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Nonetheless this is exciting news for Blue Devil fans. If anyone told me last year that Zoubek would have the opportunity to make an NBA team, there’s no way I would’ve believed it. Zoubek really? No. Way. In. Hell.

I remember seeing Zoubek for the first time as a freshman at a party. A few of us were in a room when someone whispered excitedly that Zoubek was here. I remember watching wide eyed as this seven foot monstrosity had to bend down just to get through the door. He was the biggest human being I’d ever seen.

Unfortunately Zoubek’s size was never a benefit in his first three years at Duke. He struggled with everything: injuries, fouling, defense, offense, the works.

Even in the beginning of his senior year he still seemed like a deer caught in headlights. But suddenly, everything clicked for the big guy. I don’t remember the game, but all of a sudden Zoubek put together all that he had learned over the past four years: how to be an effective and devastating screener, defensive and offensive rebounding, and assuming his role on the team.

It cannot be discounted that Zoubek was as crucial a part of the team as the trio of Smith, Singler, Scheyer. His rebounding, toughness and leadership allowed the Blue Devils to win the National Championship last year.

So good luck Zoubek. Duke University appreciates all that you gave to us over the last four years. We wish you success in the NBA.

Donovan Varner leads Duke into 2010

When November 1st came at the end of the 2009 season, Duke stood at 5-3 and right in the middle of the ACC Coastal division race.  However, Coach David Cutcliffe’s November losing streak was extended four more games as he fell to 0-9 at Duke in the eleventh month.

Duke is also losing games by 15.7 points per game during their November slide.

So, in order for Duke to finally get that bowl bid they’ve been hunting, for now the sixteenth straight season, they’ve got to win in November.  To do that, you need depth.

The first two years of Cutcliffe’s time at Duke have been spent stockpiling the talent, redshirting it and conditioning it.  Now entering his third season, Cutcliffe has a roster with mostly his recruits to go along with some veterans in key roles.  He has sufficiently added enough depth to contend well into November.

Duke returns nine starters on offense but will have to replace the all time career passing leader in school history, Thad Lewis.   Lewis was a terrific passer whose skills took several steps forward when Cutcliffe, renowned as a quarterback guru, came in for his junior year.  However, Lewis did not possess the natural talents that incumbent starter Sean Renfree does.

Renfree came off the bench to lead Duke past Army last season, causing a brief QB controversy.  However, a few weeks later, Renfree would tear his ACL against Georgia Tech setting his progression back several months.

Renfree, a redshirt sophomore, is a mobile signal caller that has good zip on the ball but is better known for his accuracy.

Fortunately, he is helped by a veteran offensive line that returns 55 of a possible 60 starts from last season.  Bryan Morgan, center, anchors the line along with Kyle Hill, left tackle, and Brian Moore, right guard.  In previous years, the offensive line has been somewhat suspect and caused Thad Lewis to scramble and force throws he might otherwise have delivered into a teammate’s hands.

Most of those hands return.  Requan Boyette, last years starting RB, is gone and, although, he was a fan favorite, he was not the most effective runner.  He is replaced  by  last season’s leading rushers, Jay Hollingsworth, a junior bowling ball, and Desmond Scott, a sophomore scat back from Durham.  Scott will be the likely starter and get most of his carries in wide open packages that give him more room to run.  Hollingsworth will be seen more on 3rd down plays and short yardage situations.  The combo could prove to Duke’s version of Smash & Dash, however, they have a lot of work to do.  Duke ranked 120 out of 120 in the FBS in rushing.  Dead last.

The receiving corp also returns in tact for the most part, Johnny Williams, last years #4 receiver has been converted to corner.  Austin Kelly, Connor Vernon and Donovan Varner, the best trio of receivers in the ACC last season, all return and will make the transition for Renfree much smoother.  Varner, a 5’9″ junior slot receiver, was recently named 1st Team All ACC this preseason.

The Blue Devils also return big targets Brett Huffman and Brandon King, both seniors, at tight end as well as Danny Parker.  These three accounted for over 360 yards receiving and 6 touchdowns.

