I'm going Tre , Gary, Grayson, Wendell and Marques.
Your starters ?
- Thread starter Showenuff
- Start date
I agree with Show's assessment, however, it would be fun to see Javin in place of Bolden. That would be an athletic bunch.
I think that will be the starting group too. That unit could compete with any other starting 5 in the country.
What will tell the story of this year's team will be the quality minutes that Javin, Vrank, Jack, Jordan T, and Alex give (not really expecting Jordan G to push for minutes, but would love it if he did). At least 3 off the bench need to contribute and be solid. My guess is Javin, Jordan T and Jack/Vrank. Alex just needs to add a strength and wt (he's listed at 171) to his 6-6 frame.
What will tell the story of this year's team will be the quality minutes that Javin, Vrank, Jack, Jordan T, and Alex give (not really expecting Jordan G to push for minutes, but would love it if he did). At least 3 off the bench need to contribute and be solid. My guess is Javin, Jordan T and Jack/Vrank. Alex just needs to add a strength and wt (he's listed at 171) to his 6-6 frame.
Same starting line-up as Show.
Before Knox's decision, I speculated that we'd play a deeper rotation without him b/c the drop off after that starting 5 plus Knox might be enough that we'd go w/ only 6 guys in the 2nd half of big games. Now there's greater potential for a logjam behind the starters, and until someone separates from it, it could result in more of them playing.
Vrank is the only other player I'm 99.8% sure will see PT, which is not to say that he'll be the 6th man or the final guy in the rotation. I think it is likely that Javin or Jordan T will be first off the bench, but there is a chance one or the other will struggle and rarely play quality 2nd half minutes. We'll go 7 deep, at least.
Before Knox's decision, I speculated that we'd play a deeper rotation without him b/c the drop off after that starting 5 plus Knox might be enough that we'd go w/ only 6 guys in the 2nd half of big games. Now there's greater potential for a logjam behind the starters, and until someone separates from it, it could result in more of them playing.
Vrank is the only other player I'm 99.8% sure will see PT, which is not to say that he'll be the 6th man or the final guy in the rotation. I think it is likely that Javin or Jordan T will be first off the bench, but there is a chance one or the other will struggle and rarely play quality 2nd half minutes. We'll go 7 deep, at least.
I think that's the safe lineup, and probably the one most of us feel most comfortable with right now. I'm still holding out hope for Marques becoming even part of the player we thought he could....but I'm admittedly somewhat skeptical. I hope he has it in him.
Injuries aside, would be shocked if the OP's starting lineup is not our game 1 lineup. Marques appears to be the big wild card here, fingers crossed he is ready to dominate.
Think it's crucial for Gary to be an above-average perimeter defender. Love Grayson and think he has a redemption year, but he's average at best with his perimeter D. Tre is quick, but I'm sure his size could give him some issues. If Gary can guard, than I think our starting 5 is very well-rounded.
Think it's crucial for Gary to be an above-average perimeter defender. Love Grayson and think he has a redemption year, but he's average at best with his perimeter D. Tre is quick, but I'm sure his size could give him some issues. If Gary can guard, than I think our starting 5 is very well-rounded.
But maybe it will be Duval, Grayson, Carter, Bolden and Kennard......Is that still possible?.. Lol.
I'm thinking Tre, Gray, Trent (did not realize he is 6'6), Javin and Carter is our best 5. Bolden has got to prove he can run the floor and be aware of his surroundings. I've only seen it one time to date. We've got a much higher ceiling if he can clog the lane and set good screens (and catch the entry on the run).
I STILL openly admit my not being sold on Bolden. I have hopes that he has realized just being BIG won't get him there and he gets to work. I also love Javins motor and heart. I hope Bolden comes out swingin' but if not, it won't alarm me as we have many other options. My biggest prayer revolves around injury. I don't think i can take another plague like that again. Stay healthy and kick some serious *** this year boyz. I think we have more swag and toughness than we've seen for many moons this go around.
Agree, Showe, not sold on Bolden at all yet, actually. Just happens to be who I think will get the first crack at starting.
I think it will be Allen, Duval, Trent, Carter & Bolden. This team I think will be fun to watch. Redemption year for Allen and Coach K. Coach doesn't have to prove anything to anyone, I just think the Old Man is chomping at the bit to lead the boys into battle and he will have some fire that will flow down to the kids. I get the uneasiness because of this past season, but I think Duke will kick some ***.
Just hoping we don't have a mass injury season start like last year. I just can't see it happening again. I believe just about the whole team missed games due to injuries last year. We're due for an injury free season. If we get that look ou world. OFC
I agree with Show's lineup up top at least to start the season, but I believe this is the lineup we see to end it. This lineup gives the team more versatility and floor spreading options 1-5. Could be the best defensive lineup we have to offer as well.
I think AV finds the floor as a starter a couple of times this season as well.
