Category Archives: Chron Chat

ChronChat: Duke basketball loses to Virginia, hosts Miami and is Ryan Kelly coming back?

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Behind Joe Harris’ 36 points, Virginia beat No. 3 Duke 73-66 last night in Charlottesville without trailing the entire game. The Blue Devils were dominated in the post, getting outrebounded 33-21 by the Cavaliers.

The Chronicle’s sports editor Andrew Beaton and basketball beat writer Brady Buck sat down to discuss the game and Saturday’s upcoming contest against No. 5 Miami.

Andrew Beaton: Brady, there was complaining about the refs… controversy about the court storming… Joe Harris’ 36 points… what really happened last night?

Mason Plumlee struggled in the post against Virginia, and was unable to provide much offensive support. (Photo by Caroline Rodriguez/The Chronicle)

Brady Buck: Joe Harris happened, and it was just one of those nights for Duke as it still remains winless on the road against teams in the top half of the ACC. In a questionably called game and behind an electric home crowd, Harris—who finished with 36 points, an ACC-high for the year—essentially punched Virginia’s ticket to the Big Dance and his spot on the All-ACC First Team.

For Duke, its frontcourt did not show up in Charlottesville. Amile Jefferson and Josh Hairston have to provide more production than a combined two points and two rebounds. That’s just not going to cut it against anybody, and Krzyzewski touched on that in his post-game press conference.

And ‘Drew, what happened with ‘Sheed last night? I’ve never seen that kind of body language from him.

AB: You know, I think there can be good technical fouls and bad technical fouls, and when ‘Sheed picked up the first tech of his collegiate career midway through the second half, it was a bad one.

The Blue Devils needed something to light a fire under them, but that wasn’t an excited or pump-up tech. It was more of a frustrated one where Duke already seemed resigned to its fate of losing. The only guy it really seemed to pump up was Coach K, who lashed his tongue even more at the refs.

It’s just so frustrating for ‘Sheed who had scored 18.3 points in his last four games while playing stellar defense to get pushed around like that by Harris. The problem for him is that the matchups don’t get any easier this weekend against Miami.

BB: In his post-game press conference, one quote from Krzyzewski really struck me: ”It was a very, very physical game and we’re not equipped to that type of game. We got knocked back.”

This is pretty alarming, in addition to being the cold hard truth. Away from Cameron Indoor Stadium, the Blue Devils have struggled considerably in physical games (e.g. at Maryland, at Boston College and at Virginia). Slow starts don’t help the cause either in hostile arenas.

Cavalier head coach Tony Bennett and his squad deserve a lot of credit too. I thought their game plan was brilliant. In particular, Virginia’s interior defense was excellent all night—they out-rebounded Duke 33-21 and blocked six shots.

AB: The good news for Duke is there are no “road” games in postseason play, just neutral site games. And the Blue Devils are 6-0 in those this season, notably beating Kentucky in Atlanta and VCU, Minnesota and Louisville in the Battle 4 Atlantis. So, they might not be road warriors this season, but they’re not too attached to home either.

And road woes are the last thing they have to focus on right now—at least for the next day—with Miami coming to town tomorrow. What do the Blue Devils have to do to beat a team that beat them by 27 points earlier in the season?

BB: I think it starts on the defensive end. Duke needs to prevent the Hurricanes from getting into an sort of scoring rhythm and keeping them off the boards is a must. Miami’s highest scoring output in a loss? 65 points at Wake Forest.

Individually, Mason Plumlee has to deliver for Duke against a big, experienced and athletic Miami frontcourt, especially given the limitations and inconsistencies of Jefferson and Hairston.

Offensively, hitting shots beyond the arc is a key ingredient for a victory. The Blue Devils were a paltry 4-of-23 from downtown in Coral Gabes last month, and Curry was scoreless.

And a healthy Ryan Kelly to guard the versatile Kenny Kadji wouldn’t hurt either.

AB: The most interesting part is: Nobody knows whether or not Kelly will play Saturday.

On the one hand, Kelly said he likely wasn’t going to return until the Virginia Tech game or the UNC road game, the final two games of the regular season. On the other hand, he dressed and warmed up with the team against Virginia, seemingly the last step before coming back.

This mind game is just some classic gamesmanship by Coach K, especially after what happened in Coral Gables. If you recall, it seemed like a certainty Reggie Johnson was going to be out, considering he hadn’t practiced for more than a month with a thumb injury. Then, all of a sudden, he’s active and playing. He wasn’t too effective in the game, but it’s definitely something that can rattle an opponent, especially because the last time Duke had seen Johnson, he dropped 27 points in an upset win at Cameron.

