Category Archives: Duke

Duke, Featured stories, The skinny, UNC

Heels, Zeller “rebound” but still have Duke on their minds

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The loss to Duke continued to be on the Tar Heels’ minds before, during and after their 70-52 victory over Virginia.

Tyler Zeller said he wanted to personally bounce back after his part in the Tar Heels’ late-game demise Wednesday night. He succeeded with a 25-point, nine-rebound effort.

Carolina held a 10-point lead against Duke with two and a half minutes to go. This time, Virginia cut a 15-foot deficit to 11 points with the same amount of time left.

In a Carolina huddle, one player said to remember what happened Wednesday night but Coach Williams said “no, let’s play for today.”

Reserve Stilman White, who spelled Kendall Marshall for eight minutes, said after the game that the Heels handled the end of game better this time and that the Tar Heels still believe that, despite the loss, it’s obvious they are a better team than Duke.

It’s natural that the team is still thinking about that game and maybe it helped them focus on doing the right things this time but the Heels have to put that Duke loss behind them.

For more on the Virginia game, please click here.

Duke, Featured stories, The skinny, UNC

Rivers the hero, Zeller the goat as Devils outscore Heels 13-2 at the end

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North Carolina led by 10 with 2:38 left but unraveled as Duke outscored the Heels 13-2 with three three-pointers including one at the buzzer by Austin Rivers as the Devils won 85-84 in Chapel Hill.

Duke’s strategy of shooting threes paid off as the Devils took 36 three-point shots hitting 14 of them. Rivers, demonstrative after each of his six threes, finished the game with 29 points to lead all scorers.

The Devils started out hot and led by seven at 32-25 following Duke’s seventh three pointer of the half, that one by Seth Curry.

But the Tar Heels scratched back, mainly behind the offense and defense to Tyler Zeller, to take a 43-40 lead at the half.

But it was Zeller, who had 23 points, who was the goat at the end of the game.

While the Heels started the second half with a 14-4 run to take a 57-44 lead, everything changed late.

“We fought like crazy just to stay in it and in the last three minutes we got hot,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said.

Unfortunately for Zeller, Duke’s opportunities came in great part at his expense. Zeller missed a couple of free throws over the last 44 seconds and then accidently tipped in a shot by Kelly that was way off.

Meanwhile Tyler Thornton hit a three, Curry hit a three and Ryan Kelly hit a baseline jumper following a Harrison Barnes charge, all in less than a minute, to cut Carolina’s lead to two at 82-80 with 1:07 left.

Zeller hit one of two free throws to make it 83-80 with 44 seconds left. Following a Duke timeout, Kelly put up that shot that Zeller accidently tipped in to make it 83-82.

Zeller was again fouled but missed the second of a two-shot opportunity to give the Heels only a two-point cushion at 84-82 against three-happy Duke.

Zeller had an opportunity to be a hero again on defense as he was matched up outside against Rivers with time dwindling down but the 7-footer didn’t get close enough to Rivers to have any effect on the winning shot at the buzzer.

“They got a little lucky on the ball I tipped in,” Zeller said. “But the two free throws I missed left the door open.”

For more on the game, please click here.

Duke, Featured stories, The skinny, UNC

Devils shouldn’t have a problem with complacency, energy against Carolina

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The Duke Blue Devils have already lost two games in the ACC, including a vexing loss to Miami at home yesterday, but that won’t put a damper of their first meeting of the year with North Carolina coming up in Chapel Hill Wednesday.

“A Duke team should play with energy for 40 minutes – or 45,” Krzyzewski said after the Miami loss. “Go outside and look at the banners. They’re quite a few of them up there. They were not won without energy, without hunger, with … complacency, with(out) people really wanting it.”

On the other hand, the Tar Heels have one loss in the conference and had a time with the Terrapins in Maryland Saturday. Both teams could be playing better but you can bet there won’t be any complacency or lack of energy for either team. If anyone, one or the other might be too keyed up and lose focus.

The Tar Heels, being at home, figure to be the slight favorite but after losing to Florida State and Miami at home, Duke pride could lift them to a victory in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels will have to play better than they have to hold off the Devils – and they have to hope that Harrison Barnes’ re-aggravated ankle will be OK by game time, set for 9 p.m.

Duke, Featured stories, The skinny

Duke’s Mason Plumlee is Oscar Robertson Player of the Week

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The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected Duke forward Mason Plumlee as its Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, Jan. 29. The USBWA’s weekly honor is presented by Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook and will be handed out each Tuesday through Feb. 21 this season.

As the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Week, Plumlee was nominated for the weekly award, which was chosen by a representative of the USBWA board of directors from a list of Division I conference players of the week.

