Tylers Duke Report

Duke Basketball: Brian Zoubek Finally Proving Worth For Devils Down Low

I can imagine that every Duke basketball fan one time or another has found himself puzzled with Brian Zoubek. Not because he is a 7'1", 250 pound center on the team, but for his lack of ability down low in the post.

People haven't always felt this way about Zoubek, however.

Great things were expected from Zoubek as a Freshman, but he never really got off the ground running. Granted, injuries in large part have affected his play.

A once highly-touted recruit coming out of New Jersey, Zoubek is now in his final season at Duke. Although there is very little to show in his career stats column, he has been out to prove the doubters wrong since his senior year began.

Entering his final season under Coach K, this is the first year that Zoubek has been completely healthy coming off the offseason and advancing into preseason play. During his Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior campaigns, Zoubek had to nurse injuries to his knee and feet heading into the new season.

This year, however, Zoubek was able to work on his foot-speed, conditioning, shooting, and physical stature during the summer, improving his game in all aspects. He also dropped 20 pounds over this time as well.

It sure has proven to make a difference down low for the Blue Devils this season.

Duke teams in the past have been noted for their all-purpose guards: guards who are known for driving to the basket to create their own shot, kicking it out to open players on the perimeter, and spotting it up from the three-point line.

The 2009-2010 version of the Blue Devils, along with Zoubek as the anchor in the middle, are different from these previous Duke teams.

Lance Thomas, who is 6'8", along with a trio of 6'10" players in Miles Plumlee, Mason Plumlee, and Ryan Kelly, have made this one of the taller Duke teams in recent history. Add Zoubek to the list and this probably ranks as the tallest team that Coach K has ever coached.

This group of Duke big men are experienced (Thomas and Zoubek are seniors) and very inexperienced (Miles is a sophomore whereas Mason Plumlee and Kelly are true freshmen).

They also consist of athletically gifted players (The Plumlees and Thomas) and ones that are not so gifted physically (Zoubek and Kelly).

Zoubek has matured into an efficient interior presence for the Blue Devils now that he is completely healthy, rebounding the ball extremely well through the first nine games of the season by leading Duke with an average of 7.8 boards per contest.

In No. 7 Duke's 113-68 win over Gardner-Webb, Zoubek was a force inside, scoring 13 points and racking up eight rebounds in the win. He is steadily improving on both sides of the floor, and has become one of the Blue Devil's top big men.

Although there is a lot of depth to the Blue Devil's frontcourt, Mason Plumlee has only seen action in three games while recovering from a fractured wrist and Ryan Kelly has seen limited time on the court.

That is why, for the first time in his career, Brian Zoubek is getting to play significant minutes for Coach K and Duke. After working hard in the offseason to improve his game, Zoubek has been one of the main reasons why Duke is 8-1 and ranked in the Top 10 heading into their matchup with Gonzaga on Saturday.

Brian Zoubek is finally living up to the hype that was surrounding him three years ago when he accepted his scholarship to play for Duke. He is finally proving his worth to the Blue Devils down low, and although he will not overwhelm you athletically, he is a presence in the interior that you can't help but notice.

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ACC Basketball Power Rankings: Duke Tops List of Early-Season Contenders

 

(The ACC Basketball Power Rankings for the week of Dec. 12-19)

In what has been an exciting week in college football (From the bowl-selection show, post-season awards and the Heisman due to be announced soon) the same can not be said for college basketball, or for ACC basketball more specifically.  

A week after losing its first ACC/Big Ten Challenge, the conference is in a state of turmoil. The top teams have problems that need to be addressed, and the struggling teams continue to struggle.

In a week that has seen few games and even fewer high-notes, its difficult to imagine how the ACC schedule will impact the progress of the "teams-in-training."

Let's kick these rankings off with the top-tier teams, followed by the teams that are still trying to find their way in the big scheme of things.

1. Duke (7-1, 0-0 ACC):

The Duke Blue Devils have been one of the lone bright spots for the ACC this season. Racking up early-season wins against an always dangerous Arizona State team and No. 13 UConn to win the NIT Season Tip-Off, the Blue Devils worked their way to the fifth spot in the nation. 

However, Duke has lost its stride of late.

Entering the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, Duke was a perfect 10-0 in the event. But after their loss to Wisconsin sealed the Big Ten's first-ever win in the challenge, the Devils left Madison with more questions than answers.

