Kyle Singler's Challenge

[Chris Randolph]

Noticed this after the Clemson game, part of Coach K's presser afterwards:

On Kyle Singler’s performance:
“[Through] his sense of urgency to just keep balls alive or go after balls or knock them off of somebody so that we maintained position, Kyle made a lot of plays. We’re a little bit banged up. Kyle got hit a little bit and [Clemson] went right after Nolan [Smith]. I don’t know how much were’ going to get done tomorrow. Hopefully everyone will be ready to go for Saturday night.”

You could say Kyle is fatigued and that is causing his offense to be down. He spends soooo much energy on defense and chasing down rebounds/loose balls. Sounds to me that he is also banged up. With fatigue/injuries comes less practice time which is never good. Thoughts on this? Good cause for his offensive troubles.

And before the Nolan argument that his offensive production hasn't dropped, I think it is safe to say that Kyle spends much more energy doing other things.

[fisheyes]

Noticed this after the Clemson game, part of Coach K's presser afterwards:

On Kyle Singler’s performance:
“[Through] his sense of urgency to just keep balls alive or go after balls or knock them off of somebody so that we maintained position, Kyle made a lot of plays. We’re a little bit banged up. Kyle got hit a little bit and [Clemson] went right after Nolan [Smith]. I don’t know how much were’ going to get done tomorrow. Hopefully everyone will be ready to go for Saturday night.”

You could say Kyle is fatigued and that is causing his offense to be down. He spends soooo much energy on defense and chasing down rebounds/loose balls. Sounds to me that he is also banged up. With fatigue/injuries comes less practice time which is never good. Thoughts on this? Good cause for his offensive troubles.

And before the Nolan argument that his offensive production hasn't dropped, I think it is safe to say that Kyle spends much more energy doing other things.

I tend to agree with you that Kyle is so intense on defense that it hinders his offense a bit. I thought Coach made a great move putting Andre on HB midway through the second half. It may have been a bit too late for Kyle.

You've got to love the guy's intensity and heart. Here's to finding your shot Kyle!

Go Duke!

[CLW]

I tend to agree with you that Kyle is so intense on defense that it hinders his offense a bit. I thought Coach made a great move putting Andre on HB midway through the second half. It may have been a bit too late for Kyle.

You've got to love the guy's intensity and heart. Here's to finding your shot Kyle!

Go Duke!

Agreed in limited time I thought Andre was as good (if not better than) Kyle on Barnes. Going "small" could help us/Kyle against UNC in the ACCT.

[TampaDuke]

Love Singler, but dude -- shot selection!

[uh_no]

Love Singler, but dude -- shot selection!

I have to agree...the number of shots he takes without being set/square to the basket is phenomenal...

[dukelifer]

I have to agree...the number of shots he takes without being set/square to the basket is phenomenal...

To be fair- he also missed a bunch a square as you can be.

[JD79]

Come on. Singler has not shot well all year. At what point do we all admit he isn't the player we thought he was? I've been an observor since 1975 and he isn't going to the next level. Period.

[OldPhiKap]

Y'know, I rememer threads this time last year about Jon. Why is he struggling? Will he get his shot back?

He hit some shots in the ACC final (that off the curl fade against GT was sick at the end) and that sent him on to a good enough tourney for us to win.

Kyle's offense is obviously off, but he can figure it out. The time is upon us. go Kyle, LGD!!!

[DukeGirl4ever]

Y'know, I rememer threads this time last year about Jon. Why is he struggling? Will he get his shot back?

He hit some shots in the ACC final (that off the curl fade against GT was sick at the end) and that sent him on to a good enough tourney for us to win.

Kyle's offense is obviously off, but he can figure it out. The time is upon us. go Kyle, LGD!!!

You beat me to it! I was going to mention Jon's struggles toward the end of the regular season last year. I really believe Jon was stressing because it was nearing the end of his career.

I do believe we will see the real Kyle Singler emerge...it's going to take him knocking down a key shot (like Jon did in the ACC championship game last year) and he'll be fine.

And honestly, I'm a pessimist in every area of my life except for DUKE. They've gotten me through a lot, so I will continue with the opTOEmism.

[dukelifer]

Come on. Singler has not shot well all year. At what point do we all admit he isn't the player we thought he was? I've been an observor since 1975 and he isn't going to the next level. Period.

What is your definition of a player? Singler was the reason Duke won a NC. His shooting mechanics are off- he is an outsanding PLAYER.

[Bob Green]

Come on. Singler has not shot well all year. At what point do we all admit he isn't the player we thought he was? I've been an observor since 1975 and he isn't going to the next level. Period.

I believe this is an overstatement.

[TheTrain]

Respectfully disagree. He simply does not have a high basketball IQ. He does not understand that the strength of his offensive game is not standing outside the arc and jacking up shots. His game at the college level can and will excel from 15 feet in....where he can get fouled and live at the foul line while fouling out the opposition. In four years, he has not figured that out. Admittedly, I have never been a Singler fan (people who know me, know that I have admittedly strong feelings about his play)...primarily because for all of his natural ability, he has no idea how to maximize his basketball efficiency on the offensive end.