Plumlee, a 6-10 junior from Warsaw, Ind., averaged 19.0 points, 14.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game in leading the Blue Devils to wins over Maryland and St. John’s. He opened the week with a 23-point, 12-rebound, four-assist performance in a 74-61 win at Maryland. He was 9-of-13 from the field and knocked down all five free throws in the contest.

In Saturday’s 83-76 win over Big East foe St. John’s, Plumlee recorded his ACC-leading ninth double-double of the season with 15 points and a career-best 17 rebounds. For the week, Plumlee shot 66.7 percent (14-of-21) from the field and 71.4 percent (10-fo-14) from the foul line.

This is the third season that the USBWA has selected a national player of the week. The weekly Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week is added to the Oscar Robertson Trophy watch list, which will be released at mid-season.

Duke, Featured stories, The skinny

Duke’s Rivers wins ACC rookie of the week

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Florida State’s Michael Snaer has been named ACC Player of the Week and Duke’s Austin Rivers was selected ACC Rookie of the Week.

In becoming the second-straight Seminole to earn Player of the Week honors, Snaer scored 14 points in Saturday’s 76-73 win over fourth-ranked Duke, including the game-winning 3-point basket at the buzzer snapping the Blue Devils’ 45-game homecourt win streak. Earlier in the week, the Moreno Valley, Calif., junior had 19 points with two assists, two blocks and two steals in an 84-70 win over Maryland in Tallahassee Tuesday. In the two games, Snaer averaged 16.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting an even 50 percent (12-of-24) from the floor.

In earning the rookie award for the fourth time this season, Rivers averaged 19.5 points and 3. 5 rebounds per game as Duke split a pair of contests against Wake Forest and Florida State. The Winter Park, Fla., native came off the bench to score 20 points in Thursday’s 91-73 win over the Demon Deacons. Rivers posted a game-high 19 points and added four rebounds in Saturday’s loss to Florida State. For the week, Rivers was 13-of-27 (.481) from the field, 5-of-9 (.556) and 8-of-10 (.800) from the foul line.

Duke, Featured stories, The skinny, UNC

ACC leads Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup final Fall standings

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The Atlantic Coast Conference is well represented in the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup Final Fall Standings released today with four ACC schools in the top 10, twice as many as any other conference. In addition, the ACC is one of two leagues with two schools in the top five, and also placed 10 in the top 61.

“These standings are a terrific snapshot of our quality student-athletes and athletic programs,” said ACC Commissioner John Swofford. “As we begin 2012, we look forward to our winter and spring seasons and building on the momentum from the fall.”

Florida State leads the way for the conference in second place with 351 points. The Seminoles had three top five finishes in women’s cross country, women’s soccer and volleyball. They also finished 12th in men’s cross country.

North Carolina is just behind Florida State with 329 points. The Tar Heels had an impressive fall campaign, including a national championship in men’s soccer as well as a second-place finish for field hockey. North Carolina also finished ninth in women’s soccer.

Maryland sits in eighth place with 228 points. The Terrapins captured their second straight field hockey NCAA title and finished ninth in both men’s and women’s soccer.

Duke rounds out the ACC’s presence in the top 10 in ninth place. The Blue Devils advanced to the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship Game and finished fifth in field hockey.

Rounding out the ACC’s presence in the top 30 are Boston College in 21st, Wake Forest in 26th and Virginia in 27th. NC State and Virginia Tech recorded top 50 finishes in 38th and 46th, respectively, and Miami finished in 61st.

About the Atlantic Coast Conference: Now in its 59th year of competition, the ACC has long enjoyed the reputation as one of the strongest and most competitive intercollegiate conferences in the nation. Since the league’s inception in 1953, ACC schools have captured 124 national championships, including 66 in women’s competition and 58 in men’s. In addition, NCAA individual titles have gone to ACC student-athletes 140 times in men’s competition and 99 times in women’s action.

About Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup: The 2011-12 athletics season marks its fourth year as title partner of the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup. A preeminent leader in the collegiate sports marketplace for nearly four decades, Learfield Sports manages the multimedia rights for more than 50 collegiate properties, which it has represented since 1975. An operating unit of Learfield Communications, the company also operates regional and statewide radio networks, provides exclusive sports programming to more than 1,000 radio stations nationwide and creates nearly 7,000 radio game broadcasts and coaches’ shows each year. These ever-expanding, collegiate relationships also feature comprehensive corporate sponsorship platforms, official university publications, Internet, digital media, hospitality and game-day events. To learn more about Learfield Sports’ expertise, its history and complete collegiate portfolio, visit www.learfieldsports.com.

Duke, Featured stories, N.C. State, The skinny

State’s Brown, Duke’s Cook earn ACC weekly honors

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NC State’s Lorenzo Brown has been named ACC Player of the Week, while Duke’s Quinn Cook was selected ACC Rookie of the Week.