However, as great as the Duke passing game was last year (9th in the FBS), expect the Blue Devils to focus more on the running game and utilizing the tight ends more.

Defensively, Duke is looking at one word: chaos.  After defensive linemen John Drew and Brandon Putnam were involved in an on campus gun incident last fall and their subsequent dismissal from the team, Coach Marion Hobby finds his defense in chaos.  The six returning starters will help but the starters lost were crucial lynchpins.

This year, Duke will be switching defensive schemes to put more speed on the field.  Expect to see more 3-4 and even a little 3-3-5 blitz packages to maximize their strengths.

Redshirt seniors, Patrick Egboh and Wesley Oglesby hold down the defensive end positions and will play the bulk of the snaps, however, watch out for redshirt freshmen Justin Foxx and Sydney Sarmiento as well as converted tight end Kenny Anunike.

Charlie Hatcher returns at nose guard and will play almost all of the snaps at NG due to little experience behind him.

Replacing Vince Oghobaase and Ayanga Okpokowuruk will not be easy as the two were two of the better defensive linemen to come through the program in years.  Duke is hoping the new schemes will help cover these losses.

With the new four linebacker scheme, Duke is replacing Vincent Rey with as much speed and tackling as they can put on the field.

Damian Thornton packs the middle again but he’s joined by first year starter Kevin Rojas, a redshirt frosh who has really excelled in workouts and spring practice.  If Rojas is not in, look for Eriks Reks or Austin Gamble, an accomplished All ACC discuss hurler, to fill in.

On the outside, Abraham Kromah and Adam Banks are the likely starters but look out for redshirt freshman August Campbell.  Campbell is a physical specimen that has only played organized football for a few years.  He’s an athletic freak that hits like a wreaking ball. Kromah provides some experience but the youth at the linebacker spots might be more talented than the upperclassmen.

In years past, the Duke defensive backfield had been small and poor in coverage. This years squad is fast and attacks the ball.  Former receiver Johnny Williams converts to corner.   Returning starters Chris Rwabukamba, Lee Butler and Matt Daniels command a talented group with many young guns pushing for playing time.  Watch out for Walt Canty, Anthony Young-Wiseman and Ross Cockrell to play vital roles as Duke hopes to lock down the passing lanes.

It’s safe to say that this year’s Duke Blue Devil football team is the fastest in years, sporting lots of speed at every position.  David Cutcliffe said he wanted to build the fastest team in the ACC and he’s getting close.  Now, we need to see if he can get these players to run to a few November wins.

Freshmen To Watch

Josh Snead – RB – I love this kid because A) he grew up in my hometown and B) he’s a speed demon.  Snead scored 27 touchdowns on the ground last year and returned 3 kicks for scores.  He’s a playmaker, simple as that.

Cooper Helfet – TE – A big JUCO recruit that stands 6’4″ 235 but has hands and wheels to make him a viable redzone target.

Brandon Connette – QB – Connette was terrific in spring practice after enrolling early and will be the #2 on the depth chart.  If Renfree goes down, Connette has shown the skills to run the offense, we’ll see if he has the poise.

Christian Ponder

A couple of recent discussions I’ve had regarding this year’s Heisman race compelled me to write this post. I gladly researched what this year’s race will look like, and this article should definitely clarify my stance on the race this year, and make a good case for who I think should win.

Being a Seminole fan, following the team last year and seeing how much potential and skills Christian Ponder has, I think he should win the Heisman, and has a good chance at it, too. There is definitely a good number of people out there that disagree with me, but running down the line of this year’s Heisman contenders, Ponder has to be one of the strongest candidates out there.

I found two very good lists out there of Heisman contenders for this upcoming 2010 season. One was over at CollegeFootballNews.com, and the other was over at LibrarianChat.com. I’ll take a look at the one at CFN, as well as use some quotes from the LibrarianChat one.

Pete Flutak, who wrote the article at CFN, listed his Top 21 candidates. Ponder dropped in at 14, so I’ll analyze the first 13 candidates he listed in order.

