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Duke 7-0 travels to Ohio St 4-2 for the ACC- Big Ten Challenge

 

 Duke returns to the road after short turn around from Las Vegas as they travel to Columbus, Ohio to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes on Tuesday night. The Buckeyes are led by Coach Chris Holtmann who is in his 5th year with Ohio State. The Buckeyes who were 21-10 last year and were number a 2 seed in the NCAA tournament are 4-2 in the current campaign and are coming off a buzzer beating loss in their last game to Florida. The Buckeyes  return 4 starters from last years team. 

  Here are their starters and key reserves.

6-7 3rd year Soph E J Liddell 22.5 pts, 6.2 rebs.

6-8 second yr. Fr. Zed Key  9.3 pts, 5.0 rebs.

6-6 Jr. Justin Ahrens  8.3 pts.

6-5 Fr. Mallaki Branham  21.3 pts, 5.1 rebs high school last year.

6-1 grad Sr.  Jamari Wheeler 5.0 pts, 3.8 assists Penn St. transfer

 

6-8 Sr. Kyle Young  9.6 pts, 6.2 rebs. 

6-7 Jr.  Justice Sueing  6.0 pts, 3.5 rebs.

6-2 Fr. Meechie Johnson  8.0 pts.

 

  The Buckeyes are averaging 75.3 points per game and are shooting 47.6% from the field and 37.3% from three while making slightly over 8 per game they are basically dead even on the  boards with their opponents.

 

Notes : The game is scheduled for 9:30 pm and will be televised on ESPN. This is their third meeting in the Challenge with each winning on their home court. Their other loss came against Xavier 71-65 with their biggest win coming over Seton Hall 79-76.

   

Duke 6-0 travels to Las Vegas to take on Gonzaga 6-0

 

               

 

       Duke after practicing on Tuesday in Durham traveled to Las Vegas to prepare for their game against Gonzaga on Friday night. The Bull Dogs are led by Coach Mark Few who is in his 23rd year at the private school in Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga who only one game last year, the title game return 2 starters in Drew Timme and Andrew Nembhard.  They lost their two super guards Corey Respert and Jalen Suggs to the NBA. 

        Gonzaga has come out of blocks much like last year in routing all opponents in their way including top 5 teams Texas and UCLA, with the Bruins being drubbed by 20 last night. They are averaging 91.5 points per game, shooting 55.6% from the field, 35.8% from three and they are shooting 74.4% from the free throw line.

      Here are the starters and key reserves.

6-10 Soph. Drew Timme  19 points, 7 rebounds 65.5% from the field.

6-3 Jr. Rashir Bolton  15.5 pts, 4.8 rebs, 3.9 assists, an Iowa transfer

6-7 Fr. Julian Strawther 3.4 pts, 1.2  last year

6-5 Jr. Andrew Nembhard  9.2 pts, 2.4 rebs, 4.4 assists, 48% from the field, 32% from three, transferred from Florida 2 years ago.

7-0 Fr. Chet Holmgren  averaged 21 pts, 12 rebs, 5 blocks a game last year, number one player in high school last year.

 

6-8 Soph.  Anton Watson   7 pts, 3.3 rebs,  last year.

6-2 Fr. Nolan Hickman  16 pts, 3.3 assists, McDonalds AA.

6-5 Fr. Hunter Sallis 22 pts, 5.6 rebs, 3.8 assists, McDonalds AA.

 

   Notes: The game is scheduled for 10:30 on Friday night and will be televised on ESPN.  Gonzaga in their two games in which were supposed to be competitive (Texas, UCLA) have only played 7 players. Even though both were routs Timme played 39 in one and 40 in the other and Nembhard played 40 in both.

     

Duke 5-0 hosts The Citadel 3-1

 

         

  Duke will conclude their 5 game home stand with possibly their toughest opponent of the five when they take on The Citadel Bull Dogs from the Charleston, S.C.  Citadel is coming off a 13-12 season and return 4 starters. They are led by 7th year Coach Duggar Baucom  who led Citadel to their first winning season since 2009. The Bull Dogs unlike most Service Academy school play high tempo basketball and averaged over points a game last year and are averaging 89.5 points per game this year after their first four in which they are 3-1.  They also shoot a high number of three point shots with 151 already taken this year and they hit 37% of them.

