Duke's pluses

[Edouble]

What part of "pluses" means negatives?

I want the thread to be about the good things Duke has to offer.

Or is your cup half empty?

I know that you asked for a positive thread, but we all have free will, and you can't really control how the posts turn out.

When we just write a bunch of our favorite things about Duke, it's like Jim said, we're all just preachin' to the choir. I'm glad footballfan 2 wrote what he did. Look, Duke is the best, but it's interesting to note how a recruit might perceive us. I'm sure the coaching staff spends time investigating how we're perceived by the rest of the world.

Duke is probably considered a cool school to go to if you're in an upper SES prep school, but probably not so much if you're in an inner city high school where alot of good basketball recruits come from. I personally find it hilarious that Duke is considered the elitist, snobby, rich kid's private school while down the street, UNC is considered the "people's" school. The "people" I met at UNC were far more stuck up than anyone I knew at Duke. I personally think that the gas station attendants and dishwashers that I see wearing UNC hats would feel far more accepted if they spent time on the Duke campus with its diverse student body, than if they hung out over with the UNC undergrads at the balcony diving parties. A few friends of mine who attended UNC were shocked at how friendly and open the campus was when they came to visit me at Duke. Admittedly this is a small sample size, but having spent four years in the friendly confines of the Gothic Wonderland (like many on this board), I know that Duke's reputation as a snobby private school is not justified. This reputation is mainly based on jealous projections from people have never set foot on Duke's campus, but know that they did not have the academic accomplishments needed to gain admission to the school. I did, and to this day I thank my stars that I got in, and I am humbled and grateful to have attended. But justified or not, because of Duke's prestige, I don't think that it is considered a "cool" school to go, especially if you are from a less than privledged background.

I personally think that the Duke NBA player reputation is pretty much finished. I don't think that one gets mentioned as much anymore.

Donovan is to Coach K what Coach K once was to Deano. Alot of players like a younger coach. Of course players can relate to Coach K, but you always hear recruits saying that they chose a younger coach b/c they can relate to him. That's one reason why having a guy like Nate James on staff is a great idea.

[dukemomLA]

For the true student-athletes, the ones with the IQs, GPAs, SATs to thrive on the Duke campus, there is NO other place for them.

The beautiful campus, the Cameron Crazies, the excitement of playing in the ACC and being on TV almost every week. There is no rival.

Is Coach K getting older? Duh... but he's brought along Collins and Wojo and Nate the beast, etc. And K again has no rival to teaching the game of life along with the game of BB.

As a Dukemom, if there are any recruits reading this website, you would be foolish beyond belief to not accept an offer from Duke. There is life beyond the NBA, there is life beyond BB abroad. Your future life forever will depend on your choice of schools. And none can rival what is offered to you at Duke.

[BD80]

OK, not "our" Jason Williams:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slu...v=ap&type=lgns

But at least now, if JWill can get back to the league, he can be "the" Jason Williams.

[dukeimac]

It is just sad!

Many recruits like to go to websites like this to feel the love. To see what, what is supposed to be some of there own cutting down Duke.

All I wanted to do was send out some good vibes about Duke and what do we get, people like Edouble, supposedly a Duke fan, and others pointing out bad things about the school.

But then again, some people aren't happy UNLESS the are painting everything bleak. For some that is enjoyment, that makes them happy.

Try to keep this a positive thread. Many KB and others are watching.

[DukeDude]

The best basketball conference.

A great education for those able to take advantage of it.

The best home court in sports.

NC BBQ.

Every game shown on national TV on the Duke television network (ESPN).

And don't underestimate the value of having really smart friends.

[Edouble]

if there are any recruits reading this website, you would be foolish beyond belief to not accept an offer from Duke.

It's attitude like this that turns non-Duke fans into anti-Duke fans, and it really does not help out at all towards ending the perceived arrogance surrounding Duke that I spoke about in an earlier post. While Duke is great, there are other schools out there that can offer an academic and cultural experience close to, if not equally as good as, Duke's. Schools like Stanford, Michigan, UVA, and Georgetown are all excellent academic institutions that have had Final Four caliber years. A basketball recruit such as Greg Monroe who chose GTown over Duke, in my opinion, is not "foolish beyond belief."

And dukeimac, you should read my post again. I did not say, or point out anything bad about the school. I noted how I know we are perceived by many non-Duke people, why I think we are misperceived in this way, and how this perception is wrong. If a recruit was actually reading my post, that recruit might say "Oh wow, yeah, I heard Duke was a school with a bunch of snooty rich kids, but this guy went there and says everyone's really friendly and cool, much moreso than at UNC. Maybe this guy's opinion about Duke is more accurate than some of the stuff I've heard from other people, since he attended the school." Please tell me what I said about Duke that was bad.

[dukeimac]

Edouble, here is what I take you as saying, hey I like chocolate but it isn't good for me.

"Duke is probably considered a cool school to go to if you're in an upper SES prep school, but probably not so much if you're in an inner city high school where alot of good basketball recruits come from."

"I personally think that the Duke NBA player reputation is pretty much finished. I don't think that one gets mentioned as much anymore."

"Alot of players like a younger coach."

You DO try to counter each of these statements but you make them and they stick out much more than your counters.

Just stay positive. No need to make a negative statement to make a point.

See Schwarz's post.

[throatybeard]

We're world class when it comes to patting ourselves on the back.

[ncexnyc]

to both Edouble and Footballfan2. They both gave a fair assessment of the situation.

I can see how some might disagree, as the thread is in fact titled, "Duke's pluses", but considering what took place Friday night, it's only fitting we have some debate here.

[Jarhead]

In summary, one could say that the pluses are absolutely real and true. The negatives cannot be shown to be real and true except when influenced by the biases of academic and sports rivalries.

[jimsumner]

For the life of me I can't see any connection between the Obama-McCain debate and the relative merits of Duke University and its competition in the recruiting of high-school basketball players.

[ncexnyc]

In summary, one could say that the pluses are absolutely real and true. The negatives cannot be shown to be real and true except when influenced by the biases of academic and sports rivalries.

Let you remind you of this.
http://news.duke.edu/lacrosseincident/

The national media always made it a point to mention either the preception of Duke's student body or they flat out stated it as a supposed fact.

Stereotypes exist in our society and the fact that the Duke student body is made-up of rich kids is one that does indeed exist. Anyone who watches a basketball game on t.v. knows the university has an extremely diverse student body, but many chose to ignore that fact.

[ncexnyc]

For the life of me I can't see any connection between the Obama-McCain debate and the relative merits of Duke University and its competition in the recruiting of high-school basketball players.

Try harder. It's called a debate for a reason. People present their opposing views on an issue, which is what was taking place on this thread and on Friday night.

[Cali-Duke]

I think that another benefit for recruits who are not shoe-ins to the NBA is an alumnibasis with connections to basketball/NBA-related jobs.

For instance, Greg Paulus wants to go into coaching after his Duke college career. We have a bunch of alumni who are head and assistant coaches at many Division I schools.

Also, you could argue that Duke can connect players with agents to move into that industry. Lee Melchioni got his job by meeting an agent while at Duke.

Duke alumni also have major positions in NBA front offices, such as Danny Ferry who is the general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

We always stress family at Duke. This is just another avenue where family can come into play.

[JasonEvans]

I cannot see any further purpose to this thread. It was a somewhat silly exercise from the start (a bunch of Duke fans talking about all the great things about Duke).

The mods have been talking about once again trying to hold the DBR community to a higher standard. Toward that end, I am closing this thread. It has served its purpose.

--Jason