As for the person above stating that Singler was the reason why Duke won the NC last year...all I can say is that while he played well against WVU and Butler....he was putrid against Baylor...0-10 from the field IIRC. For my money, we won because Scheyer and Smith rose to the occasion more than Singler

[MChambers]

Respectfully disagree. He simply does not have a high basketball IQ. He does not understand that the strength of his offensive game is not standing outside the arc and jacking up shots. His game at the college level can and will excel from 15 feet in....where he can get fouled and live at the foul line while fouling out the opposition. In four years, he has not figured that out. Admittedly, I have never been a Singler fan (people who know me, know that I have admittedly strong feelings about his play)...primarily because for all of his natural ability, he has no idea how to maximize his basketball efficiency on the offensive end.

As for the person above stating that Singler was the reason why Duke won the NC last year...all I can say is that while he played well against WVU and Butler....he was putrid against Baylor...0-10 from the field IIRC. For my money, we won because Scheyer and Smith rose to the occasion more than Singler

Funny, because Coach K seems to disagree with you. But I guess you know more.

[RoyalBlue08]

I hope this thread represents the lunatic fringe of the fan base and not some widespread opinion. I hate losing to UNC as much as anyone, but if we lose the last thing I am going to do is start criticizing the kids. And if anyone is above criticism, it's got to be Kyle. The kid has been a warrior for us for 4 years. He leaves everything on the court every time he goes out there. And after winning a championship and MOP of the Final Four last year he surprises everyone by passing on the NBA (at a point at which it was going to be hard for his draft stock to be any higher) to come back and finish his four years at Duke because he loved the school and playing for the Blue Devils. I hope Kyle has a great finish to his career at Duke, but if he doesn't hit another shot in his career, for me he goes down as one of the all time great players at Duke. Go Duke!

[dukelifer]

Respectfully disagree. He simply does not have a high basketball IQ. He does not understand that the strength of his offensive game is not standing outside the arc and jacking up shots. His game at the college level can and will excel from 15 feet in....where he can get fouled and live at the foul line while fouling out the opposition. In four years, he has not figured that out. Admittedly, I have never been a Singler fan (people who know me, know that I have admittedly strong feelings about his play)...primarily because for all of his natural ability, he has no idea how to maximize his basketball efficiency on the offensive end.

As for the person above stating that Singler was the reason why Duke won the NC last year...all I can say is that while he played well against WVU and Butler....he was putrid against Baylor...0-10 from the field IIRC. For my money, we won because Scheyer and Smith rose to the occasion more than Singler

You do remember that Kyle played the Baylor game with a very bad wrist. Also you win the NC championship because how you play in the FF. Duke has been to a bunch and only won 4.

[dcdrumsinc]

Respectfully disagree. He simply does not have a high basketball IQ. He does not understand that the strength of his offensive game is not standing outside the arc and jacking up shots. His game at the college level can and will excel from 15 feet in....where he can get fouled and live at the foul line while fouling out the opposition. In four years, he has not figured that out. Admittedly, I have never been a Singler fan (people who know me, know that I have admittedly strong feelings about his play)...primarily because for all of his natural ability, he has no idea how to maximize his basketball efficiency on the offensive end.

As for the person above stating that Singler was the reason why Duke won the NC last year...all I can say is that while he played well against WVU and Butler....he was putrid against Baylor...0-10 from the field IIRC. For my money, we won because Scheyer and Smith rose to the occasion more than Singler

Unfortunately, you are correct. I have always felt that way, but didn't want to say anything on here to anger anyone because we were winning and it was easy for many of us to jump to his defense.

[dcdrumsinc]

I actually disagree with those coming in defense that single doesnt get any calls or does not get the benefit of the calls. Maybe I am a pessimist, but in my very honest opinion, kyle tries to draw fouls and it looks like he gets fouled, but he isn't always fouled when he throws his body. Yes Hanbrough traveled a whole lot and got all the calls by flailing and throwing his body. I don't want Kyle doing the same and don't want him to get the same cheap foul calls, as much as I want duke to win. Simply, kyle can't finish over bigger strong players. not at this level and certainly not at the next.

[MChambers]

Unfortunately, you are correct. I have always felt that way, but didn't want to say anything on here to anger anyone because we were winning and it was easy for many of us to jump to his defense.

If you don't think Kyle Singler has a high basketball IQ, you're watching a different game than I am. He's one of the smartest players Duke has had in the Coach K era, especially on defense.

He's definitely in a deep shooting slump, but I don't think most of the solutions offered on this board will work. He's not particularly better shooting with his feet set off a pass. He's unusual in that regard. That makes it harder for me to say he's taking bad shots, because he's shot those shots pretty well in his career. Remember the West Virginia game last year? I remember the long shot he took off the dribble late in the first half, against West Virginia's best defender. Nothing but net.

My guess is that the coaches want him to keep shooting.

[ajgoodfella7]

I believe this is an overstatement.

I believe this is an understatement.

[lotusland]

We need Kyle to get his mojo back on offense for Duke to go deep in the tournament so I really hope he can get it going again. Anyone who thinks Kyle isn't a player hasn't been paying attention for the past 4-years though. I hope he finds success at the next level but it doesn't change what he's accomplished at Duke. He was MVP of the final 4 so I think he pulled his weight in the tournament last year. Why do I feel as if I'm trying to prove that the world isn't flat?