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| INSIDE THE NUMBERS |
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2000-01 record: 31-4;
13-3 in ACC (2nd)
Postseason: Lost to Indiana 74-73 in NCAA South Region semifinals.
RETURNING LEADERS
Points: Jones 11.2
Rebs: Jones 4.2
Assists: Duhon 5.9
FG: Jones 50.5%
3pt: Ewing 45.7%
FT: Jones 72.5%
01-02 Stats:
Duke | ACC
KEY LOSSES
Carlos Boozer | 18.2 ppg
M. Dunleavy Jr. | 17.3 ppg
Jay Williams | 21.3 ppg
PROJECTED STARTERS
G | Chris Duhon | Junior
G | Daniel Ewing | Soph
C | S. Williams | Fresh
F | Dahntay Jones | Senior
F | Sh. Randolph | Fresh
Player to Watch
Shavlik Randolph
Freshman Forward
Just one of five heralded freshmen; he'll be put into a role to be "Next".
DATE TO REMEMBER
North Carolina visits Cameron Indoor Stadium for some pre-March mayhem. This will be the Cameron Crazies' first look at the Tar Heels' huge freshman class, and you can bet the Crazies will welcome the young UNC players in style.
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DUKE BLUE DEVILS
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Mike Krzyzewski has probably never had this kind of depth, and he definitely has never had this kind of size, at Duke, even when he was winning three national championships. The starting lineup could be a fluid thing, with 10 or 11 players jockeying for playing time every day in practice. Krzyzewski expects that competition to bring out the best in his team, though he knows his team's success hinges on two key factors: the play of captain Chris Duhon at point guard, and the play of a huge freshman class. Shavlik Randolph, Sean Dockery, Michael Thompson and J.J. Redick were McDonald's All-Americans, and Shelden Williams probably would have been one had he not been suspended from his high school team late in the season. They join three players who contributed heavily last season (Duhon, 6-6 Dahntay Jones and 6-3 Daniel Ewing) and two role-playing big men (Nick Horvath, Casey Sanders). The range of possibilities for Duke is bigger than most seasons, when the norm is somewhere from No. 1 to No. 5. This season, Duke could land anywhere in the Top 25.
TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
J.J. Redick is a special shooter, only a freshman but already being mentioned by teammates and Krzyzewski alike as potentially the best shooter in Duke history. That's saying something. The 6-4 Redick is more than a shooter, Krzyzewski insists, and his competition with Ewing for a starting spot should be a daily event.
TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
Krzyzewski says Duhon can play better than he has shown in the past, not intending that as an insult but a compliment -- Duhon has been good, Krzyzewski is saying, but he could be great. Now would be a good time to show it, now that the NBA has ripped away Duhon's security blanket, also known as Jason Williams.
BOTTOM LINE..............................
Duke may be younger than ever, but it is every bit as skilled as ever -- and probably deeper, in terms of skill, than it has been in years. Getting the most out of such a young group won't be easy, but Krzyzewski is in the Basketball Hall of Fame for a reason. Beware the Blue Devils. Again.
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