The emergence of Mark Williams is redefining Duke's season.

[BlueDevilStop]

Mark Williams had his best game of the season against Syracuse, and he has played a large role in redefining Duke's season.

Looking back at his meteoric rise up the high school recruiting ranks and why his rapid ascent this season should come as no surprise. Plus, what it means for this Duke team.

The Emergence of Mark Williams is Redefining Duke’s Season |

The emergence of Mark Williams has redefined Duke’s season. Williams has improved at a rapid rate during his Freshman season and has played a major role in Duke’s recent transformation. When considering Mark Williams’ history as a high school prospect, the rapid improvement he is displaying as a...

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[christophero]

I didn't realize he shot up the high school rankings that much in a year.

 

[AlanInNJ]

It's obviously been a pleasure to watch Williams develop over the past couple weeks. We suddenly have a rim protector and a 5 who can finish around the rim and get us some offensive rebounds. It was painful to watch our lack of offensive rebounds for most of the season. I really think Williams would have developed a lot sooner had we been able to play our normal preseason schedule.

I think it's just one piece of the reason we have seen a great run recently. More has settled in and had some very good games. Hurt has been scorching the nets over the past 4 games. Brakefield has shown flashes of brilliance. And we are playing better team defense.

 

[christophero]

Moore playing good has kind of gotten lost in all the Brakefield/Williams excitement. He will be a key player next year. He already is.

 

[df64]

Moore playing well whether he scores or not has been huge.

 

[Liftee]

In addition to Williams, Hurt's hot streak and the better play of our freshmen guards. They have settled down to a large extent and seem more confident and unhurried. Also, the entire team has bought in to Coach K's mantra about how hard you have to play to win at a high level D I school.

 

[dachampishere2]

Mark playing makes the game easier for every player we have on the court. Especially defensively. They can take chances and guard harder knowing that they have a clean up guy back there. He should’ve been playing all year. Forget the matchups. We should dictate matchups. Make other people go big or get dominated on the boards in the paint

 

[AlanInNJ]

I'm thinking Williams is going to be a huge factor in the UNC game. UNC is big and strong up front, and in the first game we just didn't match up. That was asking an awful lot of Hurt on the defensive end.

 

[christophero]

I'm sure this has been pointed out but Mark allows Hurt to not play out of position and get in foul trouble. We've almost always been better with a legit 5.

 

[Liftee]

Let's not ignore Brakefield and Coleman developing and learning their way around Coach's defense which only helps Williams when they are in the game at the same time.

 

[GAAP]

Mark playing makes the game easier for every player we have on the court... He should’ve been playing all year...

He wasn’t ready earlier in the year. Remember the first Wake game? Mark started and had 3 turnovers and 2 fouls in only 4 minutes. Ouch.

 

[durhamgolfer]

He wasn’t ready earlier in the year. Remember the first Wake game? Mark started and had 3 turnovers and 2 fouls in only 4 minutes. Ouch.

Saying that he should have been playing earlier actually sells Williams short. He definitely was not ready and the way he got ready was by working really hard with Nate James to get ready.

 

[BOOGIEMAN1914]

Saying that he should have been playing earlier actually sells Williams short. He definitely was not ready and the way he got ready was by working really hard with Nate James to get ready.

all that part!

 

[timo0402]

Saying that he should have been playing earlier actually sells Williams short. He definitely was not ready and the way he got ready was by working really hard with Nate James to get ready.

I agree, at the start of the year he was struggling to catch, gather and maintain rebounds. Give the kid credit for working hard, learning and figuring out the game. And as you said, credit to Nate.

 

[GAAP]

I agree, at the start of the year he was struggling to catch, gather and maintain rebounds. Give the kid credit for working hard, learning and figuring out the game. And as you said, credit to Nate.

Be careful. There are those who believe that Duke doesn't develop players.

 

[christophero]

Mark definitely had some Casey Sanders moments earlier in the season. I liked Casey and he helped us in the 2001 stretch run, but man was he frustrating to watch. Probably compounded by the fact he played with Boozer, who seemed to catch and finish everything. Mark is growing by the game. Louisville and UNC will be big tests for him and us.

