Category Archives: Duke

Duke, Featured stories, The skinny, UNC

Harrison Barnes: UNC alumni game swung his thoughts to Carolina

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Duke was quietly confident it would sign Harrison Barnes. North Carolina didn’t come on until late, but once it did, the Heels made a huge impression. Barnes, now a UNC freshman, had a long one-on-one interview with Dan Wiederer of the Fayetteville Observer that was published this week, and in it, he told Wiederer that a trip to the Smith Center for the UNC alumni game changed his perception.

“I’ve never seen or felt anything like it,” Barnes said. “Not only to walk in as a recruit and see all the guys here, all the coaches, but to see how Carolina basketball came to be. Seeing Dean Smith talk to Roy Williams, that was the man he learned everything from. To see the 2005 championship team, to see the ’09 championship team. To have Michael Jordan come back. Vince Carter. Antawn Jamison. Rasheed Wallace. All of those guys are back.

“All of a sudden Carolina basketball and all of the history and legends that they talk about? It’s all literally right in front of you. I wouldn’t say it was an out-of-body experience. But there was definitely something surreal about that. It was like a live and in-person history lesson. The history of the program was playing right in front of me. …

“For any recruit that was there, I don’t know how you could say no after that. For me, it seemed like Carolina was the place to go.”

Duke had recruited Barnes hard, and he was close to Mike Krzyzewski and the staff. His final decision was closely guarded, and many were shocked when he went on Skype and told UNC he was headed to Chapel Hill.

Wiederer asked Barnes if he spoke with Duke after that announcement.

“We went our separate ways after that,” he said.

Duke, Featured stories

Krzyzewski says Smith, Singler can handle a heavy load this season

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One of the questions that annoys Mike Krzyzewski, and one that has come up in recent seasons, is whether he expects too much of his star players. Krzyzewski used to play J.J. Redick heavy minutes, even in early season games, and that seemed to take a toll on Redick as the season progressed.

Duke often talks of having a deep, balanced roster, but you see Krzyzewski shorten his bench, and lengthen the playing time for stars, once ACC play begins. That trend has accelerated this season with Kyrie Irving now possibly lost for the year.

Senior Nolan Smith is the workhorse this time, as Krzyzewski pointed out. But in answering a question about Smith’s role, Krzyzewski seemed to anticipate, and address, whether Smith is overburdened.

“Nolan is having a great year. He had a great year last year. He has improved even more,” Krzyzewski said. “He’s got a lot on his plate for us – handling the ball, defending the ball, scoring the ball, leading the team. He’s done all those things at the highest level. He’s having an All-American type of year.”

“I’ve never heard of an All-American being given too many responsibilities. As soon as you do that you are playing defense on your All-American player.

“The great players in our league, not just at Duke, have a lot of responsibilities. And they want it; they prepare for it. They thrive on it. And Nolan has to continue to do that.”

Smith is averaging 33.2 minutes, which is fourth in the league, and Duke’s Kyle Singler is fourth at 33.7. Virginia Tech’s Malcolm Delaney leads the ACC at 37.8 minutes per game. Krzyzewski had high praise for Singler, saying,” Kyle is going to be one of the top five stat guys in the history of four program. He just has gone quietly about getting 20 points and 8 rebounds and being the warrior.”

Krzyzewski scoffed at any thought that Duke expects too much from those two.

“If we lose in March, it won’t be because those two guys are tired,” Krzyzewski said. “It’ll be because somebody was better than us on that day.”

Duke, Featured stories, The skinny

Wake woes continue as 0-16 ACC season possible

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Wake Forest bottomed out in the ACC Tournament again last year and then in the NCAAs, prompting athletics director Ron Wellman to fire Dino Gaudio and hire Jeff Bzdelik. Given Wellman’s brilliant hiring record, it was easy to assume he saw much beyond the 36-58 record he had as the head coach of Colorado for three years.

Bzdelik did not inherit the ’74 Wolfpack by any means, but the disaster unfolding in Winston-Salem is beyond expectations. Wake fans who saw the team early shook their heads at the talent on the floor, and what has unfolded meets those concerns. The Deacons are now 0-5 in ACC play and 7-13 overall, and the only surprise from their 83-59 loss to Duke Saturday in Winston-Salem is they kept the game as close as they did.

