[kikikikiParticipant]

 Wow, Duke is loaded for next season!

 

PG: Frank Jackson

SG: Grayson Allen, Luke Kennard

SF: Jayson Tatum, Matt Jones

PF: Harry Giles, Chase Jeter

C: Amile Jefferson, Marques Bolden -latest addition!

 

Yikes, watchout Kentucky! and other.

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 Yeah that’s an unbelievable amount of talent. 

I wonder if Allen would start at PG. Him being able to play that position would not only help him from an NBA standpoint, but it would allow Duke to get guys like Jones and Kennard on the floor a lot more without going small. 

I can’t remember the last time Duke had as much talent up front as it looks like they’ll have. This is a team that won with guys like Brian Zoubec, Lance Thomas and Miles Plumlee not that long ago. 

 

 

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 Yeah that’s an unbelievable amount of talent. 

I wonder if Allen would start at PG. Him being able to play that position would not only help him from an NBA standpoint, but it would allow Duke to get guys like Jones and Kennard on the floor a lot more without going small. 

I can’t remember the last time Duke had as much talent up front as it looks like they’ll have. This is a team that won with guys like Brian Zoubec, Lance Thomas and Miles Plumlee not that long ago. 

 

 

[MopgrassParticipant]

 Honestly, they might have to play keep away from Grayson. He hS seperation anxiety every time the ball leaves his hands. If anyone screws it up for them, it’s Grayson Allen. 

[ChewyParticipant]

 not a creator. In HS he had Joel Berry setting him up and he was even willing to come of the bench to play for that loaded team. As a freshman, he had no problem coming off the bench. But last year Duke had a shell of the teams they usually have. Coach K asked Allen to do everything for them.

This year Grayson will have a much more efficient year (hard to have a better year after what he just did last year) because Jackson and Tatum can create offense and pass it off to Allen (and Kennard) to finish the play. You would think Giles would command his fair share of double teams as well, which will open up shots for Allen.

I would think, with this team, Coach K is too smart to let Allen dribble around trying to beat his man and the 3 help defenders who are focused on him as well. They should let the other guys create and let Luke and Grayson shoot open shots off that creation. Tatum at the short corner/ high post areas should be a nightmare to deal with.

 

 

[ChewyParticipant]

 not a creator. In HS he had Joel Berry setting him up and he was even willing to come of the bench to play for that loaded team. As a freshman, he had no problem coming off the bench. But last year Duke had a shell of the teams they usually have. Coach K asked Allen to do everything for them.

This year Grayson will have a much more efficient year (hard to have a better year after what he just did last year) because Jackson and Tatum can create offense and pass it off to Allen (and Kennard) to finish the play. You would think Giles would command his fair share of double teams as well, which will open up shots for Allen.

I would think, with this team, Coach K is too smart to let Allen dribble around trying to beat his man and the 3 help defenders who are focused on him as well. They should let the other guys create and let Luke and Grayson shoot open shots off that creation. Tatum at the short corner/ high post areas should be a nightmare to deal with.

 

 

[MopgrassParticipant]

 Honestly, they might have to play keep away from Grayson. He hS seperation anxiety every time the ball leaves his hands. If anyone screws it up for them, it’s Grayson Allen. 

[TRC1991Participant]

They proved a couple years ago with Okafor, Jones and Winslow that 3 freshmen can lead the charge and win them a title

[TRC1991Participant]

They proved a couple years ago with Okafor, Jones and Winslow that 3 freshmen can lead the charge and win them a title

[JordanC20Participant]

 Pretty sure Bolden didn’t pick Duke to come off of the bench

[JordanC20Participant]

 Pretty sure Bolden didn’t pick Duke to come off of the bench

[BlueRivers25Participant]

The only way he starts at the beginning of the season is if Giles is not ready to play coming off his knee injury.  Otherwise it will be Jefferson and Giles at the 5/4 spots. If Giles isn’t ready to go, Bolden and Jefferson will be at the 5/4 spots.  

[BlueRivers25Participant]

The only way he starts at the beginning of the season is if Giles is not ready to play coming off his knee injury.  Otherwise it will be Jefferson and Giles at the 5/4 spots. If Giles isn’t ready to go, Bolden and Jefferson will be at the 5/4 spots.  

