Agree with a lot of what you're saying. The only thing that seems fairly certain nowadays is that loyalty has been moved way down the list of importance. A coach isn't guaranteed any particular kid will hang around, no matter if he's a starter or not.
Official 2024-25 minutes thread
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Who ever thought those players would get that were just crazy . Now ten to five minutes would have been exceptional but I never thought they would get more then rest minutes for starters .
That’s because you could also say sports were getting back to normal from Covid and players weren’t fully evaluated.
You're making excellent points, but you have to recruit the kids you described. In modern times, you have that attitude from kids that are 3 stars. The others feel a sense of entitlement.
Some of the enjoyment is just seeing if anyone is spot on with the predictions... and how we as posters think of the players. Who each person think will be what type of role, and what they will bring to the team... for me I'm riding with Evans and Harris. And Harris to surprise alot of us... I also think we will see more (8-10 mins) from most players each night. Florida State style, this season... we can't have a mass exodus again. And PT is a major reason for that. So I think Jon will give everyone some clock. Obviously it's situational, but I think we see more rotations and minutes spread out than DNPs.
I get what you’re saying, but this ain’t 2010, or even 2022. I think the days are gone on mid level kids hanging around, especially at schools like Duke. The problem is kids can go somewhere immediately that will pay them and offer playing time.
A way to possibly slow down some of the portal insanity is if a kid can only transfer once without sitting out a year.
Projecting Sean to get 15 mpg is crazy? I for one thought he would get those minutes last year at this time a year ago, especially when we didn't land a big.
The ideal situation would be for the coaching staff to have the 11 scholarship guys have the opportunity to showcase what each of them can do by getting some floor time from November through the first couple of weeks of February. Then from the 3rd week of February and onward shorten down the rotation to the team’s 8-9 best core.
Will it happen that way? More than likely not, but it’s wishful thinking haha.
Will it happen that way? More than likely not, but it’s wishful thinking haha.
Not with Flip and Mitchell returning and Duke sticking to a three guard line up. I remember a lot of people hyping Power this time last year and he barely played but one would argue he was Dukes second best shooter next to McCain. That’s why I’m not surprised him or Stewart left at all.
I wonder if Flip, Mitchell, and Proctor returning caused tension with the freshman. I think people are so used to Duke guys being OAD. I think Flip and Proctor particularly surprised people. Cooper reclassed, so it was probably assumed Mitchell would be gone by then. Mitchell transferring makes more sense when I remembered that.
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The game was too fast for Powers to play over 10mpg. Also, the coaching staff did not trust him on defense. As for Stewart, there was too much faith in Mitchell to man the pf. Stewart should've been given that opportunity.
Definitely Flip, I ASSUME. Flip at times was close to being Josh Mac 2.0.
This makes sense, but there's more options for the coach to choose from here, so if you aren't really standing out, you're left out.
We will find out how he does under Bennett.
I agree about TJ, but it wasn't crazy to think Sean would get 15 mpg. I still believe he was underutilized and should have played around that 15 mpg mark.
This is the hype I’ve referred to the last few months. I don’t like it. Flagg just needs to be really good and not a generational talent. He doesn’t need additional pressure from us (Duke fans). The media is enough.
Comes with the territory. You don’t run and hide and he’s built for this. It’s not like this has all of a sudden been sprung on him. Embrace it and let’s go. Jon has done a masterful job of surrounding him with experience and talent across the board.
This ! I just want a balance and a bench . This team has it but will it be utilized ?
Unless something unforeseen happens it will be. Doesn’t mean 11 guys are all getting equal min or playing every game.
Timo, I have the utmost respect for your opinion. You have been posting here long before I started coming to this site in 2015. Almost everything you post is insightful and I probably agree with your opinion 95% of the time. Not on this though. There’s an added expectation that comes with the territory when playing for Duke. I get that. This has gone beyond that though and I do think Duke fans adding unnecessary pressure is unproductive. I only mention this because it’s something we can control. He may be built for it but at then of the day, he is still a kid and will be when he leaves the program. I agree with you about Jon helping him out.
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I don’t want 11 guys playing equal minutes . I want ten guys getting some minutes especially against lesser opponents. I want to see a team so intact that teams don’t know how to approach them . A course more will play more minutes than others but I also think this team has the pieces to play bench players more against lesser opponents. I mean a win is a win if it’s by 1 or 100.
Appreciate the kind words and I hear what you’re saying. My sentiment though is based in all the variables you brought up. We can’t control Duke nation or ask them to temper expectations. It’s not based in reality. Some players fold some players rise. Cooper is an absolute alpha. He’s a guy that won’t cower to the pressure. It’s not his personality. He’s been the consensus number one player for years, regardless of class. When he reclassed back from ‘25 to ‘24, he was still #1. Speaks to how good he is. A guy like Jabari Parker had even more expectations and he had a spectacular year, but he didn’t have the roster around him to allow him to be even better. That won’t be an excuse next year unless we are just decimated by injury or off the court issues. I’d say just enjoy the one year we get with this kid and let’s roll.
I don’t disagree. ‘99 played I think 9 consistent min.
I agree with what you are saying Timo . I’m also not saying guys off the bench are going to get ten minutes or more . I just want to see three to five minutes for players six - ten. Let them learn and see what all they need to work on. I think this is what happened to Stewart and Power.
That roster was a luxury. All nine could play meaningful minutes. Also, how many of those games were blowouts?
If you only win by 1, it could have easily been a loss. I say beat the hell out of them and get back to teams expecting to lose when they come to Cameron.
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I don’t think teams are scared to play Duke as much as they used to . College basketball has changed and the turn over of rosters year in and year out has given teams an edge as to where old Duke teams were full of upperclassmen that had played in Cameron for more then one to two years and were up to the task .
Not keen on predicting minutes, but I am most confident in these 7 getting major, "starter"-type minutes when healthy:
Proctor, Flagg, Foster, Mal, Brown, James, Gillis
Next:
Evans
Then:
Ngongba
If we go this specific 9 deep, we have every position and every skill covered with depth.
I'm not sold on Knup, Harris, or Shef yet.
Proctor, Flagg, Foster, Mal, Brown, James, Gillis
Next:
Evans
Then:
Ngongba
If we go this specific 9 deep, we have every position and every skill covered with depth.
I'm not sold on Knup, Harris, or Shef yet.
I agree but I would switch K2 and Evans. I think big Pat could surprise, especially if Mal has a steep learning curve. He is a sturdy guy. Harris will be good but it's hard to see him seeing the floor this year. If Evans can hit that pull up jumper consistently things will get interesting. It's been a while since we had this much depth.
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I'd be very surprised if Kon isn't a big contributor on this team. I think it's more likely he starts at some point than him not getting off the bench.
Evans was very impressive in individual drills on o and d. Scouts are noticing him as well. Hopefully we get him or Kon for 2 years
Doubt it . I think both are gone . Either by the portal or the league .
Foster and Big Pat said Brown was our best defender in the latest podcast.
This is why I see him starting to help Mal and Flag stay out of foul trouble . He can switch 3-5.
If the Blue Devils go all in on the “Team” concept and they stay healthy, this team can be Elite on both ends of the court!
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