The Dook Crew Prove They’re Not That Good
February 12, 2009 by Ryan Pravato
Filed under Basketball
I already knew that, but now there’s some concrete evidence to fall back on.
After the game Jay Bilas said Duke is still top 10 quality but not a likely contender for the Final Four.
I concur with Bilas on this one.
By the way, anybody see the elbow lick Singler gave Hansbrough?
But let it be known, Singler does have a gentle side.
And don’t you forget it.
I dont know what that is, but I wouldnt call it “caressing”
I was talking with my brother about this the other day: Duke keeps recruiting the same kind of guys. They’re all between 6′ and 6′6″, they’re nice, smart guys who are good shooters. The teams from the past few years have been filled with guys like that. Guys who will knock down a lot of three’s but end up being kind of streaky.
The problem with that, what I call the Grant Hill effect, is that there’s never a single leader of the team. No one to yell in someone else’s face and make the rest of the team realize it’s time to get serious. Duke had that with Battier, they obviously had it with guys like Laettner, but they just haven’t had it lately.
They also don’t have big guys now. Shelden Williams was the last good one, and even he disappeared in big games, particularly against Sean May. Any team with a good inside game can dominate Duke.
Nolan Smith has a chance to be that vocal leader I think, probably starting next year.
But certainy you’re correct, they need to recruit better.
Definitely agree with Nolan Smith — although I had the same thought with Henderson so I dunno.