[SubZeroParticipant]

Geez, that’s scary as a UK fan. I’m pretty sure this is the year we play them in that 4 team thing we have with Kansas, Michigan St., and Duke (something with Classic in it I’m pretty sure)

[SubZeroParticipant]

Geez, that’s scary as a UK fan. I’m pretty sure this is the year we play them in that 4 team thing we have with Kansas, Michigan St., and Duke (something with Classic in it I’m pretty sure)

[Bill Walton’s KneesParticipant]

 Champions Classic. I believe it’s being held at The Garden this year.

[Bill Walton’s KneesParticipant]

 Champions Classic. I believe it’s being held at The Garden this year.

[Taylor Gang MikeParticipant]

 Scary.. I would Start Jackson, Allen, Kennard, Tatum and Amile/Giles and go small because Luke is too talented to come off the bench. They are gonna be really good wow

[Taylor Gang MikeParticipant]

 Scary.. I would Start Jackson, Allen, Kennard, Tatum and Amile/Giles and go small because Luke is too talented to come off the bench. They are gonna be really good wow

[VRod305Participant]

And they’ll still choke.

[VRod305Participant]

And they’ll still choke.

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

Yeah gosh that choke job they had in 2014 was brutal. 

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

Yeah gosh that choke job they had in 2014 was brutal. 

[Hype Machine]

 You’ve snoozed on Jack White by not including him in the OP. He is a great player who has had an excellent basketball background. Expect him to earn minutes with steady play, hustle and shooting.

I think he will be a better player than Kennard & Jones on the wing as a freshman. 

 

[Hype Machine]

 You’ve snoozed on Jack White by not including him in the OP. He is a great player who has had an excellent basketball background. Expect him to earn minutes with steady play, hustle and shooting.

I think he will be a better player than Kennard & Jones on the wing as a freshman. 

 

[LaFlamaBlancaParticipant]

It is laughable to say that you think he will produce more than kennard one of the best shooters in college basketball and Matt jones the teams best perimeter defender and a great outside shooter who will be a senior. We get it man your Australian but you have a huge hard on for every Australian player and its getting annoying. Jack white won’t see the court until at least his junior year if the kid doesn’t transfer by then. Huge duke fan here and hope the kid is better than I expect but not a shot he is better than kennard or jones at this stage  

[LaFlamaBlancaParticipant]

It is laughable to say that you think he will produce more than kennard one of the best shooters in college basketball and Matt jones the teams best perimeter defender and a great outside shooter who will be a senior. We get it man your Australian but you have a huge hard on for every Australian player and its getting annoying. Jack white won’t see the court until at least his junior year if the kid doesn’t transfer by then. Huge duke fan here and hope the kid is better than I expect but not a shot he is better than kennard or jones at this stage  

[Hype Machine]

Just wait and see…Im willing to guarantee Jack White is getting meaningful minutes in Dukes postseason run in his freshman season.  I’d take an even money bet that hes overtaken at least one of those 2 guys on the depth chart by the time conference play rolls around.

Jack White captained the excellent Aussie youth team which featured a roster full of high major players. He is a great player.

I said the same thing about Isaac Humphries overtaking Skal Labissiere at Kentucky and was ridiculed…yet before long Humphries was starting and Skal was the biggest disappointment in the entire NCAA. This despite Humphries being the youngest guy in the NCAA and Skal being the #1 prospect in College Hoops. It was a bold statement at the time…one that I was probably the only person in the world who was willing to make.

 

Bookmark the thread and call me out later if I’m wrong.

 

[Hype Machine]

Just wait and see…Im willing to guarantee Jack White is getting meaningful minutes in Dukes postseason run in his freshman season.  I’d take an even money bet that hes overtaken at least one of those 2 guys on the depth chart by the time conference play rolls around.

Jack White captained the excellent Aussie youth team which featured a roster full of high major players. He is a great player.

I said the same thing about Isaac Humphries overtaking Skal Labissiere at Kentucky and was ridiculed…yet before long Humphries was starting and Skal was the biggest disappointment in the entire NCAA. This despite Humphries being the youngest guy in the NCAA and Skal being the #1 prospect in College Hoops. It was a bold statement at the time…one that I was probably the only person in the world who was willing to make.

 

Bookmark the thread and call me out later if I’m wrong.

 

[he_gets_bucketsParticipant]

 Just like Isaac Humphries was going to be some world destroyer as a freshman at Kentucky and then ended up looking completely lost and out of his element any time he saw the floor. 