A home victory over St. John's in which the Duke big men provided the spark left the Blue Devils at 7-1 entering a week off for exams.

Which Duke team will show up after the break: The Duke team that defeated the No. 13 Huskies in NYC or the out-of-synch team from Madison?

2. North Carolina (7-2, 0-0 ACC):

Who would have ever seen this coming: Duke and UNC carrying the load for the ACC during the pre-season months? I'll tell you who, the media that voted both Duke and UNC the first-ever co-favorites to win the conference.

After an early loss to Syracuse, the Tar Heels rebounded to defeat fourth-ranked Michigan State at home in a rematch of last year's national title game.

The Tar Heels played great team defense and showed great strides in the win against the Spartans, although that didn't carry over into the Heels' next contest.

Given that they have played one of the toughest early-season schedules in the country, the Tar Heels looked tired in a loss to Kentucky in Lexington.

Roy Williams has a young and talented team in Chapel Hill; however, they must first learn to play together in order to become one of the elite teams in the country.

3. Georgia Tech (6-1, 0-0 ACC):

After a disappointing 2-14 mark in the ACC a year ago, the Yellow Jackets were not invited to participate in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge (The Big Ten has 11 teams, the ACC has 12. The team with the worst record in the conference from the year before is not allowed to participate in the current year's event.)

The Yellow Jackets did find time to schedule a very tricky home match-up against a talented and underrated Siena squad in the place of hosting a Big Ten team. The Jackets escaped with a win from that game, a 74-61 defeat of the Saints.

Led by ACC Freshman of the Year candidate Derrick Favors, this versatile and quick Georgia Tech team is looking to leave its mark on the conference unlike it has in years past. The Jackets have the personnel and talent to succeed in the ACC this year, only question is do they know that?

T4. Clemson (7-2, 0-0 ACC):

Leading at home, 51-28, in the second half against an Illinois team that was struggling to hit shots from the floor, and you would automatically add a tally to the win column for Clemson, right? Think again.

Illinois became the first team in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge to overcome a 20-point deficit, leaving the Clemson Tigers and their fans stunned. This huge comeback win also kept the Big Ten alive in the event.

Blank stares and confused faces filled Little John Coliseum once the final buzzer sounded. Was this the beginning of a down-hill spiral for the Tigers, or would this fuel Oliver Purnell's team to value a lead and guard it with their lives throughout the course of the season? Only time will tell.

T4. Maryland (5-3, 0-0 ACC):

In case you were wondering, after Illinois' huge comeback win over Clemson and Maryland's win over a young and talented Indiana squad, it was difficult to choose between the Terrapins and the Tigers. That's why I have two number fours on this list.

The Terrapins never had control of their match versus Tom Crean's group of inexperienced Hoosiers; however, they were never really challenged of their lead near the end of the game.

Although this approach may help you win early games, it will not help you come ACC play.

A difficult game vs. third-ranked Villanova was up for Gary Williams' team. The Terps fought hard but were eventually beaten, 95-86.

Although the Terrapins have three losses, they were all against quality opponents. This is a team that should be very dangerous come March, led by senior point guard Greivis Vasquez. 

5. Florida State (7-2, 0-0 ACC):

The Florida State Seminoles lead the group of "questionable" teams in the conference this season. A glaring 7-2 record looks great on paper; however, three of those wins come against Mercer, Stetson, and Jacksonville. Not exactly a tough early season schedule.

The Seminoles do have two quality wins on their resume, one vs.SEC-opponent Alabama and the other against Big East-foe Marquette. The wins against both of these teams helped Florida State take home the Old Spice Classic in late November.  

They have play two very difficult road games versus ranked teams, Florida and Ohio State, both resulting in their only two losses of the season. Although a very talented group, they have yet to succeed against the elite teams. That factor alone could spell trouble in Paradise for the Seminoles. 

6. Boston College (6-3, 1-0 ACC):

Who would have thought that the season after Tyrese Rice's departure, the Eagles of Boston College would still be in contention to win ACC games? No one during the off-season really gave Boston College a chance to do any damage without their star player returning.

Well doubters, think again. After early wins at Providence and at Michigan, the Eagles returned to Chestnut Hill to face a familiar ACC foe: Miami. After a rollercoaster ride of a game, the Eagles prevailed with a win, 61-60, following a questionable call.

