Summer Buzz ESPN: Duke Blue Devils.

[Osiagledknarf]

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebaske...ke-blue-devils

[COYS]

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebaske...ke-blue-devils

It's hard to quibble too much with an article that praises Duke so much, but I still just can't get over how much Scheyer is STILL undervalued. According to this article, Scheyer didn't turn the ball over much only because we played so slowly last season . . . this doesn't take into account Assist to Turnover Ration, though, which was still extremely high and is not affected by tempo. While the over all value of A/T ratio is certainly debatable, in Scheyer's case it highlights what made him one of the most efficient offensive players in the country last season.

Scheyer was also a "limited" player that was incapable of pushing the ball up the court, according to the article. Scheyer might not be the fastest guy in the world, but if you recall events from previous years (such as his 27 points in 2008 at Miami in which Jon raced the ball up the court nailing three after three and almost singlehandedly salvaging a win in a game that looked over with 5 minutes left), he is perfectly capable of playing at a fast tempo. I would actually say that Jon looked to push the ball last year every chance he got. The fact of the matter is, he knew we were more efficient in the halfcourt (and the staff knew this, too) so he only pushed when it was an absolute sure thing. Kyrie will be faster with the ball, I have no doubt. He will do things that Jon can't do. But Jon did things that Kyrie won't be able to do. While I think we will be a great team next year and am really excited to see us play the classic Duke uptempo style with pressure defense and series where we reel off, say, 10 points in 50 seconds =), the national media writes off the loss of Jon far too easily.

[-bdbd]

Yep, pretty much what we've all been saying on here for a couple of months now... Much faster, run-and-gun sort of style. Great Guard corps -- Irving, Smith, Curry, Dawkins -- plus athletic guys up front Singler, MP1 and MP2 (and Ryan). Lots of flexibility. No doubt this squad will be a big pleasure to watch.

This is the piece of the picture where K just excels so much better than his peers -- he really seems to revel in the creative energy around adapting "the plan" to match the talent on hand. I think that is a big part of why we hesitate to label something a (ongoing) Coach K system. He's simply more flexible that that.

I'm really looking forward to seeing the shift in styles this year. It should be fun.

[roywhite]

Yep, pretty much what we've all been saying on here for a couple of months now... Much faster, run-and-gun sort of style. Great Guard corps -- Irving, Smith, Curry, Dawkins -- plus athletic guys up front Singler, MP1 and MP2 (and Ryan). Lots of flexibility. No doubt this squad will be a big pleasure to watch.

This is the piece of the picture where K just excels so much better than his peers -- he really seems to revel in the creative energy around adapting "the plan" to match the talent on hand. I think that is a big part of why we hesitate to label something a (ongoing) Coach K system. He's simply more flexible that that.

I'm really looking forward to seeing the shift in styles this year. It should be fun.

Yeah, the master has the tools to create something special this year IMO.

I'd wager that we'll hear a lot from K publicly (and the players will, too) about the importance of building a sound defense first.

[rotogod00]

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebaske...ke-blue-devils

Here's the actual Summer Buzz from ESPN the Mag (behind the insider wall):

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/insid...ory?id=5394780

Great analysis with additional "Experts Take" from Bilas, Gottlieb, Lunardi, and Fraschilla

[OZZIE4DUKE]

My favorite line and two favorite phrases!:

The Blue Devils won the 2010 NCAA title with a plodding tempo, a slow-down offense, and the overpowering offensive rebounding prowess of Brian Zoubek.

[Devilsfan]

Scheyer will truely be missed. It's hard to replace his brains and his ability not to turn the ball over. Hope we're so quick next year that his loss might be overcome.

[ACCBBallFan]

Besides coach K and his assistants, at least Collins, not sure about Wojo being there, learning fast paced offense from Mike D'Antoni, Kyle and Nolan are in Vegas to do that too.

[gep]

Besides coach K and his assistants, at least Collins, not sure about Wojo being there, learning fast paced offense from Mike D'Antoni, Kyle and Nolan are in Vegas to do that too.

I didn't think of it that way... Coach K, Collins, Wojo... learning from D'Antoni is one thing... now, Kyle and Nolan getting first-hand look at how it works. I just can't wait for the season to start. Is Duke getting "all the calls (or advantages)" again?

[sagegrouse]

I didn't think of it that way... Coach K, Collins, Wojo... learning from D'Antoni is one thing... now, Kyle and Nolan getting first-hand look at how it works. I just can't wait for the season to start. Is Duke getting "all the calls (or advantages)" again?

