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All-Time Underappreciated Dukies?

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TheDude1

Heisman
Apr 15, 2010
8,726
11,199
0
So was posting a bit discussing Lance Thomas, and he is a guy I look at and think was REALLY underappreciated at Duke. His numbers were never amazing, and even after he finished at Duke I think most of us didn't see a pro career in his future. Well, K did, and apparently he knows a bit about basketball, because Lance is STILL in the league.

So what do you think? Who are some other Duke players who were maybe a bit underappreciated at Duke?

BTW, as ridiculous as this might sound, might the Landlord be eligible? I know its ridiculous in a way, given how dominant he was and how he owns the record books and has his jersey retired, but might he be bit under appreciated?
 
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Canadian Dukie

All-Conference
Nov 22, 2017
1,670
1,788
0
Nate James....two time co-captain...over 1,100 career points...2001 national champion.played in the shadow of some great players.now a great assistant coach who someday will be a fine head coach in his own right
 
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Mac9192

Heisman
Jan 25, 2017
9,518
13,753
107
I agree with all mentioned above. Mine I'll throw out there is Thomas Hill. I don't know about others, but his play and toughness was better than I expected. A warrior on a team full of stars.

The look on his face to me will always be as priceless as Laettner's shot in 92 against Kentucky was.
 
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Canadian Dukie

All-Conference
Nov 22, 2017
1,670
1,788
0
Mac9192 said:
I agree with all mentioned above. Mine I'll throw out there is Thomas Hill. I don't know about others, but his play and toughness was better than I expected. A warrior on a team full of stars.

The look on his face to me will always be as priceless as Laettner's shot in 92 against Kentucky was.
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Remember that look like it was yesterday!
 
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S

SwatX1

Heisman
Jan 4, 2011
8,338
10,583
68
I agree with everyone above. Wouldn't have thought about T. Hill, but agree completely.....another I would throw in is Dunleavy Jr.
I never thought he was a recognized nationally as much what his game deserved
 
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F

Fresh1972

Freshman
Nov 1, 2016
247
94
0
Mac9192 said:
I agree with all mentioned above. Mine I'll throw out there is Thomas Hill. I don't know about others, but his play and toughness was better than I expected. A warrior on a team full of stars.

The look on his face to me will always be as priceless as Laettner's shot in 92 against Kentucky was.
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Loved Thomas Hill. He was tough and I loved the 3H gang of Hurley, Hill and Hill!
 
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T

TheDude1

Heisman
Apr 15, 2010
8,726
11,199
0
DukeDenver said:
Guys like Sean Dockery and Tyler Thornton gave us that floor slapping hustle that we've been missing a bit the last 5 years. I always liked watching those two piss off the other teams' PG. Duhon was great at that too.
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Duhon was too good to be underappreciated:)

Tyler and Sean... I don't know... this might come off wrong, but were they good enough to be underappreciated?
 
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SwatX1

Heisman
Jan 4, 2011
8,338
10,583
68
TheDude1 said:
Ah, Cherokee is a good call; his senior year, he was one of the best players in the country.
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Not saying I didn't like him, but something about Parks always rubbed me kind of weird. Some comments I heard he made about Leattner maybe. I remember there being something about him saying "Now that Christian is gone, we can have fun".......I don't even know if he really said it or not, but I was such a Laettner fan, it kinda turned me off. I'm sure Late wasn't the easiest teammate to have, but if going to final fours and winning titles isn't fun, why you playing? I was having a LOT of fun when he was there. Still, just hear say best I can remember.
 
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jimlsumner

All-Conference
Oct 30, 2003
3,735
1,474
0
DukefanKY said:
Not saying I didn't like him, but something about Parks always rubbed me kind of weird. Some comments I heard he made about Leattner maybe. I remember there being something about him saying "Now that Christian is gone, we can have fun".......I don't even know if he really said it or not, but I was such a Laettner fan, it kinda turned me off. I'm sure Late wasn't the easiest teammate to have, but if going to final fours and winning titles isn't fun, why you playing? I was having a LOT of fun when he was there. Still, just hear say best I can remember.
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Laettner and Parks only played together one season, 1992. They did not mesh well.
 
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tison31

Junior
May 25, 2012
671
236
0
PG Steve Vacendak on the Duke squad featuringVerga, Marin, Bob Reidy and Big Mike Lewis. Team made FF run in 60's and I believe would have won it all had Verga not been ill...

Agree completely. Maybe my all around favorite team.
I would also like to add Billy King to the list.
OFC
 
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M

Mac9192

Heisman
Jan 25, 2017
9,518
13,753
107
DukefanKY said:
Yeah, that's what I'm saying.....I think I always just wanted to grab him and say "Do you realize who you have in front of you son"???!!!
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From what I've read and remember, Laettner was a grade A pri#%. But we as fans forgive him because he brought us a lot of joy.
Hurley didn't like him either while they were teammates. Grant has said Christian could be very trying at times, and I think K kicked him out of more than one practice.
 
