Early Look at Year 2 of Duke Basketball Under Jon Scheyer

4 Comments

1. 

   tallcip65 3 years ago

   Could Christian Reeves be a surprise contributer this year? He didn't get many minutes outside of garbage time but whenever he was in the game he seemed to get a block, grab a rebound and get a dunk. He looked much more comfortable catching the ball in the post and making a move to score than Lively did at any point in the season.

2. 

   iSquanchU 3 years ago

   This will only make the 3rd time in my Duke fandom that I’ll be upset if they don’t win the championship.. this year, 2019 and 2004

3. 

   Gordon Hanson 3 years ago

   Duke basketball… bought and paid for by Nike. Why else would 8 or 10 five-star recruits stick around to sit on the bench… through a coaching change?

4. 

   Chris Carroll 3 years ago

   I have some shade to throw at you Conor!!! But first I want to give you major credit for raising awareness on a few major topics that have certainly been on the forefront of my mind:

   Oh but first side note * Transfer Portal is finished on May 12 which is 3 weeks from now and not part of my criticism😝

   1) Duke’s Defense
   2) Where will Duke be in 2024?
   3) The Transfer Portal

   Let’s start with the good first and then I will sprinkle in the shade.

   1) I really want to see a more from Duke’s defense. Even with Lively there were games where the other teams were better, the two most notable would be VA and TN. Now those teams have/had position-less defenders that can switch and create matchup nightmares anywhere on the court, isolate the offense and force your team into poor shots late in the shot clock. They were also more physical. But I’d like to see Duke pick it up a notch next year with all these key guys coming back and show more perseverance defensively in those same situations.

   I’d like to see Duke more physical defensively next year. Getting Shedrick would be key for this strategy. I’d like to see more full court press and forcing turnovers via traps to give our team more FGA per game than our opponents. Again we have the guys to do this and they are now in their second year. Conor as for your dig on Christian Reeves, please refer to the bottom.

   2) You mentioned it Conor, Duke could lose Mark, Kyle, Tyrese, and Jeremy (if he comes back). However, Jared McCain is top 10 in ESPN rankings right behind Mgbako whose at 9, what makes you certain he comes back??? He averages over 40% from 3 and nearly 90% from the FT Line, has good size. He is lethal at shooting and can score anywhere. The moment Kyle sets a pick it’s over!!! Could you imagine the pick and pop threat here???? In a sport where EFG% is nearly 50% in determining a winner, how do you truly expect Jared to sit the bench when he gives our team the best chance to win??? If Tyrese or Jeremy are taking those shots over him it better because he’s not open!!!! That kid is MADE FOR THE NBA!!! Right now!!! Greg Paulus sat the bench when Nolan Smith came to town, I’m not saying Jeremy will initially, but McCain is that special. What may end up happening is Tyrese and Jeremy trade PG time based on whose more productive game to game. But Proctor gives a better edge at the point than Roach and has more size defensively, and McCain’s ability to score so well – far better than Roach and Tyrese, he has more size defensively too, I think Jeremy’s minutes could see a decent dip which is why I don’t expect him back next year and I don’t expect McCain back for year 2 either. BUT there is a lot of off-season and games to be played so we will see who ends up more accurate on this scenario. Either way I am super excited about it and given Jared’s $1 million dollar success with the NIL that COULD play out well for Duke to keep him (one was with Kay Jewelers which is hilarious).

   Now, I think Duke will still be well suited with Jaylen Blakes (I am high on this kid) and Caleb Foster the following season. I think Duke remains strong!!! If we get Shedrick in the portal, he still has 1 more year of eligibility. Young will be gone. Maybe Duke can get Cameron Boozer a year early to replace Kyle, but they will need to find somebody…. And although the make up of the lineup appears to be strong defensively, I’m not sure Stewart would be able to right the ship offensively. I do also think Mitchell could be back for a 3rd season. I think year 2 will be more of the same from him given what Jon will need or ask of him offensively, but year 3 that could certainly change. Where is Jason Jordan with our recruiting trail expectations for 2024??? Lol.

   3) Transfer Portal you make some great points Conor despite not knowing your dates 😂😂😂. The good news about Shedrick visiting Duke last is that it will open more time to see if other players that Duke really likes enter the portal. If Carolina is trying to steal Mgbako we should try to poach Armando Bacot 😅

   Finally about Reeves replacing Lively. This isn’t possible. But getting Reeves minutes certainly is and no he wasn’t redshirted last season. Conor you are right that he is a project, but projects don’t develop if they get ignored. He needs minutes. Last year there were ample opportunities to get a few minutes here and there and long term it’s poor vision not developing him.

   Look at UConn’s Donovan Clingan who is 7’2” and played behind Sanogo who is currently in the draft. He only played 15 minutes a game but you take his stats per 40 minutes and it looks like this: 27.5 points, 18.2 rebounds, and 5.5 blocks. Are you telling me Young will stop those guys better than Reeves could if Shedrick is in foul trouble (assuming Shedrick comes)??? Obviously we don’t want Kyle guarding them! Or what if Zach Edey comes back and we have the same bracket with Perdue again? You see these are very serious concerns. Maybe those scenarios don’t play out come March/April, but it will against NC State’s DJ Burns who fact check – was a portal transfer from Winthrop.

   Give your team more depth. Put pressure on Reeves to develop, give him the resources to make the jump athletically if possible. He could prove to be more effective 1v1 against tough physical Bigs, but if we don’t give him experience, it’s not realistic to think we can just throw him in the game with unfavorable circumstances and expect him to perform well.