Coach K received criticism from many quarters for dividing his time between Duke and the National Team. Anyone else think that K saw beyond the split job to the benefits from putting the Duke staff and program on an international stage with the best basketball players in the world? Kind of impressive, isn't it? Shows how strategic vision is an important part of leadership.

sagegrouse

[ElSid]

Coach K received criticism from many quarters for dividing his time between Duke and the National Team. Anyone else think that K saw beyond the split job to the benefits from putting the Duke staff and program on an international stage with the best basketball players in the world? Kind of impressive, isn't it? Shows how strategic vision is an important part of leadership.

sagegrouse

Oh my yes. I think the other coaches saw it, too. They would kill for the opportunity. Most (all) the naysayers are uninformed, bitter fans. No?

[UrinalCake]

Nice article that reinforces what most of us think about next year's team. My quibble, other than what has already been mentioned, is that there's no mention of Lance Thomas and the role he played. You can't win a championship without a guy like him on your team.

[Jderf]

Oh my yes. I think the other coaches saw it, too. They would kill for the opportunity. Most (all) the naysayers are uninformed, bitter fans. No?

Uninformed fans? Bitter fans? I dare say I have no idea what you could possibly be talking about.

[oldnavy]

I have to be totally honest. There was a time when I did question K's association with the national team. I never dwelt on it for long, but the thought did cross my mind. I never begrudged him doing it, heck he has earned the right to do whatever he wants, but I was a little uncertain of how it would all play out with regards to Duke BB. Now of course it seems that K knew all along what he was doing... imagine that?

[hq2]

Urinal Cake wrote

Nice article that reinforces what most of us think about next year's team. My quibble, other than what has already been mentioned, is that there's no mention of Lance Thomas and the role he played. You can't win a championship without a guy like him on your team

Absolutely. Without Lance's D, no way that team becomes champions. All the things he did only show up in the opposing player's field goal percentage. We had no one else on the front line capable of guarding quick players; he was the only one who could do it. Next year without him, look for quick 3s to have big games against us. It will be our one glaring weakness.

[killerleft]

Urinal Cake wrote

Absolutely. Without Lance's D, no way that team becomes champions. All the things he did only show up in the opposing player's field goal percentage. We had no one else on the front line capable of guarding quick players; he was the only one who could do it. Next year without him, look for quick 3s to have big games against us. It will be our one glaring weakness.

That's a mighty half-filled glass you have there. No chance people could improve or that the coaches might find a way to cover these mercurial enemies? If you're right I'll get me some sunglasses!

[Kedsy]

Urinal Cake wrote

Absolutely. Without Lance's D, no way that team becomes champions. All the things he did only show up in the opposing player's field goal percentage. We had no one else on the front line capable of guarding quick players; he was the only one who could do it. Next year without him, look for quick 3s to have big games against us. It will be our one glaring weakness.

Watch for Kyle to have greatly improved his perimeter D. But even if the other team's 3 is so quick Kyle can't guard him, then that's when we break out the small team, with Kyrie, Nolan, and Seth. Not too many 3s will be able to out-quick one of them. Thus, the only problem would be a super-quick wing who is too quick for Kyle and too big for Nolan or Seth. How many of those do you think we'll be playing next year?

[CDu]

Urinal Cake wrote

Absolutely. Without Lance's D, no way that team becomes champions. All the things he did only show up in the opposing player's field goal percentage. We had no one else on the front line capable of guarding quick players; he was the only one who could do it. Next year without him, look for quick 3s to have big games against us. It will be our one glaring weakness.

Slight edit. Thomas didn't spend much time guarding quick 3s last year. He spent his time defending at the 4 or 5 spot. Singler and Dawkins were assigned the quick 3s (and the slow 3s). So it's instead the quicker 4s (not 3s) that would be the concern in Thomas's absence.

You do allude to an important question going into the season, and that's how well our frontcourt will step up following some very important contributions from our senior frontcourt players last year. I'd agree wholeheartedly that the frontcourt is our biggest question mark. Of course, that should be obvious when we are returning two All-ACC players on the wing, bringing in a great scoring transfer on the wing, and bringing in the #1 PG recruit in the country. Only time will tell if it's actually a weakness, though.

[Huh?]

But Jon did things that Kyrie won't be able to do.

Don't take this as a knock on Scheyer, he is one of my favs of all time...but what could he do that Irving won't be able to do?

[Duvall]

Don't take this as a knock on Scheyer, he is one of my favs of all time...but what could he do that Irving won't be able to do?

Assuming that we are talking about next season only, off-ball defense and running the team with astonishingly low turnovers.