2008 Duke Basketball Predictions
Overview
Duke ended on a disappointing note last year, losing out in the second round of the NCAA tournament against Virginia. Making it to the second round of the big tournament might seem like a successful season to most programs, but it’s not even close at Duke. Last year Duke put up some impressive numbers in the regular season. They won 28 games overall, losing just 6, and managed a 13-3 record in the ACC. The Blue Devils managed to get past their super-rival, North Carolina, during the regular season, but eventually lost out to the Tarheels in the ACC Championship tournament final. This year’s team returns 4 starters and adds another amazing recruiting class, so the Duke faithful have plenty to be excited about this year as some of their better players start to mature. BetUs has Duke at +1000 to win the NCAA tournament this year.
Frontcourt
Coach Mike Krzyzewski was his own team’s worst critic against his inside play last season. He realized as well as anyone else that his team simply didn’t have the down low presence it needed to compete with the elite teams in the conference and the nation for the long-haul of the season. Duke will need to improve in the paint if they want to improve on last season’s record. The task of improving the frontcourt is being heavily entrusted to sophomore Kyler Singler, a true small forward that was forced to play power forward in this offense last year because of a lack of depth. This year the Devils are hoping that they can fill the PF position with a more natural fit. Singler was second on the team last year with 13.3 points per game and he should improve on that number with better conditioning and the maturity that comes from having last season under his belt. Both Lance Thomas and David McClure will also see some playing time, but they will be used primary for their defense as neither is a real offensive threat from the post.
Backcourt
The bread and butter of the Duke Blue Devils obviously come from their guards. The success of this team will rely heavily on their play, particularly the play of junior Gerald Henderson. Henderson’s ability to drive creates points not only for him, but for the rest of his team. As the defense clamps down on him, he’s able to kick passes out to the perimeter for open shots. He is truly the engine that makes this offense go, especially with Demarcus Nelson gone. It will be interesting to see how the new three point line affects the Blue Devils, who relied heavily on the three ball last season. Greg Paulus will most likely be the teams best three-point shooter as he nailed 83 from beyond the arc last year. Jon Scheyer is also sure to get in the mix after hitting 47 threes himself in 2007. Both Nolan Smith and Elliot Williams will also get a chance to prove themselves on the court, but they’ve got plenty of talent to compete with for playing time.
Final Thoughts
If it’s possible for Duke to fly under the radar, they are doing it this season. The focus and pressure in the ACC will be mostly on North Carolina, which is just fine with the Blue Devils. With four returning starters, Duke should on track to capture another NCAA Tournament bid without much worry. Beyond getting to the tournament, there are still a lot of unanswered questions for this team. One thing is for sure, however, and that is that the Blue Devils have some of the best talent in the nation. Don’t be surprised to see them get to the Sweet 16 this year. They should also contend for the #1 seed in the ACC tournament as BetUs has them at just +250 odds to grab the top spot. The only team with better odds is the UNC Tarheels.
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