UNC Basketball: Know Your Enemy — Duke
Normally a program that sustains a couple of hits with the departure of a consensus first-team All-American and the loss of a second all-conference performer would slide it into a rebuilding mode.
But at Duke “rebuilding” is an ugly word, and when prodigious talent exits one door, a stockpile of some of the nation’s most coveted recruits always seems to step through the other. And the Blue Devils will again reload for the 2014-15 campaign with national title aspirations squarely in their sights.
Gone is Jabari Parker, who in his lone season in Durham put up dazzling numbers averaging over 19 points and nearly nine rebounds to land on virtually every first-team All-American squad before becoming the No. 2 overall selection of the Milwaukee Bucks in last June’s NBA Draft.
Also opting out of a return was Rodney Hood whose 16 points a game translated into second-team All-ACC honors and a first-round pick of the Utah Jazz.
No matter, as a bumper crop of talent in the form of four McDonald’s All-Americans highlighted by the country’s top prospect in 6-foot-11, 270-pound center Jahlil Okafor will make the property in Krzyzewskiville some of Durham’s hottest real estate over the next five months.
The Blue Devils were tabbed as the preseason ACC champ despite having only one double-digit scorer from a season ago is back in senior point guard Quinn Cook, who posted 11.6 points and 4.4 assists a game. Yet, the director of the Duke attack the past two seasons may be surrendering the reins to one of the Blue Devils’ touted prospects when they open against Presbyterian on Nov. 14.
Included in head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s recruiting grab is Tyus Jones, who arrives as arguably the top point guard in the 2014 class. Jones averaged 25.6 points and 8.1 dishes a game his senior season and was the starting point man on the 2014 USA U18 National Team that claimed the gold medal in the FIBA Americas U18 Championship.
Scouting reports rave on a headiness and maturity beyond his years, and Jones could be a defensive nightmare combining a consistent perimeter jumper with an ability to get to the rim.
Joining Okafor and Jones in the elite rookie group are small forward Justise Winslow and shooting guard Grayson Allen who both occupied spots inside the top 25 on recruiting boards. But while the spotlight will shine on the impressive haul, there is still a bounty of talent — and experience — scattered about the Blue Devils’ roster this season.
Quinn is one of six returnees, four of which also were McDonald’s All-Americans including Rasheed Sulaimon. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard will look to build on a solid sophomore season that saw him put up nearly 10 points a game, while 6-foot-9 junior forward Amile Jefferson will hope to improve upon his 6.5 points and 6.9 rebounds an outing.
Adding extra size will be 7-foot junior center Marshall Plumlee who produced 1.3 points and 2.2 rebounds per game, but there is little doubt who will be the front-court focus for opposing defenses, as Duke will attempt to generate points from the inside out for the first time in years.
The Blue Devils’ attack will revolve around Okafor who has already landed on a bevy of first-team preseason All-American teams and been tabbed by many as the national player of the year.
Okafor was pegged as USA Today’s and Parade Magazine’s national high school player of the year, was co-MVP of the McDonald’s All-American Game with North Carolina recruit Justin Jackson, and for a team that tied with Miami for 11th in the ACC in rebounding last season, the massive newcomer in the middle should provide an immediate upgrade.
Incredibly, three of Duke’s last four NCAA Tourney visits have failed to advance beyond the Sweet 16, with two of the past three ending in one-and-done appearances in the Round of 64. Such early flame-outs don’t sit well with the man who has amassed the most victories in men’s Division I history, but two things Coach K will have more of than a season ago — depth and an inside presence — could have the Blue Devils taking several more steps in March.
In recent years, Duke has been noted for its premiere perimeter play and will again have a nice blend of youth (Jones and Allen) and experience (Cook and Sulaimon) outside.
But the hole inside should be plugged by Okafor, and with Jefferson and Winslow added to the mix the Blue Devils’ offensive game should find the balance it has lacked in recent seasons.