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 3. Duke Basketball


DUKE BASKETBALL: 20 REASONS THE BLUE DEVILS ARE STILL THE TEAM TO BEAT

Doug Brodess@DougbrodessCorrespondent INovember 21, 2010 CommentsComment Bubble
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DUKE BASKETBALL: 20 REASONS THE BLUE DEVILS ARE STILL THE TEAM TO BEAT

0 of 21


Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

In the last 50 years, only a small handful of teams have won back-to-back NCAA
Men's Division I Basketball Championships:

1961-62: Cincinnati

1964-65: UCLA

1967-73: UCLA

1991-92: Duke

2007-08: Florida

The defending national-champion Duke Blue Devils will not only be playing for it
all at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas on April 4, but they will again cut
down the nets.

The following reasons are why they are definitely the team to beat.


COACH K

1 of 21


Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Before discussing any of the other factors that will contribute to the Blue
Devils' ultimate success in the 2010-11 season, any conversation begins with the
man in charge—Coach K.

Michael William Krzyzewski has led Duke to four NCAA Championships, 11 Final
Fours (tied for second most in history), 12 ACC regular season titles and 12 ACC
championships over 30 seasons in Durham.

He has collected an NCAA-record 77 NCAA tournament victories, while averaging
more than 25 wins per season.

With that kind of resume, you have to like Coach K and the Blue Devils’ chances
going into the tournament any year. When the bright lights are on and the ball
goes up, Krzyzewski can draw from more postseason experience and accomplishments
than anyone in the game.


DUKE COACHING STAFF

2 of 21


Paul Abell/Getty Images

The current Blue Devil staff has said “Yes” to Coach K two different times:
first, to come to play for him and then to come coach with him.

Three former players (Steve Wojciechowski, Chris Collins and Nate James)
currently work as assistants at Duke. Rather than having to be indoctrinated
into Duke basketball, they have each lived it for several years.

Wojo had a standout playing career at Duke that included National Defensive
Player of the Year honors in 1998. He has carried the same intensity that he
brought to the court as a player to the sidelines as a coach. He began his
career as an assistant coach in 1999 and he was promoted to associate coach in
2008.

Collins, son of NBA head coach Doug Collins, was named to the All-ACC rookie
team as a freshman in 1993. During his senior year, he was team captain. He
joined the staff a year later in 2000.

James, a two-time team captain, played on a pair of Final Four teams, including
Duke’s 2001 National Championship squad. As a player who was known mostly for
defense and rebounding, James brings “a warrior mentality” to the sidelines. He
is the most recent addition to the staff, coming on board in 2008.

This may be one of if not the best, young coaching staffs in the country.


KYLE SINGLER

3 of 21


Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Kyle Singler was a big reason Duke won its fourth national championship last
year and he will be a big reason why Duke will make another run this year.

He was named NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player after averaging 20.0
points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in wins over West Virginia and
Butler.

He won First-Team All-ACC honors in 2009-10.

Singler led the NCAA champion Blue Devils in three-point shooting percentage and
was second in both scoring and rebounding.

Many consider him to be the favorite to win the Wooden Award this upcoming
season.

Simply, if Singler makes his senior year his best season, Duke has a good chance
of cutting down the nets again.


NOLAN SMITH

4 of 21


Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Most teams need good senior leadership to have a legitimate shot at the NCAA
championship.

Nolan Smith, a team captain along with fellow senior Kyle Singler, is a key
returning player from last year’s championship squad.

Smith was named to last year’s All-Final Four team after averaging 16.0 points
and 5.0 assists per game in wins over West Virginia and Butler.

During the 2009-10 season, Smith, a complete player who possesses an exceptional
mid-range game, averaged 17.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals
per game.

In many games, Smith was successful at defensively shutting down the opposing
team’s point guard.

Through Duke’s first games of the 2010-11 season, Smith leads the Blue Devils in
scoring and assists.

Not only will Coach K lean heavily on Smith’s physical talents, but he will also
depend on Smith’s influence in the locker room and on the court.


SETH CURRY

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Sandra Mu/Getty Images

Playing for Liberty University in the 2008-09 season, the 6’1” Curry (son of
Dell Curry; brother of Stephen) topped all freshmen in the country in scoring
(20.2), leading the Flames to a 23-12 record.

While he is just starting his Blue Devil career after transferring to Duke,
Curry will bring experience and offensive punch to the Blue Devil lineup.

Coach K looks to replace the backcourt scoring of NBA draftee, Jon Scheyer.