I’m an Aussie too and I like to be optimistic about our guys, but come on man, Kennard is one of the best shooters in college basketball and Matt Jones as noted above is their best perimeter defender and is a senior. Coach K is not going to bench a senior who is GOOD, for Jack White who does the exact same things as Jones but worse. It would be a different conversation if Jones was a scrub but he’s a lockdown defender who gets after it with the exact same amount of heart and effort White does.

 

[he_gets_bucketsParticipant]

 Just like Isaac Humphries was going to be some world destroyer as a freshman at Kentucky and then ended up looking completely lost and out of his element any time he saw the floor. 

I’m an Aussie too and I like to be optimistic about our guys, but come on man, Kennard is one of the best shooters in college basketball and Matt Jones as noted above is their best perimeter defender and is a senior. Coach K is not going to bench a senior who is GOOD, for Jack White who does the exact same things as Jones but worse. It would be a different conversation if Jones was a scrub but he’s a lockdown defender who gets after it with the exact same amount of heart and effort White does.

 

[McDunkin]

Will you stop with the Australian trolling man? It’s getting as bad as Euroballer with his Greek supremacy.

[McDunkin]

Will you stop with the Australian trolling man? It’s getting as bad as Euroballer with his Greek supremacy.

[Hype Machine]

Just skip over my threads in the same way I do yours.

 

[Hype Machine]

Just skip over my threads in the same way I do yours.

 

[ChoppyParticipant]

 Personally I think he’ll benefit from going up against all that talent day-in-day-out in practice under a good college coach in coach K. I think he has the talent to one day be a college starter, but like you said, it probably won’t be til junior year. Injuries are the only thing that’ll give him a chance to show his stuff sooner. Coach K has a habit of bringing some players along slowly but they usually finish up better players than when they started. I hope this is the case with White, who I’m expecting will be a 4yr senior at Duke. 

On a side note, please tell me that your Avatar is a photo of you. So awesome…

[ChoppyParticipant]

 Personally I think he’ll benefit from going up against all that talent day-in-day-out in practice under a good college coach in coach K. I think he has the talent to one day be a college starter, but like you said, it probably won’t be til junior year. Injuries are the only thing that’ll give him a chance to show his stuff sooner. Coach K has a habit of bringing some players along slowly but they usually finish up better players than when they started. I hope this is the case with White, who I’m expecting will be a 4yr senior at Duke. 

On a side note, please tell me that your Avatar is a photo of you. So awesome…

[he_gets_bucketsParticipant]

 That avatar is Billy Ray Cyrus.. something tells me he probably isn’t a regular on draft.net

[ChoppyParticipant]

 Must be a really young Billy Ray, I didnt recognise him. I forgot just how good his mullet was.

[ChoppyParticipant]

 Must be a really young Billy Ray, I didnt recognise him. I forgot just how good his mullet was.

[he_gets_bucketsParticipant]

 That avatar is Billy Ray Cyrus.. something tells me he probably isn’t a regular on draft.net

[OhCanada-Participant]

 I can guarantee that either Kennard or Jones will earn more minutes per game than White. I’m willing to bet my account. If I win you close your account and if you win I’ll close mine. Your starting to sound like T-Rex with this whole Aussie rules basketball thing. Or scouts honour.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 I can guarantee that either Kennard or Jones will earn more minutes per game than White. I’m willing to bet my account. If I win you close your account and if you win I’ll close mine. Your starting to sound like T-Rex with this whole Aussie rules basketball thing. Or scouts honour.

[circumlocution75Participant]

 These are Elite level players……. Giles & Tatum monster Dunks are going to feel like one 6 month Long highlight reel……….

Crazy talent to have on One team…….. 

 

[circumlocution75Participant]

 These are Elite level players……. Giles & Tatum monster Dunks are going to feel like one 6 month Long highlight reel……….

Crazy talent to have on One team…….. 

 

[Dale WorthingtonParticipant]

 I agree 100%.

 

[yt]vDmmwqm-suQ[/yt]

[Dale WorthingtonParticipant]

 I agree 100%.

