I don't know about that. They didn't look too bad in their losses to be honest. I think a lot of it had to do with Brandon Ingram getting into foul trouble in each one of the games basically. He stays out of foul trouble then they win with ease IMO. Plus you have to figure Coach K is all over them about this.
I admit to not reading everyone's posts, there's a certain poster with the most god-awful bleach blonde avatar I refuse to read. But if you caught my post in XS' thread, Duke is ripe for fading right now. They don't have a point worth a shit and they have NO, NADA, ZIP, NUNCA, etc tall man. They'll be damn lucky to dance this season, I think Coach K is gonna realize the agony of "one and done" this season. FADE, FADE, FADE AWAY!
~T~
~T~
Dook just might not be a very good team (especially based on their reputation), and the spreads are not reflecting that just yet
they're not deep, and they're young, they need Jefferson back
I would fade until proven otherwise, maybe thing will change when AJ returns
they're not deep, and they're young, they need Jefferson back
I would fade until proven otherwise, maybe thing will change when AJ returns
Can't agree with that statement. As long as they have Coach K and the reputation, they are always going to get great recruiting classes. I wouldn't consider a few decades of dominance one and done as well. They are just struggling right now, but a lot of that has to do with injuries and foul trouble in those games while being shorthanded. They will be fine. Not making the final 4 this year, but come on... certainly far from being done.
Probably true. In the past though, I have to think I am profitable in siding with teams after having losing streaks like this that they haven't seen in years. Duke is still a really good team. If they win the next few games in dominant fashion, I am pretty sure everyone will forget about what just happened. These have been pretty close games that could have gone their way too for the most part.
Duke is NOT a really good team right now, and I have to laugh like hell at Coach's remark. W/O Jefferson, they have no chance in the ACC of getting a bye in the tourney, and even when he returns, that's iffy. Let's see, last time a college team relied on a white boy to win it all, think the player's name was Bird. Well, I'm here to tell ya, I'm white and Allen ain't no Bird. If that ruffles some feathers, so be it. I was an MJ fan from the get go, Charles second.
~T~
Ryn your theories make you come across as a total Dook homer. Before any further statements, I will concede that K is one of the greatest coaches of all time. Granted. Not the greatest, but certainly top 5.
Nothing to do with Ingram. I know K gave that 3rd foul he picked up late in the 1H at Clemson as 'the play of the game' but that's hogwash. He played more minutes in the Clemson game (34) than he did vs Cuse (29) - and he had no foul trouble in the Cuse game at all. K just couldn't tell the press that "Our team was up 12 but we have no killer instinct, no leader, and no heart this year.' - which would have been the truth.
The closest thing they have to a leader is Grayson Allen and that kid is classless. His teammates won't follow him. He has twice the talent of a Wojo but the difference is K would never take Wojo out because he could lead a team through sheer emotion. His teammates would take a bullet for him. Allen is a punk and his team knows it. Proof? That late foul vs Clemson. ANYONE but K on the bench and that's a flagrant II.
The point about 1 and done is spot on. It's fine to have a kid now and then who's going to be in and out, but not only recruited kids he knew would leave, he made them the backbone of his team. That only works if you've got another one coming in right on the back of the one who just left. And he didn't
Their biggest problem now is the right foot of Jefferson. When you have to rely on MP3 as your presence inside, you're in for a world of hurt. Syracuse is an average program this season at best. They'll finish with double digit losses. They beat Dook because Roberson controlled the inside. And yes, MP3 had a career game that day, but he's just not an good big man at this level.
And State has Abu. Not the one who sells Slurpees in Springfield, but the one who's about an inch taller and 20lbs heavier than Roberson. He's going to have his way with MP3 on Saturday.
What's missing from Dook this year is the heart. The Hurley. The Wojo. The Capel. The Collins. The Battier. Dook was a program that beat people on passion, not talent. They were the damn Hickory Huskers of the ACC. Then they tried to be Kentucky and this season is their penance.
Nothing to do with Ingram. I know K gave that 3rd foul he picked up late in the 1H at Clemson as 'the play of the game' but that's hogwash. He played more minutes in the Clemson game (34) than he did vs Cuse (29) - and he had no foul trouble in the Cuse game at all. K just couldn't tell the press that "Our team was up 12 but we have no killer instinct, no leader, and no heart this year.' - which would have been the truth.
The closest thing they have to a leader is Grayson Allen and that kid is classless. His teammates won't follow him. He has twice the talent of a Wojo but the difference is K would never take Wojo out because he could lead a team through sheer emotion. His teammates would take a bullet for him. Allen is a punk and his team knows it. Proof? That late foul vs Clemson. ANYONE but K on the bench and that's a flagrant II.
The point about 1 and done is spot on. It's fine to have a kid now and then who's going to be in and out, but not only recruited kids he knew would leave, he made them the backbone of his team. That only works if you've got another one coming in right on the back of the one who just left. And he didn't
Their biggest problem now is the right foot of Jefferson. When you have to rely on MP3 as your presence inside, you're in for a world of hurt. Syracuse is an average program this season at best. They'll finish with double digit losses. They beat Dook because Roberson controlled the inside. And yes, MP3 had a career game that day, but he's just not an good big man at this level.
And State has Abu. Not the one who sells Slurpees in Springfield, but the one who's about an inch taller and 20lbs heavier than Roberson. He's going to have his way with MP3 on Saturday.
What's missing from Dook this year is the heart. The Hurley. The Wojo. The Capel. The Collins. The Battier. Dook was a program that beat people on passion, not talent. They were the damn Hickory Huskers of the ACC. Then they tried to be Kentucky and this season is their penance.
