Cook, Jefferson Named Co-Captains

[Bob Green]

Congratulations to Cook and Jefferson for being named Team Co-Captains:

http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=209688642&DB_OEM_ID=4200


"As a team and as a staff, we could not be happier to have Quinn [Cook] and Amile [Jefferson] as our co-captains,” said Krzyzewski. “They're two veterans, returning starters. They know us, they know what we want to accomplish and their personalities just fit in so perfectly with the development of teamwork on our team. We're very excited about having them as captains."

[BigWayne]

Excellent choices.

[DevilYouthCoach]

Excellent choices.

Yep, my favorite two players!

[Newton_14]

This is a great sign for Quinn and his growth and maturation. Very excited to see this happen. With the new stud freshman PG coming on board, Quinn could have pouted or withdrew. Instead it appears he did the opposite, embracing the freshman, took him under his wing, and took the stance of this being his team to lead. Really great sign and I expect that means we can look for good things from our Sr PG this season.

Happy for him and Amile. Amile seems poised to raise his game up to All-ACC levels. Getting great play and leadership from those two plus Rasheed is critical to the success to this team. They need to lead by example on and off the floor, and get great support from the freshman and underclassmen returnee;s. All that could add up to big things for the season.

Congrats to Amile and Quinn!!

[subzero02]

I hope Rasheed also takes a strong leadership role on the roster

[Zeb]

I hope Rasheed also takes a strong leadership role on the roster

In K's comments after coming back from Spain, he praised Quin and Amile, but I did not see him mention Rasheed. I found this potentially concerning, especially on the heels of last year, where there were comments that Rasheed did not put in enough work over the summer and he struggled to produce in the first half of the season. I think Rasheed is potentially the most talented returning player, so it gives me pause we haven't heard more about him from the coaches. Could mean nothing of course--we'll see.

[flyingdutchdevil]

This is a great sign for Quinn and his growth and maturation. Very excited to see this happen. With the new stud freshman PG coming on board, Quinn could have pouted or withdrew. Instead it appears he did the opposite, embracing the freshman, took him under his wing, and took the stance of this being his team to lead. Really great sign and I expect that means we can look for good things from our Sr PG this season.

Happy for him and Amile. Amile seems poised to raise his game up to All-ACC levels. Getting great play and leadership from those two plus Rasheed is critical to the success to this team. They need to lead by example on and off the floor, and get great support from the freshman and underclassmen returnee;s. All that could add up to big things for the season.

Congrats to Amile and Quinn!!

Echo everything said here.

Quinn is vital to this team. If he can correctly channel that emotion, along with his good 3pt shooting, excellent ball-handling skills, and strong distribution skills, he'll be a potential All-ACC.

The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced our starting line-up will be Cook-Sulaimon-Winslow-Jefferson-Okafor. That is the perfect combination between offense and defense, size, experience, and talent. I never believed in the Tyus-Cook line up, simply because it looks to be such a liability on D (I'm sure they will play plenty together, but it won't be the most potent line up).

As for Jefferson? If he can provide that communication on D that was so lacking last year, we should be in a great spot. Amile's hustle, mobility, agility, and added strength are going to make him a fun 4 to watch.

[Billy Dat]

In K's comments after coming back from Spain, he praised Quin and Amile, but I did not see him mention Rasheed. I found this potentially concerning, especially on the heels of last year, where there were comments that Rasheed did not put in enough work over the summer and he struggled to produce in the first half of the season. I think Rasheed is potentially the most talented returning player, so it gives me pause we haven't heard more about him from the coaches. Could mean nothing of course--we'll see.

I am with you and don't think its nothing. From the outside, Rasheed has never seemed to be a "coaches dream" in terms of work ethic and "anything for the team" ethos. When he played for Billy Donovan on the USA Teams, it always seemed like Donovan was working hard to come up with a positive spin in his comments. K, obviously, can be much more direct and any praise of Rasheed seems to have been extremely hard earned. However, K has that structure where a guy can earn his way to a captain appointment after the season has started. I think the staff would love to be able to promote Rasheed in that way if he can earn it, and I think we'd all be thrilled to see such a promotion as it would speak to real growth. Fingers crossed, because his talent is obvious.

That being said, I have buried the lede...congrats to Quinn and Amile, but it wouldn't surprise me, depending on Jones current "level" to see Cook as the 6th man spark plug.

[azzefkram]

Congrats to Quin and Amile. I'm a bit surprised by Sheed's exclusion but not overly so.

[moonpie23]

congrats to the caps.....

i'm getting stoked...

