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  1. #1

    Question Ryan Kelly

    So while trying to pass time until tonight's game....I was thinking about some different topics I'd like to hear people talk about and I came up with this.

    I thought about how well this years team has played together and grown together throughout the year and how pleased I am with all of the players...starters and bench players. But being as to how crucial this years freshman will be going into the near future I wanted to speak a little on that.

    I feel we all know Andre's story, overcoming tragedy and hitting some big shots in some crucial games this year...true definition of clutch. Then, we have Mason and him overcoming his injury and putting together some solid performances here and there and showing the next year will prove to be a BIG year for Mase...but then I came to Ryan Kelly.

    I like Ryan and I think once he gets on the floor a little more he'll be able to prove he can shoot a little but I'm unsure as to the following:

    - what to expect going forward?
    - how we'll even use him?
    - will he even be a factor?
    - Can anyone even remember a past player to compare him to?

    I just feel this season may have been a little disappointing for him and I just don't know what to think...I like having him on the team but I wish I knew what his role would be...when I think of a player from the past I guess Lee Melchionni? I don't believe anyone ever expected much from Lee but atleast he had extreme passion and always brought energy...I don't get this from Ryan and unsure if this a good comparison....with that said....please...have at it...thanks

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
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    NC
    Quote Originally Posted by DeBlueDevil View Post
    I like Ryan and I think once he gets on the floor a little more he'll be able to prove he can shoot a little but I'm unsure as to the following:

    - what to expect going forward?
    - how we'll even use him?
    - will he even be a factor?
    - Can anyone even remember a past player to compare him to?

    I just feel this season may have been a little disappointing for him and I just don't know what to think...I like having him on the team but I wish I knew what his role would be...when I think of a player from the past I guess Lee Melchionni? I don't believe anyone ever expected much from Lee but atleast he had extreme passion and always brought energy...I don't get this from Ryan and unsure if this a good comparison....with that said....please...have at it...thanks
    I think much more is still expected of Kelly than was ever expected of Melchionni. Kelly was a top-tier prospect who just needed time to develop physically. Furthermore, the two play different positions. Melchionni was a 3 in high school who was asked to play 3/4 in college. Kelly was a 4/5 in high school who was asked to play 4/3 this year.

    Skills-wise, I see more of Shavlik Randolph in Kelly's game coming into college. He was a guy who could score with his back to the basket but preferred the face-up game and had very good shooting touch and dribbling skills for a big man.

    I think that Kelly will over the next two years develop into a very good player for us. With his height/length, shooting ability, passing ability, and basketball IQ, it's just a matter of getting physically stronger and more ready for the size/strength/speed of major college basketball. I think he'll make a terrific combo with the Plumlees.

    The big "if" is whether or not he ever gets strong enough to make it at this level. But the player I could see him developing into (and this is the type of player I had hoped Randolph would become) is a Tom Gugliotta type.

    So to answer your four questions:
    - I think he'll be the third big (first off the bench) and play15+ mpg next year
    - we'll use him primarily as a face-up 4, but we might also play a lot of switching high-low with him and the Plumlees
    - If he gets a little stronger, he'll absolutely be a factor
    - As I said, Randolph/Gugliotta

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
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    New Jersey
    don't forget Carrick Felix and Seth Curry are also part of this class! I do think Ryan will be a very big contributor by his junior season. If he keeps in it and continues to work hard without transferring, he wil be a big piece by his junior year.

  4. #4
    You gotta like what he says:

    "At this point I do whatever Coach [Mike Krzyzewski] asks of me, like I've done all season," Kelly said. "Everybody wants to be the guy that hits the game-winning shot in the national championship game. But that's not my role right now, and I accept that completely. That's what pushes me to get better every day in practice, to work hard, to push my teammates in any way I can and just be ready to get on the floor whenever that opportunity comes.

    "When the season is over we can talk about stuff like that. But right now I'm enjoying the ride. Not many people get the opportunity to be in the Final Four and that's certainly going to be a goal for years to come. But as we've seen, even at Duke, guys that are seniors now had never gotten to this point. So you never know what's going to happen. You've got to take advantage of the opportunity."

    "All I know is that I've become a much better player," he said. "I don't think back to specific moments in games. I know I've become a lot better player than I was a year ago. I know I have a bright future ahead of myself and I'm going to become an even better player. Right now I'm enjoying the moment being here in the Final Four and ready to do anything the coach asks."

