Off-season thoughts

sheyduke

All-American
Apr 13, 2010
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Here is what could be at play . We know Duke will loose both Cameron and Evans after next season. Brown will have exhausted all of his eligibility. You maintain a core of Foster, Harris, Kkamenia and big Pat who will all get vital experience this season . The other issue is who in the portal wants to come this season simply to be a back up? There are only two spots really up for grabs. PG and SF. I really think we got spoiled with Sion. He stepped right into the starting pg role even though you had Proctor and Flagg who could also bring the ball up. It just isn’t about championships with players any more it’s who’s willing to dish out the most money .
 
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Dattier

All-American
Sep 1, 2003
9,374
5,634
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Here is what could be at play . We know Duke will loose both Cameron and Evans after next season. Brown will have exhausted all of his eligibility. You maintain a core of Foster, Harris, Kkamenia and big Pat who will all get vital experience this season . The other issue is who in the portal wants to come this season simply to be a back up? There are only two spots really up for grabs. PG and SF. I really think we got spoiled with Sion. He stepped right into the starting pg role even though you had Proctor and Flagg who could also bring the ball up. It just isn’t about championships with players any more it’s who’s willing to dish out the most money .
I doubt any of our 3 portal guys this season were driven more by NIL than by championships. I don't think that is so rare, though certainly their fit with the rest of our roster was.

This was Jon's best recruiting class and his best portal class so far. It may be a while before we have that perfect storm again. The only thing we can reasonably expect to be better each season is Jon himself. That means some future E8 team like '23-'24 breaks through to the FF.
 

sheyduke

All-American
Apr 13, 2010
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I doubt any of our 3 portal guys this season were driven more by NIL than by championships. I don't think that is so rare, though certainly their fit with the rest of our roster was.

This was Jon's best recruiting class and his best portal class so far. It may be a while before we have that perfect storm again. The only thing we can reasonably expect to be better each season is Jon himself. That means some future E8 team like '23-'24 breaks through to the FF.
I like the article from the coach at I think Albany where he is open to his mid major being like a developement league for high majors . Sort of like the two way contract in the NBA .
 

Mac9192

Heisman
Jan 25, 2017
9,488
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I agree with others that it seems we will have a little fall off with next season's team. The stats show Duke to have been a very balanced team, but I think that's a little misleading. In the 4 games we lost, the others all seemed to tighten up. In those moments, everyone watching knew where we were going with the ball. We all prayed he'd pull us through, and it looked like his teammates were too.

We didn't have a guard that was a true playmaker.
 
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CbusDukie

Freshman
Mar 1, 2025
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I agree with others that it seems we will have a little fall off with next season's team. The stats show Duke to have been a very balanced team, but I think that's a little misleading. In the 4 games we lost, the others all seemed to tighten up. In those moments, everyone watching knew where we were going with the ball. And we all prayed he'd pull us through, and it looked like his teammates were too.

We didn't have a guard that was a true playmaker.
Or one that could get open against the press
 

Willcampbell

All-Conference
Oct 20, 2004
2,480
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Here is what could be at play . We know Duke will loose both Cameron and Evans after next season. Brown will have exhausted all of his eligibility. You maintain a core of Foster, Harris, Kkamenia and big Pat who will all get vital experience this season . The other issue is who in the portal wants to come this season simply to be a back up? There are only two spots really up for grabs. PG and SF. I really think we got spoiled with Sion. He stepped right into the starting pg role even though you had Proctor and Flagg who could also bring the ball up. It just isn’t about championships with players any more it’s who’s willing to dish out the most money .
Next year's roster isn't even set yet, so it strikes me as a little early to start discussing the year after that. Boozer is still in high school, but you are concerned about what happens when he leaves Duke? C'mon, Shey, get a grip! ;)
OFC
 

bullcity gamer

All-Conference
Oct 14, 2017
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BCG, somehow I keep coming back to him as somewhat of an X factor for next year.