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SwatX1

Heisman
Jan 4, 2011
8,338
10,583
68
Mac9192 said:
From what I've read and remember, Laettner was a grade A pri#%. But we as fans forgive him because he brought us a lot of joy.
Hurley didn't like him either while they were teammates. Grant has said Christian could be very trying at times, and I think K kicked him out of more than one practice.
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Yeah, I have heard that a lot. Sometimes though I think that's why that team was so tough. I heard a story about Hurley getting so mad he threw the ball in Laettners face, and Laettner saying something to the effect of "that's how we need you to be".....hard to say I guess without living it first hand
 
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topps coach

All-Conference
Feb 6, 2008
20,901
4,122
0
Not a popular choice but Paulaus scores over 1100 points with close to 400 assists and bled Duke blue.His biggest problem was that he could not handle Lawson
 
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bullcity gamer

All-Conference
Oct 14, 2017
2,744
4,902
0
jwill133 said:
Matt Jones. Never did anything to make you say WOW, but always played great defense.
When I think of Matt Jones, I think of the 2015 tournament game against Gonzaga. And I think of the 2017 home game against Miami, where Matt seemed to get a steal on every possession in the 2nd half.
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Matt was on fire against Gonzaga in 2015. He had a solid last 3 years at Duke.
 
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dukiejay

Heisman
Mar 2, 2005
11,293
16,311
0
topps coach said:
Not a popular choice but Paulaus scores over 1100 points with close to 400 assists and bled Duke blue.His biggest problem was that he could not handle Lawson
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That was one of his problems, but he just never really got a whole lot better, either. He, like Laettner, was also a prick. He just wasn’t near as good of a player.

I definitely think Shelden was under appreciated. He was always overshadowed by J.J. and Duke fans kind of took him for granted. He was so damn steady, but so was his demeanor. He went unnoticed a lot, as hard as that is to believe for a multiple NDPOY who almost scored 2,000 points.

As for Lance, he was good and a vital cog in 2010, but he’s still in the NBA because he revamped his game.

A few who could apply that haven’t been mentioned....Jay Bilas, Brian Davis and Chris Carrawell....despite the latter being an ACC POY.
 
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T

timo0402

Heisman
Feb 24, 2009
13,868
13,709
57
dukiejay said:
That was one of his problems, but he just never really got a whole lot better, either. He, like Laettner, was also a prick. He just wasn’t near as good of a player.

I definitely think Shelden was under appreciated. He was always overshadowed by J.J. and Duke fans kind of took him for granted. He was so damn steady, but so was his demeanor. He went unnoticed a lot, as hard as that is to believe for a multiple NDPOY who almost scored 2,000 points.

As for Lance, he was good and a vital cog in 2010, but he’s still in the NBA because he revamped his game.

A few who could apply that haven’t been mentioned....Jay Bilas, Brian Davis and Chris Carrawell....despite the latter being an ACC POY.
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No surprise that you mentioned yourself Jay.
 
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GTHC_ GTH!

Senior
Oct 5, 2011
1,326
700
0
I’m gonna say someone that most wont think of as under appreciated. Jon Scheyer. He had numbers, won a title, but I actually think we don’t put him in the upper crust of all time Duke greats. He had 2000 points. Won a title. Came off the bench as a sophomore and didn’t complain. Switched to PG his senior year and won a title. I think his number should be retired.
 
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df64

All-Conference
Feb 2, 2006
2,702
1,934
0
I absolutely loved Brickey too. As for Laetner he was super competitive and really demanding of his teammates. Several of his teammates and several stories indicate that he took things too far with his teammates. They don't come any more dignified and measured than Grant Hill. Your Pt Guard beaning you in the face and than running off isn't a great sign either. Winning 2 ships and the GOAT not completely reigning it in suggests otherwise. Sometimes competing truths can both be accurate. As for Cherokee, he really struggled with finding peace and balance in his life. A teammate like Laetner would have been tougher for him than most. Read a great article on him on DBR that really detailed some of his struggles.
 
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S

skysdad

Heisman
Mar 3, 2006
42,753
22,653
0
Back in the day when Duke struggled Willie Hodge and Bob Fleisher come to mind. Both could hold their own and loved to watch them play. Neither is ever mentioned much by other than us old farts but they were good players. OFC
 
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hart2chesson

Heisman
Oct 13, 2012
14,303
16,574
0
smashmouth5 said:
Jay Heaps
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Good one Smash! Jay was an outstanding Duke soccer player who walked on to Duke basketball during mid 90s. Never forget his scrappiness, and refusal to back down from Tar Hole Jeff McInnis who wanted to fight him.

Game was in Cameron and Heaps induced a nearly improbable comeback! Jay Heaps later went on to become an MLS star.

OFC
 
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