ChronChat: Duke basketall vs. Maryland

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Duke and Maryland face off tonight for the final time as conference foes, as the Terrapins plan to take their talents to the Big 10 following the season.

The Chronicle’s men’s basketball beat writers Andrew Beaton and Brady Buck sat down to discuss what might happen tonight:

Andrew Beaton: Brady, Duke manhandled the Terps at home. Can they do the same thing at College Park?

Brady Buck: College Park is always a difficult place to play given the hatred that the Terrapin fan base has towards the Blue Devils. So, I’m expecting this to be a much more competitive ball game than the first meeting in Durham.

The one thing that is scary for Duke, however, is that Maryland’s NCAA tournament hopes hinge on winning this game, which should bring out the best in them… Don’t you think?

AB: To me, the x-factor for both teams in this game is Rasheed Sulaimon, who scored a career-high 25 points to guide Duke to victory at Cameron the last time these two teams met. But ‘Sheed has struggled on the road, averaging just 8.8 points on 32.5 percent shooting.

However, the key for him isn’t only on the offensive end. He matches defensively up against Dez Wells, who is bigger than him and efficient on the offensive end, hitting 53.6% of his field goals.

BB: Absolutely. I’ll address the other side, for Maryland, it desperately needs Alex Len to play at the level he is capable of.

He’s been very underwhelming recently with scoring outputs of eight, four, 10, 12, and nine points, respectively in the team’s last five games, which are all below his season average of 12.5 points. Such lackluster performances—especially on a team that struggles to generate consistent offense—are a big reason why the Terrapins are 2-3 in that span.

AB: That matchup is probably the most fun to watch: Mason Plumlee and Alex Len jockeying for position in the paint and respect for the 2013 NBA Draft.

Plumlee really set the tone of the last meeting in the game’s opening seconds. He forfeited the tip to Len, and on their first possession pushed him around down low, really asserting himself as boss for that game.

BB: I think Blue Devils really need to get off to a hot start in the Comcast Center Saturday night.

Duke has come out of the gates sluggishly in its last two contests. Repeating that kind of start for a third game in a row will go a long way in helping Maryland turn the game into more of an ugly, football-type battle that is lower scoring and ultimately favors the Terrapins.

AB: And who knows, maybe people should appreciate this game. After all, it could be Duke’s last trip to College Park for a long, long time.

Chron Chat: Duke basketball and Jabari Parker

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Jabari Parker, the No. 2 recruit in the class of 2013 will make his college announcement Thursday afternoon. Duke is one of five teams still in contention for the 6-foot-8 forward, along with Michigan State, Florida, Stanford and BYU. The Spartans and Blue Devils are thought to be the heavy favorites, however.

The Chronicle’s sports editor Andrew Beaton and recruiting/men’s basketball beat writer Brady Buck sat down to discuss the importance of Parker’s decision and its impact on Duke.

Andrew Beaton: With the decision looming tomorrow, people seem to have this as a proposition between Duke and Michigan State—what would nailing Parker mean to the Blue Devils?

Jabari Parker, the No. 2 recruit in the nation, will make his official announcement Thursday. He visited Duke for its exhibition game against Western Washington earlier this season. (Photo Credit: Brittany Zulkiewicz/The Chronicle)

Brady Buck: Landing Parker would be a major coup for the Duke program. He’s been described as one of the better high school basketball players in recent memory. Moreover, he would immediately make Duke one of the heavy favorites to cut down the nets in 2014. And he would fit into Duke’s roster quite well, don’t you think?

AB: Think about what that starting five could look like next year if he commits to Duke: Marshall Plumlee, Parker, Rodney Hood, Rasheed Sulaimon, Quinn Cook. Not quite your typical starting lineup, but also a pretty scary one to defend.

BB: With that lineup the Blue Devils would be lethal at positions 2-4. In my opinion, Parker is the ideal four-man in Krzyzewski’s system. At 6-foot-8 and 220 pounds, Parker would be used like Loul Deng was in his one year at Duke. And as you alluded to, the versatility of that lineup would be something Duke has not had in quite some time.

AB: And something you’ve pointed out before is that Coach K has demonstrated he can succeed with a lineup like that—he did it at the Olympics, winning with athleticism on the wings and less of an emphasis on typical positions. That flexibility will only be increased when they go with lineups that could feature Amile Jefferson and Josh Hairston at the five.

BB: Absolutely. It seems as if Krzyzewski is trying to recruit personnel that fits the style of play he utilized for the U.S. national team. If Parker comes to Durham, the Blue Devils would have considerable depth and likely three first-round NBA draft picks in ‘Sheed, Hood and Parker.