1. Mark Ingram, RB Alabama
Ingram is very unlikely to win the Heisman. Most people out there think he won’t be able to win it. There’s a simple reason why: Heismandment No. 9, as written by HeismanPundit.com. It simply states this: the odds are very good that there will never be another two-time winner of the Heisman Trophy.

2. Case Keenum, QB Houston
Keenum reminds me a lot of Colt Brennan in 2007. Brennan blew up the stat sheet, his team went undefeated in the regular season, yet he still finished 3rd in the Heisman voting. Keenum also will blow up the stat sheet, but his team won’t go undefeated. Would Brennan have been in New York if his team wouldn’t have gone 12-0? Probably not. I think Keenum will be watching this year’s Heisman presentation from Houston. I highly doubt he’ll be in New York.

3. Jacory Harris, QB Miami
Miami plays at Ohio State in Week 2, then at Pittsburgh in Week 3. These two games will make or break his Heisman hopes.

4. Terrelle Pryor, QB Ohio State
I have no reasons why not to say Pryor has a chance to win the Heisman this year. The only thing going against him is that he hasn’t lived up to any expectations in his first two years at all. At all. But his potential is giant, it’s up to him if he wants to live up to it.

5. Kellen Moore, QB Boise State
I like Kellen Moore. I really do. If Boise State has another undefeated season, I think he definitely deserves to be in New York. But regardless of how good his season is, the Virginia Tech opener will probably determine if he’ll win the Heisman. It will likely be the only Boise State game that many people will watch this season, so if Moore performs bad, his Heisman hopes might fly out the window.

6. Dion Lewis, RB Pitt

Lewis grew on me towards the end of the year last year. The more you watched him, the more you noticed it was not the system, but it was him being able to make tacklers miss and get all of those yards. He was another one that got away from some of the bigger schools. He will be back wreaking havoc in the Big East again this year after a freshman campaign a year ago that saw him get nearly 1800 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground. Keep an eye on this year as teams try to key on him a little bit more to see how he handles it.

That quote was from LibrarianChat. I agree with it- Lewis doesn’t make much noise, but he is one of the most effective players in the country.

7. Jake Locker, QB Washington

I really resent the fact that Locker is considered a Heisman candidate. I look at this situation like I do the Derrick Favors situation. Favors was on Georgia Tech (basketball) last year, has a ton of talent, but didn’t make very many waves in college basketball. Why? Because he’s more fit for the pro game. Same with Locker: he’ll be a great pro, but he’s just not a very good college football player.

8. LaMichael James, RB Oregon
Two months ago, I would have written LaMichael James off, saying he has no shot. But now that Jeremiah Masoli is kicked off of Oregon and no longer on the team, James will put up huge numbers, and might have a shot at New York.

9. John Brantley, QB Florida
Shaking my head. Brantley shouldn’t be near this list. Come on Pete! You can’t give Brantley this much of a chance to win the Heisman when he hasn’t even done anything yet.

10. Jacquizz Rodgers, RB Oregon State

Rodgers has to be considered a Heisman candidate. He ran for 1440 yards and 21 td’s on 273 attempts. He also chipped in with 522 yards and another td on 78 receptions. Rodgers and his brother are pretty much the entire offense at Oregon State. If it happens, it is usually one of them doing it. Jacquizz is extremely durable for his size. He can take a large dose of carries and not be slowed down. He will get a ton of them this year, and even though the Beavers may be an average team, he will roll up a ton of stats.

That quote also from LibrarianChat. I like Jacquizz. I think he’ll definitely be up there as a contender for this year’s Heisman.

11. Blaine Gabbert, QB Missouri

I’m not sure where this one came from, as Gabbert is on no one’s Heisman radar. I don’t see him winning it. But I know very little about him, please feel free to comment below on what you know about him.

12. Ryan Williams, RB Virginia Tech

He’d be higher but Darren Evans is coming back and Tyrod Taylor always takes yards away.

When you’re not even the best player on your team, I can’t see how you can be considered a Heisman candidate. If anyone from Virginia Tech gets invited to new York (which is likely) I’d say it should be Tyrod Taylor.