 Here are the starters and key reserves.

6-5 Soph. Hayden Brown  18.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists 50.8% from the field.

6-1 Sr.  Tyler Moffe 9.7 pts, 4.2 rebs, 4.1 assists 35.3% from three.

6-5 Fr. Jason Roche  16.7pts, 5.0 rebs.

6-3 Soph. Brent Davis  4.8 pts, 1.8 rebs, 45.5% from three.

6-8 Jr.  Stephen Clark 5.9 pts, 4.5 rebs, 1.8 blocks 62% from the field.

 

6-0 Jr.  Rudy Fitzgibbons 11.1 pts, 4.9 rebs, 1.3 assists 41.8 % from three.

6-9 Jr. Brady Spence 4.5 pts, 2.6 rebs.

5-10 Sr. Jerry Higgins 11.0 pts, 4.6 rebs. 

 

Notes: The game scheduled for 9pm and will be televised on the ACC Network.  Citadel went to Pittsburgh in their opener and beat Jeff Capel's team 78-63. They also have wins over Morris College 108-67, Carver College 102-69, with their lone loss coming to Presbyterian 74-70.

 

Duke 4-0 hosts Lafayette 0-3

 

                           

 

     Duke will be back in Cameron for their 4th game of this 5 game home stand to take on the Lafayette Leopards of the Patriot league.  The Leopards are led by highly respected Kevin O' Hanlon who is in his 27th year at the Easton, Pennsylvania school. The Leopards are returning 4 starters, but are unlucky in the fact that the school does not have a graduate school so unlike everyone else they are losing 2 super seniors who combined for 38 points a games, but can't return and had to transfer out. 

     The Leopards are  0-3 after coming off a 9-6 season and they have struggled to be competitive so far. Here are the projective starters and contributors.

7-0 Jr. Neal Quinn  10.6 pts, 5.5 rebs, 3.8  assists and 1 block last year.

6-7 Soph Kyle Jenkins 8.3 pts, 4.2 rebs , sjhot 38.9% from three.

6-7 Soph. Leon O' Boyle 8.5 pts, 3.0 rebs, 37.1% from three.

6-2 Sr. Tyron Perry 8.3 pts, 3.5 rebs, is coming a torn ACL was not expected back until December.

6-2 Fr. C J Fulton  he has been a member of the Irish national team.

 

6-10 Jr. Sean Good  1.9 pts, 2.9 rebs, 58.8% field goal %.

6-8 Sr. Tomas Verbinski 1.7 pts.

6-9 Fr. Chris Rubayo 17.2 pts, in high school.

6-4 Fr.  Devin Hines  13.4 pts. in high school.

 

  Notes:  The game is scheduled for 8pm and will be televised on the ACC Network. The Leopards have found the going tough so far with blowout losses to Syracuse 97-63 and Penn, 85-57 with their only competitive game being a 90-85 loss to Cornell.

 

   

Duke 3-0 hosts Gardner Webb 0-2

 

     Duke returns to Cameron on Tuesday night for their 4th game in 7 days as they take on the Gardner Webb Bulldogs  who are 0-2 on the young season. The Bulldogs are led by Coach Tim Craft who is in his 9th year at the Boiling Springs , N.C. school.  They as Campbell play out of the Big South conference and finished 11-15 last year. The Bulldogs return 3 starters and 9 total returnees from last year. The Bulldogs led the Big South in made three's last year.

        Here are the likely starters and key reserves. 

5-11 Soph. Jordan Spears 9.4 pts, 2.3 rebs, 2.6 assists, shot 39.8 from three.

6-5 Soph. D'Maurian Williams 10.8 pts, 2.9 rebs, 2.0 assists

6-2 Jr.  Lance Terry 11.4 pts, 2.0 rebs, he had 4 threes against UNLV.

