2024-25 MBB Rankings

Waynne said:
I'm a bit surprised Duke is ranked as high as #7 because of our youth. An ESPN article discussing each team in the AP Top 25 projects Duke will start 3 freshmen, a sophmore, and a junior. It projects only 5 other teams in the Top 25 will start freshmen-#3 UConn (Liam McNeeley), #8 Baylor (VJ Edgecombe), #9 UNC (Drake Powell), #19 Texas (Tre Johnson), and #25 Rutgers (Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey). Some of the projected lineups for other teams appear to be really old and experienced, like Kansas and Alabama. https://www.espn.com/mens-college-b...season-poll-reaction-biggest-game-top-25-team

My conclusion: While we have some grizzled veterans on the bench, we have the youngest projected starting lineup by far in the AP Top 25, and until our young guys prove themselves, the more experienced teams will have the edge in rankings.
Click to expand...
This defines Duke -- incredible talent, but youth and inexperience.
 
Waynne said:
I'm a bit surprised Duke is ranked as high as #7 because of our youth. An ESPN article discussing each team in the AP Top 25 projects Duke will start 3 freshmen, a sophmore, and a junior. It projects only 5 other teams in the Top 25 will start freshmen-#3 UConn (Liam McNeeley), #8 Baylor (VJ Edgecombe), #9 UNC (Drake Powell), #19 Texas (Tre Johnson), and #25 Rutgers (Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey). Some of the projected lineups for other teams appear to be really old and experienced, like Kansas and Alabama. https://www.espn.com/mens-college-b...season-poll-reaction-biggest-game-top-25-team

My conclusion: While we have some grizzled veterans on the bench, we have the youngest projected starting lineup by far in the AP Top 25, and until our young guys prove themselves, the more experienced teams will have the edge in rankings.
Click to expand...
I'm in the minority; but don't believe we start 3 Freshman in most games. Too many very experienced, mature and solid bball players on the roster to leave them sitting at tipoffs.
 
arnie said:
I'm in the minority; but don't believe we start 3 Freshman in most games. Too many very experienced, mature and solid bball players on the roster to leave them sitting at tipoffs.
Click to expand...
Cooper, Kon and Malauch. Is it Kon or Malauch you see not starting? If it's our big guy, Brown must be in your starting lineup. If it's Kon, who do you see starting in his place?

GoDuke!
 
jv001 said:
Cooper, Kon and Malauch. Is it Kon or Malauch you see not starting? If it's our big guy, Brown must be in your starting lineup. If it's Kon, who do you see starting in his place?

GoDuke!
Click to expand...
Sion or Gillis in place of Kon when Maluach starts. My belief.
 
It probably speaks to how young Duke has consistently been in recent memory that I think experience is a strength on this team. Starting backcourt is a sophomore and a junior. The first two subs (either of whom are a possible starter) are a junior and a fifth year. Next man up is another fifth year player with tons of big game experience.

That's five guys with significant CBB experience, at least four of whom (and probably all 5) will play major roles and big minutes this year.
 
crote said:
It probably speaks to how young Duke has consistently been in recent memory that I think experience is a strength on this team. Starting backcourt is a sophomore and a junior. The first two subs (either of whom are a possible starter) are a junior and a fifth year. Next man up is another fifth year player with tons of big game experience.

That's five guys with significant CBB experience, at least four of whom (and probably all 5) will play major roles and big minutes this year.
Click to expand...
Yes, 5 of our top 8 are experienced players. It's a very experienced team by Duke standards.

And I think the other thing we'll be looking back on if we do cut down some nets are these summer and preseason 5 v 5 scrimmages. Kon, Cooper, Maluach, Foster going up against rugged and aggressive defenders every day like Sion, Mason, Maliq.

That's something we've NEVER had with our freshmen-dominant teams. Our star freshmen are seeing some of the toughest defenders they will face all season every day in practice. That should pay big dividends...
 
SkyBrickey said:
Yes, 5 of our top 8 are experienced players. It's a very experienced team by Duke standards.

And I think the other thing we'll be looking back on if we do cut down some nets are these summer and preseason 5 v 5 scrimmages. Kon, Cooper, Maluach, Foster going up against rugged and aggressive defenders every day like Sion, Mason, Maliq.

That's something we've NEVER had with our freshmen-dominant teams. Our star freshmen are seeing some of the toughest defenders they will face all season every day in practice. That should pay big dividends...
Click to expand...
I mostly agree with your point, but the 2019 team was excellent on defense. Brown, Gillis, and James are not that older than Bolden, DeLaurier, and White come to think of it.
 