Brown averaged 19.0 points, 8.0 assists and 5.5 rebounds in leading the Wolfpack to 2-0 record last week with victories over Campbell, 87-81, and Western Carolina, 82-55. The Roswell, Ga., sophomore shot 63 percent (12-of-19) from the floor and 88 percent (14-of-16) from the free-throw line. In Thursday’s win over Campbell, Brown had 24 points, eight assists and eight steals. Two nights later, he had 14 points and eight assists in only 28 minutes against Western Carolina.

In earning the rookie award for a second-straight week, Cook averaged 11.0 points, 8.5 assists and 2.5 rebounds as Duke moved to 12-1 on the year with a pair of non-conference wins. The Bowie, Md., freshman had 17 assists with no turnovers in the two games. In Friday’s 110-70 victory over Western Michigan, Cook had a career-high 16 points, eight assists and four rebounds. Two nights later, he finished with six points and a career-high nine assists in a 85-55 victory over Pennsylvania.

Duke, Featured stories, The skinny

Voice of Cameron Indoor Stadium since 1970 dies

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Longtime Duke men’s basketball public address announcer Art Chandler passed away at Hock Family Pavilion on Christmas Day at the age of 78. Known as the “Voice of Cameron Indoor Stadium” for 40 years, Chandler retired from the position at the close of the 2009-10 season.

Chandler left a lasting impression on the Duke fan base as well as his signature introduction of “Here Comes Duke!”, which he began using years ago at the suggestion of former Blue Devil Alaa Abdelnaby. Chandler manned his first game behind the microphone in 1970 went on to inform thousands who scored, who fouled, and who subbed in over 600 games. During his four decades at the scorers table, Chandler saw four national championship teams, 12 ACC Tournament champs and a plethora of All-Americas.

“Art Chandler was a great friend of the program,” said head coach Mike Krzyzewski. “He not only helped out at Duke but was also active with his military service. Art went out of his way to help mankind and I greatly respected that about him. He did a terrific job in his role and his service to the Athletic Department, specifically the basketball program for 40 years was greatly appreciated. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. He will be missed.”

– News release

Duke, Featured stories, The skinny

Duke’s Cook wins rookie of the week honors

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Duke’s Quinn Cook has been selected ACC Rookie of the Week.

Cook scored a career-high 14 points in Monday’s 90-63 win over UNC Greensboro. After a scoreless first half, the Bowie, Md., freshman guard went 6-of-6 from the field (1.000) with a pair of three-pointers in the second half. Cook added two assists and one steal in only 18 minutes of action for the fifth-ranked Blue Devils.

Duke, Featured stories, The skinny, UNC

UNC assistant coach feared Barnes was going to Duke

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UNC Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach Steve Robinson, speaking to the Raleigh Sports Club this week, said he was not quite sure he was going to win the recruiting battle for Harrison Barnes with Duke University. Speaking to a crowd of approximately 185 attendees, Robinson said things looked bleak when he saw Barnes attending a UNC-Duke game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Barnes was attending as a guest of the Blue Devils during Barnes’ senior year in high school.

“I looked up behind the Duke bench and saw him wearing a Blue Devil shirt,” Robinson said. “I told coach (Roy Williams) that I did not know if we would get him. His mother assured me that he would make a visit to UNC.”

Robinson said Barnes’ mother held to her word and as everyone knows the highly recruited basketball player selected the Heels over the Blue Devils. Barnes decision has paid huge dividends to the team’s success.

Robinson went on to describe the unique experience of playing Michigan State on the USS Carl Vinson. He indicated that the weather, pregame festivities and meeting the President of the United States made it much more difficult to prepare for the game than normal.

The former Florida State head coach commented that Barnes, John Henson and Kendall Marshall have been the team’s top performers this season. He noted that Henson continues to improve each season and that Marshall has had four 15 assist games.

“That is the first time in UNC basketball history that has happened,” Robinson emphasized.

When asked by a member of the audience about UNC center Tyler Zeller playing “soft” in the post thus far, Robinson commented that Zeller just “needs to play better” and that he did not know if “soft” was the correct way to describe Zeller’s play. On the academic side, Robinson proudly pointed out that Zeller is an “academic All-American scholar athlete” for his performance in the classroom.

“College basketball is alive and well,” Robinson said when asked about the early season upsets that have seen four different teams hold the #1 position in the rankings. “The atmosphere for the UNLV and Kentucky games were NCAA tournament like environments. They were played on their home courts,” Robinson pointed out.

To help you learn more about the Raleigh Sports Club, the club has released a new professionally produced membership promotional video. To watch the video click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UePabzdajM. The RSC has added several prominent speakers to its schedule. Please visit www.raleighsportsclub.org for news and postings as it is updated regularly.

– Greg Pierce