Duke Men’s 2025-26 discussion

JasonEvans said:
I’m pretty convinced Cam Boozer will be our best player. I could make a case for any of about 7 other players to occupy the next half dozen spots in terms of importance. That’s pretty exciting.
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I agree. I don't think we've ever had a preseason where we had so much parity across the roster. Last year at this time I think we had a clear top-3 with Cooper, Tyrese, ManMan (pre-Kon emergence). This offseason until we learn more it's Cam and the gang.
 
SkyBrickey said:
I agree. I don't think we've ever had a preseason where we had so much parity across the roster. Last year at this time I think we had a clear top-3 with Cooper, Tyrese, ManMan (pre-Kon emergence). This offseason until we learn more it's Cam and the gang.
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I feel very comfortable putting Isiah in the top 3 and Ngongba in the top 4. No one will be able to stop him in the post. The offense honestly should run through him when he's on the court. Put shooters around him. He will command a double team almost everytime.
 
DBKilby said:
I feel very comfortable putting Isiah in the top 3 and Ngongba in the top 4. No one will be able to stop him in the post. The offense honestly should run through him when he's on the court. Put shooters around him. He will command a double team almost everytime.
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Pat is probably right behind Cam in terms of having a lock on a major role. But just how big a role on the offensive end? I could see anywhere from 9-14ppg.
 
SkyBrickey said:
Pat is probably right behind Cam in terms of having a lock on a major role. But just how big a role on the offensive end? I could see anywhere from 9-14ppg.
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You can run the offense through Cam on the low block just like Ngongba. Cam is gonna be able to bully most guys. You just have to have the court spread with a few shooters. I am sure we will see a decent amount of Cam in the corner on the weakside when Pat is posting up. And also at the top of the key.
 
SkyBrickey said:
Pat is probably right behind Cam in terms of having a lock on a major role. But just how big a role on the offensive end? I could see anywhere from 9-14ppg.
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Right now I’d pencil in 11-12 ppg and 7-8 rpg in 25 mpg. He’ll have to cut way down on his foul rate to play much more than that. Plus we’ll want Maliq on the floor for certain matchups and situations.
 
luvdahops said:
Right now I’d pencil in 11-12 ppg and 7-8 rpg in 25 mpg. He’ll have to cut way down on his foul rate to play much more than that. Plus we’ll want Maliq on the floor for certain matchups and situations.
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I'm not sure we can rule out Maliq starting. My personal preference would be for Pat to start, but I wouldn't be surprised if Jon went in a different direction.
 
azzefkram said:
I'm not sure we can rule out Maliq starting. My personal preference would be for Pat to start, but I wouldn't be surprised if Jon went in a different direction.
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Yeah, like I said earlier, other than Cam and maybe Isaiah, I don’t think there is a sure fire starting spot locked for anyone on this roster.

And that is not because I think no one is good enough to merit one.
 
If Maliq plays those 8-10 backup minutes at the 4 - instead of Khamenia - then it makes it that much more likely that Pat starts. With Maliq playing the 5/4, our frontcourt minutes for Cam/Pat/Maliq during competitive games could be 30/25/25.
 
azzefkram said:
I'm not sure we can rule out Maliq starting. My personal preference would be for Pat to start, but I wouldn't be surprised if Jon went in a different direction.
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Agreed. But I think he and Pat will play comparable minutes either way, and would expect Maliq to be the primary backup for Cam whether or not he starts at the 5. No insider knowledge, but I strongly suspect that this was the Year 2 plan (i.e. a larger and more diverse role) articulated for Maliq when we recruited him. And I think the Wilkins reclass was less about him being viewed as a likely contributor this year than the developmental benefit of practicing against Cam, Maliq and Pat every day (and with others on the Duke roster) versus another year against high school competition, even at a place like Brewster.
 
Clearly Maliq has a 3 pt. shot and I'd love to see him put some of those offensive rebounds back up instead of looking outside while standing under the rim. Those two skills would make him a viable power forward.

Of course, we heard that Ryan Young had a 3 point shot also but he kept it under wraps his last year.
 
luvdahops said:
Agreed. But I think he and Pat will play comparable minutes either way, and would expect Maliq to be the primary backup for Cam whether or not he starts at the 5. No insider knowledge, but I strongly suspect that this was the Year 2 plan (i.e. a larger and more diverse role) articulated for Maliq when we recruited him. And I think the Wilkins reclass was less about him being viewed as a likely contributor this year than the developmental benefit of practicing against Cam, Maliq and Pat every day (and with others on the Duke roster) versus another year against high school competition, even at a place like Brewster.
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I'm not sure about that. Maliq spent less than 8% (about 30 minutes) of his time last season at the four.

Cam B is going to play a ton of minutes, plus Nik and Sea Bass may be capable at the 4. I also think a Pat-Maliq frontcourt would be problematic offensively. Neither has shown much of an outside game.
 
azzefkram said:
I'm not sure about that. Maliq spent less than 8% (about 30 minutes) of his time last season at the four.

