We don't have a true "go to" guy

EarlJam · Post by **EarlJam** » December 29th, 2009, 8:34 pm

I don't mean to be negative. I love our team, and think we are really strong. That said, as I watch, I see a bunch of good players that usually play to a positive end.

But look at our National Championship seasons. If you were to ask who was "the man" in any of those seasons, you would have a clear answer:

1991 - Laettner (maybe Hurley)
1992 - Laettner (maybe Hurley)
2001 - Battier

Not sure what my point is. Perhaps it's an observation to counter a friend's opinion that this year's Duke team is a championship caliber team. I hope they are. I REALLY hope they are. I mean, a team of this caliber (sp) winning a championship would not be unprecidented (sp) (see Villinova '85, N.C. State '83).

Discuss.

-EJ

EarlJam · Post by **EarlJam** » December 29th, 2009, 8:53 pm

Also,

Singler. I love him. But it is becoming more and more apparent that he is over-rated. He was to be the breakout guy. But no. When is he going to separate himself?

CameronBornAndBred · Post by **CameronBornAndBred** » December 29th, 2009, 8:57 pm

EarlJam wrote:Also,

Singler. I love him. But it is becoming more and more apparent that he is over-rated. He was to be the breakout guy. But no. When is he going to separate himself?

Hopefully this season. I don't think he's overrated at all, but obviously is not having the year everyone expected. But then again, neither is Scheyer, for the better. I'm sure we will see Kyle break out of his "slump", and I hope to hell he comes back next year. My guilty side wants his "slump" to continue...at least til we play the holes.

Lavabe · Post by **Lavabe** » December 29th, 2009, 10:24 pm

"Go to" Hell, Carolina, "Go to" Hell!!

I'd be comfortable with Nolan, JS, and on some nights, Kyle Singler being the "Go to" man. Part of me wants Dre being the Man. The fact is, without one single "Go to" player, you leave the defense guessing as to who will take the shot. I kind of like that situation.

duketaylor · Post by **duketaylor** » December 29th, 2009, 10:32 pm

I really think Scheyer will be a "go-to" guy as will Singler, maybe even Nolan. I'm not worried about this at all, this team is pretty strong and may not need too many "go-to" times at all this year. ACC is weak, unc is weak. I like this year's team in a big way.

Post by **YmoBeThere** » December 29th, 2009, 10:37 pm

duketaylor wrote: ACC is weak, unc is weak. I like this year's team in a big way.

While there is some good evidence to suggest this, I wouldn't come to this conclusion until we play some other teams in the conference.

colchar · Post by **colchar** » December 29th, 2009, 10:41 pm

EarlJam wrote:I don't mean to be negative. I love our team, and think we are really strong. That said, as I watch, I see a bunch of good players that usually play to a positive end.

But look at our National Championship seasons. If you were to ask who was "the man" in any of those seasons, you would have a clear answer:

1991 - Laettner (maybe Hurley)
1992 - Laettner (maybe Hurley)
2001 - Battier

Not sure what my point is. Perhaps it's an observation to counter a friend's opinion that this year's Duke team is a championship caliber team. I hope they are. I REALLY hope they are. I mean, a team of this caliber (sp) winning a championship would not be unprecidented (sp) (see Villinova '85, N.C. State '83).

Discuss.

-EJ

Can you imagine the responses this post would illicit over yonder?

Lavabe · Post by **Lavabe** » December 29th, 2009, 10:42 pm

EarlJam wrote:I don't mean to be negative. I love our team, and think we are really strong. That said, as I watch, I see a bunch of good players that usually play to a positive end.

But look at our National Championship seasons. If you were to ask who was "the man" in any of those seasons, you would have a clear answer:

1991 - Laettner (maybe Hurley)
1992 - Laettner (maybe Hurley)
2001 - Battier

Not sure what my point is. Perhaps it's an observation to counter a friend's opinion that this year's Duke team is a championship caliber team. I hope they are. I REALLY hope they are. I mean, a team of this caliber (sp) winning a championship would not be unprecidented (sp) (see Villinova '85, N.C. State '83).

Discuss.

