[R i]

I want to wait until the end of his college career before we start that thread. But as of today, I just don't see it.

Agreed, its a topic better understood a few years from now. As of today, you must be blind.

[thepostman]

I am glad I am away from the mid-atlantic states because after 5 years up there I was sick of hearing about UNC/Duke....of course it helps I don't have cable so rarely watch espn, but still, haha

[blwall1416]

Duke gets really good players all the time but rarely do they get elite talent that you see at UNC, UK, KU etc.

This is urban legend. They get elite talent all of the time. Just since 2005:

2005 - #2 class
2006 - #4
2007 - #6
2008 - #13
2009 - #8
2010 - #8
2011 - #2

So, 6 of the last 7 classes have been top 10 with 3 of those being top 4, multiple times ranked ahead of UNC, KU, and/or UK. Track record of class rankings was even better in the 90's.

53 McDonald's All-Americans he's brought in since he's been coach. Their 1999 & 2002 class each had 4 on their own. 2005, 2007 & 2011 each had 3.

[R i]

Roy Williams Report Card:

Recruiting : A+
Basketball knowledge : A
Bleeds Carolina Blue: A+
General Likableness: A
Post Game Interview: A
Pre Game Preparation: A
In GAME Adjustments : D

If his plan is not working, or there are adjustments that need to be made, Roy Sucks. If his pregame plan is working, he could be the best coach in the NCAA. But if its not working, they will not adjust. Stubborness in "this is the way we play Carolina Basketball" is the main culprit IMO.

[From the class of 09]

Duke gets really good players all the time but rarely do they get elite talent that you see at UNC, UK, KU etc.

This is urban legend. They get elite talent all of the time. Just since 2005:

2005 - #2 class
2006 - #4
2007 - #6
2008 - #13
2009 - #8
2010 - #8
2011 - #2

So, 6 of the last 7 classes have been top 10 with 3 of those being top 4, multiple times ranked ahead of UNC, KU, and/or UK. Track record of class rankings was even better in the 90's.

They get very good talent like the Plumlees, JJ, Nolan Smith etc but rarely get that elite level on par with say Ty Lawson, Harrison Barnes, John Wall, Paul Pierce etc. I'm not trying to say that Duke doesn't get talent obviously they do, but rarely get the future NBA star.

I'll admit recently Duke has been changing this up with Irving and Rivers. Even though Irvings contributions were limited.

[blwall1416]

I'll admit recently Duke has been changing this up with Irving and Rivers. Even though Irvings contributions were limited.

K doesn't like to recruit one-and-done players. He's said that many times. Guys like John Wall know this.

Interesting you brought up Irving. From a higher-up at dook in the athletic department: "You wouldn't believe the tension in the basketball office last season between K & Kyrie's father. Irving was medically cleared to play an entire month before K put him back in the line-up. K didn't want him to leave after just one year."

Maybe he's changing his approach now though, going after Irving & Rivers. We'll see.

[ALUmnus]

I feel like we have this thread every year. Actually, I know we do.

[lynchburgwildcats]

Duke gets really good players all the time but rarely do they get elite talent that you see at UNC, UK, KU etc.

This is urban legend. They get elite talent all of the time. Just since 2005:

2005 - #2 class
2006 - #4
2007 - #6
2008 - #13
2009 - #8
2010 - #8
2011 - #2

So, 6 of the last 7 classes have been top 10 with 3 of those being top 4, multiple times ranked ahead of UNC, KU, and/or UK. Track record of class rankings was even better in the 90's.

53 McDonald's All-Americans he's brought in since he's been coach. Their 1999 & 2002 class each had 4 on their own. 2005, 2007 & 2011 each had 3.

Duke's recruiting rankings are always inflated because guys that commit to Duke get a huge boost in the rankings after they commit.

Additionally, many of those McDonald's All-Americans Duke gets have no business being McDonald's All-Americans, quite a few only have gotten there because they went to Duke.

Examples:
Eric Boateng, 2005 McDonald's All-American, went to Duke, only ranked 82nd on Rivals
Lance Thomas, 2006 Burger Boy All-American, went to Duke, only ranked 42nd on Rivals
Jon Scheyer, 2006 All-American, went to Duke, only ranked 71st on Rivals.
Taylor King, 2007 All-AMerican, went to Duke, only ranked 37th on Rivals
Nolan Smith, 2007 All-American, went to Duke, only ranked 39th on Rivals
Mason Plumlee, 2009 All-American, went to Duke, only ranked 55th
Quinn Cook, 2011 All-American, went to Duke, only ranked 38th
Marshall Plumlee, 2011 All-American, went to Duke, only ranked 79th
Rasheed Sulaimon, 2012 All-American, going to Duke, currently ranked 32nd

For reference, only 24 guys get named to the McDonald's All-America game, so theoretically it should be for the 24 best player. Just since 2005, Duke has already had five guys not even in the top 40 make it. You think these guys above even sniff the Burger Boy game if they would have gone to Boston College instead of Duke? No chance in hell they would have, most especially not the ones not even ranked in the top 40!