Cam B is going to play a ton of minutes, plus Nik and Sea Bass may be capable at the 4. I also think a Pat-Maliq frontcourt would be problematic offensively. Neither has shown much of an outside game.
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I think that was by design (and based on need) and believe it always expected that his role in year 2 would be larger and more diverse.

Maliq and Pat wouldn't be on the floor together that much in this scenario. Maybe 10 mpg in competitive games. I think they could work well together in high-low post action and in a 4-out/1-in offense if Maliq can show an ability to hit 3s with some consistency. He can certainly be a ball mover on the perimeter in that lineup as well.
 
azzefkram said:
Cam B is going to play a ton of minutes, plus Nik and Sea Bass may be capable at the 4. I also think a Pat-Maliq frontcourt would be problematic offensively. Neither has shown much of an outside game.
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I have been told that both of those guys have quite good outside shots and are being encouraged by the coaching staff to take the shot if the opposition leaves them open out there.

Now, I'm not expecting to see Maliq or Big Pat pull up off the dribble and rain threes in the face of opposing defenders but if you crowd the lane on Cam and our penetrating guards, I think our bigs will have no trouble stepping outside and making you pay.
 
azzefkram said:
I'm not sure about that. Maliq spent less than 8% (about 30 minutes) of his time last season at the four.

Cam B is going to play a ton of minutes, plus Nik and Sea Bass may be capable at the 4. I also think a Pat-Maliq frontcourt would be problematic offensively. Neither has shown much of an outside game.
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You wanted to start Maliq at the 4 last year and now you don't think he should play 8-10mpg there in a backup role? How the pendulum swings!
 
luvdahops said:
I think that was by design (and based on need) and believe it always expected that his role in year 2 would be larger and more diverse.

Maliq and Pat wouldn't be on the floor together that much in this scenario. Maybe 10 mpg in competitive games. I think they could work well together in high-low post action and in a 4-out/1-in offense if Maliq can show an ability to hit 3s with some consistency. He can certainly be a ball mover on the perimeter in that lineup as well.
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Maliq's ability to hit outside shots is a huge question mark, as his 62% free-throw rate fails to inspire confidence. I would also be surprised if Cam B is only playing 30 minutes in a competitive game.

JasonEvans said:
I have been told that both of those guys have quite good outside shots and are being encouraged by the coaching staff to take the shot if the opposition leaves them open out there.

Now, I'm not expecting to see Maliq or Big Pat pull up off the dribble and rain threes in the face of opposing defenders but if you crowd the lane on Cam and our penetrating guards, I think our bigs will have no trouble stepping outside and making you pay.
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We hear a lot of stuff in the off-season. The facts are that Pat has never taken a 3 in college, and Maliq has only taken 30 over three seasons. Pat's free throws provide some hope, but Maliq's don't. I would imagine that defenses will sag off of Pat and Maliq, completely clogging the lane. How many made threes before they adjust? I don't know, I suspect it will be more than a couple.
 
Maliq doesn't have to play the 4 exactly like Boozer. Just like he didn't play the 5 exactly like Maluach.

You can lean into different sets/actions that take advantage of a player's offensive strengths. Maliq has proven himself to be a skilled passer and would probably do well in high/low sets with Pat.

It could be Khamenia that gets Cam's backup minutes, but I would bet on Jon using him exclusively at the wing and asking Maliq to cover two positions (5/4) - maximizes court time for Maliq's elite defense which is a very good thing.
 
SkyBrickey said:
You wanted to start Maliq at the 4 last year and now you don't think he should play 8-10mpg there in a backup role? How the pendulum swings!
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Be careful around your glasshouse. Reread what I wrote. I never wrote that he shouldn't; I just wrote he didn't last season.

I just watched a full season of Maliq being a very reluctant offensive player (1.6 FGA/G, down from 5.7 FGA/G). That's a concern that wasn't apparent last offseason. I still think Maliq is better suited to defend on the perimeter/four, but that level of offensive passivity might be problematic on the perimeter.

Also, a 3-4-5 of Cooper, Maliq, and Khaman is a completely different animal than a 3-4-5 of Dame, Maliq, and Pat.
 
azzefkram said:
Be careful around your glasshouse. Reread what I wrote. I never wrote that he shouldn't; I just wrote he didn't last season.

I just watched a full season of Maliq being a very reluctant offensive player (1.6 FGA/G, down from 5.7 FGA/G). That's a concern that wasn't apparent last offseason. I still think Maliq is better suited to defend on the perimeter/four, but that level of offensive passivity might be problematic on the perimeter.

Also, a 3-4-5 of Cooper, Maliq, and Khaman is a completely different animal than a 3-4-5 of Dame, Maliq, and Pat.
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Ok, I just reread what you wrote. You sound very skeptical of Maliq playing backup minutes at the 4 which is what I responded to.

You spent lots of energy this time last year arguing with me that Maliq would start at the 4 (and Cooper at the 3). Just noting the irony, Azz.
 
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