Boston College did win their ACC opener, however, and improved to 6-2 on the year. The Eagles would have probably been ranked higher, but a home loss to Harvard really did the Eagles in. Boston College has proved that they are better than expected; how good is the true question.

7. Wake Forest (5-2, 0-0 ACC):

Jeff Teague and James Johnson are just two of the big names that left college early for the NBA. It just so happens that both played for the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest, with both players slowly developing into great college basketball players before making their decisions.

Regardless, the Demon Deacons have started this season where they left off last, threatening to win ballgames. A tough loss to the fourth-ranked Boilermakers of Purdue is just one instance of a game in which the Deacons held a lead for most of the first half and was on the verge of an upset.

The loss didn't seem to phase the players, however, as they later went on the road to upset No. 17 Gonzaga, 77-75.

This team will be in close games the rest of the season, and will have opportunities to win several ACC games. Although very talented, how will the loss of Teague and Johnson effect this team come March? 

8. Miami (8-1, 0-1 ACC):

The Hurricanes opened the season 8-0. You'd think that they would have a few quality wins, right? North Carolina Central, Nova University, Tulane, UNC-Wilmington, Florida Gulf Coast and USC-Upstate accounted for six of those wins, with the other two coming against Minnesota and South Carolina.

None of those sound too difficult to handle, except the game against an underappreciated Minnesota team. Otherwise, the Hurricanes season began against Boston College, their ninth game on the year.

An up and down game from tip-off, the thriller ended wit a controversial call in favor of the Eagles of Boston College, handing the Hurricanes their first loss of the year. It's difficult to make much of early games, but it's safe to say that Miami has yet to be brutally tested.

9. Virginia Tech (7-1, 0-0 ACC):

Virginia Tech, like Miami, has had some pretty easy games to start the season off. Wins against Brown, UNC-Greensboro and Campbell University got the Hokies off to a quick 3-0 start. The Temple Owls then upset the Hokies at home, 61-50.

Coming off their first loss of the year, the Hokies struggled to defeat Delaware in overtime the next game out. A win against a sputtering Iowa team in Iowa City gave Seth Greenberg's team some confidence, however.

The Hokies have since defeated SEC opponent Georgia and high-scoring VMI to steady the ship somewhat. Although the loss against Temple is still in the back of their minds, Virginia Tech is still a talented team; I just don't see it all coming together for the Hokies later on in the season.  

 

10. NC State (6-1, 0-0 ACC):

What to say about the Wolfpack of NC State? Sidney Lowe is now in his fourth-year at the reigns of the basketball program in Raleigh, and it is safe to say that the first three years have not gone as smoothly as he may have wanted.

Since taking the coaching job at NC State, the Wolfpack have not finished better than tenth in the conference standings. This season got off to a 5-0 start, with a big win over SEC-opponent Auburn.

Next time out, however, the Pack lost their way as they were beaten at home by a pesky Northwestern team, 65-53.

Although their loss to the Wildcats was their first on the year, Lowe and NC State rebounded to upset Marquette on the road, 77-73.

You never know what you are going to get when NC State steps foot on the hardwood this year, but one thing is for sure: They will bring an intensity and passion for the game that is hard to overmatch.

11. Virginia (4-4, 0-0 ACC):

Tony Bennett was supposed to save Virginia from it's mediocre play a season ago, but all he seems to have done is consistently help find the Cavaliers new ways to lose.

Sylven Landesberg, the ACC Rookie of the Year from last season, has tried his hardest to lead the Cavs to wins, but so far nothing has worked.

Bennett has tried to get his Virginia players to buy into his new schemes on both offense and defense, but after many attempts has not yet found the right solution to his team's ever-growing list of problems.

Losses to South Florida, Penn State, Stanford and Auburn have not helped Bennett as he is getting adjusted to his new lifestyle on the east coast. Pencil in Virginia for last place in every ACC power ranking this season; unless, that is, a miracle occurs.

Why Nolan Smith Is the Key to Duke's Success, Season

 When Duke took the court versus Coastal Carolina in the NIT Season Tip-Off, big names and big guys alike reigned supreme.

ACC Player of the Year candidate Kyle Singler and senior point guard Jon Scheyer got most of the attention, with the young frontcourt players also receiving the spotlight.