-EJ

Battier was also on the team with Maryland's least favorite Duke "Go To" guy, Jason Williams.

Post by **YmoBeThere** » December 29th, 2009, 11:25 pm

Whose your Daddy?

devildeac · Post by **devildeac** » December 29th, 2009, 11:32 pm

YmoBeThere wrote:Whose your Daddy?

One of the best cheers. Ever.

CameronBornAndBred · Post by **CameronBornAndBred** » December 30th, 2009, 12:13 am

colchar wrote: Can you imagine the responses this post would illicit over yonder?

You would have been called an asshole already. And your defense post would have been deleted, because it was "attacking".

bjornolf · Post by **bjornolf** » December 30th, 2009, 5:50 am

Not to be a buzz kill as I LOVE this discussion, but if we're trying to build up the stadium, shouldn't this be in the basketball forum?

Post by **YmoBeThere** » December 30th, 2009, 7:39 am

bjornolf wrote:Not to be a buzz kill as I LOVE this discussion, but if we're trying to build up the stadium, shouldn't this be in the basketball forum?

QFT...and everyone needs to erect a stadium.

CameronBornAndBred · Post by **CameronBornAndBred** » December 30th, 2009, 7:50 am

bjornolf wrote:Not to be a buzz kill as I LOVE this discussion, but if we're trying to build up the stadium, shouldn't this be in the basketball forum?

yep..moving it now, but leaving shadow in place.

rockymtn devil · Post by **rockymtn devil** » December 30th, 2009, 9:10 am

We don't have a go-to guy, and we haven't for the past few years. Jon is the closest, but, as of now, he isn't a player that we know will get us a basket when we need one. I think the best evidence of our lack of a go-to guy is that, like teams of the past few years, this year's squad goes long patches of games without scoring. It happened against UCONN and almost let them back in the game. And it happened at Wisconsin. A go-to guy takes the ball and gets a bucket to end that kind of drought.

I like this year's team and expect it to perform well in the ACC. But, without Jon (or Singler, finally) taking the next step, I think it will be especially difficult to make it beyond the Sweet 16.

Lavabe · Post by **Lavabe** » December 30th, 2009, 8:10 pm

YmoBeThere wrote:QFT...and everyone needs to erect a stadium.

But DON'T put a running track around the field. ;)

ArkieDukie · Post by **ArkieDukie** » December 30th, 2009, 8:48 pm

CameronBornAndBred wrote:
bjornolf wrote:Not to be a buzz kill as I LOVE this discussion, but if we're trying to build up the stadium, shouldn't this be in the basketball forum?

yep..moving it now, but leaving shadow in place.

I tried to figure out how to move the thread yesterday and couldn't quite pull it off.

Thanks, CB&B!

ArkieDukie · Post by **ArkieDukie** » December 30th, 2009, 8:48 pm

Maybe Nolan can be the "go to" guy this year.

CameronBornAndBred · Post by **CameronBornAndBred** » December 30th, 2009, 8:56 pm

I wonder if it's better to not have the "go to" guy. Think about it, when the game was on the line, the ball would go to Laettner, Redick, Williams, etc. At the same time, the other team knew who we would be getting it to. Obviously it worked out in our favor for "the shot", but I forget all the times the "go to" guy was too well defended and we lost. (Maybe that number is big or small, but defeats don't stick too long in my memory). I never considered Dockery a "go to" guy, and he worked out pretty well for us in one game. This year, I can easily see Scheyer, Singler, Smith and Dawkins as legitimate targets...but that's too many targets for a defending team. They won't be able to double team one person knowing that our options are then limited.
I see Dawkins emerging as the "go to" guy of the future.

Post by **YmoBeThere** » December 31st, 2009, 7:19 am

I hear ya, but being the go-to guy takes two things. The mindset and the ability. I remember on occasion Mr. Williams not being able to execute on the final play and us losing. But then there were the times he did... On this team, I think Kyle has the best chance at being that person, maybe Nolan. But you can see on quite a few occasions, where Nolan tries to force the issue he comes up short. So, I think the mindset is there but not sure about the ability.

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