Seth Curry may be the answer.


KYRIE IRVING

6 of 21


Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

With all of the versatile backcourt talent that Duke has, it wouldn’t really
need a true point guard to run the show. But it has one of the nation’s best in
Kyrie Irving.

Irving is the first freshman to start a season as Duke's point guard since Jason
Williams in 1999.

And start he did, scoring 17 points and handing out nine assists in his opening
game against Princeton.

ESPN.com says that Irving is "the best point guard prospect heading to Duke
since Jason Williams laced them up for the Blue Devils.” That’s no small
tribute.

Many consider Irving an immediate NBA prospect, possibly entering the draft
after his freshman year.

Whether or not Irving becomes a “one-and-done-er,” the Blue Devils have an
outstanding floor leader to spearhead the Duke attack this year.


ANDRE DAWKINS

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Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

With the many gifted backcourt players that Duke has on its roster, it might be
easy to overlook Andre Dawkins, one of the top young shooters in the ACC.

As a freshman last season, Dawkins was the team’s leading off-the-bench scorer
with 169 points.

While Dawkins may be limited to being a sharpshooting role player, he will have
more than a small opportunity to spark the team throughout the season.


MASON AND MILES PLUMLEE

8 of 21


Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Duke doesn’t need much scoring help from the post players. They need to be able
to defend their position, grab their share of rebounds and block an occasional
shot.

Going into the 2010-11 season, the Blue Devils need someone to fill the interior
void left by the graduation of Brian Zoubek and Lance Thomas, who collectively
scored 10.4 ppg and grabbed 12.6 rpg.

The Brothers Plumlee may be the ones to step in to clog the lane and crash the
boards.

Mason, a sophomore (the younger brother), was particularly impressive against
Miami of Ohio, scoring 10 points and grabbing 14 rebounds.

Miles, a junior, led the Blue Devils last season in dunks with 33 and finished
fourth with 26 blocks. Through offseason work, Miles may be the strongest center
in the ACC this year.

Both are energetic big men who can use their size and athleticism to give Duke a
strong inside presence this year.


TOP-RANKED TEAM

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Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Since 1990, six teams that have been the AP Preseason No. 1 have won the
national title.

The preseason No. 1 has made it to the title game 10 times in the last 20 years.
(http://kenpom.com/blog/)

Duke opens the 2010-11 season as the top-ranked team for the seventh time in
school history.

While I don’t foresee a “wire-to-wire” season for the Blue Devils, I am
predicting that they will end up the same way they started the season—on top!


NON-CONFERENCE WINNING STREAK AT CAMERON INDOOR STADIUM

10 of 21


Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

The Blue Devils pushed their decade-long nonconference winning streak at Cameron
to 80 games after defeating Princeton, Miami (Ohio) and Colgate to open the
season.

In these non-conference games, Duke has the chance to assess talent and build
momentum in early season games.

Substitution patterns and rotation can be developed in these pre-ACC contests so
that once the conference season begins, the team knows who plays best in what
positions and with which players.


CHALLENGING PRE-ACC OPPONENTS

11 of 21


Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Duke’s pre-ACC schedule always includes a selection of challenging games that
let Coach K and the team know where they are and what still needs to be
addressed.

In the coming weeks, the Blue Devils will play either No. 11 Gonzaga or No. 3
Kansas State in the next stage of the CBE tournament, face Tom Izzo's No. 2
Michigan State Spartans and also take on No. 16 Butler (neutral site meeting) in
a rematch of last season's title game.


STINGY, UPTEMPO DEFENSE

12 of 21


Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

You know the old saying: "Offense sells tickets, but defense wins
championships."

Last year, on their way to the national championship, Duke had one of the most
stingy defenses in the country, holding opponents to a mere 61.0 points per
game.

Defense isn’t supposed to be Duke’s greatest strength this season, but the Blue
Devils are at it again.

They held Miami of Ohio to 45 points, the third fewest points scored against a
Mike Krzyzewski-coached Duke team. Two previous teams—UNC Greensboro in 1997 and
Winthrop in 2002—managed only 37 points against the Blue Devils.

With the team’s overall athleticism, especially on the perimeter, Duke will
drive its opponents mad with defensive pressure.


SHOT SELECTION

13 of 21


Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Over the years, Coach K’s Blue Devils have been known for their high-quality
shot selection.

Instead of throwing up all kinds of low-percentage bricks, Duke usually is as
good as anyone when it comes to working for and taking good shots.