    Read more: http://blogs.newsobserver.com/accnow...#ixzz0k3TmlN3k
    ~rthomas

  5. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by rthomas View Post
    You gotta like what he says:

    "At this point I do whatever Coach [Mike Krzyzewski] asks of me, like I've done all season," Kelly said. "Everybody wants to be the guy that hits the game-winning shot in the national championship game. But that's not my role right now, and I accept that completely. That's what pushes me to get better every day in practice, to work hard, to push my teammates in any way I can and just be ready to get on the floor whenever that opportunity comes.

    "When the season is over we can talk about stuff like that. But right now I'm enjoying the ride. Not many people get the opportunity to be in the Final Four and that's certainly going to be a goal for years to come. But as we've seen, even at Duke, guys that are seniors now had never gotten to this point. So you never know what's going to happen. You've got to take advantage of the opportunity."

    "All I know is that I've become a much better player," he said. "I don't think back to specific moments in games. I know I've become a lot better player than I was a year ago. I know I have a bright future ahead of myself and I'm going to become an even better player. Right now I'm enjoying the moment being here in the Final Four and ready to do anything the coach asks."

    Read more: http://blogs.newsobserver.com/accnow...#ixzz0k3TmlN3k
    Absolutely love his attitude! A ton of self confidence in believing his time will come. Could ask for nothing more from a freshman who has helped this team prepare for competition all season.

  6. #6
    To be quite honest I really think Ryan Kelly's skill set is pretty similar to Kyle Singler's. Kelly is an extremely good ball-handler and passer for a 6'10" player and I'm sure everyone can see that he is a good shooter as well. To me, I think Duke would get the most out of Kelly if they play him at the 3 as well as the 4. But I believe he is skilled enough to be a very good small forward.

  7. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by ajgoodfella7 View Post
    To be quite honest I really think Ryan Kelly's skill set is pretty similar to Kyle Singler's. Kelly is an extremely good ball-handler and passer for a 6'10" player and I'm sure everyone can see that he is a good shooter as well. To me, I think Duke would get the most out of Kelly if they play him at the 3 as well as the 4. But I believe he is skilled enough to be a very good small forward.
    CDU already made most of the points I was going to make on this thread and I also agree with this.

    I know people tend to put halos on everybody new but Ryan Kelly has the benefit of a year in the Duke system both athletically and academically, and since he's a local RDU kid, no need to worry about him getting homesick.

    Having a true PG like Irving will only make games of guys like Ryan, Andre, Seth, Kyle and Mason even better. The missing ingredient is who can play the defensive stopper role Lance vacates, besides Kyle, but 3 deep everywhere

    Irving-Thornton (Curry)
    Smith - Curry (Dawkins)
    Singler 50% - Dawkins (Felix)
    Singler 50% - Kelly (Hairston) if both Plumlees do not start
    Plumlee 1- Plumlee 2 (Hariston or Kelly if fouls mount)

    Coach K will have a lot of options including pairing his two seniors Nolan and Kyle with his new guys Thornton, Felix and Hairston in full court defensive pressing if he wants to shake things up a couple minutes.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
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    Ryan will get alot more playing time next year. He's a good, smart player.

  9. #9
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    NC
    Quote Originally Posted by basket1544 View Post
    Ryan will get alot more playing time next year. He's a good, smart player.
    Yup. Note as well that there will be 43 minutes opening up at the 4/5 spots (where he was recruited to play). Obviously, the Plumlees will absorb some of those, and Singler/Hairston may absorb some as well. But there are going to be 20+ minutes available for Kelly to take if he's physically ready to do it.

    Height-wise and skills-wise, there's no reason he can't be an impact player next year. It's just a matter of catching up physically for him.

  10. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by basket1544 View Post
    Ryan will get alot more playing time next year. He's a good, smart player.
    I just hope his lack of playing time doesn't lead him down the same road of Czyz, King, Boykin, Boetang, etc...

  11. #11
    Ryan Kelly is an AWFUL good ballplayer. I don't think any of the new guys are going to beat him out for too many minutes, to be frank... he is a very good basketball player. And no, he isn't going anywhere.

  12. #12
    Speaking of playing time...

    ...you know who I miss?

    This Guy

  13. #13
    He reminds me of Nick Horvath (the twig-thin freshman Horvath, not the bulked-up-like-Carrot-top senior.)

  14. #14
    Quote Originally Posted by TheRob8801 View Post
    Speaking of playing time...

    ...you know who I miss?

    This Guy
    LOL why?

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Other than Kyrie, no other freshman coming in is being claimed as a contributor. Felix maybe a very good player but i'm concerned how he will adjust to academics at Duke. Many players that go the Junior / Community College route usually do for not so good academic reasons. That could weigh on him next year, thus reducing his on the court performance.