Whoever starts, I just hope we play some friggen D this season. I miss seeing a suffocating Duke defense.
I agree. I hope we avoid the injury bug they we had last year. Everyone but Matt and Luke were out at some point last season because of injuries.
I honestly wouldn't be shocked to see
Tre
Grayson
Trent
Carter
Vrankovic
Odds are Carter and Bolden are staring the year at the 4/5, but Jav and Vrank are hard workers, and that hard work could pay off if bolden starts off soft.
Tre
Grayson
Trent
Carter
Vrankovic
Odds are Carter and Bolden are staring the year at the 4/5, but Jav and Vrank are hard workers, and that hard work could pay off if bolden starts off soft.
Agree with most here. Duval, Allen, Trent, Carter, Bolden will be starters, I also think DeLaurier, Vrankovic and Jack white (my dark horse) will all crack the rotation will see some productive min this yr. White is an athletic kid, who has a pretty nice stroke.
4 really players with a Center who is efficient? I'd take it!
And how do you know Vrank is efficient? From the 1 minute per game he had last year?
IMO if Vrank is a starter or playing major minutes we are in trouble...Bolden has to step up IMO for us to be a contender
And how do you know he isn't efficient? See how easy that is? And 1mpg, yet it was 2.5ppg? That's insanely impressive.
I know he was efficient in the minutes he played, some of which, in early season, were impactful.
I actually like Vrank a lot...he fills a role...
He's really tough, plays solid defense, switches pretty well, rebounds, and doesn't command the ball offensively...
He works hard around the glass and is a big body that wears on people...his toughness and hustle can be infectious....and just the type of thing every team needs...
He isn't a super star or demanding of the ball which is what makes all those other qualities fit in nicely IMO...
He's really tough, plays solid defense, switches pretty well, rebounds, and doesn't command the ball offensively...
He works hard around the glass and is a big body that wears on people...his toughness and hustle can be infectious....and just the type of thing every team needs...
He isn't a super star or demanding of the ball which is what makes all those other qualities fit in nicely IMO...
I couldn't agree more. Spot on!
Vrank seems pretty solid to me. Plays within his capabilities and is strong with the ball. I would have liked to see him get more minutes last year.
It's a lot easier the other way. Bottom line is that we need Bolden to be the player he can be based on his talent and projections- if he's not then I believe we are somewhat in trouble. I do like Vrank though and in the limited time he has gotten I think he's done very well.
Great post...as I said IMO if he plays major minutes we are in trouble.
And he may be a good player sometime but he played one minute per game last year so until he prices he can contribute then I'm skeptical
If Vrank is our starting center than we won't be a championship caliber team, it's as simple as that.
He definitely fills a need though: seems to understand his game, plays good positional defense, and not going to make big mistakes. I hope he is our 7th-8th man and playing 10-12 mpg.
I know you're exaggerating about the one minute per game, but I want to make a few points that you're probably not aware of.
In 13 games, Vrank played 101 minutes, or 7.8/game. He had 34 rebounds, shot 69% from the floor, 64% from the free throw line, significantly out-rebounded Marques in less than two-thirds the minutes, committed half the fouls as Marques, clearly was a better defender, scored just four points fewer than Marques and never pouted.
Now, does Marques have some raw intangibles that few possess? Of course he does. However, he hasn't proven whatsoever he'll ever be able to harness them. We noticed him more last season because he was highly rated and because he was pretty bad. I hope Marques blows up and proves me wrong, but I have my doubts....and it was kind of showcased again at the U-19 tryouts when scouts are tweeting that he was clueless and slow. Besides the Miami game, I never saw a single spurt from Bolden all year. That's somewhat alarming.
Yep. Would love for our 4/5 spots to go something like:
Carter (30mpg) - Javin (10mpg)
Bolden (30mpg) - Vrank (10mpg)
And if Bolden can't be effective for 30mpg, then we work the occasional Javin/Carter combo down low.
I wouldn't go that far. In the fall of 2009 you probably would have said the same about Zoubek. Now I get that's an extreme example, but I don't think Duke being a really good team relies on whether or not Vrank starts. I mean, he wasn't horrible last season and he will be a junior captain, in all likelihood. I would agree our ceiling could be higher will a really good Bolden, but he hasn't done anything to prove he's that kind of guy either.
This Duke team is going to want to run. I can't envision a scenario where Bolden finds the floor for 30 minutes/game.
I agree with you...but IMO only we will have a very hard time winning it all unless Bolden gets his butt in gear and buys in and isn't so lazy or pouting
Vrank will and should get minutes but again IMO if he is playing major minutes we aren't going far in March when it matters
Hope I'm wrong about him though
Literally solid, I agree. As a player, I'd say more that we know what we're likely to get, which will hopefully be shades of senior Zoubek.
For the sake of this year, yes, it would have been great if he had earned more PT last year. As it is (or was), he wasn't ready yet.