Duke
Devils eye big lineup in basketball
By Dane Huffman Oct 16, 2009
Durham, N.C. — The Duke Blue Devils are thinking big as the college basketball season approaches.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski, meeting with the media for his preseason press conference, said Thursday that his starting lineup could include Nolan Smith and Jon Scheyer in the backcourt, Kyle Singler at small forward and Miles Plumlee and Mason Plumlee at the two inside positions.
That’s an enormous team, measuring 6-2, 6-5 in the backcourt and 6-8, 6-10, 6-10 in the frontcourt. Krzyzewski said Singler would play exclusively on the perimeter and Andre Dawkins would be the first backcourt player off the bench.
Krzyzewski said the Devils are planning to bring 6-8 senior Lance Thomas off the bench and could bring him in for either a guard or forward.
“I think this will be our biggest team since I’ve been here,” Krzyzewski said from Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham. “We’re very athletic. We hope that we will be a very good rebounding team. It’ll be a different team than we’ve had.”
Duke has generally had quicker teams that fit its desire to play an intense, pressure defense. But wing Gerald Henderson turned pro after his junior year, and guard Elliot Williams transferred to Memphis because of family concerns.
That left Duke with only two guards on the roster – Smith and Scheyer – before the 6-4 Dawkins decided to skip his senior year of high school and enroll.
One issue for the Blue Devils will be finding ways to play the type of disruptive defense Duke has been known for under Krzyzewski.
“We have to come up with ways of dictating tempo when it’s needed with the people that we have,” Krzyzewski said.
Overall, however, Krzyzewski sounded upbeat as the season approaches. Duke has a “Countdown to Craziness” Friday night at Cameron and then an “Open House” on Saturday, in which the team will sign autographs and then have an open practice for fans.
Krzyzewski said a major issue for his team is there are no players coming off injuries. Last year, for example, point guard Greg Paulus entered the fall coming off an injury.
“They haven’t been rehabilitating. They’ve been working on their games,” he said.
He said Miles Plumlee is up to 240 pounds from 222 and Thomas is weighing in at 228.
Duke will have a deep team, including freshman Ryan Kelly of Raleigh.
“He’s really a good player. He’s very smart a very smart player,” Krzyzewski said. “He’ll help us right away. He can really shoot the ball.
“In preseason, he played exclusively onthe perimeter in all drills to help his footwork, get quicker.”
And Krzyzewski quipped that Kelly wouldn’t be intimidated at Duke after daughter one of Bill Cowher’s daughters.
“That was a lot more pressure than playin
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Most Recent Comments
RE: Devils eye big lineup in basketball
TBK, I know you aren't laughing at Larry Drew, especially with the keystone cops State has at point guard?? Now that is reason to laugh!!!
- Posted by joeltarheel66
I'm going to make a bold prediction that our PGs will outperform Larry Drew this year.
Javi Gonzalez and who else??? Man, I am busting a gut over here!!! I thought you were smarter than that. I give you way too much credit!! ROFLMAO
It won't take much to outperform LARRY DREW. That was the point.
This one I'm copying and saving. Don't underestimate him, he had a different role last year. Those words may not taste so good when you are eating them.
RE: Devils eye big lineup in basketball
TBK, I know you aren't laughing at Larry Drew, especially with the keystone cops State has at point guard?? Now that is reason to laugh!!!
- Posted by joeltarheel66
I'm going to make a bold prediction that our PGs will outperform Larry Drew this year.
Javi Gonzalez and who else??? Man, I am busting a gut over here!!! I thought you were smarter than that. I give you way too much credit!! ROFLMAO
It won't take much to outperform LARRY DREW. That was the point.
RE: Devils eye big lineup in basketball
TBK, I know you aren't laughing at Larry Drew, especially with the keystone cops State has at point guard?? Now that is reason to laugh!!!
- Posted by joeltarheel66
I'm going to make a bold prediction that our PGs will outperform Larry Drew this year.
LOL!!!!!!!!!! The one worthy PG that you had failed to make to to campus due to bad grades. Unfortunately, State's season will be a wash.
Not quite. It wasn't grades. He transferred schools and lost some credits, and that kept him from qualifying.
RE: Devils eye big lineup in basketball
TBK, I know you aren't laughing at Larry Drew, especially with the keystone cops State has at point guard?? Now that is reason to laugh!!!
- Posted by joeltarheel66
I'm going to make a bold prediction that our PGs will outperform Larry Drew this year.
Javi Gonzalez and who else??? Man, I am busting a gut over here!!! I thought you were smarter than that. I give you way too much credit!! ROFLMAO
RE: Devils eye big lineup in basketball
Duke should finish at least 2-3 in the conference. They have the two S's back and they will play very well. As far as the big guys, time will tell. Duke is always there in the end.
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