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Osiagledknarf
07-25-2010, 11:02 AM
http://bluedevilnation.net/2010/07/one-on-onee-with-duke-freshman-tyler-thornton/

JBDuke
07-25-2010, 11:35 AM
Thanks for the link, and thanks to frequent DBR poster Watzone for the interview.

This is an audio link of the interview with Tyler (after a short description of his summer league work), so you get to hear from the horse's mouth, so to speak. Kyrie's getting all the pub, but I'm excited about what Tyler can bring to the table.

Osiagledknarf
07-25-2010, 03:01 PM
Thanks for the link, and thanks to frequent DBR poster Watzone for the interview.

This is an audio link of the interview with Tyler (after a short description of his summer league work), so you get to hear from the horse's mouth, so to speak. Kyrie's getting all the pub, but I'm excited about what Tyler can bring to the table.

I am as well, but I wouldn't much this year. He is behind Kyrie and Seth Curry on the depth chart among point guards. Maybe he will get 5 minutes a game if lucky and that is on the high side. But I am with you; He seems to be a kid that can really contribute actively on the defensive end in future years.

Also, remember this kid frequently outplayed Kendall Marshall in there one on one matchups in high school. He is a 4 star prospect that may see very little playing time this year, but will be a solid fixture for 4 years here. Looking forward to having him on the team.

ACCBBallFan
07-25-2010, 04:51 PM
Tyler will have the opportunity to show what he can do on defense every day versus players like Kyrie, Seth and Nolan.

If he can stop them reasonably well, he might get some PT. For example take away Malcolm Delaney or Iman Shumpert or Durand Scott so that Nolan and Kyrie do not have to expend eenergy to do so.

Same for Miles to work his beard magic on the Jeff Allen's and Reggie Johnson's of the world.

Duke would gladly take its chances on Kyrie-Nolan-Kyle being better than those teams' best three other guys.

I too am not expecting more than 5-10 MPG on average including blowouts and less at end of season but if his defense is that good, it will earn PT from coach K if for no other reason than to send a message to guys who only exert effort on Offensive end.

Now with Josh showing a Deon like turnaround J at NCCU Pro Anm, so many options. That said I still think these other two frosh are 9-10 in the rotation that versus best ACC teams and in NCAA tourney becomes an 8 man rotation barring fouls.

PSurprise
07-25-2010, 05:33 PM
Hopefully, we will see a few more blowouts than last season and see the kid get some good work in against some 'less stellar' competition than what he faces in practice every day.

airowe
07-26-2010, 08:40 AM
Also, remember this kid frequently outplayed Kendall Marshall in there one on one matchups in high school.

Just so we have our facts straight, and not to defend a tarheel, this is incorrect. The two played to a statistical dead heat in a very competitive conference.

It is nice that our backup point guard recruit played about even with uns's #1 PG recruit, no need to distort the facts...

SupaDave
07-26-2010, 09:05 AM
Just so we have our facts straight, and not to defend a tarheel, this is incorrect. The two played to a statistical dead heat in a very competitive conference.

It is nice that our backup point guard recruit played about even with uns's #1 PG recruit, no need to distort the facts...

Actually in their head to head match-ups Tyler usually came out on top. Not to mention that Tyler got the Gatorade award.

Duvall
07-26-2010, 09:19 AM
Actually in their head to head match-ups Tyler usually came out on top. Not to mention that Tyler got the Gatorade award.

Even's probably a better way to describe it. Marshall had his share of wins in the head-to-head matchups.

And Thornton won the Gatorade award for DC, not the National Capital region. Players from schools in the Maryland and Virginia suburbs weren't eligible.

airowe
07-26-2010, 09:22 AM
Actually in their head to head match-ups Tyler usually came out on top. Not to mention that Tyler got the Gatorade award.

Tyler got the Gatorade Award for DC. Marshall's future teammate, James McAdoo won it for VA, where Marshall played High School ball.

Not disputing the fact that tyler outplayed Marshall at times but the notion that he "frequently outplayed" Marshall is not rue. The Washington Post has (or had) detailed stats on all these kids' games. I'd look them up, but I'm on my BB.

SupaDave
07-26-2010, 09:39 AM
Ahh yes - DC and Virginia. So close but yet so far. Unfortunately, one of my best friends has been helping to train Kendall since he was 9 (and he raved about him way back then) but even HE will tell you that Kendall doesn't want much of Tyler who is much more physical than he.

In a head to head of O'Connell vs Gonzaga... Marshall's team won but take a look at the highlights - it wasn't b/c of Marshall whereas it looks as though Thornton's team very much needs him to stay in the game. Kendall is 12 and Tyler is 1 for Gonzaga. There are not many highlights for Kendall.

Highlights and short stats. Tyler outscored Kendall 23-15.

http://www.capitolhoops.com/game_of_the_week_connellvsgonzaga12.htm

Osiagledknarf
07-26-2010, 10:55 AM
Tyler got the Gatorade Award for DC. Marshall's future teammate, James McAdoo won it for VA, where Marshall played High School ball.

