2007-08 Basketball

[burton2019]

IMo...Kansas, UCLa, Memphis,Georgetown, and UNC all could win it.


And of course CC dosnt think UNC will win it. Hes a Puke fan! [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img]

[CoeburnCane]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: burton2019</div><div class="ubbcode-body">IMo...Kansas, UCLa, Memphis,Georgetown, and UNC all could win it.


And of course CC dosnt think UNC will win it. Hes a Puke fan! [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img]
</div></div>

Duke or no Duke, it's hard to go wire to wire. If everyone's picking you preseason to win it's more likely than not that you just won't. That pressure gets to a team, no matter if it's UNC, Duke, Kansas, UK, whoever.

That's my rationale for saying UNC won't win it all--but thanks for thinking it was a homer thing when I actually had a valid reason.

[burton2019]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CoeburnCane</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: burton2019</div><div class="ubbcode-body">IMo...Kansas, UCLa, Memphis,Georgetown, and UNC all could win it.


And of course CC dosnt think UNC will win it. Hes a Puke fan! [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img]
</div></div>


That's my rationale for saying UNC won't win it all--but thanks for thinking it was a homer thing when I actually had a valid reason.</div></div>




No problem. Anytime.



let me guess though...if your team was preseason ranked #1 would you be saying the same thing. I have feeling you wouldn't.

[imported_BleedingBlue]

CoeburnCane, how do you think Kyle Singler will do for Duke this year? From what I've heard and read, I think he will be one to keep an eye on.. He's scored a lot of points in the exhibition games they've played.

[CoeburnCane]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: burton2019</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CoeburnCane</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: burton2019</div><div class="ubbcode-body">IMo...Kansas, UCLa, Memphis,Georgetown, and UNC all could win it.


And of course CC dosnt think UNC will win it. Hes a Puke fan! [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img]
</div></div>


That's my rationale for saying UNC won't win it all--but thanks for thinking it was a homer thing when I actually had a valid reason.</div></div>




No problem. Anytime.



let me guess though...if your team was preseason ranked #1 would you be saying the same thing. I have feeling you wouldn't.</div></div>

I'd be worried about the jinx of being preseason #1 because it is a lot of pressure to go wire to wire...but I'd probably be rooting for them to win it all. Now, I wouldn't be going out and placing bets and telling everyone that Duke's gonna win it all due to my worries about the pressure of starting at the top and having to stay there...but I'd root for them to do it as best as they could.

[CoeburnCane]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BleedingBlue</div><div class="ubbcode-body">CoeburnCane, how do you think Kyle Singler will do for Duke this year? From what I've heard and read, I think he will be one to keep an eye on.. He's scored a lot of points in the exhibition games they've played.</div></div>

Singler's a lot more mature with his game than any freshman Duke's gotten on their roster since I dunno when. The guy can be a quick 4 or a big 3. He and Taylor King both look slight, but they're big enough and aggressive enough to do work on the boards as well. I've said he reminds me of Dunleavy since I first saw his vids, and I stand by that, except I think he's better as a freshman than what Dunleavy was.

Singler's overall game is very nice and is built for an up and down tempo, which is a welcome change especially with Nolan Smith sure to get some burn at the point. Against Shaw in their first exhibition, Smith got a turnover, Singler trailed, and Smith hit Singler w/a pass for a dunk--two possessions in a row. It looked seemless. Of course, granted, it was against Shaw U...but it's good to see uptempo back in Duke's arsenal instead of pounding it halfcourt.

Overall, from what I can see, Duke's a stronger team physically which will help on the boards and should help them w/wear & tear that set in during the past couple of seasons. They have valid scorers on the team now between Henderson, Singler, King, and Smith. Everyone else does their job, doesn't make too many mistakes *looking at Greg Paulus*, and Duke will be in competition for the ACC this year.

[imported_BleedingBlue]

Yeah I definately look for better results than last year.. I'd love to see them win the ACC.

[gcdevil22]

don't count on it...the ACC has become a conference with loads and loads of athletes, and while Duke's players are basketball savvy, they just don't match up well athletically with the rest pf the conference, as you saw last year

when Paulus leaves or when an athletic PG who can defend takes his place, then Duke should be Duke again

[cvcgrad]

Even as a Duke fan, I would be happy to see UNC go to the National championship.

But, if this team doesn't win it this year, they will have become the most over-hyped college basketball team in recent history.

[CoeburnCane]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: vthokie22</div><div class="ubbcode-body">when Paulus leaves or when an athletic PG who can defend takes his place, then Duke should be Duke again</div></div>

As much basketball as you've seen, I'm sure you've seen Nolan Smith--I think he's capable of letting Paulus play off the ball more offensively and not have to go against the quickest guy on the other team each and every night. Smith may be a combo guy, but he seems to be capable enough even as a freshman to at least take the pressure off Paulus defensively.

Early in the season when watching the exhibition games (keeping in mind the level of competition), I like the combo that was out there a few times w/Smith at the 1 and Paulus at the 2. Paulus moves well w/o the ball and can score the ball pretty well offensively, but has been too bogged down trying to run the offense that he couldn't do both. Big 2's may give Paulus matchup problems, but Smith pulling the trigger will be a better fit.

Also, Elliot Williams is a year away, and he can definitely cover anything defensively from a 1 to a 3 effectively.

So...if help isn't "here" in the form of Smith, then at least it's on the way with Williams. Neither are true PG's, but both can run an offense or score either one.