All of this could point to a winless ACC mark for Wake, which has happened only five times in league history. Here are those previous five:

1987: Maryland 0-14, 9-17

1986: Wake Forest 0-14, 8-21

1981: Ga. Tech 0-14, 4-23

1955: Clemson 0-14, 2-21

1954: Clemson 0-14, 5-18

Note team has ever gone 0-16 in conference play, which Wake has a shot at this season.

The question has been raised as to whether Wake could be the worst team ever in the ACC, and the answer to that is a definitive no. Clemson’s lousy records in the league’s early years speak for themselves, and the ’55 squad allowed 73.7 points per game and allowed 93.3. The 1981 Tech team was truly terrible at a time when the league featured giants at UNC and Virginia. Tech scored 55.7 points and allowed 71.5 in an era in which teams often slowed the pace.

The view here is Wake Forest’s Wellman remains the best athletics director in the ACC, and his ability to turn around the football program and develop nonrevenue sports is remarkable. But Wellman rushed the decision to hire Gaudio after the death of Skip Prosser, and so far, the hiring of Bzdelik is off to an ominous start.

Duke, N.C. State, The skinny

NCSU, Duke heading two different directions

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N.C. State and Duke were two teams going in separate directions Wednesday at the RBC Center, as the Blue Devils rolled to a 92-78 victory over a Wolfpack team that still struggles to play defense.

Duke’s depth was evident, and the play of sophomore Andre Dawkins was particularly impressive. Dawkins skipped his senior year of high school to enroll a year early last season after Gerald Henderson left for the pros, but he had little impact on the championship year as Duke favored a big lineup. Dawkins averaged just 4.4 points and with Kyrie Irving coming in and Seth Curry eligible, you expected him to get swept aside this season.

Instead, he appears to be solidifying a spot in the starting rotation as Curry’s defensive woes are highlighted in the rugged conference play. Dawkins played 23 minutes and scored eight points at the RBC Center, and as you watched the game, he clearly seemed comfortable on the court. Irving’s situation is hard to predict – and you can’t blame his family for being cautious with an NBA future ahead – and so there are minutes to be had in the backcourt. Dawkins looks like he can hold the job, and that gives Duke real depth there with Curry available for sharp-shooting duties.

Last year, Duke used its loss at N.C. State to redefine itself and become a halfcourt, grind-it-out team. This year, the Devils are heading toward more balance as players like Dawkins exert themselves.

N.C. State is spiraling down a different path. Losing to Duke is no reason for shame, but the Wolfpack now faces a huge game Sunday at the RBC Center against Miami. The Hurricanes are 12-5 overall and 1-2 in the league and a team State should beat. But the Pack can’t take anything for granted.

“There are still a lot of games left,” coach Sidney Lowe said after the game, according to The News & Observer. “But we need a run. We need a nice run. It’s not a panic situation. But too many of those [losses], and yeah, it will be.”

Games at Clemson and UNC follow the Miami game, and State’s 11-7, 1-3 record could soon take a beating.

Duke, The skinny

Close win over Maryland shows Duke it’s no cake walk

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National commentators have been talking about Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski breaking the coaching wins record this year during the NCAA tournament.

For that to happen, they’ll have to run the table in the ACC regular season and tournament. After narrowly defeating Maryland in Durham, maybe it’s time for Duke and everybody else to simply focus on the season as it goes along.

The Terrapins, who were picked to finish sixth in the ACC, led the Blue Devils by six in the second half and only trailed by two with just over five minutes left.

Either the game was a fluke, although it didn’t feel that way, or Maryland is better than expected or Duke isn’t the overwhelming favorite they’ve been played up to be.

Maryland’s defense is certainly strong and the mystique of the Cameron Crazies doesn’t seem to bother them (or most ACC teams these days for that matter).

Duke is still Duke but I’m not sure the Blue Devils will go undefeated if they need late-game threes by Andre Dawkins and Kyle Singler to hold off Maryland at home.

Duke, The skinny

Devils look to revitalize the football rivalry with Heels in their "bowl game"

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North Carolina is fighting for a berth in the Music City Bowl while Duke is considering the finale at home against the Heels as their bowl game.

Duke coach David Cutcliffe said that the last game a team plays leaves “a little taste in your mouth that lasts.” He said through recruiting and into Spring practice it stays fresh in your mind.

“It certainly kicks off the offseason the way you would like it to be kicked off,” he said, especially if the last victory comes against chief rival North Carolina.