13. Jeremiah Masoli, QB Oregon
He might have been one of the favorites to win it, but then he got kicked off of Oregon. His Heisman chances- and his career- flew out the window when that happened. There’s no chance of him winning it at Ole Miss.

So as you can see, not a very strong core of players this year. Ponder would drop in right here at #14. why aren’t I making a case for him, you ask? Just check out CP7forHeisman.com. I don’t need to make a case for him when that website is out there. So I’ve made my stance on his opponents above: I think Ponder can definitely emerge out of this crew. But we’ll just have to wait and see.

Did I forget a candidate? Tell me if I did in the comment section below. Thanks for reading!

Marc Verica will begin the year under center

Well the votes are in, and around Hooville, if the 3-9 season still seems like a bad dream, then the 126 votes that the Cavaliers received  on ACC Media Day seems like a nightmare.  Immediately, the boards were buzzing with the sounds of “it’s just preseason” and “what do these clowns know”, and “when is soccer season again?”  And while I put as much stock in ACC preseason votes as I put in my old AIG portfolio, I do believe there is some truth behind the numbers.

And why not? Outside of 2006, when the voters picked Wake Forrest last in the Atlantic Division and then the Demon Deacons ended up winning the ACC Championship, there really hasn’t been any glaring errors.  Now that’s not to say that teams won’t over-preform or under-preform; that is the best part of watching football.  The ACC preseason vote is just a jumping off point for discussion based on past performance and future expectations.

So why was Virginia picked last?  Well several obvious reasons:

1. Past Performance. When you go 3-9 the season before with a loss to William & Mary, there just isn’t a lot going for you.  Groh left the offensive in shambles and not very well stocked.  With London coming in he is converting the offensive back to the pro style that worked while he was at UVa in 2002 and 2007, but that might be a few years out.
2. The Afore Mentioned Coaching Change. Groh out and London in.  Short of Bill Belichick coming in, you will always take a hit with reporters your first season.
3. Quarterback. There is a very short list of quarterbacks at UVa with playing experience that will take the field on game day.  They are Marc Verica and Shawn Moore.  Unfortunately, Moore used all his eligibility up in the early 1990s so he’s out.  So it is now Verica’s team, and while he has a good arm and will throw some touchdowns, he throws more interceptions.  Also there is still no clearcut #2 behind him.  Metheny has the edge, but Strauss could be another option if needed.
4. Running Back. Another interesting battle this off season will be who starts in the back field.  A lot of choices from players who either show a lot of promise or who have not yet shown their potential.  Jones (So.) and Panye (Sr.) will battle until Wallace (RFr.) gets healthy and Parks (Fr.) gets to camp.  Just need one.
5. The Switch to the 4-3. When Groh left, the 3-4 defensive alignment went as well.  And while most people around Charlottesville like the change,  it’s hard to adjust the first couple of years as you don’t have as many defensive linemen on your roster.  A lot of outside linebackers are converting to down linemen, and that is significant change.

That will pretty much do it for why they are last.  But as I am an alum of Virginia, I am contractually obligated to say a few good things about the upcoming season.  So here are a few reasons why they could be better than advertised.

1. Secondary. The one good thing about Groh was that every talented ATH he recruited became a either a CB or S.  Ras-I Dowling is a Top-20 NFL Draft pick and the rest of the secondary is fast and tall, and have been playing together for 2 years.  Depth is not an issue either.
2. WRs and the return of the TE. Well while the Cavs aren’t stocked, they will have more options to throw to this year than in years past.  Smith, Burd, Inman, and Green will definitely bring some speed to the vertical game.  Also bringing back the TE as a passing option (and in general) will be something that we have missed since the days of Heath Miller, Chris Luzar, Patrick Estes, and Billy Baber (all of who went on to the NFL).  Senior Joe Torchia will anchor this position.
3. O-Line. The starting five is an upperclassman laden group.  Add Morgan Moses, who was a Top-5 national recruit from 2008, and they should give Verica a little more time in the pocket.
4. Linebackers. While most of the OLB will be DEs in the 4-3, there is still plenty of young talent that saw the field a lot last year (they were not the reason for the 3-9 season, see: Offense).
5. Coaching Change. Although the results might not show up this year, the culture has changed in the past months since he was hired, from changing the uniform to moving practices off grounds.  But the kids know who their coach is going to be next year and the year after that, and that has them motivated.