AB: The depth would certainly be one thing—the bench would easily be five or six deep with top recruits in Hairston, Jefferson, Thornton, Murphy, Jones, Ojeleye and even potentially Andre Dawkins. That could form a pretty nasty starting five for most teams in the country.

BB: It will certainly be interesting to see who Parker decides to grace his talents with. Given the team’s early success, the timing of the decision, Parker’s character, and the good vibes coming from recruiting analysts and fans, all signs point to Duke, but it is recruiting, so anything can happen.

Chron Chat: Duke basketball misses on Nichols

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Austin Nichols, the No. 13 recruit in the class of 2013 according to ESPN, announced this week he will attend Memphis next season. Tennesee and Duke were also in the hunt for the 6-foot-9 power forward. With Nichols off the board, Duke basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s lone target is heralded Jabari Parker. Shooting guard Matt Jones and small forward Semi Ojeleye are already committed to the Blue Devils in the class of 2013. The Chronicle’s sports editor Andrew Beaton and basketball beat writer/recruiting analyst Brady Buck sat down to discuss the impact of missing out on Nichols.

Andrew Beaton: So, now that the Blue Devils missed out on Nichols, how high should the panic meter be for the staff 1-10?

Brady Buck: For now, I’ll say six. Most fans, however, might say eight-nine.

Ultimately, the answer to this question hinges on whether or not Krzyzewski can reel in his final and most important 2013 recruit—Jabari Parker. Parker has been the No. 1 target since the very beginning and recent rumblings suggest that the Blue Devils are well positioned in the final lap of his recruitment, which will likely come down to Duke and Michigan State. Bringing a player as talented as Parker—a versatile 6-foot-8 small forward—to Durham immediately remedies any big men worries for Duke, in my opinion.

Panic will ensue if Parker spurns Duke. Wouldn’t you agree?

Now that Duke basketball missed out on Austin Nichols, Jabari Parker becomes even more important. (Photo credit: Brittany Zulkiewicz/The Chronicle)

AB: I think panic will no doubt ensue if the Blue Devils miss out on Parker—at least among fans, it will be a 10. But for the coaching staff, I can’t see it being quite that high. From their perspective, they already have Matt Jones joining the fold, and Rodney Hood will finally be eligible to play. Hood, with a year of college basketball under his belt and a year of Duke practice to boot, might be as good as or better—at least next year—than any incoming freshman.

The key question, though, now that they missed Nichols, is can this team compete in the frontcourt? Regardless of whether or not they get Parker, the lineups next year should be pretty exciting to watch as they look to compensate for a lack of size with their speed and athleticism.

BB: For sure. Regardless if Duke gets Parker, the frontcourt will be a bit thin. Marshall Plumlee will be the only true center on the roster and nobody has any sort of idea at this point how effective he will be because he has yet to play a minute of meaningful action. With his lanky wingspan and energy, Amile Jefferson can guard power forwards, but it will be crucial for him to bulk up over the course of the next year to avoid getting outmuscled on the block. As the third big man, Josh Hairston should be a steady backup.

As you alluded to, the size that the Blue Devils may lack in the post will be made up for on the wing, where they’ll have a significant size and talent advantage almost every night. Krzyzewski will have a variety of long, athletic lineups that he can utilize next year with 6-foot-4 Sulaimon, 6-foot-5 Jones, 6-foot-7 Semi Ojeleye, 6-foot-8 Hood and 6-foot-8 Murphy. All five are respectable athletes with well-rounded games and the ability to be defensive stoppers. It’s been a while since Krzyzewski has had that sort of offensive versatility, as well as flexibility on defense.

But as you know, the high-turnover nature of college basketball will likely give Krzyzewski and his staff a few opportunities to pounce on 2013 recruits that reopen their recruitments after head coaches get fired in the spring. Exploring the Junior College ranks for big men is another option that will likely be considered.

AB: And the important thing for Duke fans to remember, is so much can change in so little time in the recruiting game. This time last season a guy like Hood was nowhere close to being on the radar. Between guys reclassifying, junior college players, potential hardship transfers that may arise and allow players to move without having to sit a season… there will be options for this staff if they choose to seek them out.