DavidBenAkiva said:
I mostly agree with your point, but the 2019 team was excellent on defense. Brown, Gillis, and James are not that older than Bolden, DeLaurier, and White come to think of it.
Click to expand...
True, but the way our roster was constructed that year Bolden and DeLaurier were (mostly) fighting for minutes at the same spot, while White was always a truly complimentary piece (as much as I adored him and think there's an alternative history where he doesn't have that insane shooting cold spell and he achieves his potential in a Duke uniform to be the missing piece on that squad...). The nice thing about Brown, James, and Gillis is that they could very easily all play at the same time. In fact, Duke can put out a lineup of Tyrese, Caleb, James, Gillis, and Brown that could stand toe-to-toe on experience with most any 5 in the ACC. Of course we probably won't see that group playing together much given who that lineup excludes (Cooper, Kon, and Man-Man), but there's a major benefit to having experience and strength across the board rather than having it concentrated at a single position.
 
DavidBenAkiva said:
I mostly agree with your point, but the 2019 team was excellent on defense. Brown, Gillis, and James are not that older than Bolden, DeLaurier, and White come to think of it.
Click to expand...
I love the comparison DBA. Something to consider.

But our 6-8 men on that team were DeLaurier, White, O'Connell. Add in probably Vrankovic/Robinson and Goldwire in the 5 v 5 scrimmages.

I still think this team should be stronger 6-8 and a lot more battle tested from summer scrimmages with a second 5 of Sion Mason Maliq Isaiah and Darren. That second five could legitimately compete for third place in the ACC.
 
DavidBenAkiva said:
I mostly agree with your point, but the 2019 team was excellent on defense. Brown, Gillis, and James are not that older than Bolden, DeLaurier, and White come to think of it.
Click to expand...

On the 18-19 vs 24-25 comparison, DeLaurier, Bolden, and White had a combined 6 years of CBB experience going into 2018-19. Brown, Gillis, and James have 10.

Probably more significantly, going into 2018, DeLaurier-Bolden-White combined for 1,255 minutes played. This year's trio: 8,315.

Other than the three you listed, the most experienced returners on 2018-19 were AOC and Goldwire, who at the time combined for 98 games and 1,047 minutes. Proctor and Foster have played 95 games and 2,691 minutes.

There's experience, and then there's experience.
 
SkyBrickey said:
I love the comparison DBA. Something to consider.

But our 6-8 men on that team were DeLaurier, White, O'Connell. Add in probably Vrankovic/Robinson and Goldwire in the 5 v 5 scrimmages.

I still think this team should be stronger 6-8 and a lot more battle tested from summer scrimmages with a second 5 of Sion Mason Maliq Isaiah and Darren. That second five could legitimately compete for third place in the ACC.
Click to expand...
Yeah, Brown, James, and Gillis will all hopefully contribute more consistently than the 2019 trio.
 
crote said:
On the 18-19 vs 24-25 comparison, DeLaurier, Bolden, and White had a combined 6 years of CBB experience going into 2018-19. Brown, Gillis, and James have 10.

Probably more significantly, going into 2018, DeLaurier-Bolden-White combined for 1,255 minutes played. This year's trio: 8,315.

Other than the three you listed, the most experienced returners on 2018-19 were AOC and Goldwire, who at the time combined for 98 games and 1,047 minutes. Proctor and Foster have played 95 games and 2,691 minutes.

There's experience, and then there's experience.
Click to expand...
On that team DeLaurier pushed Bolden to earn his minutes. But the other four starters were "locks" for 30 minutes a game. Zion, RJ, Cam, Tre.

I believe on this team, Proctor, Foster, K2, Man are going to earn their minutes every game, every possession. Defensive lapse? Have a seat.

I don't include Cooper because I don't think he ever takes a possession off. I don't know yet if he ever gets frustrated and down on himself like some of the greats do - if he does I haven't seen it...
 
DavidBenAkiva said:
Yeah, Brown, James, and Gillis will all hopefully contribute more consistently than the 2019 trio.
Click to expand...
It would certainly be disappointing if this year’s trio isn’t more consistent. No disrespect to Jack, Javin and Ques - but it’s hard to imagine a 3pt drought coming for Gillis or James in the same way it hit Jack White in 2019. (Too soon, for me at least, but still…)
 
I have no problem with the no. 5 ranking that Norlander gives Duke, but at least mention an all ACC defensive player like Maliq Brown in your analysis if you're going to mention Ngbonga.

Unless our transfers are a lot worse than they appear, the idea that we are reliant on freshmen, other than Cooper, doesn't seem to hold true.
 
That was just an oversight with Brown. We all know he will be one of our most important players. I still think there's a chance he's getting 25-30mpg at the 5 against some opponents.

I hope not. I hope Khaman is ready. But it could also be that Brown meshes really well with the other four starters with his high-pressure D and efficient scoring around the rim.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top