Mark Williams makes his decision

[WNCFan1989]

Duke's Mark Williams announces he'll return for sophomore season

Freshman center Mark Williams, who in the final six games of the season averaged 16.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, and 1.5 steals for the Blue Devils, announced Thursday on social media that he would return for his sophomore season.

www.fayobserver.com

 

[sheyduke]

Now let’s get Moore and Baker to return and let’s go .

 

[bleediteveryday30]

LET'S ****ING GO!!!!!!

 

[christophero]

This is the guy we really needed back. There was no superteam without him. Without him we were flaming out in the first weekend. At last a borderline NBA player who actually wants to come back to Duke. He'll be a first round pick next year. Let's get #6.

 

[skysdad]

With this announcement I am content with our next years roster. OFC

 

[christophero]

When Williams and Banchero get a rest we can bring in Theo John. Good luck ACC .

 

[HuffyJB]

Oh thank God!

 

[Duke Blu]

Williams, Moore, Roach bring a lot of experience. Sure, Williams and Roach are only sophs but they have A LOT of game experience. I like the mix with the incoming.

 

[Duke1783]

I needed some good news!!! Had my second covid shot and I’m feeling not great

 

[christophero]

We are going to really miss Steward's shooting but this is fantastic news. Hopefully Keels can provide that.

 

[smashmouth5]

 

[AlanInNJ]

Sheesh I was really worried about this. We we are a lousy run and needed some good news. I expect a big year from Mark! Let's go big fella!!

 

[hart2chesson]

With this announcement I am content with our next years roster. OFC

Sky well said and agreed! OFC

 

[christophero]

Mark averaged 16 a game the last 6 games. Wow

 

[smashmouth5]

Footage of next years front court.😀

 

[JohnstonCDevil]

I really like how everything is shaping up now with Mark back to man the center spot and protect the rim on defense. But I have a sneaking suspicion there is one more piece to come. I know the recruits are in Baldwins ear and maybe he wants to be part of a superteam. We will probably know before long. I feel some more good news is coming!!!
OFC

 

[sheyduke]

I really like how everything is shaping up now with Mark back to man the center spot and protect the rim on defense. But I have a sneaking suspicion there is one more piece to come. I know the recruits are in Baldwins ear and maybe he wants to be part of a superteam. We will probably know before long. I feel some more good news is coming!!!
OFC

As long as it’s Moore and Baker returning the rest is just extra.
Williams has the potential to be special with him and Paolo and Griffin in the frontcourt with hopefully John and Moore helping.

 

[dukiejay]

Big, big news!

 

[bmbritt]

Big, big news!

Bet you haven’t been happier in a while to be wrong about something. The writers at the Athletic had this nailed. Said he was definitely coming back in an article yesterday. Got to give credit where credit is due.

 

[christophero]

Takes the sting out of losing Coleman and Steward.

 

[geddoughton23]

Very good news. Certainly for the team, and I think the best decision for Mark Williams

 

[df64]

Man, it's going to be fun watching him and Paolo together. Do we break our all time record for dunks in a season?

 

[GhostOf301]

Man, it's going to be fun watching him and Paolo together. Do we break our sll time record for drinks in a season?

As long as they are celebratory drinks and not drinks of sorrow.

 

[df64]

^I have no idea what you could possibly be talking about sir.

 

[GhostOf301]

^I have no idea what you could possibly be talking about sir.

Lol. You edited drinks to dunks. But kept sll as all. I was just joshing you. I knew what you meant.

 

[christophero]

No smallball for us next year.

 

[bmbritt]

No smallball for us next year.

Every position outside PG will have a player 6”5 or taller starting and if Baker and Moore stay and Baldwin commits, all 4 primary subs are that tall or taller.

 

[Shatterthesky22]

Thats a nasty frontcourt. If Moore and Roach take decent leaps we're gonna be scary.

 

[christophero]

As I said he's the guy we need back. Big men like him don't grow on trees; and we were not finding a guy that good in high school or in the portal to replace him. I still don't like the fact that we lost Steward, as that almost forces Roach to make a big leap for us to be a Final Four contender.

 

[Hurley22]

As I said he's the guy we need back. Big men like him don't grow on trees; and we were not finding a guy that good in high school or in the portal to replace him. I still don't like the fact that we lost Steward, as that almost forces Roach to make a big leap for us to be a Final Four contender.

Keels can shoot it. Who knows if it translates to the next level, but i believe it's definitely going to be an upgrade on the defensive end. If Moore stays in the gym this off-season, I think he becomes a more consistent shooter from deep. He got better towards the end if the year.

 

[christophero]

That's true. Steward was good but him and Roach were the tiniest backcourt ever. (and we still lose them to the NBA smh) We need to get more physical, and Keels can help us with that.

 

[df64]

We also need more clutch shooting. So many end of game scenarios last year where we got really good looks and just didnt knock them down.

 

[Liftee]

I felt like the ball was always in the wrong hands in end of shot clock and end of game situations. Either the defense knew who to keep the ball away from or we didn't do a good enough job working for a good shot. I am confident we will have more shot makers this coming year. Hopefully Moore won't always have the ball at the end of the shot clock.

 

[df64]

True, but we had good shooters, like DJ and Joey missing open looks. Roach too. Now maybe Roach isn't a great shooter, but when your guards repeayedly get open looks in the last minute of a one possession games, they gotta make some of them.
I think I remember one situation where DJ made a late 3 in a Duke win (UVA?).

 

[christophero]

It seemed like no one wanted to take the last shot last year.

 

[Liftee]

Which game was it that JJ dribbled the ball down court and didn't get a shot off at the buzzer? The team looked...lost on that last play. So sad.

 

[bleediteveryday30]

Which game was it that JJ dribbled the ball down court and didn't get a shot off at the buzzer? The team looked...lost on that last play. So sad.

@Miami. It was infuriating to see.

 

[timo0402]

@Miami. It was infuriating to see.

And then he tried to blame others. That was alarming

 

[bleediteveryday30]

And then he tried to blame others. That was alarming

That was the first real indication for me that he wasn't the player I thought he was.

 

[GAAP]

@Miami. It was infuriating to see.

The 5 or 6 wayward passes that led to easy Miami layups lost that game.