[MCFinARL]

Congrats to Quin and Amile. I'm a bit surprised by Sheed's exclusion but not overly so.

Yes, I think this is interesting but not necessarily a big deal, and even calling it an "exclusion" might suggest more than is really happening here. Rasheed is, after all, a junior, not a senior. Quinn, as a senior, was the obvious choice, and if he had not been named a captain it would clearly have been significant. But it's not a given that any junior will be a captain. It's more that Amile stood out and earned a captaincy, I think, than that Rasheed was excluded.

[MChambers]

Yes, I think this is interesting but not necessarily a big deal, and even calling it an "exclusion" might suggest more than is really happening here. Rasheed is, after all, a junior, not a senior. Quinn, as a senior, was the obvious choice, and if he had not been named a captain it would clearly have been significant. But it's not a given that any junior will be a captain. It's more that Amile stood out and earned a captaincy, I think, than that Rasheed was excluded.
This is an Internet forum. How dare you try to insert reasoned discourse?

[cbarry]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Sheed added as Tri-Captain early to mid season (a la Hairston last year).

[Edouble]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Sheed added as Tri-Captain early to mid season (a la Hairston last year).

I would be surprised. Sheed's history up to now has not indicated that this is the direction he's heading in. A mid-season captaincy would point more towards "surprise" than "not a surprise" for me, particularly with Coach K stressing the prestige of the captaincy honor in recent years.

[Duvall]

I would be surprised. Sheed's history up to now has not indicated that this is the direction he's heading in. A mid-season captaincy would point more towards "surprise" than "not a surprise" for me, particularly with Coach K stressing the prestige of the captaincy honor in recent years.

That seems like a drastic overreading of said "history."

[Edouble]

That seems like a drastic overreading of said "history."

How so?

It would be a drastic (meaning "extreme") turn of events if he were named a captain midseason. I think my reading of his "history" is realistic. He was one of the most talented players on the roster last year, yet began the season in the Coach K doghouse, and struggled to stay in the starting lineup.

[BD80]

How so?

It would be a drastic (meaning "extreme") turn of events if he were named a captain midseason. I think my reading of his "history" is realistic. He was one of the most talented players on the roster last year, yet began the season in the Coach K doghouse, and struggled to stay in the starting lineup.

Somebody's been studying at ol' roy's school of bus driving

[Henderson]

How so?

It would be a drastic (meaning "extreme") turn of events if he were named a captain midseason. I think my reading of his "history" is realistic. He was one of the most talented players on the roster last year, yet began the season in the Coach K doghouse, and struggled to stay in the starting lineup.

Uh oh...

[Ichabod Drain]

How so?

It would be a drastic (meaning "extreme") turn of events if he were named a captain midseason. I think my reading of his "history" is realistic. He was one of the most talented players on the roster last year, yet began the season in the Coach K doghouse, and struggled to stay in the starting lineup.

I believe there has been a third captain added after the first two the past couple years.

http://www.fayobserver.com/blogs/sports/acc_basketball/seth-curry-named-a-duke-captain-joining-ryan-kelly-and/article_14a07ddb-3094-598e-b3a7-bd1903b2f647.html

http://www.dukechronicle.com/articles/2013/11/06/josh-hairston-named-duke-basketballs-third-captain--2014

Not saying Sulaimon will be a captain, just that your "history" argument doesn't support that big yellow bus you're driving over Rasheed. :D

[MCFinARL]

This is an Internet forum. How dare you try to insert reasoned discourse?

Oops, sorry. Forgot where I was. :o

[Troublemaker]

Excerpt from here: http://www.news-record.com/blogs/sports_extra/duke-basketball-notebook-one-position-two-point-guards/article_5f6719e4-49c0-11e4-8a10-001a4bcf6878.html

Sulaimon bounced in and out of the starting lineup all season and struggled to find consistency. He had only two stretches of more than three games of doubles-figure scoring and his minutes yo-yoed throughout the season. Sulaimon said he was immature as a sophomore and said he’d grown up in the offseason.

“I’m a year older now," Sulaimon said. "My first priority was to be a leader. From that standpoint I’m already getting better because I’m not thinking about myself first.”

Congrats to Quinn and Amile, btw!

[flyingdutchdevil]

Excerpt from here: http://www.news-record.com/blogs/sports_extra/duke-basketball-notebook-one-position-two-point-guards/article_5f6719e4-49c0-11e4-8a10-001a4bcf6878.html

Sulaimon bounced in and out of the starting lineup all season and struggled to find consistency. He had only two stretches of more than three games of doubles-figure scoring and his minutes yo-yoed throughout the season. Sulaimon said he was immature as a sophomore and said he’d grown up in the offseason.

