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How Good Is Duke's Returning Team?

What Would Jesus Do?

What Would Jesus Do?

All-Conference
Nov 28, 2010
34,143
3,133
113
These guys make a pretty good team, imo. I'm not saying they would compete for top of the ACC, but they would be a competitive, middle-of-conference team. What do you think?

Bolden
DeLaurier
White
O'Connell
Goldwire

With Vrank and Robinson coming off the bench.

Add a "normal" recruiting class - say only 1 5-star and maybe 3 or 4 4-star players - and that's easily a top tier team.
 
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DukeRulesBasketball

All-American
Aug 20, 2015
7,258
5,182
0
What Would Jesus Do? said:
These guys make a pretty good team, imo. I'm not saying they would compete for top of the ACC, but they would be a competitive, middle-of-conference team. What do you think?

Bolden
DeLaurier
White
O'Connell
Goldwire

With Vrank and Robinson coming off the bench.

Add a "normal" recruiting class - say only 1 5-star and maybe 3 or 4 4-star players - and that's easily a top tier team.
Click to expand...
A top team indeed, but I don’t think it would be a National championship favorite of FF favorite.
 
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hart2chesson

Heisman
Oct 13, 2012
14,303
16,574
0
What Would Jesus Do? said:
These guys make a pretty good team, imo. I'm not saying they would compete for top of the ACC, but they would be a competitive, middle-of-conference team. What do you think?

Bolden
DeLaurier
White
O'Connell
Goldwire

With Vrank and Robinson coming off the bench.

Add a "normal" recruiting class - say only 1 5-star and maybe 3 or 4 4-star players - and that's easily a top tier team.
Click to expand...

Primarily role players,albeit fairly good ones. I see O'Connell and Baker emerging as our leading scorers on such a team. Probably a bubble NCAA type group.....

OFC
 
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sheyduke

All-American
Apr 13, 2010
14,058
9,559
108
Defensively a good team. Where would the scoring come from would be the question although it would be a spread offense with Alex, Goldwire and White allowing Bolden to work down low
 
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jimlsumner

All-Conference
Oct 30, 2003
3,735
1,474
0
For this team to even sniff the NCAAs, a lot of people would have to make significant improvements in their games.

Bolden could be a stud. But so far, he has not shown the energy, the focus, the commitment necessary to become one. DeLaurier is a high-energy, glue guy. He can rebound and defend. Does he have the skill set to become more?

People seem to have convinced themselves that AOC is a burgeoning star, despite the lack of much evidence to support that.

White can rebound and he showed some ability in Canada to shoot the 3. But darn near every shot he took was a 3. ACC-level wings have the ability to put the ball on the floor. Can he do that? Can he defend ACC wings?

The biggest impediment to that team being competitive is the lack of an ACC-level point guard. Goldwire is not that person.

Vrankovic is a nice backup, Robinson a walk-on. Not much of a bench.

It's hard for me to project that team as more than a .500 team in the ACC.

Fortunately, it's a hypothetical.
 
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sheyduke

All-American
Apr 13, 2010
14,058
9,559
108
But I could see more of a Virginia style of play. Grind it out on defense and make it the first one to sixty to win.

I agree the offense would not be a threat but the defense imo would atleast be there
 
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SwatX1

Heisman
Jan 4, 2011
8,338
10,583
68
sheyduke said:
But I could see more of a Virginia style of play. Grind it out on defense and make it the first one to sixty to win.

I agree the offense would not be a threat but the defense imo would atleast be there
Click to expand...


Yeah, I could definitely see some of that old Wojo gritty defense with that team. I DONT want us to start playing a Va like game though!!!!!
 
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hart2chesson

Heisman
Oct 13, 2012
14,303
16,574
0
DukefanKY said:
Yeah, I could definitely see some of that old Wojo gritty defense with that team. I DONT want us to start playing a Va like game though!!!!!
Click to expand...

I dont mind playing like UVA if we win!!!! I dont mind what style we play if we win!UVA beat us in our own house this past season...

OFC
 
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SwatX1

Heisman
Jan 4, 2011
8,338
10,583
68
hart2chesson said:
I dont mind playing like UVA if we win!!!! I dont mind what style we play if we win!UVA beat us in our own house this past season...

I'm with ya, but for me, that is some BORING basketball. I want a fast pace, rain 3's, thunderous dunks, and lock down vicious defense!!......just those 3 things!!! I'm not asking for much!!!

OFC
Click to expand...
 
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skysdad

Heisman
Mar 3, 2006
42,753
22,653
0
What Would Jesus Do? said:
These guys make a pretty good team, imo. I'm not saying they would compete for top of the ACC, but they would be a competitive, middle-of-conference team. What do you think?

Bolden
DeLaurier
White
O'Connell
Goldwire

With Vrank and Robinson coming off the bench.

Add a "normal" recruiting class - say only 1 5-star and maybe 3 or 4 4-star players - and that's easily a top tier team.
Click to expand...


I've seen worse starting Duke teams in my time. OFC
 
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M

Mac9192

Heisman
Jan 25, 2017
9,517
13,751
107
I'm glad it's just a hypothetical team. It's not fair to the guys that are sophomores and juniors. Due to the fact the last two seasons we've landed the elite of the elite, some of these other guys haven't developed like I think they could if they played more.
That's my issue with taking 4 one and dones. They get the lions share of the minutes. All good I suppose if you can replace those 4 with 4 more, but if you miss on a few key ones, then we go relying on several that haven't had experience like we will need.

Wish we had a little better mix, but then again, a lot could happen by next season.
 
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LouisiAaron

All-Conference
Feb 15, 2017
2,305
1,069
3
Since you said 1 5-star, I'll take Tre Jones and we have something going here. Add Baker and a couple of pretty good pieces with it. A point guard makes a big difference. Especially Tre
 
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DukeDenver

All-American
Nov 21, 2010
8,249
8,451
0
How has no one noticed that this is Vrank’s last season? He won’t be with us next season. Also Baker is back.

Even without Ton’, I think we could be a fun team to watch. We could be a 3 and D team again.
 
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SwatX1

Heisman
Jan 4, 2011
8,338
10,583
68
DukeDenver said:
How has no one noticed that this is Vrank’s last season? He won’t be with us next season. Also Baker is back.

Even without Ton’, I think we could be a fun team to watch. We could be a 3 and D team again.
Click to expand...

I don't know man....who would score besides the reaper? And maybe a little from white? I'm not hating on those guys, but I really think that team would have a lot of double digit losses
 
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DukeDenver

All-American
Nov 21, 2010
8,249
8,451
0
DukefanKY said:
I don't know man....who would score besides the reaper? And maybe a little from white? I'm not hating on those guys, but I really think that team would have a lot of double digit losses
Click to expand...
I thought we were adding in a 5 star guard and a few 4s. Even then, we’d lose some games, but we’d be fun to watch.
 
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