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Chron Chat: Ojeleye, Duke basketball recruiting

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Last week, Duke basketball dded Semi Ojeleye, the No. 38 recruit in the nation according to ESPN.com, to its 2013 recruiting class. And last week, the Blue Devil coaching staff made a number of visits to high-profile recruits. The Chronicle’s recruiting analyst Brady Buck and sports editor Andrew Beaton sat down to discuss where the team stands looking forward. With the top two players in the recruiting class, Jabari Parker and Julius Randle still on the board, Duke basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski could still make big moves with his roster looking forward. Thanks to those who submitted questions to us on twitter @dukebasketball with #AskChron that we address in the chat.

Andrew Beaton: So Brady, were you surprised at all by Semi Ojeleye’s commitment to Duke? And what about the timing?

Semi Ojeleye committed to Mike Krzyzewsi and Duke basketball after an in-home visit Sept. 10.

Brady Buck: I was not surprised at all by the commitment, however, I was not expecting him to give his pledge quite so early. From the onset of this recruitment in the spring, it just always seemed like Ojeleye and Duke were a perfect fit.

AB: And, as @AAbrams asked us on Twitter yesterday, “#AskChron how are we going to steal #1 recruit Jabari Parker”—do you think the addition of another wing player like Ojeleye hurts Duke’s chances at the gem of the 2013 class?

BB: Parker is an elite player and playing time won’t be an issue anywhere he goes. Keep in mind that Krzyzewski utilized a wing-oriented lineup with Team USA this summer, which is what he is likely using as a sales pitch to Parker. Still though, landing Parker will be difficult given that Michigan State seems to be very strong with him.

In reality though, Julius Randle is more of a need than Parker. Don’t you think, Andrew?

AB: I think given Duke’s roster, Randle is a more critical prospect—even without Parker, Duke has no shortage of wing players. Between Rasheed Sulaimon and Alex Murphy and both Rodney Hood and Matt Jones joining the fold next year, Duke should have no problem on the wing. But once Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly graduate this year, Duke will start to look awfully thin up front with just Marshall Plumlee, Josh Hairston and Amile Jefferson.

Also on Twitter, another frontcourt prospect was brought up—Austin Nichols, a 6-foot-8 powerforward and the No. 10 recruit in the nation according to ESPN. @JeremyArnone asked us, “What’s Nichols’ timeframe and where do we stand?”

BB: Absolutely. I see Nichols signing in the early signing period, November. He is set to officially visit Duke the weekend of October 6, which will be his first trip to Durham. With Marcus Lee off the radar, I think Nichols is a must get for Duke given the emptying frontcourt as you alluded to. It sounds like the Blue Devils are in a fist fight with Tennessee to secure Nichols’ commitment.

AB: Is it a tough balance for these programs, in terms of wanting to secure prospects but also wanting to have a shot at the higher end prospects? I think you see that dilemma with both Ojeleye-Parker and potentially Nichols-Randle.

BB: To some degree yes. What complicates the matter further is the fact that Randle and Parker likely won’t make a decision until April. So the Duke coaching staff cannot hold out entirely for Parker and Randle. At the end of the day, Parker and Randle are mutually exclusive in my opinion. And Duke should have room to take Nichols, as well as one of Parker/Randle to round out its 2013 class.

AB: And we may know a lot more about where some of these prospects stand in the coming weeks after a number are scheduled to visit in the coming weeks, including ones beyond the class of 2013.

BB: That’s right. Countdown to Craziness promises to be one of the biggest recruiting weekends of the year with Tyus Jones, the No. 1 point guard in the class of 2014, visiting. Justise Winslow, Jahlil Okafor and Theo Pinson may also join Jones that weekend in Durham. That’s an impressive guest list.

AB: Are any of those players expected to make commitments before their senior years?

BB: Maybe Pinson, just because he is a North Carolina kid who already has a strong relationship with the Duke and UNC staffs. He’ll likely go to one of those two. Even though none of them are expected to commit in the near future, Duke has a golden opportunity to lay some serious groundwork with four of the best players in the class of 2014 during Countdown to Craziness.

Follow @BradyBuck and @andrewlbeaton on Twitter

Chron Chat: Hood commits to Duke

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This weekend, reports surfaced that Mississippi State wing player Rodney Hood will transfer to Duke, selecting the Blue Devils over Ohio State, among others. The 6-foot-8 wing averaged 10.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game as a freshman, nailing 1.5 3-pointers per game. After sitting out the 2012-2013 season, he will be eligible to play for Duke in 2013-2014.

The Chronicle’s Andrew Beaton and Brady Buck sat down to analyze the importance of his commitment to Duke, how he fits on the roster and how it may or may not affect other recruiting targets.

Andrew Beaton: Brady, what was your reaction to hearing the news that Hood chose Duke?