“I’m a year older now," Sulaimon said. "My first priority was to be a leader. From that standpoint I’m already getting better because I’m not thinking about myself first.”

Congrats to Quinn and Amile, btw!

This makes me really happy. Sulaimon didn't look himself last year, and I can see why. When you're the best returning player who had a great freshman year and everyone is talking about two new guys named Rodney and Jabari, it's gonna eat at you.

Rasheed is only 19 and he's maturing quickly. There are so many NBA players in their 30s who are waaaaaaay more immature.

Go Rasheed!

[Duke3517]

I'm shocked none of the one and done's are not a captain. Rasheed has a lot of potential but must be frustrating to coach. If he had better shot selection I think he can be a first round pick. He has a lot of athleticism. He reminds me of a Nolan Smith type player coming into his junior season.

[Dr. Rosenrosen]

I'm shocked none of the one and done's are not a captain. Rasheed has a lot of potential but must be frustrating to coach. If he had better shot selection I think he can be a first round pick. He has a lot of athleticism. He reminds me of a Nolan Smith type player coming into his junior season.
Why are you shocked? They don't know the Duke system and have proven nothing.

[flyingdutchdevil]

I'm shocked none of the one and done's are not a captain. Rasheed has a lot of potential but must be frustrating to coach. If he had better shot selection I think he can be a first round pick. He has a lot of athleticism. He reminds me of a Nolan Smith type player coming into his junior season.

Maybe Rasheed changed his diet?

[Duke3517]

Maybe Rasheed changed his diet?

He might recover more efficiently from workouts and games if he does.

[Edouble]

Somebody's been studying at ol' roy's school of bus driving

Someone is snarky and has been drinking kool-aid.

[Edouble]

I believe there has been a third captain added after the first two the past couple years.

http://www.fayobserver.com/blogs/sports/acc_basketball/seth-curry-named-a-duke-captain-joining-ryan-kelly-and/article_14a07ddb-3094-598e-b3a7-bd1903b2f647.html

http://www.dukechronicle.com/articles/2013/11/06/josh-hairston-named-duke-basketballs-third-captain--2014

Not saying Sulaimon will be a captain, just that your "history" argument doesn't support that big yellow bus you're driving over Rasheed. :D

Your bus comment is out of line. Rasheed is a player with first round talent who had a completely underwhelming season last year. To have him appointed to a mid-season captaincy would certainly surprise me. My opinion is based on the facts of last season.

[BD80]

Someone is snarky and has been drinking kool-aid.

Can't decide if this is self-deprecating irony or just missed naptime.

FWIW: They told me I was drinking Blue Hawaiians :(

My case for Sheed is that we need someone who can score from the perimeter. Sheed had trouble being the third or fourth option last year, but this year he would be the first or second perimeter option.

[ChillinDuke]

Your bus comment is out of line. Rasheed is a player with first round talent who had a completely underwhelming season last year. To have him appointed to a mid-season captaincy would certainly surprise me. My opinion is based on the facts of last season.

These types of sentiments (being expressed by various others than just you, Edouble) seem too extreme to me.

While I agree Rasheed didn't meet expectations last season, he was not "completely underwhelming". Although, I guess that depends on how high the bar was for individual evaluators.

He entered the season with some issues, as noted frequently by posters here, but he persevered and had his production over the last 2 months about where I would have set expectations in the preseason. Over the last 14 games of Duke's season (February through March), Rasheed averaged 12.3 ppg, 2.8 boards, 2.9 dimes, just under a steal, and an A/T of > 2.1.

This is "completely underwhelming"? For a sophomore? I understand where you're coming from and don't think your sentiments are directionally wrong, but too severe. If we're going to criticize Sheed for a subpar season, let's give him credit for at least trending well upwards in the latter half.

Given that trend, the perseverance he displayed, the talent he clearly possesses, and an additional year of maturation, I don't find it a completely unreasonable proposition that he could be considered for a spot as captain. I may not bet on it, but that doesn't mean it's crazy.

Again, I don't intend to call you out, ED. I just have seen these types of posts re: Sheed, and I don't think Rasheed's season (taken as a whole) was as bad as some are making it out to be. And I most certainly do not project his early season struggles from last season to foreshadow anything meaningful regarding his production this upcoming season.

I'm bullish on Rasheed.

- Chillin