Duke set for back-to-back, Plumlee's return

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Duke set for back-to-back, Plumlee's return

Duke freshman Marshall Plumlee during Countdown to Craziness in Durham, NC on October 14, 2011.

Dec 18, 2012

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Durham, N.C. — This year’s edition of the Duke Blue Devils is the 16th team that head coach Mike Krzyzewski has taken to the top spot in the AP Poll. Despite being ranked No. 1, however, Duke players say that they still have something to prove.

“It’s better to be in first place that anywhere else,” said senior Ryan Kelly. “To be No. 1 in the polls is obviously an accomplishment but the bottom line is you have to be No. 1 in the end.”

“When we were coming in in the summer, we felt like we weren’t getting the respect that we deserved,” said freshman Rasheed Sulaimon. “We were definitely hungry and wanted to come out here and prove to the world that we are a great team.” More Info 2012-2013 Blue Devils individual stats

Duke is also getting a boost this week as Marshall Plumlee will ditch the crutches for sneakers, looking see his first action of the year.

“You can’t teach seven feet,” said sophomore guard Quinn Cook. “He plays hard. He’s that guy that you hate having to play against but the guy you love having on your team.”

Plumlee’s return will be most noticed inside, an area that has been one of the few weaknesses this year for the Blue Devils.

“He gives us depth,” said senior Mason Plumlee. “He gives us a really good rebounder, which, people have pointed to our boards as one of our weaknesses.”

Duke gets a postseason-like schedule this week with back-to-back games on Wednesday and Thursday against Cornell and Elon, respectively.

“We definitely embrace the No. 1 ranking,” said Mason Plumlee. “It’s a lot different than a preseason ranking. A preseason ranking, you earn it based on players coming back and how people project you. This is something that we earned.”

Reporter: Ken Medlin
Web Editor: Aaron Schoonmaker

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RE: Duke set for back-to-back, Plumlee's return

tough schedule this week for dook. Cornell & Elon.
- Posted by BeastOnTheHill

LOL

You do realize that Duke has already played three top-5 ranked opponents (and beaten them all), correct?

Posts like this make you sound sniveling. Just wanted you to know that. But we expect that from Carolina fans. It's their M.O.
- Posted by TruthBKnown Returned

That's it TBK. Support your Dookies! We know you love them! LOL!
- Posted by Tar Heels Victory-GO HEELS

If providing you with facts counts as support, then it was support.

Don't think for a minute that your response takes away from the fact that I blew him out of the water with facts that disproved the point he was making.

RE: Duke set for back-to-back, Plumlee's return

tough schedule this week for dook. Cornell & Elon.
- Posted by BeastOnTheHill

LOL

You do realize that Duke has already played three top-5 ranked opponents (and beaten them all), correct?

Posts like this make you sound sniveling. Just wanted you to know that. But we expect that from Carolina fans. It's their M.O.
- Posted by TruthBKnown Returned

That's it TBK. Support your Dookies! We know you love them! LOL!

RE: Duke set for back-to-back, Plumlee's return

tough schedule this week for dook. Cornell & Elon.
- Posted by BeastOnTheHill

LOL

You do realize that Duke has already played three top-5 ranked opponents (and beaten them all), correct?

Posts like this make you sound sniveling. Just wanted you to know that. But we expect that from Carolina fans. It's their M.O.

RE: Duke set for back-to-back, Plumlee's return

tough schedule this week for dook. Cornell & Elon.
- Posted by BeastOnTheHill

Take a look at UNC's last three opponents... UAB, ECU, Middle Tenn? It's December, exam time, every triangle school's schedule is weak. I don't think an argument can be made over who has had, by far, the toughest schedule in the country to date.
- Posted by RaleighNCGuy

RNCG, it's all they have to work with man. Two words, Butler and Indiana. Those were some pretty solid beat-downs. Carolina is mediocre and certainly not at the level of Butler, Indiana, or Duke. Now the argument will turn to "Butler is a freak of a team". Look at the schedule guys. Show me one solid team, other than Indiana, that Butler has beaten. Seems to me like Indiana failed their first real test of the season. What does that say about the Heels? Pretty self explanatory when you really think about it.

RE: Duke set for back-to-back, Plumlee's return

tough schedule this week for dook. Cornell & Elon.
- Posted by BeastOnTheHill

Take a look at UNC's last three opponents... UAB, ECU, Middle Tenn? It's December, exam time, every triangle school's schedule is weak. I don't think an argument can be made over who has had, by far, the toughest schedule in the country to date.

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