Brady Buck: Obviously it is a huge get. Blue Devil fans have been on pins and needles the past few weeks anxiously awaiting a decision. The addition of Hood gives Duke a potential future NBA first round draft pick.

Beaton: I think emotionally it is a big get for Duke–after losing early in the NCAA Tournament, Krzyzewski has made two big additions to show he’s not slowing down. First with Amile Jefferson and now with Hood, Krzyzewski showed he is still a leader in the recruiting game.

And Hood is obviously a very talented player, but I’ve also begun wondering how he is going to fit on this 2013 roster and beyond.

Buck: I think we’re starting to see Krzyzewski changing the makeup of the program. The staff has made it clear that they want to get bigger, longer and more athletic at every position, especially on the perimeter. Hood, who is a 6-foot-8 shooting guard, gives the Blue Devils a much-need injection of altheticism, size and raw talent that was largely absent in last year’s back court. He and Murphy will allow the Blue Devils to be much more versatile defensively in coming years also.

Beaton: Still, it almost feels as if they’re recruiting a need that they have right now, but Hood won’t be able to play this year. It’s just starting to look awfully crowded at that position, especially with Andre Dawkins red-shirting this year and–theoretically–coming back in 2013-2014.

Just taking a look at that 2013-2014 roster, Murphy and Hood will both be going into their sophomore seasons. Dawkins also plays that wing position, will be a senior, and he’s 6-foot-4. Shooting guard Matt Jones, class of 2013, is already committed, while fellow guard Rasheed Sulaimon is coming next year. Even Sulaimon’s classmate, Amile Jefferson, can see time at the wing.

Then, when you talk about recruiting wings like Jabari Parker and Semi Ojeleye, doesn’t it look like a logjam to them?

Buck: I don’t think you can ever have too many athletic 6-foot-6 plus wings on your roster. In 2013-14, Murphy could spend time playing the strech four position, a la Kyle Singler as a freshman. Similarly, if Ojeleye were to join the fold, he has the strength and vertical leaping ability to also play power forward position for stints. Jefferson, meanwhile, might not be physically ready to be a major contributor until he is an upperclassman.

Ultimately, the coaching staff cannot afford to come up empty handed in 2013 recruiting in the unfortunate event of missing out on top targets Jabari Parker and Julius Randle, so that’s why you are seeing a wide-net approach to recruiting this summer.

And this where things really get interesting. With Hood on board, how will it affect recruiting efforts going forward? Clearly, there is not room for every recruit that holds an offer. Parker and Randle will obviously continue to being intensely pursued and will always have a spot available if they want to come to Durham. Landing Hood has made some Duke fans wonder if Parker is now leaning towards Michigan State or Kentucky.

Beaton: I agree–it’s really a spot you can’t have too many people because depending on the other pieces on the floor; a lot of these guys can slot in anywhere from the two to the four.

Duke’s middle of the court is beginning to become really deep–the real intrigue exists in watching what Krzyzewski does with the next two recruiting classes in terms of adding people to work with those wing players. Will he be able to pull in an elite point guard like Tyus Jones? A true big to join Marshall Plumlee? Adding Hood to the roster has really made these next two recruiting classes enigmatic.

Buck: It’s no secret that Duke has struggled reel in elite post players in recent years, which is another reason we are seeing the coaching staff chase more of these big, athletic and versatile wings.

There is certainly a growing sentiment among the fan base that 2013-14 could be special year for Duke, if Krzyzewski can add a couple more key pieces. As you mentioned, Duke should be well off on the wing going forward with Matt Jones, Sulaimon, Murphy and Hood, even if Krzyzewski strikes out with his other targets. Julius Randle, in my opinion, now becomes the utmost priority for Duke because of the impending losses of Ryan Kelly and Mason Plumlee. Randle would give the Blue Devils a much-needed, Chris Webber-esque post presence at the power forward position in 2013-14.

Speaking of Tyus Jones, all reports at the moment indicate that Duke will not offer 2013 point guard Anthony Barber a scholarship seemingly due to their all-in pursuit of Jones. It looks to be a very interesting month of July. Look for Parker, as well as other recruits, to start trimming his list of prospective schools and start getting really serious about his recruitment.

Beaton: For sure. And Hood is a big pick up for Krzyzewski, I just think it is important to keep it in context and look at how it will affect the recruitments of these other guys. I bet the staff really just wishes they could have Hood on this year’s squad while Murphy and Sulaimon are still freshmen, adding an experienced presence to that middle-of-the-court crew.

And perhaps the real question is, after Hood plays a season, is he a one-and-done?

Follow @BradyBuck and @andrewlbeaton on Twitter.