Duke looks to penetrate as much as possible and then either take the ball all
the way to the rim or kick it out to someone spotting up for a three.

Either way, the Blue Devils consistently get good looks at the basket most of
the time.

In the inevitable close games that they play in during the season, the types of
shots that Duke takes may be the difference between a win and a loss.


QUICK-HITTING OFFENSE

14 of 21


Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

While Coach K's Duke squads may never be labeled "run and gun" teams, they do
look to push the ball and take advantage of quick scoring opportunities.

Whether on a fast break or in capitalizing on a drowsy defense, the Blue Devils
are ready to put the ball up when the time is right.

Last year, Duke put 1,996 shots in the air, 11th-most in the country. This comes
from playing aggressively, even when in half-court sets.

A few summers ago, Coach K spent time with Mike D’Antoni, coach of the New York
Knicks, during the Olympics. Out of that, Krzyzewski has incorporated some of
the NBA coach’s innovative offensive techniques to allow Duke to spread the
floor and maximize the talent of its wing players.

With all of the offensive weapons that can be on the floor for the Blue Devils,
teams will be hard pressed to hold this high-octane unit down.


3-POINT SHOOTING

15 of 21


Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The Blue Devils always have great three-point shooters, players who can score
from downtown and beyond.

It doesn't take watching Duke play for very long to see that shooting from
beyond the arc is a primary part to Coach K's offensive philosophy.

Last year, Duke made 301 three-point field goals, seventh-most in the country.

This year, the Blue Devils are attempting over 25 three-pointers per game and
connecting on a sizzling 44.7 percent.

Even if they cool down to last year's percentage (38.5 percent), Duke will
punish teams if they don't defend the three.


FREE THROW SHOOTING

16 of 21


Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Duke gets to the line and makes its free throws on a very regular basis.

Last year, the Blue Devils attempted 899 free throws (11th most in the nation)
and made 682 (third) of them.

The other side to this is that, by being aggressive with the ball, Duke draws
fouls and gets its opponents in foul trouble

Interesting note: Duke actually shot 1.1 percent better from the line on the
road in ACC play (74.8 percent) than in the friendly confines of Cameron Indoor
Stadium. Sorry Crazies!

Bottom line: Don't put the Blue Devils on the line. Duke makes teams pay.


TAKES CARE OF THE BALL: ASSISTS

17 of 21


Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Duke takes care of the ball in the open court or in its set offense by making
good passes and finding the open man.

While every team runs isolation plays for players who can take someone off the
dribble, Duke players primarily play within a team concept.

By playing within a team concept, Duke forces the other teams to play more
defense most of the time.

This season, the Blue Devils already have 65 assists on 95 made field-goal
attempts. Translated: They are setting up two-thirds of their baskets so far.


TAKES CARE OF THE BALL: LOW TURNOVERS

18 of 21


Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Beyond looking for and getting the ball to the open man, the Blue Devils don't
turn the ball over much.

Last year Duke turned the ball over a mere 10.9 times per game, one of the
lowest amounts in the country.

The Blue Devils are continuing to make good decisions with the ball as they
start this season, having committed only 35 turnovers in the first three games.


DEFENSIVE REBOUNDING

19 of 21


Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Defensive rebounding is a must.

If you don't do a good job on the defensive glass, your opponent gets second
chances and is more likely to get fouled.

Duke is good (not great) when it comes to defensive rebounding.

One of the biggest question marks for this year's team is to find out who is
going to fill the role that Zoubek and Thomas did last year.

Mason and Miles Plumlee, as well as Ryan Kelly and Singler, will do most of the
work here.


OFFENSIVE REBOUNDING

20 of 21


Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

If defensive rebounding is a must, then offensive rebounding is a bonus.

Duke consistently helped itself by crashing the offensive boards last year,
pulling down 14.4 offensive rebounds per game, one of the highest amounts in the
country.

The Blue Devils are aggressive and good at anticipating where the shot may be
going.

Singler is a deceptively good offensive rebounder. Miles Plumlee also works hard
and keeps lots of possessions alive.

Even the Duke guards do a good job of going to the offensive glass.


DEFENDING NATIONAL CHAMPS

21 of 21


Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Sometimes success is harder to repeat than to achieve in the first place

Coach K has been there before.

He knows what it takes to win a championship.

He knows what it takes to repeat and go back-to-back.

He has the coaching staff and the players in place

The Blue Devils are not only the team to beat. They will win it all again.

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