whereinthehellami
10-21-2008, 03:03 PM
VUU
Duke's first exhibition game is against Virginia Union University, a historically small black college from Richmond, Virginia. Williard Coker steps in as Virginia Union's head coach after 23 years as an assistant for Coach Robbins, who coached for 30 seasons. Tough, although very cool way start to your head coaching career.
PLAYERS
VU's leading scorer and rebounder Brad Byerson graduated last year averaging 16.8 PPG and 8.1 RPG. His brother Brandon, a 6-1 JR, returns after averaging 11.2 PPG while shooting 42% from 3. His other brother (not Darrell) Braxton, a 6-3 SO, also returns after averaging 7 PPG. 3 brothers on one team, a rarity that Duke could accomplish with the Plumlee's.
The Panther's Greg Thondique, a 6-6 SR was named to the pre-season all CIAA for the second consecutive year. Greg averaged 8.9 PPG and 6.1 RPG last year.
THOUGHTS
VU was 22-8 last year but lost their top two scorers and don't have a player taller than 6-7. Not exactly a recipe for success aggainst Duke, playing right into the Blue Devils strengths.
Obviously this will be a glorified scrimmage and a chance for the Devils to beat up another team instead of themselves. I look for Duke to focus on shutting down their top two guys, Thondique on the inside and the elder Byerson on the outside.
On the other side of the ball I'd like to see Duke focus on playing aggresive mistake free ball. Share the ball and run some plays. This is more of a chance for the Coaches to play with different line-ups and see what parts work better together. Nothing like a 40 plus margin of victory to start the season.
Duke's first exhibition game is against Virginia Union University, a historically small black college from Richmond, Virginia. Williard Coker steps in as Virginia Union's head coach after 23 years as an assistant for Coach Robbins, who coached for 30 seasons. Tough, although very cool way start to your head coaching career.
PLAYERS
VU's leading scorer and rebounder Brad Byerson graduated last year averaging 16.8 PPG and 8.1 RPG. His brother Brandon, a 6-1 JR, returns after averaging 11.2 PPG while shooting 42% from 3. His other brother (not Darrell) Braxton, a 6-3 SO, also returns after averaging 7 PPG. 3 brothers on one team, a rarity that Duke could accomplish with the Plumlee's.
The Panther's Greg Thondique, a 6-6 SR was named to the pre-season all CIAA for the second consecutive year. Greg averaged 8.9 PPG and 6.1 RPG last year.
THOUGHTS
VU was 22-8 last year but lost their top two scorers and don't have a player taller than 6-7. Not exactly a recipe for success aggainst Duke, playing right into the Blue Devils strengths.
Obviously this will be a glorified scrimmage and a chance for the Devils to beat up another team instead of themselves. I look for Duke to focus on shutting down their top two guys, Thondique on the inside and the elder Byerson on the outside.
On the other side of the ball I'd like to see Duke focus on playing aggresive mistake free ball. Share the ball and run some plays. This is more of a chance for the Coaches to play with different line-ups and see what parts work better together. Nothing like a 40 plus margin of victory to start the season.