Not disputing the fact that tyler outplayed Marshall at times but the notion that he "frequently outplayed" Marshall is not rue. The Washington Post has (or had) detailed stats on all these kids' games. I'd look them up, but I'm on my BB.

Yes he has. Maybe "frequently is too strong of a word", but for the most part he has in there head to head matchups.

Here are some links to games they played vs. one another:

http://slumz.boxden.com/f16/whats-411-tyler-thornton-kendall-marshall-matchup-1330537/

http://www.capitolhoops.com/game_of_the_week_connellvsgonzaga12.htm

And here is a link saying that Tyler Thronton is known for "shutting down Kendall Marshall": http://bleacherreport.com/articles/234375-the-state-of-duke-basketball-2010


Tyler Thornton is a pure point guard with a reputation for being a defensive specialist (Duke fans should be excited to know that he has been known to shut down 2010 UNC recruit Kendall Marshall).

So he is known for being able to win the head to head battles with Marshall consistent basics.

CLT Devil
07-26-2010, 11:10 AM
I was very excited when TT signed, as he was the 'defensive stopper' PG that we had missed since Dockery departed. I am still excited about what he will bring to this team, not only in practice but it's good to know that we have a guy who will likely be around for four years and by accounts is a legit team-running, physical and defensive PG. Happy to see a thread on him, as the rest of this class has gotten so much more attention. I agree with the above poster; after guarding Nolan, Kyrie and Seth in practice (not all at once of course) he will no doubt hone his D. Would love to see him 'get in Kendall Marshall's jersey' for four years.

On a related note, I am hoping that he can be the guy who takes the place that Jackie Manuel had when he guarded JJ. It always seemed like 'The Blanket' had JJ's number on D; although Redick did have a few good games against UNC, Jackie played well to shut him down. I can see Tyler doing something similar for us on Drew II and KM. Can't wait for the year to start.

dball
07-26-2010, 01:35 PM
On a related note, I am hoping that he can be the guy who takes the place that Jackie Manuel had when he guarded JJ. It always seemed like 'The Blanket' had JJ's number on D; although Redick did have a few good games against UNC, Jackie played well to shut him down. I can see Tyler doing something similar for us on Drew II and KM. Can't wait for the year to start.

Guess depends on what "shut down" means but Redick generally was around his average in games against UNCCH. His 'worst' game from his average was the last one he played against UNC (18 pts) but Manuel was gone then. Redick and Duke were 5-2 against Manuel/UNCCH. He did have a really off game in the ACC Tournament freshman year but Duke won anyway.

Manuel was a good defender but think JJ's struggles came more from the help D/double teaming.

CLT Devil
07-26-2010, 08:15 PM
Guess depends on what "shut down" means but Redick generally was around his average in games against UNCCH. His 'worst' game from his average was the last one he played against UNC (18 pts) but Manuel was gone then. Redick and Duke were 5-2 against Manuel/UNCCH. He did have a really off game in the ACC Tournament freshman year but Duke won anyway.

Manuel was a good defender but think JJ's struggles came more from the help D/double teaming.

In no way do I want to hijack this thread, so I will keep it on topic, but even JJ has admitted that Jackie was the toughest defender he faced in college. I found this quote on the interwebz, so no telling if it's legit or not:

'Redick says North Carolina's Jackie Manuel is the toughest defender he has faced, "because he's so long and athletic. He's able to bother my shot." But not every team has a 6-5 shutdown defender. Doherty says the basic philosophy must be to never lose sight of Redick.'

Anyway, the point of it was that we now have a guy who can handle what in my eyes is the most important position on our main rival's team, Point Guard at UNC, at least until Roy changes his style of play. I couldn't find any stats but I feel like JJ had to take a lot of shots and work extra hard to get his average when Jackie was on him.

If we have a PG who will likely stay around for 4 years that is more than capable of disrupting UNC's point guards' game then we will be in a great position to beat them, which is always nice. UNC had a guy who was, in JJ's words, one of the best defenders he ever faced, and the three point shot was so important to Duke's style of play then. Now that UNC likes to run and gun, we have someone who is capable of defending their PG's and we have not had anyone like that in a while. I dunno, I guess I just got sick of Ty Lawson doing whatever he wanted and kicking our butts for three years.

I want Kyrie to stay around for four years of course, but knowing we have TT on our roster gives us a huge boost against the Heels. I was very excited when he signed, mainly because we did not have a PG coming in at the time and had missed out on a couple like B. Knight and Boynton. Tyler, from all reports, can handle a high level PG on the defensive end.

Maybe I'm looking too far ahead but I just love to beat the Heels, and knowing we have a guy like Tyler who will likely stick around is a nice foundation for beating the Heels. I loved Paulus, but we needed someone like a Dockery who was quick enough to keep up with the speedy point guards. Kyrie might get all the PT and attention this year, but Tyler could be equally important over the course of his career, even if we bring in another potential one and doner like KI.