One thing was missing when the last buzzer sounded, when Duke had wrapped up a 74-49 victory over Coastal Carolina and advanced to the second round of the tournament: Nolan Smith.

While freshman guard Andre Dawkins carried most of the load at shooting guard, racking up 13 points in only his second game at Duke, the last piece of the puzzle seemed to be missing.

The junior shooting guard Smith was suspended for the first two games of the season by the NCAA for playing in an unsanctioned summer league during the offseason. While it may not seem like a big deal at the moment, imagine if Duke lost Smith to some type of injury this season.

Who would help carry the load? Who would be the leader on the floor when Scheyer and Singler aren't in the game? Who could fill in for Smith?

The answer to the questions above is no one. No one on this Duke team can penetrate through double teams and drive to the hoop like Smith can. No one possesses the natural athletic ability and swagger that Smith offers to Coach K and his staff.

No one will be able to fill the void during the season if something happens to Smith, and that was made apparent during the first two games of the season for Duke. With Smith out of the lineup, Duke had to play at a slower pace.

Scheyer is a great point guard, and has fit in the role perfectly; however, he is not equipped to lead Duke on the fast break.

That’s where Smith comes into play.

During the first part of last season, Coach K inserted Smith as the point guard of the team. Although he was not able to hold that position for long, he proved to Coach K that he could lead Duke on the fast break, most of the time swinging the ball out for a wide-open three-point attempt from Scheyer, Singler, or Gerald Henderson.

Singler is the focal point of this Duke team, with Scheyer a statement of consistency. Both are very valuable to Duke’s season, especially if they want to be in contention for a Final Four appearance.

However, the key player to Duke’s success and season is Nolan Smith.

If Smith can develop his game and make it look somewhat similar to that of Henderson’s from last year, there is no telling how far Duke can go in the NCAA Tournament.

Smith is the piece of the puzzle that has been missing during the first two games of the season. When he is inserted into the starting lineup in the NIT second round matchup versus Charlotte, look for Duke to resemble a team of excellence, pride, and a team that has a newfound “swagger.”

It is this “swagger” that makes Nolan Smith the most crucial part to Duke’s success and season.

Duke Basketball Preview: Two Views on Five Pressing Questions for Season

 (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

 

 

This article is a collaboration between Duke Community Leader Brad Frank and Duke Basketball Writer Tyler Lambert. This article was written and discussed by both parties mentioned, and thus credit shall go to both writers.

 

This article consists of five questions about the 2009-10 Duke basketball season.

 

Our goal in creating this article was that we would give the public two different views on Duke's season.

 

By doing this, we are giving readers two different angles on Duke's chances this year.

 

I will answer the following questions as a typical Duke fan would. I will be optimistic, giving a hope-filled perspective on the season as a whole. Brad, on the other hand, will be pessimistic and cynical about Duke's chances this season.
 
Who will convince you to take their side? Whose angle is most like yours? Two Duke fans, two different angles on Duke's chances this season, two men going head-to-head.

1. Will Duke restore its national credibility with three consecutive sub par NCAA tournament finishes?

Brad: No. What America is looking for from Duke this season is for it to provide some substance in terms of on-court success behind the name of the team. Duke will always be Duke because of its rich history and tradition of success. But people, Duke fans namely, are wanting Duke to return to prominence so that the team is a legitimate Final Four contender every season. This team doesn’t appear to be any different nor any better from any of the last three Duke teams.

 

Tyler: Yes. Although the loss of both Gerald Henderson and Elliot Williams will affect Duke’s overall athleticism as a team, a legitimate top five recruiting class will ease the pain a little. Recruits Ryan Kelly and Mason Plumlee will add size and depth to the Duke frontcourt, something that Duke hasn’t had the past three seasons.

 

With a big man in the post, Duke won’t have to rely on shooting from the perimeter as frequently. Having a talented big man in the post, Duke guards will be fresh come March, Kyle Singler won’t be burned out by postseason time, and Duke will be prepared to make a deep run in the tournament.

 

2. What affect will Elliot Williams’ transfer have on the Duke backcourt this season?

Brad: Elliot Williams’ transfer comes at a huge cost to Duke. He eliminates any depth Duke had in its backcourt, and he removes the possibility that Gerald Henderson's production is immediately replaced. This will force Nolan Smith and Jon Scheyer to play more minutes early in the season while others get acclimated to playing for Duke in the backcourt.

