Okay, YOUR Duke team

[Tappan Zee Devil]

Starters:

J. Williams
G. Hill
E. Brand
D. Ferry
C. Laettner

Bench:

Hurley
Dawkins
Battier

Note: If this team were playing against MD, JWill gets

OK - I hate to be a broken record, but Duke basketball existed prior to K and played for NCAA championships and beat some of the legendary early Dean uncch teams.

My most hated unnch player is Dick Grubar - I can never forgive the sly grin he had when bringing the ball upcourt

one of my most respected unnch players is Charlie Scott - he was a pioneer and (from what I know) was classy as well as a great player

Jim
T'70

[Verga3]

How about this....

1st Team:
Jason Williams
Johnny Dawkins
Grant Hill
Christian Laettner
Mike Gminski

2nd Team:
Bobby Hurley
J.J. Redick
Art Heyman
Shane Battier
Elton Brand

3rd Team:
Dick Groat
Bob Verga
Gene Banks
Danny Ferry
Shelden Williams

Bench:
Tommy Amaker
Jeff Mullins
Jim Spanarkel
Jack Marin
Carlos Boozer
Fred Lind!!!

[BigTedder]

another good question...who is the all-time unc team? (state, wake)

[Cdog923]

Excuse my lateness to this thread (and my lack of far-reaching Duke history...my knowledge goes back to '90.)

PG - Bobby Hurley
SG - Johnny Dawkins
SF - Grant Hill
PF - Shane Battier
C - Christian Laettner

Bench:
G - Jason Williams
G - J.J. Redick
F - Elton Brand

This is a killer lineup. Hurley distributes to Hill and Dawkins, who can score from virtually anywhere on the offensive end. Laettner is the force in the middle, while Battier provides clutch scoring and defensive leadership. Hill, JWill and Battier are all very versatile; Hill can play the 1-4 positions, JWill can cover both guards, while Battier can play the 3-5. Redick is the assassin off of the bench, while Brand brings the muscle in whenever Laettner or Battier needs a break.

[sagegrouse]

I propose a criteria-based approach to an all-Duke team. Of course, I am not sure what the criteria should be.

Here are some ideas:

NBA All-Star
Jeff Mullins
Jack Marin
Christian Laettner
Grant Hill (captain)
Elton Brand

Carlos Boozer (sub/ seniority-based)

Olympic Basketball Medalists
Jeff Mullins (1964) - gold
Christian Laettner (1992) - gold
Grant Hill (1996) - gold
Crawford Palmer - (2000) - silver - France
Carlos Boozer - (2004) - bronze

National POY (I may need some help here)
Starters (consensus)
Art Heyman
Christian Laettner
Elton Brand
Shane Battier
Jason Williams
J.J. Redick (we'd be awesome with six on the floor)
Reserves
Dick Groat
Johnny Dawkins
Danny Ferry



All Geezer Team (Bubas era and earlier)
Dick Groat
Art Heyman
Jeff Mullins
Bob Verga
Mike Lewis
Reserves
Jack Marin (sorry, Jack, we needed a center)
Randy Denton

Anyway, you get the idea.

sagegrouse
'I expect Jim Sumner to come by and tidy up this mess'

[Son of Mojo]

Have to say this just because it sounds like there's a few who keep hitting this horse...if we're picking teams and someone is saying (like I did) the point from which we began watching, don't knock them for not having someone. I didn't have Gminski, Heyman, Mullins, Groat, Spanarkel, Banks, Marin, Denton, Verga, Lewis, etc. because I never got to watch them play in a Duke uniform (except on tape or youtube). Matter of fact, of those the only one I ever saw play live on tv was Gminski when he was with the Sixers/Hornets/Bucks (but on my old nba video games as a kid I made him a BEAST in scoring). Some of the younger people on here who didn't choose someone like Laetnner amazes me BUT I can't fault them if they didn't get to see him play. It's all for giggles here--don't get upset. We've had so many fantastic players that I'd take a mix & match squad of names we have given and put them up against other school's all-timers...that's right, I'm looking your way, unc!!!

