Patrick Yates
12-08-2007, 04:26 PM
As we all get into the love fest for today's game, which is well warranted, I just wanted to take a few moments to talk about where this team can go. I know that this season still has a lot of games to play, and I think the team is much better that I had anticipated. I now beleive we are at least a solid threat to reach the FF, whereas before the season, I did not have that belief.
Still, the future is so bright for Duke, both as a team and for the individual kids themselves. During the game today, I really liked when one of the announcers talked about the things that certain players needed to improve. It was not a knock, rather it was more in the vein of "this would make the kid a stud" type of thing.
Singler: Strength. Seriously, that is all he needs. 10-15 lbs of muscle would make him brutal. It would make him more explosive, and even better able to finish in the paint. He would no longer be vulnerable to physical defenders, and he would be better able to defend physical low posts. But that is it. Everything else will improve just by him playing. He looks great, but he could be even better.
Thomas: Strength, shooting. He looks better than last year, but again, 10-15 lbs would make him a beast. He may never approach Kyle's skills or instincts, but he could be a McCleod type of player.
Smith: Strength. This was the comment that set off this post. He had a fantastic game today. Just imagine him with 10-15 lbs of muscle. Whereever Demarcus went last summer, to that SEAL trainer, Nolan needs to spend his summer there. With a stronger upper body, he might become unstoppable. By his Jr year, he could be the best PG in college ball.
Paulus. He is what he is. He is close to maxing out his natural gifts.
Zoubek. Strength, hands, feet. Today was Zoubek's best game as a Devil. The only knock is his body. With more strength, many of his problems will go away. Stronger hands would be less prone to losing the ball, or getting it knocked away. Without this fear, I think he would be more assertive with the ball, negating any foot problems. The right strength program will improve his balance, power, and explosiveness.
Scheyer. Shoot faster. Seriously, this is all I can find that's wrong with him. 5-10 lbs wouldn't hurt.
King. Getting in shape. I don't know that he necessarily needs to get bigger, just more conditioned. I think that would make him a stud. Ironically, he also needs to work on his FTs.
Henderson. All he needs to do is work on passing the ball off the dribble. Everything else is great.
The best thing is, no one needs a lot of work, or to drastically overhall their games. In recent years, it has been possible to look at numerous of our players and say this kid needs to shoot 1000 jumpers this summer, or that kid needs to be dribbling a basketball everywhere he goes, or yet another kid needs to LIVE in the weight room.
That is not the case this year. For the kids who need strength, they only need marginal gains. It is not like anyone needs to gain or lose 20-30 lbs, which requires a tremendous summer to accomplish. No one needs to overhall their shooting motion, or drastically improve ball handling, or passing, or defense.
The improvements I listed are mere tweaks. Sprinkles on a sunday, if you will. When I look at this team, I can actually see kids who are hungry, who almost certainly will make the adjustments that they need to make. As good as we look this year, and we do look better than we have looked in a few years, we can be so much better.
Previously, I had whined and moaned that the Monroe miss might have drilled us out of a chance to win it all next year. I no longer believe that. With minimal personal improvements accross the board, all of which are easily achievable, Duke might have a great year next year, even by our lofty standards.
So, I will sit back and enjoy this year, a year in which we are better than I had hoped. But everytime I watch the team, I see the ability to be great.
Patrick Yates
Still, the future is so bright for Duke, both as a team and for the individual kids themselves. During the game today, I really liked when one of the announcers talked about the things that certain players needed to improve. It was not a knock, rather it was more in the vein of "this would make the kid a stud" type of thing.
Singler: Strength. Seriously, that is all he needs. 10-15 lbs of muscle would make him brutal. It would make him more explosive, and even better able to finish in the paint. He would no longer be vulnerable to physical defenders, and he would be better able to defend physical low posts. But that is it. Everything else will improve just by him playing. He looks great, but he could be even better.
Thomas: Strength, shooting. He looks better than last year, but again, 10-15 lbs would make him a beast. He may never approach Kyle's skills or instincts, but he could be a McCleod type of player.
Smith: Strength. This was the comment that set off this post. He had a fantastic game today. Just imagine him with 10-15 lbs of muscle. Whereever Demarcus went last summer, to that SEAL trainer, Nolan needs to spend his summer there. With a stronger upper body, he might become unstoppable. By his Jr year, he could be the best PG in college ball.
Paulus. He is what he is. He is close to maxing out his natural gifts.
Zoubek. Strength, hands, feet. Today was Zoubek's best game as a Devil. The only knock is his body. With more strength, many of his problems will go away. Stronger hands would be less prone to losing the ball, or getting it knocked away. Without this fear, I think he would be more assertive with the ball, negating any foot problems. The right strength program will improve his balance, power, and explosiveness.
Scheyer. Shoot faster. Seriously, this is all I can find that's wrong with him. 5-10 lbs wouldn't hurt.
King. Getting in shape. I don't know that he necessarily needs to get bigger, just more conditioned. I think that would make him a stud. Ironically, he also needs to work on his FTs.
Henderson. All he needs to do is work on passing the ball off the dribble. Everything else is great.
The best thing is, no one needs a lot of work, or to drastically overhall their games. In recent years, it has been possible to look at numerous of our players and say this kid needs to shoot 1000 jumpers this summer, or that kid needs to be dribbling a basketball everywhere he goes, or yet another kid needs to LIVE in the weight room.
That is not the case this year. For the kids who need strength, they only need marginal gains. It is not like anyone needs to gain or lose 20-30 lbs, which requires a tremendous summer to accomplish. No one needs to overhall their shooting motion, or drastically improve ball handling, or passing, or defense.
The improvements I listed are mere tweaks. Sprinkles on a sunday, if you will. When I look at this team, I can actually see kids who are hungry, who almost certainly will make the adjustments that they need to make. As good as we look this year, and we do look better than we have looked in a few years, we can be so much better.
Previously, I had whined and moaned that the Monroe miss might have drilled us out of a chance to win it all next year. I no longer believe that. With minimal personal improvements accross the board, all of which are easily achievable, Duke might have a great year next year, even by our lofty standards.
So, I will sit back and enjoy this year, a year in which we are better than I had hoped. But everytime I watch the team, I see the ability to be great.
Patrick Yates