“I think it’s a great tradition, one of the better traditions in college football,” Cutcliffe said of the rivalry and the winning team getting the Victory Bell. “We just need to recreate a rivalry by playing well at Duke and winning a few of these ball games.”

Carolina has won 19 of the last 20 meetings, losing 30-22 in 2003 in Chapel Hill. Duke hasn’t beaten the Tar Heels at home since 1988.

UNC coach Butch Davis said that Cutcliffe has improved the Blue Devils team every year. “Statistically they’re better, athletically they’re better, and fundamentally and schematically they’re a better football team,” he said.

On top of the challenge from Duke, Davis said that losing two games in a row has been disappointing. “Emotionally and psychologically this will put our football team very much to the test of just bouncing back and playing to the very best of our ability this week,” he said.

Duke, N.C. State, The skinny

Taylor burned Carolina last Saturday – Is it Wilson’s turn this Saturday?

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Last week weekend, North Carolina, playing on its home field, was burned by Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor. This weekend, Carolina, 6-4, plays at home against a quarterback that can scramble and run like Taylor but who has a better arm. Does that spell disaster for the Tar Heels against rival N.C. State?

Well, if they turn the ball over like they did last week, yes. “If you turn the ball over six times and don’t create turnovers, that’s a killer,” UNC coach Butch Davis said. “You can’t win that way.”

Especially against State. Davis said that on film State’s Nate Irving looks like the best linebacker the Heels have faced. Plus, State quarterback Russell Wilson extends plays with his legs but he also throws very well, he said. In comparing Wilson with VT’s Taylor, Davis said that Wilson’s accuracy in throwing down the field and his arm strength is the difference.

“They’ve played very well this season,” Davis said of the Wolfpack. “In my personal opinion, against somebody in this big of a rivalry game, I don’t know how much records actually matter… There’s an awful lot of the kids that play the game and alumni that are around each other, they know each other and they see each other on a daily basis and so it’s obviously going to carry an enormous amount of significance.”

The Wolfpack, 7-3, has a chance to play for the ACC title if they can win out. So, this is more than a rivalry game. As CapitalSports’ Dane Huffman pointed out, that fact isn’t lost on N.C. State coach Tom O’Brien. But then he said this:

“There’s not any more on the line than any time we play North Carolina,” O’Brien said. “It’s a game that’s very special and very important to our school. … There’s no added significance one way or another. Now the bonus is if we win, we keep going.”

As Davis said, “it’s a game that everybody associated with this program wants to win very badly.”

Duke, The skinny, UNC

Yates, Helfet win player of the week honors in the ACC

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GREENSBORO, N.C. – North Carolina senior quarterback T.J. Yates has been named the Offensive Back of the Week in the Atlantic Coast Conference while Duke tight end Cooper Helfet was named Offensive Lineman of the week.

Yates, who claimed his second recognition of the season, threw for a school-record 439 yards and three touchdowns in the Tar Heels’ 37-35 win at then-No. 24 Florida State. He became the first player in school history to register two 400-plus passing games in a career and currently has the top two performances in the conference this year. The win was the first for North Carolina in Tallahassee.

Yates was 24-of-35 for a school-record 439 yards and three touchdowns in Carolina’s 37-35 win at Florida State. It was his fifth career 300-plus yard game and his second career 400-plus yard game. He became the first player in program history to pass for 400-plus yards twice in a career and the second player all-time in the ACC to have the two performances in the same season against nationally ranked opponents (No. 24 Florida State and No. 21 LSU). Yates, who passed for 412 yards earlier this season against LSU, has the top two passing performances in the ACC this season. He threw touchdown passes of 67, 14 and 4 yards in the Tar Heels’ first ever win in Tallahassee.

Helfet helped Duke to a 55-48 win over Virginia, catching seven passes for a career-high 122 yards and one touchdown. His scoring reception covered 30 yards. Five of his seven catches produced first downs, and he averaged 17.4 yards per reception. On Duke’s game-winning, 91-yard touchdown drive in the final two minutes, Helfet caught two passes for 30 yards and two first downs. He helped create holes for the Blue Devils’ rushing attack, which totaled 230 yards on the ground and six rushing touchdowns. Helfet’s receiving performance came against a Virginia defense that had ranked second in the league in pass defense.

