I was very excited about this team based on what I had heard from others, but tonight was the first time I have seen them play.
Unfortunately, unless Mason Plumlee is the 2nd coming of Greg Oden, this is not going to be a very strong Duke team. Losing Henderson and Williams (and not getting Wall) really hurts.
Outside of Nolan Smith, they lack quickness and athleticism and guys like Zoubek (I just don't think Duke can afford to play him at the detriment of developing either of the Plumlee brothers) and Ryan Kelly are very, very unathletic. Andrew Dawkins is a bright spot, he has a great stroke and looks like he is going to be a very good player, but again he is not very ahtletic and doesn't seem like the type of player who can create his own shot. Maybe that will develop? Tough given he is not that quick and not a great leaper.
It just seems like elite, athletic players no longer come to Duke with any consistency. I don't think it's not for a lack of trying, but for some reason they choose other programs.
Getting Harrison Barnes would have been huge. I just hope they get Roscoe Smith and he and the rest of the class are able to raise the athletic ability of the program up to the level of the other elite programs. Hopefully that will allow Duke to make a deep run the in the NCAA tourney.