BambinoBear
11-14-2005, 01:32 PM
Plenty of pros, and cons, for Blue Devils
Jeff Goodman / Scout.com
Posted: 13 hours ago
Just about everyone has Duke as the preseason favorite to win it all this season.
The Blue Devils received nearly every first-place vote on both the writers and coaches polls. They were picked on top by just about every magazine. And, of course, Dickie V. chose his beloved Blue Devils as the team to beat.
What's not to like about the Dukies this year. They boast the top inside-outside scoring combination in the country with J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams.
Reasons why Duke will win it all ...
Coach K: They have arguably the best coach on the planet in Mike Krzyzewski.
http://msn.foxsports.com/id/5080050_36_2.jpgDuke can't cruise to a national title if Shelden Williams doesn't stay healthy and out of foul trouble. (Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)
Depth: Extremely thin a year ago, the Blue Devils welcome a load of talented freshmen joining the core of seniors Redick, Williams, point guard Sean Dockery, forward Lee Melchionni and sophomore guard DeMarcus Nelson.
The Landlord: The boys from Durham won't cruise to the national title without a little luck. They still need to make certain that Williams, aka "The Landlord," remains healthy and stays out of foul trouble.
Dockery: Coach K will also need to get solid, not spectacular, play from Dockery — who was a big-time recruit coming in three years ago out of Chicago — but has yet to fulfill expectations. Supposedly, Dockery's shot has improved. If he can keep defenses honest, knock down 15-foot jumpers and make quality decisions with the ball in his hands, the Blue Devils will be fine.
Plan B: If Dockery can't handle the job, Coach K will turn to Plan B, which isn't so bad. Freshman Greg Paulus is the backup floor leader — for now. The two-sport star, who could have played both quarterback and point guard just about anywhere he wanted to in college, is more talented than Dockery — but isn't ACC tested, and that's why Dockery gets the nod to start the season. If Paulus can come off the bench and give Duke a spark, they will be difficult to knock off.
Reasons why Duke won't win it all ...
Shooting blanks: Redick has not been a big-game player thus far in the postseason, and unless that changes in his swan song, these guys have no chance of winning six consecutive games in the Big Dance. The senior is averaging 14.8 points in 11 career NCAA tournament games and is shooting just 37 percent from the field (and a lackluster 31 percent from long range, which is far below his career average of 40 percent.)
http://msn.foxsports.com/id/5080046_36_3.jpgCan Sean Dockery step up at the point for Duke, or will he be outclassed by a heralded freshman? (Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)
Back-ing in: Josh McRoberts, the other all-everything freshman (along with Paulus), spent every game wearing a back brace a couple of years ago at Carmel High (Ind.). If the injury acts up again, which back problems have a history of doing, you can pretty much kiss Duke's chance of cutting down the nets in April goodbye.
League low: The ACC is down this year; so Duke may not be as prepared and battle-tested as usual entering the NCAA tournament.
Great white hope: Even if McRoberts remains healthy, who's to say he's not the next Shavlik Randolph or Joey Beard? (They were just as highly regarded coming out of high school.)
Youth movement: Everyone is gushing about the depth in Durham, but these guys are still young and inexperienced. Five freshman — McRoberts, Paulus, Eric Boateng, Martynas Pocius and Jamal Boykin — litter the roster; and other than Redick and Williams, they are unproven and untested.
Point taken: The real key for Duke comes at the point guard spot. Is Dockery good enough? Sure, Paulus is talented. He's in the Bobby Hurley mold and knows how to run the show, but how often have freshman point guards led their teams to national titles? (Besides Mike Bibby at Arizona and Gerry McNamara at Syracuse.) Overall we're not saying Duke won't win it all, but this one isn't as easy to predict as many think.
Jeff Goodman / Scout.com
Posted: 13 hours ago
Just about everyone has Duke as the preseason favorite to win it all this season.
The Blue Devils received nearly every first-place vote on both the writers and coaches polls. They were picked on top by just about every magazine. And, of course, Dickie V. chose his beloved Blue Devils as the team to beat.
What's not to like about the Dukies this year. They boast the top inside-outside scoring combination in the country with J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams.
Reasons why Duke will win it all ...
Coach K: They have arguably the best coach on the planet in Mike Krzyzewski.
http://msn.foxsports.com/id/5080050_36_2.jpgDuke can't cruise to a national title if Shelden Williams doesn't stay healthy and out of foul trouble. (Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)
Depth: Extremely thin a year ago, the Blue Devils welcome a load of talented freshmen joining the core of seniors Redick, Williams, point guard Sean Dockery, forward Lee Melchionni and sophomore guard DeMarcus Nelson.
The Landlord: The boys from Durham won't cruise to the national title without a little luck. They still need to make certain that Williams, aka "The Landlord," remains healthy and stays out of foul trouble.
Dockery: Coach K will also need to get solid, not spectacular, play from Dockery — who was a big-time recruit coming in three years ago out of Chicago — but has yet to fulfill expectations. Supposedly, Dockery's shot has improved. If he can keep defenses honest, knock down 15-foot jumpers and make quality decisions with the ball in his hands, the Blue Devils will be fine.
Plan B: If Dockery can't handle the job, Coach K will turn to Plan B, which isn't so bad. Freshman Greg Paulus is the backup floor leader — for now. The two-sport star, who could have played both quarterback and point guard just about anywhere he wanted to in college, is more talented than Dockery — but isn't ACC tested, and that's why Dockery gets the nod to start the season. If Paulus can come off the bench and give Duke a spark, they will be difficult to knock off.
Reasons why Duke won't win it all ...
Shooting blanks: Redick has not been a big-game player thus far in the postseason, and unless that changes in his swan song, these guys have no chance of winning six consecutive games in the Big Dance. The senior is averaging 14.8 points in 11 career NCAA tournament games and is shooting just 37 percent from the field (and a lackluster 31 percent from long range, which is far below his career average of 40 percent.)
http://msn.foxsports.com/id/5080046_36_3.jpgCan Sean Dockery step up at the point for Duke, or will he be outclassed by a heralded freshman? (Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)
Back-ing in: Josh McRoberts, the other all-everything freshman (along with Paulus), spent every game wearing a back brace a couple of years ago at Carmel High (Ind.). If the injury acts up again, which back problems have a history of doing, you can pretty much kiss Duke's chance of cutting down the nets in April goodbye.
League low: The ACC is down this year; so Duke may not be as prepared and battle-tested as usual entering the NCAA tournament.
Great white hope: Even if McRoberts remains healthy, who's to say he's not the next Shavlik Randolph or Joey Beard? (They were just as highly regarded coming out of high school.)
Youth movement: Everyone is gushing about the depth in Durham, but these guys are still young and inexperienced. Five freshman — McRoberts, Paulus, Eric Boateng, Martynas Pocius and Jamal Boykin — litter the roster; and other than Redick and Williams, they are unproven and untested.
Point taken: The real key for Duke comes at the point guard spot. Is Dockery good enough? Sure, Paulus is talented. He's in the Bobby Hurley mold and knows how to run the show, but how often have freshman point guards led their teams to national titles? (Besides Mike Bibby at Arizona and Gerry McNamara at Syracuse.) Overall we're not saying Duke won't win it all, but this one isn't as easy to predict as many think.