 

Tyler: Last season Coach K inserted Elliot Williams in the starting lineup for Duke’s final 12 games. During that time Duke went 10-2 with an ACC Championship Game win against Florida State and a NCAA Sweet 16 appearance. Although Elliot Williams played a crucial role in the victories late last season, the backcourt of Duke should excel once again, even in his absence.

 

Led by senior Jon Scheyer and junior Nolan Smith, along with highly touted freshman Andre Dawkins, Duke should once again have great guard play to mirror their talented frontcourt.

 

3. What impact will incoming freshman Andre Dawkins have on Duke this season?

Brad: Andre Dawkins won’t have a tremendous amount of impact on Duke this season. He is the type of player who can come in and eat minutes without hurting Duke terribly, but he’s not ready to deliver on the type of level some people he can. Duke already has its focal points in Singler and Scheyer. So to expect Dawkins to be more than a role player is a bit optimistic.

 

Tyler: Andre Dawkins will play a major role for Duke during the 2009-2010 season. With Henderson leaving for the NBA and Williams transferring to Memphis, Duke’s backcourt over the summer looked depleted.

 

However, Dawkins, a Duke Class of 2010 commit, discovered he could enroll to Duke early and play this upcoming basketball season. Look for Dawkins, one of the purest shooters in the upcoming recruiting class, to play huge minutes for Duke this season.

 

4. Will Ryan Kelly and Miles and Mason Plumlee serve as legitimate interior presence which Duke has been without for several years?

Brad: The Plumlees and Kelly will be upgrades over recent Duke frontcourts. However, if you’re expecting them to perform at the level of frontcourts which featured Elton Brand and Carlos Boozer, you’re expecting too much. We’ll see bigger and more athletic frontcourts in the ACC, and these guys will be able to hold their own and be somewhat effective compared to recent Duke frontcourts. But don’t expect them dominate every game.

 

Tyler: Compared to the Duke frontcourts over the past few seasons in Durham, Ryan Kelly and the Plumlee brothers are a huge upgrade. Miles Plumlee didn’t play a major factor for Duke last season, but look for that to change this year. With Mason, the most talented of the two, by his side, Miles should step up his play in all aspects of the game. Give Miles his more talented brother Mason, and the Plumlee brothers should play a huge role in Duke’s success this season.

 

Ryan Kelly, on the other hand, is a great shooter for a guy his size. He can step back and shoot the three, as well as consistently drain jump shots. Duke fans should be very optimistic about the frontcourt for this season. They will be one of the most, if not the most, talented frontcourts in the ACC.

 

5. Is Nolan Smith ready to take command of the team as point guard, or will Jon Scheyer need to resume the role he assumed last season?

Brad: Nolan Smith won’t be able to run the point guard full time, as much as Duke needs him to. Expect Scheyer to split time with Smith at point guard this season as well. In fact, Smith actually may be more effective as an off guard.

 

Defensively, Smith can excel both as an on-ball defender and from the help side. Offensively, he’ll be able to lead a fast break alongside Scheyer and could be effective in the pick-and-roll offense after coming off of a screen.

 

Tyler: As a junior, Nolan Smith will be looked upon as one of the leaders for Duke this season. As a leader, Smith must sacrifice his more comfortable role as a shooting guard to become the point guard of a talented Duke team. However, with accepting this role comes the pressure and expectations to succeed.

 

Last season Smith was not prepared to face these challenges, and thus lost his starting spot. Coming into this season, however, look for Smith to be focused on the challenges ahead and take command of the team as point guard. He is one of the most impressive defenders and ball handlers in the conference. So look for Smith to play well this season for Duke, regardless of his position on the team.

What's In Store For Duke Basketball During The 2009-2010 Season?

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) 

Duke University, located in Durham, NC, is home to one of the most successful college basketball programs in the history of the NCAA. With that greatness and success, however, comes great expectations year in and year out.

Duke's 2008-2009 basketball season seemed to be a year of great triumph for the Blue Devils. Mike Krzyzewski's team won the ACC Tournament and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2006.

Coach K and the Men in "Duke" Blue look to keep things rolling during the 2009-2010 season. Duke is without some of its top talent from a year ago (Gerald Henderson-NBA, Elliot Williams-transferred to Memphis; family matters) but they reload with a legitimate top five recruiting class.