Duke, The skinny

What they’re saying about Quinn Cook signing with Duke

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Quinn Cook on why he chose Duke:
“Just my relationship with Coach K. We definitely had the best relationship of all the coaches. When you think college basketball you think Duke.”

Dave Telep, ESPN Recruiting
“By landing Quinn Cook, Duke got just what it needed — a pass-first point guard who can make big shots.”

Quinn Cook
“UCLA was a close second. They were definitely the toughest on me. They were up here every week and went to DeMatha and talked with Coach [Mike] Jones and were checking my background. It was definitely a tough choice.”

Steve Smith, Oak Hill Coach
“Quinn is a pass first point guard. He can really shoot it and has very good three-point range. A lot of point guards who can shoot it, look for their shot all the time, but Quinn wants to get everyone involved in the offense.”

Tim Stevens, News & Observer
“Cook gives the 2011 Duke recruiting class, which is currently ranked No. 2 in the country behind Kentucky, a point guard to go with 6-foot-4 shooting guard Austin Rivers of Winter Park, Fla., 7-foot center Marshall Plumlee of Arden (N.C.) Christ School and 6-6 forward Michael Gbinije of Richmond (Va.) Benedictine.”

Duke, The skinny

Projecting Duke: Devils improving each year under Cutcliffe

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Duke is looking pretty good in football these days under Coach David Cutcliffe. The Devils got four wins two years ago and five wins last season. The big question: can Duke improve to six wins this year?

Well, they would have in the days of weak non-conference opponents but I foresee the Devils managing only five wins. While that only matches last season, in reality, it would be an even bigger achievement – considering the schedule and the loss of All-ACC quarterback Thaddeus Lewis.

If Duke could upset somebody like Carolina or Miami or Boston College, they could get to six wins. I’m thinking 5-7 is more probable, and if they are going to do that well, they have to get off to a quick start.

Here’s a game-by-game breakdown:

Sept. 4, Elon: Elon is a small school but they are good. A victory over Duke isn’t out of the question – think Appalachian over Michigan. Duke isn’t Michigan either. But Coach Cutcliffe should have them ready and won’t let them overlook Elon. Duke wins at home.

Sept. 11, at Wake Forest: This should be a good game but Wake is on the way down and Duke is on the way up. The Devils have a good field goal kicker for a change – Will Snyderwine is a member of the Groza Award watch list. Devils by a field goal.

Sept. 18, Alabama: It’ll be fun to see Alabama run out on the field in Durham. It won’t be much fun as they run off the field. Alabama.

Sept. 25, Army: Duke should have an easier time with Army than it did with Elon.

Oct. 2, at Maryland: This is a must win for Duke if they have any hopes of finishing .500 on the year. The Terps lost their last seven games last season but they should be better this year. They’ll expect to win this one against the Devils. They won’t. Duke’s players are more experienced and Sean Renfree should be settled in at quarterback by now. It’s starting to look like a special season as Duke stands at 4-1.

Oct. 16, Miami: The demise begins. The Hurricanes are a hard team to predict but my guess is they’ll be a good bit better than the Devils. Miami.

Oct. 23, at Virginia Tech: The Hokies by quite a few.

Oct. 30, at Navy: The Midshipmen are good. They like to run it right at you and they have virtually everybody back. Duke’s defense is probably weakest on the defensive line. Navy runs over the Devils in a ball-control, close contest.

Nov. 6, Virginia: This is the last time the Devils will be favored so they’d better win it at home.

Nov. 13, Boston College: Another winnable game but BC has 14 starters back from an 8-5 team and the Eagles could be battling Clemson for second in the division. Boston College.

Nov. 20, at Georgia Tech: Georgia Tech and Duke have comparable coaches but not comparable players or depth. By late in the season, the Devils lack of depth will hurt any chances they might have to upset someone. Ramblin’ Wreck.

Nov. 27, North Carolina: This is always a wild, emotional game and it will mean even more than usual as the Devils could get to 6-6 with a victory and Carolina could be fighting for a good bowl. By this time all the NCAA investigation talk should be a distant memory for Carolina, which could have its best defense in years. Tar Heels.

That makes the season prediction 5-7.

If Duke could find some depth or either remain healthy throughout the season (which is almost impossible) and QB Renfree lives up to his potential and the defense holds its own, Duke could upset somebody and finish 6-6.

There is little room for error for Duke, plus Renfree, while good, is a year away from great. So Duke finishes 5-7.