 

[timo0402]

Mark definitely had some Casey Sanders moments earlier in the season. I liked Casey and he helped us in the 2001 stretch run, but man was he frustrating to watch. Probably compounded by the fact he played with Boozer, who seemed to catch and finish everything. Mark is growing by the game. Louisville and UNC will be big tests for him and us.

Casey is absolutely the comparison early on. Casey 2.0.

 

[christophero]

Tape really seems to have vanished. Wonder if his back is ok. I really thought he would help us more. Probably just that Mark has surpassed him.

 

[dachampishere2]

He wasn’t ready earlier in the year. Remember the first Wake game? Mark started and had 3 turnovers and 2 fouls in only 4 minutes. Ouch.

He wasn’t ready to dominate but he was prepared enough to play 20 minutes every night. His size is too much to just have on the bench. As you play more in the game you get better. The more minutes he plays the more comfortable he has gotten. He was just nervous at first.

 

[AlanInNJ]

I know it was called a dead play, but that block in the Syracuse game where it was more like a volleyball spike than a block by Williams was freakin' awesome. Let's see more of that please!!!

Fun watching this young man adjust to the D1 college game and grow as a player.

Let's go Duke!!!

 

[CorrectShadeofBlue]

I think that player development — especially with regards to bigs — has hurt our team, as well as other teams, more than it ever did in The Beforetimes. Our guys are just now developing the chemistry that would have manifested months earlier.

And yes... some players look to have had an adverse affect on that chemistry. Specifically, I’m thinking of players who, during the Coronapocalypse, sought to raise their own draft status at the expense of everyone else on the team. And, this problem is clearly not unique to Duke.

I get it. The world is, from their vantage point, likely screwed. Again? I get it. But, if you come to play on a team, sometimes you have to subordinate things to make the team better.

Williams looks like he’s going to have the potential to become a special player. He’s not there yet. Syracuse was the perfect scenario for a coming out party, as was predicted by one of the articles here. The bigger test comes in a little over a week. I am not sure if he’s going to be a huge impact there or not, yet I hope he plays with all the confidence he’s gained of late.

But... here’s where it gets interesting. Imagine him next year, with 20 extra pounds of muscle, having worked out with our conditioning team for a solid year.

We knew Johnson was gone after this season, rain or shine. And, given the stakes, Hurt is likely gone as well. But the rest? It’s conceivable that they all return... including Goldwire.

That’s kinda scary.

 

[dachampishere2]

I think that player development — especially with regards to bigs — has hurt our team, as well as other teams, more than it ever did in The Beforetimes. Our guys are just now developing the chemistry that would have manifested months earlier.

And yes... some players look to have had an adverse affect on that chemistry. Specifically, I’m thinking of players who, during the Coronapocalypse, sought to raise their own draft status at the expense of everyone else on the team. And, this problem is clearly not unique to Duke.

I get it. The world is, from their vantage point, likely screwed. Again? I get it. But, if you come to play on a team, sometimes you have to subordinate things to make the team better.

Williams looks like he’s going to have the potential to become a special player. He’s not there yet. Syracuse was the perfect scenario for a coming out party, as was predicted by one of the articles here. The bigger test comes in a little over a week. I am not sure if he’s going to be a huge impact there or not, yet I hope he plays with all the confidence he’s gained of late.

But... here’s where it gets interesting. Imagine him next year, with 20 extra pounds of muscle, having worked out with our conditioning team for a solid year.

We knew Johnson was gone after this season, rain or shine. And, given the stakes, Hurt is likely gone as well. But the rest? It’s conceivable that they all return... including Goldwire.

That’s kinda scary.

Goldwire won’t be back. He may can play overseas. Makes no sense to be back knowing he’s not an NBA player. And he said last night he just wants to play in one more tournament

 

[christophero]

That's too bad Goldwire won't be back, but a junior Moore will be nice. And Baker will be a senior. And we'll have a bunch of sophs. This is the type of team I've been waiting for. These are not sophs who barely played either; these are guys who played all year.

