Every year when a new Duke season is upon us, I get my usual excitement, do a little reading on the team and hunker down for another great year of my favorite basketball team on the planet.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention, this is my 12th year being the official "Gameday Thread Starter" on DI, and I not only take my job seriously, I'm honored to hold the title (and am a two-time, gameday thread starting national champ lol. But really, whose counting?)
I'll admit, I've been pretty excited the last few years because of our recruiting classes and like many of us, have to admit, the season has n't ended quite how we like as Duke fans. I was lucky enough to be at the 2015 NC, but not having gone to the FF even since the championship, leaves us all hungry for more.
This year, this team, however, has me - and many of us that AVIDLY follow our Blue Devils - on a new level of expectation and excitement. I've absolutely LOVED the ESPN series, "Earn Everything". It's not only shown a side of the program we rarely get to see, but it's made it hard not to feel like you personally know some of these kids and truly are part of the program as diehard fans.
I saw an interview Jay Bilas did the other day with Zion, and Jay asked him what the one thing he wanted people to know about him, that they may not know, and Zion's answer stuck with me - and I thought it was awesome out of this kid. He said, "I want people to know I'm approachable. If you see me on campus, out on the town or at a restaurant, come say hi, ask me how I'm doing and about Duke basketball. I'm an approachable, social person, I'll talk to you." How likeable does that make Zion? I love it...
Alright, enough of my take on the excitement surrounding the beginning of the year and onto tonight's opener against Kentucky.
This is probably the toughest opener in the Coach K era (at least that I can recall.) Duke comes in at #4 and UK #2 and both have had tremendous off-seasons bringing in the consensus #1 and #2 recruiting classes.
Coach K has had good success in recent years in the Champions Classic and although UK got us during our last meeting in this event, I really like our chances tomorrow at revenge and the chance to make a great season-opening statement on what this Duke team is capable of.
Duke comes in as an early Vegas underdog (which I love) at +1.5. Tonight's game will air on ESPN HD and is slated for an 8:30pm tip (but will tip 25 min after the conclusion of the MSU/KU game).
Duke 86
UK 80
GO DUKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would be remiss if I didn't mention, this is my 12th year being the official "Gameday Thread Starter" on DI, and I not only take my job seriously, I'm honored to hold the title (and am a two-time, gameday thread starting national champ lol. But really, whose counting?)
I'll admit, I've been pretty excited the last few years because of our recruiting classes and like many of us, have to admit, the season has n't ended quite how we like as Duke fans. I was lucky enough to be at the 2015 NC, but not having gone to the FF even since the championship, leaves us all hungry for more.
This year, this team, however, has me - and many of us that AVIDLY follow our Blue Devils - on a new level of expectation and excitement. I've absolutely LOVED the ESPN series, "Earn Everything". It's not only shown a side of the program we rarely get to see, but it's made it hard not to feel like you personally know some of these kids and truly are part of the program as diehard fans.
I saw an interview Jay Bilas did the other day with Zion, and Jay asked him what the one thing he wanted people to know about him, that they may not know, and Zion's answer stuck with me - and I thought it was awesome out of this kid. He said, "I want people to know I'm approachable. If you see me on campus, out on the town or at a restaurant, come say hi, ask me how I'm doing and about Duke basketball. I'm an approachable, social person, I'll talk to you." How likeable does that make Zion? I love it...
Alright, enough of my take on the excitement surrounding the beginning of the year and onto tonight's opener against Kentucky.
This is probably the toughest opener in the Coach K era (at least that I can recall.) Duke comes in at #4 and UK #2 and both have had tremendous off-seasons bringing in the consensus #1 and #2 recruiting classes.
Coach K has had good success in recent years in the Champions Classic and although UK got us during our last meeting in this event, I really like our chances tomorrow at revenge and the chance to make a great season-opening statement on what this Duke team is capable of.
Duke comes in as an early Vegas underdog (which I love) at +1.5. Tonight's game will air on ESPN HD and is slated for an 8:30pm tip (but will tip 25 min after the conclusion of the MSU/KU game).
Duke 86
UK 80
GO DUKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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