OFC

Hart, I agree with your sentiment of Khamenia being an X Factor for Duke next season.

His natural position is the 3. He plays aggressive, is a good shooter, and gets after it on both ends. Hopefully he and Evans are working to put some good muscle on this off season.
 

bleediteveryday30

All-American
Jan 24, 2013
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Looks like Joe Tipton pit a prediction for us to get Coward
Oh Yeah GIF
 

christophero

Heisman
May 2, 2017
17,313
20,982
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Flip had 30 and 15 last night and Whitehead had 17 points in the NBA playoffs.
I'm hearing good things about Coward; he is on campus so hopefully we get a commitment in the next few days. Rodney Hood seems like a good comp, although Coward is a few inches smaller. Assuming he is fully recovered from his injury he checks all the boxes at the 3 and is a senior.
 
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sheyduke

All-American
Apr 13, 2010
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Next year's roster isn't even set yet, so it strikes me as a little early to start discussing the year after that. Boozer is still in high school, but you are concerned about what happens when he leaves Duke? C'mon, Shey, get a grip! ;)
OFC
I was just speaking on no transfers and roster construction . It seems like Jon is starting to want more retention and then recruit around those returning . Duke retained most of their role players who are expected to contribute more next season. This its self would scare off most big name portal players and in return allows Jon to focus on specific needs for the roster .
 
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christophero

Heisman
May 2, 2017
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Two things I liked about Coward watching his highlights are his ball handling and his defense. He could play PG in a pinch, although he's more of a wing. He does not shy away from contact.
 
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hart2chesson

Heisman
Oct 13, 2012
14,303
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Hart, I agree with your sentiment of Khamenia being an X Factor for Duke next season.

His natural position is the 3. He plays aggressive, is a good shooter, and gets after it on both ends. Hopefully he and Evans are working to put some good muscle on this off season.
Sounds really good!

OFC
 

Fresh1972

Freshman
Nov 1, 2016
247
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Coward is solidly built! Frame similar to Sion James.

He would be a nice addition and a likely starter. Maybe a top 2 or 3 offensive option.

Can shoot the 3, and if a guard is on him or a weaker forward, he can use his frame to score in the post for sure!
 

christophero

Heisman
May 2, 2017
17,313
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Great news we just got older and better. He did say in his post that he will continue to test the draft waters.
 
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christophero

Heisman
May 2, 2017
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It seems unlikely he stays in the draft, but the fact that he did not withdraw from the draft indicates he will go through the testing process. He is not first round or early second round right now. He was 46th on NBA Draft Room, one spot behind Proctor. That is mid second round coin flip territory; so I guess it depends how badly he wants to go pro. If he has great workouts and moves up to early second round it could get dicey, but if he stays where he is he likely plays a year for Duke.
 
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christophero

Heisman
May 2, 2017
17,313
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Last year's team was the best Kenpom team in 20 plus years, so it's a good bet we won't be as good. But we will still be a contender, if not a frontrunner. We probably add 2 or 3 more guys, hopefully solid vets who are role players, maybe that freshman forward.
Coward also shot 84% from the line, which could come in handy in tournament games. :)
 
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christophero

Heisman
May 2, 2017
17,313
20,982
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The Fayetteville Observer said Coward was late first round to early second. Most mocks don't have him that high. If he is that high we could lose him. That would be one month and done lol. I think he stays.
 
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Duke_Fan_1338

Junior
Apr 14, 2006
3,123
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I don’t worry about Dukes defense . I worry about the progress Evans, Big Pat and the rest of the returners make . I think defense will be the focus point of the off season with everyone not named Brown .
wouldn’t that be reason to worry about our defense? i worry about our guard defense losing soon and proctor, wing defense losing cooper, and interior defense losing maluach.

the progress of evans, big pat, and the rest of the returners make is directly tied to our defense.

and there’s no denying we lack the length and talent cooper and maluach brought
 
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