After the last couple wins, we're #4 in the AP poll ahead of Kentucky at #5 Which is really surprising considering they had a good win as well at Gonzaga.

DukeDallas9192011015 said:

I think part of it is playing Maluach, which let me be clear, we need Maluach to be a title contender. However, he currently has no low post game and teams don't guard him past the foul line. It results in the lane being totally clogged and we then are forced to settle for 3 pointers.

Defensively we are fine and it's too small of a sample size to say our defense is a problem the first few minutes of these games, just have been a bit unlucky.
I don't know if Jon is to blame for this or if we can point to starting 3 freshman as the cause for this, but this can't keep happening. Once the game gets into a flow, we are always the better team.

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I’m having a hard time understanding how anyone can say he has no low post game when Duke plays five out . When he catches a lob ( very rarely thrown to him) he’s hit all except I think for one . If you look when he rebounds on offense he’s looking to lock out to open shooters . Teams know this and will exploit it . Proctor and Foster and Akon for that matter starting to drive more has opened up for easier three point shots . But if your just gonna jack up three’s and miss the easiest defensive plan would be to clog the lane to stop drives or slack off perimeter shooters until they hit shots . If Duke comes out and hits their three’s out the gate teams would have to be more spread on defense . I think one fix to the slow starts is for Duke to look in side or drive before starting to jack up three’s . When Duke started attacking last night instead of settling for three’s the offense opened up because Louisville couldn’t recover to shooters in time from trying to stop penetration.

DukeDallas9192011015 said:

Mark Mitchell is 6'9 and athletic with long arms, it makes sense that he was a 5 star recruit. At times, he was an ELITE defender for us, but at times it also seemed like he didn't have that fire in him. His shot is ugly, but if he had a good looking 3 point shot, he would have been an NBA player after his freshman year.

I have nothing but respect for him, and I hope he does well this year and in his pro career. He was a frustrating player at times (especially last year) but he wore DUKE across his chest proudly and had a fairly successful 2 years here: we beat Tennessee in the tournament his freshman year had he played IMO.

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He left Duke and imo it was by his choice . So why I don’t hate the kid I think he’s a good college player but it’s not like I myself go out of my way to watch him .

bullcity gamer said:

I would say Mitchell was willing to do what was needed for the team. Ultimately he was persuaded by his father to leave Duke.

Mitchell was aggressive for Duke while he played for The Blue Devils.

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He was? Had nothing to do with Duke bringing in the future No. 1 pick who does everything better than Mitchell and plays the same role/position?

bullcity gamer said:

Shey, yeah I would say he did. Mitchell was a 3 and like Flip both of those guys were tasked with playing out of position last season because Duke didn’t have a legitimate 5 man so Mitchell had to play the 4 and Flip had to play the 5.

I was at the game in South Bend last season when Mitchell carried Duke to a win.

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Not sure he was a sf though. His three point shot was bad and inconsistent and his jumper needed work as well. His best offense was and still is around the basket . He’s also 6’8 to 6’9 . He also was at his right position his freshman year but was a liability on the perimeter on offense and I don’t think he’s playing the three at Missouri this year.
He made his choice to transfer but his best chance of making the league would be as a 3D wing but his three has to become way more better .

Mitchell, Blakes and Stewart definitely members of the all awkward team. Blakes is thriving this year, Mitchell and Stewart are about the same as last year

bullcity gamer said:

I would say Mitchell was willing to do what was needed for the team. Ultimately he was persuaded by his father to leave Duke.

Mitchell was aggressive for Duke while he played for The Blue Devils.

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Mitchell did not want to play close to the basket. The physical play was suspect at best, yet, he was bigger than many of his opponents.

Friction. said:

Considering stats against UK, AZ, KU, Aub, and UL in the first 6 minutes:

Opponents 3FG%: 76% on 21 attempts.

And appears to be consistent. UK was 5/5, UL 3/4, KU 3/4, Auburn 3/4 and AZ 2/4.

For reference, Duke 3FG% in the first 6 minutes if you take Tyrese out of the equation: 25%

My $0.02 - we are testing/falling in love with the 3 ball too early and for whatever weird reason our opponents are catching fire until about the first media timeout.

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We seem to be chasing instead of guarding shooters in the first half/first part of first half. I don't understand why we do that.

Anyway - I think there are times when other teams have a fast start which gives us the appearance of a slow start. Lot of teams come out with a lot of energy because they are playing Duke (mostly the lower tier of Division 1 teams), and Duke plays without fouling during the storm and grinds the team down.