 

[jwill133]

Roach and Steward as the starting guards with Keels as the back-up and Wendell also able to handle some ball-handling duties should do just fine. Would be nice to bring in a veteran graduate student/transfer PG as a back up though, which I'm sure won't happen.

 

[timo0402]

Roach and Steward as the starting guards with Keels as the back-up and Wendell also able to handle some ball-handling duties should do just fine. Would be nice to bring in a veteran graduate student/transfer PG as a back up though, which I'm sure won't happen.

Bringing someone else would be a luxury but don’t think it’s necessary. Other than insurance in case something happens to Roach. So yeah, if available sure, bring one in, bc it seems like Goldwire is done.

 

[Liftee]

i'm sorry Goldwire isn't coming back. He's been a good player and good teammate.

 

[df64]

Wouldn't never having a shot at the NBA be an incentive to come back? One more year to play at Duke and a chance to get a Masters Degree from Duke.

 

[timo0402]

Wouldn't never having a shot at the NBA be an incentive to come back? One more year to play at Duke and a chance to get a Masters Degree from Duke.

Might not be where his goals are. Probably wants to make some coin playing overseas.

 

[durhamgolfer]

Might not be where his goals are. Probably wants to make some coin playing overseas.

where did he say definitively that he is not coming back? I read the interview with Jim Sumner and he was pretty clear that he was not thinking about it yet because he was too focused on what was left of the season.

 

[GAAP]

where did he say definitively that he is not coming back? I read the interview with Jim Sumner and he was pretty clear that he was not thinking about it yet because he was too focused on what was left of the season.

I saw that same article: "As he has all season Goldwire says he’s aware that there’s a decision to be made but he’s too busy preparing for the next game to think too much about it now."

 

[christophero]

He mentioned it being "his last home game with the mob" on Instagram yesterday. Still he could change his mind.

 

[timo0402]

where did he say definitively that he is not coming back? I read the interview with Jim Sumner and he was pretty clear that he was not thinking about it yet because he was too focused on what was left of the season.

I don’t believe i ever said that Goldwire says he definitely not coming back. Not sure where you got that from my posts above, but reading the tea Leaves from his social media, plus other things I’ve heard, i do not expect him back. Nothing is definite though, and it wouldn’t make much sense for him to make any sort of statement now anyways.

 

[durhamgolfer]

I don’t believe i ever said that Goldwire says he definitely not coming back. Not sure where you got that from my posts above, but reading the tea Leaves from his social media, plus other things I’ve heard, i do not expect him back. Nothing is definite though, and it wouldn’t make much sense for him to make any sort of statement now anyways.

The tenor of this thread suggested that Goldwire had made it official. Sorry that I asked.

 

[GAAP]

The tenor of this thread suggested that Goldwire had made it official. Sorry that I asked.

Looking back at the thread, it was dachumpishere2 who made a declarative statement. He does that a lot.

 

[dachampishere2]

Looking back at the thread, it was dachumpishere2 who made a declarative statement. He does that a lot.

It’s an opinion based thread fool. Not my fault he took it as the gospel. Let’s not do the name calling because internet tough guys tend to be quiet in person.

 

[jeffrey236]

If Jordan was to return, it has to be clear he’s coming off the bench, and not expected to log starter minutes.

 

[GAAP]

It’s an opinion based thread fool. Not my fault he took it as the gospel. Let’s not do the name calling because internet tough guys tend to be quiet in person.

😘

 

[bleediteveryday30]

Mark is having himself a really good year. Another good performance from him last night in the loss at GT. He needs to add on the muscle, work on the free throws (form is good, so that will come), know when to block a shot going towards the basket/glass, and work a little better on his help D. I've loved his drive, energy, and willingness to go out there and face whoever is playing down low with no fear. He stood up to a man last night, Moses Wright, and played really well.

 

[geddoughton23]

I only saw the overtime of the Georgia Tech game. Williams made all 9 of his shots from the field, but only 2 of 7 on FTs. Were they bad misses. Did they get in his head?

 

[Liftee]

I think Mark has a nice stroke. I just think he doesn't have the confidence yet to miss one or two and forget about it on the next one. He'll be fine.