The Black Dirk.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/salaries/ncaab/coach/

Travis Bader with 43 points in his first two rounds of the 3-point contest. He is destroying the competition. Kid has a great stroke. It's a shame he went pretty much unnoticed outside of pure college basketball fans.

Azubuike24;1600718 wrote:http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/salaries/ncaab/coach/

Welcome to Duke, Brad Stevens.

The coach of Mercer deserves a raise.

Prescott;1600731 wrote:The coach of Mercer deserves a raise.

I thought you were a "former Duke hater"?

But I agree. He deserves a shit ton of money.

Haha colleges are laying off professors left and right yet pay coaches $3 million. Welcome to the NCAA

Classyposter58;1600736 wrote:Haha colleges are laying off professors left and right yet pay coaches $3 million. Welcome to the NCAA

The salary for coaches comes from the athletic department's revenue. The professors' pay comes from the University's revenue. They are not the same.