    Kelly, Mason and Miles off-season will be critical to Duke's success next year. Can Miles play every bit as good as Zo has down the stretch? Can Mason fill in for Lance? Lance is an important 6'7" guy who can guard a wide variety of players.

    If anything, I see Kelly as being a guy who can replace Lance in this role with some scoring punch.

    The good thing is Kelly can talk with Lance and Zo about their slow start at Duke to where they are now. Zo and Lance have come a long long way since their freshman year but they stuck to it. They didn't jump and they have gained a great experience by sticking around. I use King as a great example of what not to do. Nova got yo the the final four last year but he wasn't playing. This year they fell short and the next few years they will not show as well with the loss of some very good players. Boykin is another good example of what not to do. They won the PAC10 tourney but nothing close to a final four. With him Duke has a good chance to go deeper last year in the tourney.

    I do believe it will be Kelly's junior year when he will get some really good playing time and being a real contributor for Duke.

  16. #16

    Joshua Hairston

    Quote Originally Posted by dukeimac View Post
    Other than Kyrie, no other freshman coming in is being claimed as a contributor.
    Joshua Hairston is 6-9 220lbs , plays the same position as Kelly, and is ranked 18th in the ESPN top 100 . He will be a contributor in his freshman year.

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cisco View Post
    Joshua Hairston is 6-9 220lbs , plays the same position as Kelly, and is ranked 18th in the ESPN top 100 . He will be a contributor in his freshman year.
    Ryan Kelly was a 6'10", 210lb, plays the same position as Hairston (actually more of a 4/5 than a 4/3 like Hairston), and was ranked #14 in the nation last year. There's no reason to assume that Hairston will play more than Kelly next year.

  18. #18
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    Dallas
    I think that Ryan and Hairston will earn all playing time that they get. (I can't wait to see how much Ryan and Mason bulk up this summer.) Either way I don't see either of them starting ahead of either Plumlee.

  19. #19
    Thanks everyone for your replys by the way...this is why i love the forum...

    Anyways, I agree with every single comment so far that is why I thought it'd be a good topic to talk about. CDU...I respect your comments very much so because most of the things you say typically tend to be very accurate and on point. But I kinda lean towards what Dukie@Wake said...

    basically Kelly could be the odd man out...With Hairston coming in and IF and IF Kyle comes back that would limit Ryan very much so...I agree with the amount of talent at the guard position next year we will definitely be throwing more guards on the floor then forwards and unless Ryan makes huge strides in all the areas mentioned so far (strength most notable) I think he may be stuck having to wait until his Junior year to make an impact. Until then he may just be just eatin up space for fouls.

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by DeBlueDevil View Post
    Thanks everyone for your replys by the way...this is why i love the forum...

    Anyways, I agree with every single comment so far that is why I thought it'd be a good topic to talk about. CDU...I respect your comments very much so because most of the things you say typically tend to be very accurate and on point. But I kinda lean towards what Dukie@Wake said...

    basically Kelly could be the odd man out...With Hairston coming in and IF and IF Kyle comes back that would limit Ryan very much so...I agree with the amount of talent at the guard position next year we will definitely be throwing more guards on the floor then forwards and unless Ryan makes huge strides in all the areas mentioned so far (strength most notable) I think he may be stuck having to wait until his Junior year to make an impact. Until then he may just be just eatin up space for fouls.
    We'll have to see how things develop. We will have more guard depth next year, but if this year has demonstrated anything, it's that a team can go far on tough defense and rebounding. Kelly will have a year in the system and another summer to add strength. With Nolan and Kyrie driving to the hoop and Seth and Andre bombing away from three point range, we will need completely different spacing on offense than we've seen this year. As long as Kelly proves willing to dedicate himself to rebounding and playing tough on the defensive end, I think he fits perfectly into our likely offensive look, next season. A lineup with Mason, Kelly, Singler (possibly), Nolan and Kyrie means that we can really open things up. Kelly's defender will have to follow him out to the three point line to prevent drive and kicks for three which will pull shotblockers away from the basket and make things easy for drives by Kyrie and Nolan. Mason and Miles are both still foul prone and while that will hopefully improve over the off-season, I think fouls alone keep their minutes around 22-25 at most. Kelly will definitely get his chances. Add in his free throw shooting (which was better in high school than what he showed in limited action this year) and you could see him in at the end of games.

    He would also be an ideal big for a second unit with Curry, Dawkins, Mason/Miles, and possibly Felix. He would help spread the floor on offense and provide size on defense. Basically, as long as he puts in the work during the offseason and his body allows him to pack on a bit more mass, he's almost guaranteed to get minutes next season. Add the fact that his offensive skills may even be more suited to our offense next season and I think we will see Kelly become an essential contributor.

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