2009 Duke commit Andre Dawkins will look to make an immediate impact after graduating early, the younger brother of Miles Plumlee, Mason, looks to stand tall at center for a tall Duke team, and Ryan Kelly will look to add versatility to a Duke team lacking multiple stong guard players.

They have senior Jon Scheyer and junior Nolan Smith in the backcourt, but besides the addition of Dawkins, that's about it for guard-play.

Duke teams of the past few seasons have had to play small, trying to run their opponents down, and ultimately beat them with their speed. Duke will have the option in 2009, however, to play at both a fast pace, as well as a more controlled, slower game centered around the big men in the post.

Miles Plumlee, who played sparingly last season, has reportedly made great strides during the summer on his way to coming back from a pretty poor freshman campaign.

Adding seniors Lance Thomas and Brian Zoubek to the mix, along with Miles and the two incoming freshman, Duke looks to have size in the post for the first time in a few years. Kyle Singler can also play down low if needed, but he will most likely take time playing small forward with the great centers Coach K has on his roster.

Singler will be asked to lead the Blue Devils this season, both during the game and emotionally, as Duke fans everywhere believe he will step up to the plate and deliver. He certainly has the talent and ability to succeed in a leadership role, a job that he must take over after Gerald Henderson's departure.

The great play of Kyle Singler made the ACC Tournament a turning point for Duke a year ago. He played all 40 minutes each game, day after day, and consistently preformed in each game. The Blue Devils gained confidence after the ACC Tournament win, but they looked burnt out against Villanova in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament.

Going into this season, Duke looks to have the early edge in the ACC, only because UNC lost the main players from its National Championship team a year ago. Duke is a lethal team that should be a force to reckon with. The Blue Devils are ready to succeed during the 2009-2010 season; Look out country, the Devils are back!

The Key Contributors For Duke This Season:

1. PG Jon Scheyer- Coach K will likely ask Scheyer in his senior season to play point guard for Duke this season. Possessing great ball-handling skills and a passion for the game, Scheyer is capable of draining jump shots and is an excellent free throw shooter.Scheyer's consistency will lead Duke on a nightly basis on the score sheet with points and assists or off the box score with his well-known hustle plays down the stretch.

2. SF Kyle Singler- Singler will be asked to be the leader for Duke this season. That means he will be the emotional leader for a group of younger players on a very talented Duke team. He led Duke in a variety of statistical categories last season and that won't change this year. Many believe he will be up for the challenge, but could the skeptics be right?

3. SG Nolan Smith- Duke's best on-ball defender and one of the most athletic players on the team, Smith will look to have a Henderson-like junior campaign. Smith was born with a great IQ for the game which really shows on the hardwood. Look for Smith to impress this season, playing his more comfortable role of shooting guard.

4. SG Andre Dawkins- The most talked about aquisition for the Blue Devils over the summer came from a player that was already committed to the program, Andre Dawkins. Possessing the skills of a point guard and one of the sweetest shooting strokes since the days of J.J. Redick, Dawkins will look to make a huge impact early on.

5. PF/SF Lance Thomas- Lance Thomas is one of the most under-appreciated guys in all of college basketball. Thomas does the little things for Duke, whether that be a key rebound or block late in the game. Thomas will look to play more aggressively on the offensive side of the ball this season, and should adjust quite nicely.

6. C/PF Miles and Mason Plumlee- They are brothers and both talented big men, and they will both be crucial Duke's success this season. Mason, the youngest and more talented of the two, will look to make an immediate impact for Duke this season. Miles, on the other hand, is a sophomore looking to put his freshmen year behind him. Look for the Plumlee Brothers to help Duke become one of the most feared frontcourts in the ACC.

7. PF/SF Ryan Kelly- A product out of Ravenscroft, Ryan Kelly is one of the most skilled men his size. Not only does he posess a great shooting game, but he can also step behind the three-point line and drain the trifecta. He'll remind you of Singler because of his great skills on both offense and defense. Kelly is the type of player who will contribute to Duke early on in the season.

8. C Brian Zoubek- Zoubek has been through every injury imaginable, and for a man his size, it is hard to believe he has been able to come back and play with the same intensity he had before each injury. Zoubek will look to eat up time in the center position for Duke this season, but again looks as if he will not be a huge factor for Duke overall. He may prove the doubters wrong, but for the time being, it is hard to see that happening.