 

[yt]vDmmwqm-suQ[/yt]

[DanielcmccartyParticipant]

 Whoever said Grayson Allen should start at point guard must have forgot Frank Jackson is coming and hes really good. Like good enough for kids like Thornton to run away from compeition and transfer

The lineup next year will be

1. Jackson

2. Allen

3. Tatum

4. Giles

5. Jefferson/Boldin

Coach K knows Matt Jones as a senior will accept whatever role it takes to try and win another championship. And Luke Kennard will come off the bench because he came off the bench most of this year on a team that was rebuilding for a year. Bolden will not start in front of Amile Jefferson. Remember that Chase Jeter was the number 11 OVERALL player in his class and Jefferson started in front of him. So there may be a chance Bolden will have to wait a year. Best case scenario for Duke is that Bolden is as advertised and Jeter lives up to his ranking as well. Then Coach K will have to earn all that money he makes and decide whose ass is gonna be starting and in there when the game is finishing. It will be interesting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ChewyParticipant]

 it was smart for Thornton to get out. No way he gets steady minutes on this team. Also, the Duke website took Thornton off their roster for the 2015-2016 season. Why would they do that? He clearly played for them and started some, so he was useful. Seems like an F U move to Thornton that wasn’t needed.

[ChewyParticipant]

 it was smart for Thornton to get out. No way he gets steady minutes on this team. Also, the Duke website took Thornton off their roster for the 2015-2016 season. Why would they do that? He clearly played for them and started some, so he was useful. Seems like an F U move to Thornton that wasn’t needed.

[DanielcmccartyParticipant]

 Whoever said Grayson Allen should start at point guard must have forgot Frank Jackson is coming and hes really good. Like good enough for kids like Thornton to run away from compeition and transfer

The lineup next year will be

1. Jackson

2. Allen

3. Tatum

4. Giles

5. Jefferson/Boldin

Coach K knows Matt Jones as a senior will accept whatever role it takes to try and win another championship. And Luke Kennard will come off the bench because he came off the bench most of this year on a team that was rebuilding for a year. Bolden will not start in front of Amile Jefferson. Remember that Chase Jeter was the number 11 OVERALL player in his class and Jefferson started in front of him. So there may be a chance Bolden will have to wait a year. Best case scenario for Duke is that Bolden is as advertised and Jeter lives up to his ranking as well. Then Coach K will have to earn all that money he makes and decide whose ass is gonna be starting and in there when the game is finishing. It will be interesting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

 you guys left out javin delaurier, a versatile 6’9 forward from virginia.he’s a top 50 recruit.

[DanielcmccartyParticipant]

 Yeah that kids gonna be a josh hairston all over again. 4 year guy like amile is

[DanielcmccartyParticipant]

 Yeah that kids gonna be a josh hairston all over again. 4 year guy like amile is

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

 you guys left out javin delaurier, a versatile 6’9 forward from virginia.he’s a top 50 recruit.

[Bill Walton’s KneesParticipant]

 Kansas vs. Duke at the Champions Classic should be a doozy. Last time they met we had Oarker vs. Wiggins. This time around hopefully we get a Tatum/ Jackson match-up. 

 

If Giles is healthy, I expect Duke to win by 8-12 points. If not, it’s about as even of a match-up as you’ll find this season.

[Bill Walton’s KneesParticipant]

 Kansas vs. Duke at the Champions Classic should be a doozy. Last time they met we had Oarker vs. Wiggins. This time around hopefully we get a Tatum/ Jackson match-up. 

 

If Giles is healthy, I expect Duke to win by 8-12 points. If not, it’s about as even of a match-up as you’ll find this season.

[ncballer]

 Loaded roster.  Before Bolden commited I was thinking that going small with Giles at the 5 and Tatum at the 4 would be their most effective lineup.  I do think Bolden will be better than Jefferson out the gate, and a big presence like that will help against teams that have bruisers down low.  

Jackson, Allen, Tatum, Giles and Bolden is a starting lineup no one in college basketball can match in terms of pure raw talent.  

I may get negged for stating the obvious, but what do you all think is going through Javin Delaurier and Chase Jeter’s head right now?

 

[ncballer]

 Loaded roster.  Before Bolden commited I was thinking that going small with Giles at the 5 and Tatum at the 4 would be their most effective lineup.  I do think Bolden will be better than Jefferson out the gate, and a big presence like that will help against teams that have bruisers down low.  

Jackson, Allen, Tatum, Giles and Bolden is a starting lineup no one in college basketball can match in terms of pure raw talent.  

I may get negged for stating the obvious, but what do you all think is going through Javin Delaurier and Chase Jeter’s head right now?