Overall it is not going to be the Hoos year. . .again.  But any signs of improvement under London can quickly turn the tide in Charlottesville.

-  Column courtesy of LambethField.com

Skylar Jones

The quarterback situation will be very interesting during summer camp at Wake Forest. The Deacs would like to have a quarterback who has durability, good judgement, accuracy, speed, and a strong arm. However, from what I’ve observed during the spring scrimmage and several practices, I am not too sure that all those attributes lie in one person.

During the beginning of the spring , I saw the QB situation as a two-man competition between Skylar Jones and Ted Stachitas. Skylar was fast and very elusive whereas Ted was fast with great pocket presence. Skylar emerged as the leader because he was the last man standing. However, as the summer approaches the Deacs are still searching for a quarterback and the competition is wide open. Anyone of the following QB’s could be under center in August:

Tanner Price: (A true freshman with a strong arm) He has a lot of zip to his ball. He throws a ball with a nice spiral, but he gets rid of the ball too early.

Patrick Thompson: (A grey-shirt freshman with good size) He may have the strongest arm of all the qb’s, but he needs the most work. He holds the ball too long and has the tendency to throw uncatchable balls.

Brendan Cross: (Red-shirt freshman with a great pedigree) He is a true leader. He provides a spark to his team that is an intangible that is hard to measure. He can run and he has a strong arm too, but he is inconsistent with his throws (some spirals and some lame ducks; some on target and some way off target).

Ted Stachitas: (Red-shirt Sophomore from Nease,  FL) He has a perfect blend of athleticism and leadership qualities; he  has most of the traits that one looks for in a quarterback,  but he has been hampered by injuries.

Skylar Jones: (Red-shirt junior who runs a 4.30 40yd. dash) He is the fastest qb on the team and may be the most durable. He has a decent arm, and he is working on his finesse throws. However, he has the tendency to rely on his legs rather than his arm which may be an asset in Grobe’s Wing-T misdirection offense.

When the dust settles at Wake one of these guys will be the last man standing.

The college football season is just a short time away, and many fans are anxious to see how their individual teams have developed over the off-season.

New recruits, well-known coaches, and even proven veterans are all prepared to show the country how much progress they’ve made when the season begins in September.

Although college basketball won’t officially begin until November, two months into the football season, Duke fans have a lot to be excited about before the season even tips off.

For starters, highly-touted recruit Kyrie Irving will become the new floor general for the Blue Devils next season after last year’s point guard and second team All-American pick Jon Scheyer graduated from the university.

Duke fans will also get the see Liberty transfer Seth Curry in action for the first time. Seth, the brother of Golden State Warriors player Stephen Curry, led all freshmen in scoring two years ago at 20.2 points per game but had to sit-out last season per transfer rules.

The returns of both Kyle Singler (17.7 points per game) and Nolan Smith (17.2 points per game) will also give the Cameron Crazies something to cheer about as the beginning of the season draws nearer.

Singler, the 2010 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, led Duke to victory in the National Championship game against Butler and decided to stay in school for his senior season instead of jumping to the NBA.

Singler’s decision to stay helped make Smith’s that much easier: Nolan decided that playing at Duke for his senior year and trying to help the Blue Devil’s repeat was more important to him at the time than trying to make it in the NBA as a junior.

Mason and Miles Plumlee, Andre Dawkins, Ryan Kelly, and freshman Tyler Thornton and Josh Hairston round out the remaining players on a loaded Blue Devil team that will look to once again lift the national championship trophy in March.

The 2010-2011 Duke team seems destined to repeat, with the likes of Smith and Singler returning and newcomers Irving and Curry looking to contribute from day one, but what are the five keys to a fifth title for Coach Mike Krzyzewski and the Blue Devils?   

