February 07, 2007
Featherston on Duke-UNC
As I've written before, anything Al Featherston writes for the DBR is worth reading and his post on the Duke-UNC game is no exception. This time around, he focuses on the recent back-and-forth of who is better (UNC this year, Duke last year, etc.) and how it might play out in the future.
For those of us who are fans of other schools, it's a tough to read about all the talent that Blue Bloods have and are courting. It's a bit like watching Dynasty. They land 3-4 players each year that most of the other teams in the league would be ecstatic to land one of every 3-4 years.
Comments
Interesting article as he articulated my thoughts as to one of the reasons for Williams' success: his ability to massage egos and keep players happy (are you listening Reyshawn?).
I disagree that the transfer issue at Duke is not a problem. This is the same issue Bill Self is confronting at Kansas, where he has had a ton of transfers. A college team is a team, not a simple darwinian process and over-recruiting should be avoided. Yet, we all know that some players like Michael Jordan and Chris Paul will far exceed their star ratings in high school. Bringing 3 guys in and then expecting one to transfer violates the team ethic. Some transfers are unavoidable but Featherston is rather glib about the effects on the players and team.
He also continues to place importance on winning the fun but now silly ACC tournament. One wonders if Duke might have won a couple more NCAA titles had they made more gentlemen's exits like Maryland in 2002 and Carolina in 2005. If you have already cinched the seed, the rule is win one (so as not to be embarrassed) and then have fun(and hopefully go out in the second round). Duke always wins the grueling 3 day ACC tournment which doesn't remotely resemble NCAA tournament conditions in terms of rest and recuperation or preparation, and then often appears tired within their 7 man rotation in the NCAA tournament.
They should have won it all in 2004 but faltered in the last 3 minutes against UConn and then in each of the two following years Redick appeared spent by the time the NCAA tournament came around.
Posted by Dave at February 7, 2007 10:03 AM
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I disagree that the transfer issue at Duke is not a problem. This is the same issue Bill Self is confronting at Kansas, where he has had a ton of transfers. A college team is a team, not a simple darwinian process and over-recruiting should be avoided. Yet, we all know that some players like Michael Jordan and Chris Paul will far exceed their star ratings in high school. Bringing 3 guys in and then expecting one to transfer violates the team ethic. Some transfers are unavoidable but Featherston is rather glib about the effects on the players and team.
He also continues to place importance on winning the fun but now silly ACC tournament. One wonders if Duke might have won a couple more NCAA titles had they made more gentlemen's exits like Maryland in 2002 and Carolina in 2005. If you have already cinched the seed, the rule is win one (so as not to be embarrassed) and then have fun(and hopefully go out in the second round). Duke always wins the grueling 3 day ACC tournment which doesn't remotely resemble NCAA tournament conditions in terms of rest and recuperation or preparation, and then often appears tired within their 7 man rotation in the NCAA tournament.
They should have won it all in 2004 but faltered in the last 3 minutes against UConn and then in each of the two following years Redick appeared spent by the time the NCAA tournament came around.
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