 

[GBeeParticipant]

 Javin should be fine.  He’s a late bloomer who didn’t sign on to be a 1 and done. Even in limited minutes he could provide help his freshman year because of his athleticism, energy and defensive versatility.  He’s a better athlete and defender than Tatum.  If Tatum proves to be a ball-stopper for Duke I could see Javin stealing some of his minutes as early as this year.  Even for a late bloomer, Javin has a solid floor game and unlike Tatum, doesn’t need the ball to be effective or impact the game.  He’ll take some time but he’s an NBA caliber athlete unlike a Josh Hairston who had bricks for feet, short arms and could only defend one position as an undersized PF.  I personally think Javin could be everything that people thought Troy Williams would be bc unlike Troy, Javin plays within himself, already has a solid floor game and appears to have a brain to go along with that NBa athleticism.

Jeter OTOH should be worried because he has shown zero NBA ability. He’s unskilled, with an average feel and isn’t an NBA caliber athlete.

 

[GBeeParticipant]

 Javin should be fine.  He’s a late bloomer who didn’t sign on to be a 1 and done. Even in limited minutes he could provide help his freshman year because of his athleticism, energy and defensive versatility.  He’s a better athlete and defender than Tatum.  If Tatum proves to be a ball-stopper for Duke I could see Javin stealing some of his minutes as early as this year.  Even for a late bloomer, Javin has a solid floor game and unlike Tatum, doesn’t need the ball to be effective or impact the game.  He’ll take some time but he’s an NBA caliber athlete unlike a Josh Hairston who had bricks for feet, short arms and could only defend one position as an undersized PF.  I personally think Javin could be everything that people thought Troy Williams would be bc unlike Troy, Javin plays within himself, already has a solid floor game and appears to have a brain to go along with that NBa athleticism.

Jeter OTOH should be worried because he has shown zero NBA ability. He’s unskilled, with an average feel and isn’t an NBA caliber athlete.

 

[DanielcmccartyParticipant]

 If you think there’s even a chance Coach K is going to watch Jayson Tatum be a ball stopper on that loaded ass team you’re mistaking. Brandon Ingram was benched and had to adjust before K gave him freedom. 

[DanielcmccartyParticipant]

 If you think there’s even a chance Coach K is going to watch Jayson Tatum be a ball stopper on that loaded ass team you’re mistaking. Brandon Ingram was benched and had to adjust before K gave him freedom. 

[GBeeParticipant]

 Ingram was never a ball stopper.  If anything, he had to prodded to be more aggressive looking for his offense, which he did as the season progressed.

Tatum has natural ball stopping tendencies.  He catches the ball and immediately stares down his defender.  I agree that Coach K won’t hesitate to bench someone like that especially if he has the depth to do so, which he certainly will this year, with Javin being part of that depth.

 

[GBeeParticipant]

 Ingram was never a ball stopper.  If anything, he had to prodded to be more aggressive looking for his offense, which he did as the season progressed.

Tatum has natural ball stopping tendencies.  He catches the ball and immediately stares down his defender.  I agree that Coach K won’t hesitate to bench someone like that especially if he has the depth to do so, which he certainly will this year, with Javin being part of that depth.

 

[DanielcmccartyParticipant]

 I agree with you that Tatum catches and "sizes up" his defender like melo/Kobe etc. Coach K will have to coach him up some for sure 

[DanielcmccartyParticipant]

 I agree with you that Tatum catches and "sizes up" his defender like melo/Kobe etc. Coach K will have to coach him up some for sure 

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 @DanielMccarty

I doubt Allen starts at PG, though I did wonder if he could/should. 

I wouldn’t bet on him starting there, but I do think he should get good minutes at that spot. 

Basically they’ve got 120 minutes to divy up between Jackson, Allen, Kennard, Jones and Tatum. Plus anyone else like White. 

Allen probably gets 30. Tatum probably gets 25ish. Kennard probably gets 22-25. Jones probably gets 22-25. Jackson should get about the same. So Allen would the logical choice to log a good number of minutes at PG, so that Duke doesn’t have to play small. 

 

 

 

 

 

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 @DanielMccarty

I doubt Allen starts at PG, though I did wonder if he could/should. 

I wouldn’t bet on him starting there, but I do think he should get good minutes at that spot. 

Basically they’ve got 120 minutes to divy up between Jackson, Allen, Kennard, Jones and Tatum. Plus anyone else like White. 

Allen probably gets 30. Tatum probably gets 25ish. Kennard probably gets 22-25. Jones probably gets 22-25. Jackson should get about the same. So Allen would the logical choice to log a good number of minutes at PG, so that Duke doesn’t have to play small. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Author]

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