6-4 Sr.  Zion Williams  7.6 pts, 4.9 rebs, 2.6 assists

6-9 Jr.  Karreem Reid  6.3 pts, 4.4 rebs, 1.4 blocks , 7.6 wing span 4 star player out of high school.

 

6-8 Sr.  Ludovis Dufeal  3.9 pts, 4.3 rebs, 1.7 blocks, 7-3 wing span along with Reid combined for 80 blocks last year.

5-11 Fr. Julien Soumaora 21 pts again in high school last year. had 5 three's against Arkansas.

6-6 Soph. Anthony Selden 5.0 pts, 6.0 rebs, 2.2 assists, brother of former Kansas star Wayne Selden.

6-8 Jr.  Christian Alexander  sat out last year.

6-7 Fr. Ademide Badmas  22 pts, 13 rebs in high school last year.

 

  Notes: The game is scheduled for 7pm and will be televised on RSN. Gardner Webb's two losses came on the road at UNLV 64-58 and at Arkansas 86-69.

 

  

Duke 2-0 Hosts Campbell 2-0

 

                     

 

         Duke returns to Cameron Indoor Stadium tonight to take on the 2-0 Campbell Camels. The Camels are coming off a narrow 68-67 win over Hartford yesterday in Cameron also in the first game of the Duke Veterans Day weekend. The Camel are led by Coach Kevin McGeehan who is his 9th year. Campbell is coming off a 17-10 season in which they finished 4th in the Big South and played in the tournament championship game. 

        Coach McGeehan returns 99% of their scoring and minutes from last years team and are picked to finish first in the Big South.  They return all 5 starters with 2 of them being super seniors. Here are their key players. They have averaged 18 wins over the last 5 seasons.

 

6-6 Sr. Cedric Henderson Sr. 15.0 points, 4.4 rebounds  50.3% shooter from the field.

6-1 Sr. Jordan Whitfield 14.6 pts, 2.9 rebs, 2.8 assists 43% from three.

6-2 Sr. Ricky Clemons  6.7 pts, 2.8 rebs, 1.9 assists

5-8 Sr. Messiah Thompson 8.4 pts, 1.7 rebs, 2.1 assists 40% 3 point shooter.

6-5 Sr. Austin McCullough 6.6 pts, 1.2 rebs.  52.4% FG , 40% from three.

 

6-4 Soph. Dakari Johnson 24.1 pts, 5.0 rebs, 3.7 at Cape Fear Jr. College last year.

6-5 Soph.  P J Carter 1.4 pts, 0.5 rebs.

6-10 Mikos Stajcie 4.7 pts, 3.0 rebs, 48.1% 3 point shooter from Serbia.

6-8 Soph. Jesus (Zeus) Carralero  6.9 pts, 3.0 rebs, 2.7 assists from Spain.

6-7 Jr. Joshua Lusane  8.4 pts, 5.7 rebs, 2.6 assists 57.6% from the field

 

Notes. The Camels were 10th in the nation in field goal percentage last year at 49.6% and they shot 37.5% from three leading the Big South. Their other win came over William Peace 85-50. The game is scheduled for 8pm and will be streamed on ACC Extra.

 

           

 

   

 

  

     

Duke 1-0 hosts Army 1-0

 

           

 

         Duke will return to Cameron on Friday night for their home opener against the Black Knights of Army in The Duke Veterans Day Weekend Showcase. Its the first of back to back games this weekend. They will play host to Campbell on Saturday night.  Army is led by head coach Jimmy Allen who is in his 6th year on the Hudson.  The Knights are coming off an 12-10 record and having played in the CBI postseason tournament.

         Army is coming off only their 4th winning season in the post Coach K era. The Black Knights are picked to finish 4th in the Patriot league and they return 3 starters.  Here are the probable starters.

 

6-2 Sr.  Josh Caldwell 12.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists.  Patriot League defensive player of the year. 

5-10 Soph.  Jalen Rucker  9.6 pts, 2.0 rebs, 2.7 assists  shot 35% from three.