[blwall1416]

I agree that does happen some, but not all of the time.

Bob Gibbons, who has been on the McDonald's selection committee for more than 30 years, says he doesn't think Duke players get an artificial boost. He also points out that a lot of McDonald's guys—not just the ones who go to Duke—fail to make it big. After hearing the long list of mysterious, Duke-bound honorees, though, Gibbons confesses that "some of them, maybe in a given year, might not have deserved it."

[lynchburgwildcats]

I agree that does happen some, but not all of the time.

Bob Gibbons, who has been on the McDonald's selection committee for more than 30 years, says he doesn't think Duke players get an artificial boost. He also points out that a lot of McDonald's guys—not just the ones who go to Duke—fail to make it big. After hearing the long list of mysterious, Duke-bound honorees, though, Gibbons confesses that "some of them, maybe in a given year, might not have deserved it."

No one ever said it happens all the time. It does happen with a Duke recruit or two on a nearly yearly basis, however. What other schools gets that kind of treatment every year? I can't find one...

[ballcoach15]

I would love to see Duke and UNC end up in the NCAA title game come March

[TDDance234]

Eric Boateng, 2005 McDonald's All-American, went to Duke, only ranked 82nd on Rivals
Lance Thomas, 2006 Burger Boy All-American, went to Duke, only ranked 42nd on Rivals
Jon Scheyer, 2006 All-American, went to Duke, only ranked 71st on Rivals.
Taylor King, 2007 All-AMerican, went to Duke, only ranked 37th on Rivals
Nolan Smith, 2007 All-American, went to Duke, only ranked 39th on Rivals
Mason Plumlee, 2009 All-American, went to Duke, only ranked 55th
Quinn Cook, 2011 All-American, went to Duke, only ranked 38th
Marshall Plumlee, 2011 All-American, went to Duke, only ranked 79th
Rasheed Sulaimon, 2012 All-American, going to Duke, currently ranked 32nd

I'll give you half credit here... Rivals has been all over the place in ranking their recruits and Scout has been more accurate.

Boatang - 36th
Thomas - 18th
Scheyer - 20th
King - 56
Smith - 26th
Mas. Plumlee - 18
Cook - 38
Mar. Plumlee - 68
Saluaimon - 12

Out of that list I'll give you Boatang, King, Cook and Marshall Plumlee; and if it wasn't for a knee injury that took Cook out the majority of his junior/senior season, he would have easily been inside the top-24. King and Boatang didn't belong anywhere near the ACC, the rest were easily McD worthy. However, we could play this game with any high-major program in the country.

[TH Spangler]

Tarhill fans watching the game .......

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[NotAJerry]

I don't root for or against either team, but seeing that many non-contributing college dbags in agony just makes me happy.

[blwall1416]

... but seeing that many non-contributing college dbags in agony just makes me happy.

Head over to dook any day of the week. You'll see this all time during their Dungeons & Dragons games.

[NotAJerry]

... but seeing that many non-contributing college dbags in agony just makes me happy.

Head over to dook any day of the week. You'll see this all time during their Dungeons & Dragons games.

I'd love to see UNC do the same thing to Duke in the rematch and see the Dookie Trust Fun Kids have their tiny little hearts ripped out as well. Would be a fantastic story.

[LUconn]

my favorite part about slowmo crowd reactions to stuff like that is when it's the opposing team's crowd, their initial reaction is always to get excited because it's awesome. It takes a second for their brain to take over and tell them that it actually sucks. I'd say the most common reaction to a home crowd's heart being ripped out is putting your hands in the air out of excitement, then quickly lowering them on your head and look shocked.

[TH Spangler]

Duke Radio call, then UNC Radio ....

[youtube]

[/youtube]

[NotAJerry]

Love the abject resignation in the voice of the UNC announcer. It wasn't despair, just the disgusted realization that of course the game would end that way.

[blwall1416]

I'd love to see UNC do the same thing to Duke in the rematch and see the Dookie Trust Fun Kids have their tiny little hearts ripped out as well. Would be a fantastic story.

Well, you got what you wanted. A butt-whipping for sure.

[RubberMallet]

well that game was near unwatchable.

[adam42381]

Probably a blowout tonight. That said, Go Heels!

[adam42381]

Liberty's own Karl Hess is refereeing tonight.

[SuperJon]

So since Karl Hess is a Liberty alum, and Seth Curry screwed us, does that mean we can count on Hess to call against Curry all night?

[adam42381]

I hope so.