2012 Grade
You have to give this team an A grade on how they have handled the difficulties of this season so far. Words like “fight”, and “playing for each other”, “toughness” have been thrown around about Duke and rightly so. Duke has played a hell of a schedule so far, by design, and this team has been tested in many ways:
- Played a host of ranked team and a tough schedule.
- Duke pulled out close games.
- Played a tournament like schedule on tired legs.
- They’ve come off of long layoffs to play difficult teams.
- They’ve played on the national stage.
Next up for this team is consistency, with the start of the ACC looming and tough league games ahead Duke will have to show its resolve over the course of weeks and months. This will be where coaching comes into play, being able to keep this team hungry and motivated will be the test. There is no lack of talent, and no lack of chemistry. It comes down to getting up for each game like its the national championship. Getting the best out of each player every day, every game.
Captain Seth.
Congratulations to senior guard Seth Curry on being named team captain along with Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly. Seth Curry was also named ACC Player of the Week after his career-high 31 points in the Blue Devils 90-77 win over Santa Clara.
Recruiting
Coach Wojo just this past week watched Miroslav Jaksic, a 2014 6’11 Canadian power forward.
Duke signee Matt Jones won MVP honors at the HSOT Holiday Invitational in Raleigh as his team DeSoto captured the championship.
Duke verbal commit Jabari Parker, probably known to most if not all Duke fans at this point is getting back to his pre-injury form scoring more, getting into shape and showcasing the skill that made him a top 2 recruit.
Davidson
Every year that I see Davidson on the schedule I always ask myself, I wonder if they will do it this year (beat Duke). This is a well disciplined and well coached team that is not going to roll over and give Duke this game. Duke is going to have to take it. A lot of fans will just assume that Duke should run all over Davidson, perhaps those people don’t follow basketball in the state of North Carolina very closely but Davidson is not a team you take lightly or schedule as a tune-up. Davidson is a team that is battle tested and could give Duke some problems. While Duke should have advantages athletically and size wise, Davidson will play Duke to win and not for a moral victory. This team lost to Gonzaga who is arguably a top 10 school right now by 14 but hey have wins over West Virginia and Vanderbilt already and look to get a resume building win against Duke in Charlotte tonight at 7pm.
I see Duke trying to mix in bench players in this game to prepare for ACC season. Hopefully Alex Murphy, Amile Jefferson and Marshall Plumlee can get some shine against Davidson as long as the game is under control.