6-9 Soph.  Charlie Peterson  3.6 pts, 3.0 rebs.

6-10 Soph. Matt Dove  1.2 pts, 0.5 rebs.

6-0 Sr.  Aaron Duhart  3.5 pts, 3.7 rebs.

 

6-3 Soph.  Jared Cross 3.2 pts, 1.0 reb.

   They will have 3 incoming freshmen.

6-3 Isiah Caldwell he is the brother of Josh.

6-3 TJ Small

6-7 AJ  Allenspach 

 

    Notes:  The game is scheduled for 7pm and will be televised on the ACC Network. Army rolled over New Paltz 83-52 in their opener.

 

 

 

Duke takes on Kentucky in NY to open the 2021-22 season

 

    Duke will open their season as they have most of the last 10 years with a game against a highly ranked opponent in the Champions Classic and this year its against the Kentucky Wildcats and the venue is the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York. The game is scheduled for 9:30 pm or 30 minutes after the Kansas-Michigan St. game on November 9th and will be televised on ESPN.

    Kentucky is led by John Calipari who is in his 13th year in Lexington. The Wildcats are coming off their worst season in nearly 35 years as they were 9-16.  Calipari has completely revamped his team through freshmen and the transfer portal. The Wildcats return only one starter (Keion Brooks Jr) but they have picked tons of experience through the portal. The four transfers have played a combined 265 games throughout their careers. Kentucky has only three true freshmen on their roster and will sport the most experienced team in Cal's tenure at Kentucky. The transfers are 6-9 sophomore Oscar Tshiebwe a rebounding, shot blocking monster who comes in from West Virginia by way of the Congo. He has a 7-5 wing span and he has an incredible motor. Sahvir Wheeler is a speedy 5-9 sophomore point guard who averaged 14 points and over 7 assists at Georgia last year. CJ Frederick is another sophomore who is a 6-3 guard who played two years at Iowa and is considered as one of the top three point shooters in the country. The last transfer is 6-5 senior Kellen Grady who averaged 17 points and over 4 rebounds a game for Davidson last year.

    The other returnees besides Brooks who averaged 10 points and nearly 7 rebounds as a freshman last are Davion Mintz a 6-3 guard who is in his 6th year and he averaged 11.5 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists last year. 6-9  Jacob Toppin is a Jr. who averaged 5.2 points and 3.5 rebounds and the 4th returnee is 6-9  Lance Ware who is a rim runner who averaged 2 points and 3 rebounds in limited time last year.

    The three freshmen are highly regarded as always are led by 6-3 guard athletic TyTy Washington who originally committed to Creighton, but found out his dream school Kentucky was interested and he switched over to the Wildcats. He is a good three point shooter and is a perfect backcourt mate for Wheeler.  The next freshman is Daimon Collins a 6-9 athletic wing who is long and has a 42" vertical. The final incoming freshman is 6-6 Bryce Hopkins and they also have a redshirt freshman in Dontaie Allen who is an excellent shooter.

     This is not only Calipari's most experienced Wildcat teams, but also one of his deepest as well with 10 players possibly getting meaningful minutes. They had 9 players play over 17 minutes against Kentucky Wesleyan in their 95-72 win in their first exhibition and CJ Frederick didn't play. The roster is stocked with most of their players being from 6-3 and topping out at 6-9. The Wildcats looks like they will play 4 out and 1 in as they are not big inside and with the exception of Tshiebwe they don't have a center presence. In watching their game against Wesleyan they picked up full court most of the game and they ran waves of players at Wesleyan. This team with the acquisition of the transfers and freshman Washington will shoot much better from the perimeter than last year and the ball handling with the addition of Wheeler gives them a top notch lead guard.

 

Notes: This is the first time Duke and Kentucky have met since Duke destroyed them 118-84 in this very Classic 3 years ago. Kentucky has one final exhibition game left on Friday night against Miles College before facing Duke. Duke has opened up as 1 point favorite next Tuesday.