Gerald to the League

Gerald Henderson has declared for the NBA draft, forgoing his final season of eligibility. He hasn't hired an agent, so he can still come back to Duke. Don't count on it though, he could be taken in the lottery. Good luck to you, G, and thank you for your 3 years at Duke. You were one of my favorite players of the decade. Here's to a long and prosperous career.

Stay tuned on John Wall too, a decision should be soon from him.

Go Duke!

Recruting Update ('09), Other News

Sorry no post lately. Since it's the offseason, things are going to be down here unless there big stuff happens. First of all, lets congratulate Greg, because he, believe it or not, is being looked at by some NFL teams, and might even play college football next year. Funny how he takes  4 years off from football and then at the end of his college basketball career, teams are looking at him. I guess it speaks to his football ability. He was after all, the 2005 high school QB of the year.

Interesting, and I wish you the best in all of your post-Duke endeavors, Greg. Thank you for your time here, as well.

Anyways, here's a recruiting update for you: Our incoming freshman, the 09 class for those of you not in the know contains 2 commits, maybe another two if the John Wall saga ever ends, and if Eric Bledsoe gets accepted here. Ryan Kelly and Mason Plumlee, both 6-10,6-11ish are our two commits. Plumlee is obviously the brother of Miles, but he's different. He's not a big post scorer, but he has the skills to play all over the court. He is best while facing the basket, and here's a highlight vid for you. (sICK!) If you folks didn't catch the high school All-American dunk contest a couple weeks ago, here' something-Mason has some NASTY dunks. I could see him starting at the 5 for us next year. 

Next up is Ryan Kelly. He's similar to Mason in the way that he has a long, wiry frame, and also doesn't have the muscle to do work down low against bigger C's, although he does look like he has a couple nifty moves in the paint. Kelly, along with Plumlee the Second, is also a very versatile player, and can run the court very well, but he is best suited to play as a high post-big, or even a wing. Why is that ? He won the 3 pt shooting contest, and prior to that, I had no idea he could rain like that. Sweet. Second coming of Mike Dunleavy? We'll see. Here's Kelly in action. Both Kelly and Plumlee though, need to put on muscle.

Besides the two that have already committed, there are two other prospects that we are looking at right now. John Wall, who you all know about, if you don't, now you do. Yeah, thats right. This kid is DIRTY. He looks like to me, though, like a once every 4-5 years type of talent at the point. Being a one and done aside, if he found his way to Durham, that could be HUGE for us, K said to him that he'd be used like Jason Williams. Unfortunately, Kentucky (probably the favorite), with news coach Calipari, is also pushing hard for him. So are a couple other schools. Baylor, (yes, Baylor), UNC might be in it, N.C State, his hometown team......the winner of the Wall sweepstakes is LUCKY. There's practically a new twist in his long, drawn out recruitment though, everyday, so Google him to read the 10000000000s of articles on his recruitment to get the story. Props to him, though, he has all of these schools at his feet, and he's milking everything he can out of it.  

Next up is Eric Bledsoe, another PG, our fallback option if you will. One thing though, Bledsoe's grades are in question, as he has not been accepted to the university, I believe. Bledsoe looks like he'd be a good PG, almost like a Duhon type, simply from what I've read. I'd like him here if Wall goes elsewhere, but his grades are keeping him back. Here's a vid of him. Pretty good.

Well, that's whats going on in our 09 recruiting, and the John Wall saga continues on......

Tune in next time to see where Wall lands. $20 says at the way its going right now, he doesn't decide till October. 

Go Duke!

Not-So Special Edition: NCAA National Championship Game: (1) North Carolina vs (2) Michigan State

I can pretty much say it in a sentence. However much mental anguish it causes, I do not think UNC will be stopped tonight, even in Michigan State's backyard. Some optimistic people are on the contrary, though, like Seth Davis. I wish I was that optimistic. Even after Davis' take on the game, I can't see a way Michigan State will derail this runaway freight train that is the Powder Blue Pussies. The only possible way I can see Sparty prevailing in front of a partisan MSU crowd will be if UNC stops THEMSELVES. It will have to be a off shooting night, with maybe other factors like foul trouble, or repeated defensive lapses for UNC for MSU to have a real chance in this one. It's always great though, when UNC gets a team in the championship game that they beat by 35 (98-63) in December. Thankfully, that was not the same MSU team, as they have improved dramatically since, and they were playing sans Goran Suton, who is a key piece of the team. Yeah, MSU looked pretty good shutting down UConn, abusing them in transition and even outboarding UConnvicts' stable of big men. But are they up to the task, doing it AGAIN and derailing the preseason anointed "Greatest Team of All Time". Maybe, but that's a big maybe. They are going to have to slow the game down, lock down the 3 pt line, cause UNC is damn near impossible to beat when Ellington and Green can sit back and knock down treys. The'yre also, maybe most importantly going to have to disrupt LOLson as well, prevent him from being the catalyst of the O, slowing him down in transition, or keeping an eye on him in case he pops a couple. Also, their going to have to outrebound Hansbitch, Thompson, Davis & co on the blocks. This is extremely important as well. Michigan St is going to HAVE to get offensive rebounds. That will keep the Holes out of top gear, because if they control the boards, they're just going to push it up and kill the Spartans. Michigan State looks like they have the stars lined up for them, with the almost-home court advantage, huge crowd, and hot streak going on. I honestly think they will not be able to slow down UNC, and thus many a Ty Lawson fast break layup will do them in. Unless, they can do something about it, of course. Look, anything can happen though. 

You won't find any of that "root for the ACC bullshit" here, though. Although some Duke fans might be pulling for the Holes to glorify the ACC, I won't. Absolutely not. I quit that bullshit years ago, after seeing UNC win has given the bandwagon fan population of Chapel Hell leeway to gloat and act like complete asses. I have to deal with these delusional, bandwagon UNC "fans" who couldn't tell Roy Williams apart from his NFL counterpart almost every day, the'yre everwhere. I don't want to give them reason to make my life miserable, with their absurd logic, douchebaggery, and the "DOOK SUX" cries. And that is 75% of UNC's fans, by the way. I don't understand why there are Duke fans who are rooting for UNC tonight. Obviously, they've never had to deal with these delusional, dim witted Wal-Mart fans. THE'YRE OUR ARCHRIVAL. THE HATED TAR HOLES. HOW CAN ANY REAL DUKE FAN CHEER FOR THEM, IN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, NO LESS?

Albeit my negativism, I really, REALLY want Michigan State to win this game. Nothing would make as happy right now, seeing the Tar Holes handed a crippling championship game loss while heavily favored, and Hansblow going out a loser. Let's just hope it will happen, : )

Sorry I don't though.... : (

North Carolina 684, Michigan State, 13