1. Kyrie Irving Must Be Dynamic And Effective In Filling The Void Left By Scheyer.

Kyrie Irving, a 6’2″ point guard from Elizabeth, N.J., was one of the top rated players in the recruiting class of 2010. Last season, Irving played for St. Patrick and averaged 25.2 points per game on a team loaded with future Division I players.

Most of the hype surrounding Irving early on in his career has been positive and encouraging for Blue Devil fans, some scouts even comparing his explosiveness and athleticism to that of former Duke great Jason Williams.

Many people believe that Irving could be one of the best basketball players to ever come out of the state of New Jersey, some even hailing that he could become one of the best to ever wear a Duke uniform.

One thing about Irving at the minute is clear, however, and that’s that he must be dynamic, yet effective, in filling the void left by Jon Scheyer at the point guard position.  

Sure, you may say that Irving’s speed and athleticism will easily make him more dynamic than Scheyer, and that may be the case; however, being as effective as Scheyer was by hitting shots and not committing turnovers may be tougher for Irving to harness.

Regardless, Irving will look to lead the Blue Devils as a great scorer and even better passer. If Duke has any hopes of repeating, the team will need to get production from their guards, and most importantly out of Irving.

2. With Brian Zoubek And Lance Thomas Gone, The Plumlees Must Be Assertive In The Paint.

Brian Zoubek was once known to the college basketball world as an injury-prone player that was unable to find his place on the court. He could rebound the ball because of his overwhelming size advantage over the competition, that’s for sure, but other than that there just wasn’t another aspect of the big man’s game to fear.

That all changed last season when Zoubek was completely healthy.

After practicing and working on his offense last summer, Zoubek became one of the top big men in the ACC last season. He began the year slowly, which is normal for centers in college, but as the season progressed he continued to improve.

Lance Thomas, on the other hand, was never known for being a big presence in the paint at Duke. He could consistently rebound like Zoubek, but his expertise was defending the opposing team’s most versatile player and drawing charges down low.

Now that both players have graduated, two big men will have to fill their places on this year’s team. It’s a no-brainer to think that Mason and Miles Plumlee are the best two options, but they must become assertive leaders in the paint.

Last season, both of the Plumlees came off the bench to give Thomas and Zoubek some rest during games. This coming up year, however, one of the brothers will likely start (Mason) and the other will be his second-hand “big” man of the bench (Miles).

The Blue Devils know that their guard play will be better than last year, but how well can their centers and power forwards adjust to larger roles on the team? It all starts with the Plumlee brothers becoming assertive in the paint, and becoming leaders on a team that is more guard-oriented than last season.  

3. Seth Curry Will Need To Be A Scoring Threat On The Perimeter Alongside Smith And Irving.

Seth Curry’s older brother, Stephen, captured the hearts of many two years ago when he led his Davidson team to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. Stephen consistently put up big numbers the entire tournament, and nearly led his team to the Final Four.

Seth, like Stephen, put up huge numbers as a freshman in college playing for Liberty University, averaging just over 20 points a contest. After just one season with the team, though, Seth decided to take his talents elsewhere and transferred to Duke.

Although he had to sit out last season, per NCAA transfer rules, Seth was allowed to practice with the team and get accustomed with his new teammates.

Now that Seth will finally be allowed to play a game in a Duke jersey this upcoming season, the Blue Devils will look for him to be an explosive scorer for their team just as he was at Liberty.  

Every fan knows what they are going to get out of Nolan Smith and Kyrie Irving on the perimeter, but what kind of player will Seth become on a team loaded with four legit scoring threats?

Duke will be stacked with talent during the upcoming year, but Seth Curry must make a name for himself by becoming a consistent scorer and giving Smith and Irving help on the perimeter. If he does, then the Blue Devils will have a great chance to repeat.

4. Andre Dawkins, Tyler Thornton, Ryan Kelly And Josh Hairston Need To Contribute Off The Bench.

Having Scheyer, Singler and Smith anchor last year’s championship team gave many players little time off the bench. Sure, eight players averaged double-digit minutes per game, but it was mainly the “Big Three” plus two other players on the court at all times.

