Originally Posted by
scottdude8
While watching the game tonight I started thinking about the topic of jersey retirement. If we're lucky enough to retain Grayson for four years I think he's the obvious candidate to be the next number raised to the rafters. But I also thought of a fairly unusual idea: what if we retire a number, say No. 3, in honor of Miles, Mason, and Marshall Plumlee, collectively?
To be honest I'm not entirely sure how I feel about my own idea. But I'm curious to hear what people think about it. Here are the things I was thinking about when this idea came to me:
—Having three brothers play for a single school is near unprecedented in the history of collegiate basketball, let alone three brothers who all graduated and were major contributors to successful teams. And all three Plumlees have been model citizens and beloved by the team and the Duke community... I was lucky enough to privately interview all three in my time at The Chronicle and they all came off as kind and thoughtful individuals.
—This would be a great way to not only honor the players themselves, but the great Plumlee family and all they've done for Duke basketball.
—In the one-and-done era, it may be a long time (again, with Grayson being perhaps the only foreseeable possibility) until a player satisfies the so-called "requirements" for jersey retirement. And it's already been the longest gap in the Coach K era between retired jerseys. I think it's nice to have retired numbers from each "era" in Duke basketball, or at least those that have been especially successful. I know as a 2012 grad that I'd be sad to come back to Cameron with my kids in the future and not be able to point to a jersey in the rafters representing my time in Durham, especially being there for a National Title. Which leads to...
—Duke's first three National Title teams all had at least one member get their jersey retired. I think this is an important way to remember those teams in addition to the National Championship banners. But the 2010 and 2015 teams don't (and in all likelihood won't) have a number retired (people made the argument for both Singler and Smith in 2010, but it doesn't look like it's going to happen... and while we all love Quinn, I don't think his entire career merits retirement. Again, Grayson may be the potential answer to half this issue.) Miles and Mason were important bench contributors in 2010, as Marshall was for the 2015 team. (On a side note, I know at least amongst my friends this issue is something that has been especially frustrating with regards to retired numbers, and I believe it has been discussed on the board here as well.)
I'm sure many of you will vehemently and boisterously disagree with my proposal here, which I honestly expect. But I think it's an admittedly unusual, but perhaps interesting, idea to honor not only the players, but the two National Title teams, especially given the way college basketball is evolving. Four year superstar players are fast going out of style, so future jersey retirements may have to go off the beaten path.
Like I said, I'm not even sure how I stand on my admittedly half-baked idea. But I'm curious to see what the board thinks. Lets pull this one out against the Canes!