FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 12, Duke Blue Devils

This week, FanHouse is taking an early look at the top teams heading into 2008 with a BlogPoll decided on by our college hoops bloggers. To help with the team capsules, we've brought in some of the top fan bloggers around the internets to give us insights on their teams.

Today, we have enlisted JD King of Duke Basketball Report to break down the Duke Blue Devils.

There has been a perception the last couple of years that Duke is off. If so, that's over. This Duke team is going to be very good.

The only player not back on last year's size-challenged team is DeMarcus Nelson. And Duke has added freshmen Miles Plumlee (6'11) and Olek Czyz (6'8) to returnees Brian Zoubek (7'1") and Lance Thomas (6'8") to the inside rotation. Zoubek is healthier than he has been in some time and Taylor is markedly improved and much stronger than he was last year.

Czyz will play less than the other three, but no matter how you cut it, this frees up 6'8" Kyle Singler to play anywhere he's useful on the court.

The perimeter is even deeper. Nolan Smith is starting at point and providing huge ball pressure on defense, and his offense has improved a lot. Jon Scheyer has moved into the starting lineup and brings his savvy game to the off-guard spot. Gerald Henderson is starting at forward, where his quickness and athleticism make up for smallish size (6'4").

Duke also has Greg Paulus, who has been a three-year starter, rookie Elliot Williams, who is extremely quick, and Marty Pocius, who has struggled with injuries in his Duke career, but who has some real talent. Dave McClure is a guy who can come in and do almost anything well, although he's not a big scorer. But like Scheyer, he's extremely smart.

Why they should be ranked here: They have an improved inside game and a solid perimeter with lots of experience. A lot of gifted shooters, and Singler is ready to make a big move, as is Henderson.

Why they should be ranked higher: Be patient. This team's offense is coming along, but the defense has the potential to be devastating. As long as the inside game holds up - and odds are it will - 12 is five or six spots too high.

Why they should be ranked lower: They shouldn't. Time has proved that if you give Mike Krzyzewski a team with a good defensive point guard and lots of versatile athletes and an ability to score inside, that he knows what to do with it. See Beijing for a recent example. Obviously the talent levels are very different, but the template is the same: the
Olympic team played Duke basketball, really. You can expect a loaded Duke team to play it as well.

Thanks to JD King of Duke Basketball Report to for coming into the 'House to break down the Blue Devils.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

11-18-2008 @ 7:45PM

kantwistaye said...

Was this written before Rhode Island outplayed them at home? Duke is still Duke. That is, overrated.

11-19-2008 @ 12:20AM

JD said...

my favorite part is where he states duke is better this year in the post b/c Zubek is healthy, Lance Thomas is stronger and they have two freshman (neither of whom is among the 10-15 impact freshman being talked about).

nothing about those statements guarentees more sucess in the post. Zubek nor Thomas have ever been good or even above average offensive threats on the block. No stats or facts were given to prove either freshman will make an impact down there. I just dont understand the natural assumption dook will have more of a post presence. if you go back and look at last years predictions the same things were said.

as long as singular is playing the 4 duke will remain a 'good' team that beasts teams is suppose to be, loses to teams its suppose to lose to and goes 50-50 with teams that can beat them on the boards or have superior athleticism (ie - Wake Forrest).

there preseason schedule typically pushes them further up the AP rankings than they deserve. i say they finish 3rd or 4th in the ACC and are out of the NCAA tourney in the 2nd round.

11-19-2008 @ 11:25AM

cbluskytriplet said...

Coach K and Duke just don't get it. Carolina has been back since they won their last national championship and Duke will always be 2nd rate just like when the Dean passed his (coach K ass whippin') skills down to Roy and the boys. Coach K will get tired of being a 2nd rate coach in the ACC and move on to the NBA where he will amount to what most of his NBA players have amounted to -- which is: being an embarrassment to the ACC. Tyler can't wait to embarrass all of you Duke clowns like he did as a freshman on your big "Senior Day." Duke what a laugher your team and coach are now. Get your crybaby rags out as soon as that great pro "JJ" ( I want to play or get traded) GETS THEM SHIPPED TO THE WHOLE DUKE STAFF! That is why Tyler stays around for another year. It is more fun looking at scowl rat face leave the court in disdain after another Tarheel win than making several million dollars and going shopping. Go Tarheels! We love you Roy, you are the best in all the land.

11-20-2008 @ 5:29PM

Shonda said...

So, how did you feel watching Roy sit in the crowd when Kansas (the team that kicked UNC's a** in the Final Four!) won the title, w/ a freakin' Jayhawk pennant over his heart? Duke's a "laugher" (that doesn't even make sense in the context you used it) now? Coach K has kept the program relevant for a long time now. It says a lot when you're still the most hated team in NCAAB and they haven't won it all in 7yrs. And last time I checked, Duke and UNC have the same number of Final Four appearances and National titles since 2000. Duke and UNC are 5-5 since Roy got there, btw--that doesn't sound like anyone's whooping anyone's a**...