This upcoming year, the Blue Devils have the possibility of having a legitimate “Big Four” in Singler, Smith, Irving, and Curry.

Although it’s hard to imagine that each of the four will consistently score in double figures on a nightly basis, they will each likely end up with a double figure scoring average when the season comes to an end.

With that being said, bench players could see even less time on the court this year.

If Coach K feels the need to call for one of his reserves and asks them to check into the game, however, they must be prepared to immediately contribute once they walk on the court.

Dawkins, Thornton, Kelly, Hairston, and one of the Plumlee brothers will likely be the supporting cast for this year’s team. How they play once they enter each game for one of the starters will be crucial to the Blue Devils season.

5. Nolan Smith And Kyle Singler Must Become Leaders On A Young, Yet Experienced, Team.

Last, but certainly not least, is the importance of the leadership roles that Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler will each have to take on. Scheyer, Zoubek and Thomas are now gone for the Blue Devils, so it will be up to Duke’s top two scorers to lead the younger players.  

Being named captains by Coach K earlier this year, Smith and Singler will each have to be prepared to lead their team in pressure situations. They will have to demand the ball when the shot-clock is running down, and they will be forced to make quick decisions when closing out games.

This season’s team may be considered a group of veterans, but there are several new faces that were added to the Duke Program.

Irving, Hairston, and Thornton were each members of the Class of 2010 recruiting class, and each will need help during the season to progress as players. That’s where Singler and Smith will need to come along and offer assistance to the young players.

The 2010-2011 team may have more talented players than in years past, but there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that this team will be led by Smith and Singler; how they respond to their new leadership roles, however, may be the most crucial aspect in the Blue Devils’ hopes of repeating.

Only time will tell, but if each of the keys are followed out throughout the course of the season, there’s no doubt in my mind that the Duke Blue Devils will once again reign in March and claim the program’s fifth NCAA title under Coach Mike Krzyzewski.

Per Yahoo Sports, “Someone once said there is something in those hills at Clemson,” Swinney said. “At the end of the day, whatever is in those hills was too much for Kyle Parker to turn down.”  Parker turned down a reported $2.4MM from the Colorado Rockies, who drafted him in the first round at pick 26.  Negotiations are said to continue between Parker and the Rockies, with the signing deadline at August 16th. 

I think former Clemson Tiger CJ Spiller summed it up on Twitter well:  “Im glad my boy KP decided to stay another year, now my clemson folks can be at easy and not wry ab the season.”  Amen to that, CJ.

New Boston College Head Coach Steve Donahue

            Boston College athletic director Gene DeFilippo has dealt with it all during his 13 year tenure at The Heights.  The sudden departure of longtime football coach, Tom O’Brien, to rival N.C. State, the dismissal of top-recruit and current NBA player Sean Williams, the decision to leave the Big East for the larger media market in the ACC, the firing of O’Brien’s replacement Jeff Jagodzinski, and the media attention towards star linebacker Mark Herzlich and his battle to overcome a cancerous disease, just to name a few.  However, most recently, Defilippo had to make yet another tough decision when he chose to part ways with longtime BC basketball coach, Al Skinner.  “Big Al” had been a rock-solid icon for a basketball program that had been completely rebuilt under his reign, along with being BC’s all-time winningest coach; Skinner led the Eagles to the NCAA tournament six of the last seven years and had a keen eye for evaluating and recruiting underrated talent.

            Defilippo’s next challenge was to find a replacement.  He wanted a coach who was going to be an icon and a leader (as was Skinner), but more importantly he wanted Skinner’s replacement to have a proven, up-tempo coaching style.  “Big Al’s” teams had always been comprised of under-rated talent specifically targeted to play in a flex-style offense, and while the flex repeatedly proved difficult for teams to defend, it often drew crowds to sleep with its lackadaisical, leisurely pace.  An up-tempo team would not only bring in more fans, but potentially draw more athletic recruits. 