Now that is not always but it is a factor IMO.

I think part of it is playing Maluach, which let me be clear, we need Maluach to be a title contender. However, he currently has no low post game and teams don't guard him past the foul line. It results in the lane being totally clogged and we then are forced to settle for 3 pointers.

Defensively we are fine and it's too small of a sample size to say our defense is a problem the first few minutes of these games, just have been a bit unlucky.
I don't know if Jon is to blame for this or if we can point to starting 3 freshman as the cause for this, but this can't keep happening. Once the game gets into a flow, we are always the better team.

Mark Mitchell is 6'9 and athletic with long arms, it makes sense that he was a 5 star recruit. At times, he was an ELITE defender for us, but at times it also seemed like he didn't have that fire in him. His shot is ugly, but if he had a good looking 3 point shot, he would have been an NBA player after his freshman year.

I have nothing but respect for him, and I hope he does well this year and in his pro career. He was a frustrating player at times (especially last year) but he wore DUKE across his chest proudly and had a fairly successful 2 years here: we beat Tennessee in the tournament his freshman year had he played IMO.

Considering stats against UK, AZ, KU, Aub, and UL in the first 6 minutes:

Opponents 3FG%: 76% on 21 attempts.

And appears to be consistent. UK was 5/5, UL 3/4, KU 3/4, Auburn 3/4 and AZ 2/4.

For reference, Duke 3FG% in the first 6 minutes if you take Tyrese out of the equation: 25%

My $0.02 - we are testing/falling in love with the 3 ball too early and for whatever weird reason our opponents are catching fire until about the first media timeout.

kingbluedevil said:

Looked up his stats for this year 12.8 points a game around 5 rebounds and shooting 48 percent

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Mitchell is playing well, but he average 11.6 PPG, 6 rebounds and shot 54% from the field last season. He is playing a few less minutes per game, but he's putting up similar numbers. I do think a change in scenery was good for him.

But I'm happy with the transfers in, they are a better fit for this team.

ioliva said:

Just wanted to make an appreciation post.

Damn can this kid make plays. Blocks, deflections, rebounding, defense. He’s always there to clean things up. When the whistle blows, you’ll see him with a put back or block…. Doesn’t show up but it definitely helps. And we get him for two years ? We need to develop his offense, dude can be an nba guy with his defense. I just want to see this kid succeed he deserves it.

Best defender since battier?

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Huge pick up from the transfer portal.

BOOM Jude Hall a 6'4'' WR from SC commits for the 26 class
5.7 rating on rivals. the big receiver we need

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Mac9192 said:

I don’t mean to throw shade at Mitchell, but he was spastic, and had an awful shot. Not sure how he was so highly rated.

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Looked up his stats for this year 12.8 points a game around 5 rebounds and shooting 48 percent

I don’t mean to throw shade at Mitchell, but he was spastic, and had an awful shot. Not sure how he was so highly rated.

Shey, yeah I would say he did. Mitchell was a 3 and like Flip both of those guys were tasked with playing out of position last season because Duke didn’t have a legitimate 5 man so Mitchell had to play the 4 and Flip had to play the 5.

I was at the game in South Bend last season when Mitchell carried Duke to a win.

per Manny's press conference we will be involved but as he said ''more of a sniper'' approach which to me means fewer kids

bullcity gamer said:

I would say Mitchell was willing to do what was needed for the team. Ultimately he was persuaded by his father to leave Duke.

Mitchell was aggressive for Duke while he played for The Blue Devils.

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Was he really though? He barely wanted to mix it up inside which is where he did his most damage .

I think the transfers in/out this past offseason have worked well for Duke's sake, Blakes is putting up real numbers at Stanford which is pretty shocking. But I think it was best for Mitchell to not be on this team, he would have killed our spacing and Brown does all of the little things better. TJ Power is now being brought off the bench for UVA. Schutt is scoring some for a bad VT team, but he is a major defensive liability. Stewart is starting for OSU but not putting up much number wise.

Scheyer hit a home run with Brown and James IMO. Gillis we will see, I wouldn't be shocked if by the end of the year that all his minutes go to Evans, but he's still a valuable part of the team.

I would say Mitchell was willing to do what was needed for the team. Ultimately he was persuaded by his father to leave Duke.

Mitchell was aggressive for Duke while he played for The Blue Devils.

Are we expected to be active in the portal this year?

christophero said:

Brown>Mitchell, Stewart and Power combined.

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Maturity. Maliq wants to play his position. Sean was the only one willing to do what was needed for the team.