[Devil in the Blue Dress]

Have to say this just because it sounds like there's a few who keep hitting this horse...if we're picking teams and someone is saying (like I did) the point from which we began watching, don't knock them for not having someone. I didn't have Gminski, Heyman, Mullins, Groat, Spanarkel, Banks, Marin, Denton, Verga, Lewis, etc. because I never got to watch them play in a Duke uniform (except on tape or youtube). Matter of fact, of those the only one I ever saw play live on tv was Gminski when he was with the Sixers/Hornets/Bucks (but on my old nba video games as a kid I made him a BEAST in scoring). Some of the younger people on here who didn't choose someone like Laetnner amazes me BUT I can't fault them if they didn't get to see him play. It's all for giggles here--don't get upset. We've had so many fantastic players that I'd take a mix & match squad of names we have given and put them up against other school's all-timers...that's right, I'm looking your way, unc!!!

There will always be those who are younger and those who joined the board who didn't have the opportunity to learn about some of the greats who played at Duke. I see the conversation in this thread and many others as a vehicle for keeping the old names alive in our collective memories.... the stuff of traditions and legends.... and a reminder that Duke has a long tradition and history of excellence in many areas. I enjoy and appreciate the stories of some of my contemporaries and those who came along earlier.

[GADevilFan]

As with many, my knowledge base goes back only so far...

Starters:

Hurley
Redick
G. Hill
Ferry
Laettner

Bench:

S. Williams
Dawkins
Brand

[sagegrouse]

As with many, my knowledge base goes back only so far...

Starters:

Hurley
Redick
G. Hill
Ferry
Laettner

Bench:

S. Williams
Dawkins
Brand

My earlier post used a series of somewhat random criteria for picking an all-time Duke team. I left off the obvious criterion: your jersey's retired.

Um, lets see. That would be Groat, Heyman, Mullins, Gminski, Dawkins, Ferry, Laettner, Hurley, Hill, Battier, J. Williams, Redick and S. Williams.

That totals 13 jerseys here on Friday 13th. So, I guess, some three of these would have to be told they are Third Team.

There is no way I am touching that hot potato!

sagegrouse

[gw67]

I suspect that I posted in this thread already so I don’t want to post two differing opinions (very likely because there have been so many outstanding players since I began watching in the early 60’s). I will, however, list the five Duke players who I believe are generally underappreciated by Duke fandom:

• Danny Ferry : All American, National POY, Two-time ACC POY, two-time 1st team All ACC
• Bob Verga: All American, Three-time 1st team All ACC
• Trajan Langdon: Three-time 1st team All ACC
• Mark Alarie: Two-time 1st team All ACC, 2nd team All ACC
• Jim Spanarkel: Two-time 1st team All ACC, 2nd team All ACC

gw67

[Cali-Duke]

johnny dawkins
jay will (kind of like a chris duhon/jay will thing)
the alaskan assassin
grant hill
shane battier

needless to say, we'd run =)

[Classof06]

J Will
Dawkins
G. Hill
Laettner
Brand

Bench
Battier
Redick
S. Williams

[weezie]

I'd still like Boozer based on that 2001 championship game. For that he gets a big X and an O from me.

That's a kiss and a hug, btw.

[ForeverBlowingBubbles]

PG - Jason Williams
SG - Corey Maggette
SF - Grant Hill
PF - Shane Battier
C - Elton Brand

Bench:

Carlos Boozer
Johnny Dawkins
Luol Deng
C.L.


I'm operating under the assumption that athletes have gotten stronger, quicker, and faster over recent years.

These aren't the players with the most accolades ever obtained by Duke players but if you took these players all in their primes (or for J. Will, what could have been his prime) - they would thwart any other group of Dukies with relative dominance.

I had Boozer circled in first over Battier but as a Duke team - I think they would be more efficiently run with a fourth perimeter threat and a defensive stopper in Battier.

[jv001]

First Team
Christian Laettner
Grant Hill
Bobby Hurley
Mike Gminski
Bob Verga

2nd Team
Jeff Mullins
Tate Armstrong
JJ Redick
Elton Brand
Johnny Dawkins

3rd Team
Jay Williams
Mike Lewis
Shane Battier
Danny Ferry
Jack Marin
Man that leaves off a great bunch of guys

[mgtr]

My Duke team? Simple -- it is always next year's team. It will be Paulus, Singler, Scheyer, Henderson and X. That is the team I want to be successful, and that is the team I want to watch.