            After interviewing a handful of candidates, Gene had found his man in former Cornell head coach Steve Donahue.  After spending a decade in the Ivy League, coach Donahue was eager to accept his new challenge. “It was extremely difficult to leave Cornell,” Donahue said. “I loved being the head basketball coach at Cornell University. For 10 years, my family and I developed great relationships. I had an unbelievable experience with tremendous student-athletes. I had a great administration. I knew it would take an unbelievable opportunity to leave.” Boston College had presented that opportunity.  Donahue, who signed a six year deal, certainly brings a new style to The Heights. “We play fast, not necessarily the most athletic fast in terms of that but we averaged the most (shots) in our league and were in the top 25,” he said. “I would love to average 75 to 80 (shots). Simply put, I believe in playing before the defense is set. If we have a great shot before the defense is set, we’re going to attack it.”

            With the season still months away Donahue has to wait to start attacking ACC defense’s, however, he has certainly raised eyebrows attacking on the recruiting trail. As part of the coaching change, a number of former BC players decided to transfer including Rakim Sanders (Fairfield), Evan Ravenel (Ohio State), and former Skinner recruits Brady Heslip (Baylor) and Kevin Noreen (West Virginia). To replace such talent, Donahue and his staff have been working hard signing 6’10 center Dennis Clifford (Milton, MA) and 6’7 forward Eddie Odio (Miami, FL), while also getting some incoming transfers of their own, adding Travis Taylor (Monmouth) and Matt Humphrey (Oregon). Taylor, a 6’7 wing, could replace the scoring ability of Sanders. Monmouth’s star player averaged 17.8 points and 7.6 rebounds last season.

Written by: Charlie McCann

The Duke Blue Devils won the National Championship last March by out-scrapping their opponents on offense and out-hustling them on defense. It also didn’t hurt that they had three consistent, viable scoring options to look for in late-game situations. 

Even though Jon Scheyer has now graduated and moved on to bigger and better things, two capable scorers return in seniors Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith. The Blue Devils adds capable scorer in freshman point guard Kyrie Irving.

The Blue Devils should also get a backcourt boost from Liberty transfer Seth Curry, the brother of Golden State Warriors star rookie Stephen Curry. Seth led all freshmen in scoring two years ago at 20.2 points per game but had to sit-out last season per transfer rules.

While most believe that Duke won the title last spring because of their experience, another key factor to their run was the great play and poise displayed by Scheyer in the closing minutes of each game.

Whether it was grabbing a defensive rebound to ensure another possession or even hitting clutch baskets late in the shot clock, Scheyer seemed to always get the job done with the game on the line.   

Now that he is gone, along with talented big man Brian Zoubek and defensive-specialist Lance Thomas, other players will have to step up to the plate and fill the void left by these players.

Singler and Smith were named co-captains for the 2010-2011 team at the beginning of the summer, and they both know what is expected out of them as the season draws nearer.

What is an uncertainty for the Blue Devils at this point in the year, however, is a leadership role that must be claimed by one the frontcourt players.

Without Zoubek and Thomas holding down the defense, one of the big men on this year’s team is going to have to assert himself as the go-to guy in the post and the vocal leader on defense.

It seems that Mason Plumlee, the younger Plumlee brother, who missed the preseason and six games with a wrist injury last year, is the best option now that he is healthy.

Last season, Mason averaged just 3.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game in 14.1 minutes of action. These statistics show that he never became a reliable scoring-option in the post as many thought he would become, although he did show flashes of improvement late in the season.

He was also used sparingly in the NCAA Tournament Final Four, seeing action for just over 11 minutes and making one field goal in the West Virginia and Butler games combined.

Although he progressed slower than most Duke fans hoped, Mason was overshadowed by the strong play of Zoubek, Thomas, and at other times even his brother, Miles Plumlee.

Going into his second year as a Blue Devil, Mason will be the much-watched player by many, as they wait and see if he can develop his game and perform like the at the level many had expected of him as a freshman.

The expectations are much higher for Mason heading into the new season, as well as for his older brother. But this time around, with injuries and other frontcourt players out of the way, they should both be better prepared to take on the challenges that lay ahead.