Will definitely be ready for sweet 16 play. This changes everything and makes Duke the favorite to win everything. Irving is the best player in the nation before his injury.
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this is hugeComment -
Hell Yeah.Comment -
OSU vs Duke would be a sickkkkk gameeeComment -
This is exactly what I was saying Sunday night.Comment -
They could have continuity issues working him back into the rotation.Comment -
I don't know that he can be the same player he was after this much time off. However, any contribution from him makes Duke a more dangerous team.Comment -
Already liked Duke to get far here and this totally helps them out. Just wonder what kind of shape he will be in. Sometimes these players give a big boost to a team and other times it hurts the team. Guess we will find out.Comment -
Duke All the way.Comment -
Yes if this kid is healthy its all over
Why watch itComment -
he will only be a p.t. player babyComment -
Kid isn't playing. There's talk of him going 1 in the draft. He's not risking it.Comment -
It makes them dangerous indeed, both to win it all or to lose early.Comment -
This is a game changer. Duke's bench just got that much deeper. This should help them immensely in making a deep run.Comment -
Nobody is allowed to root for Duke. NOBODY!Comment -
Duke BabyComment -
duke still has the softest bigs out of any of the top 3 seeds. he makes nolan smith worse and singler just a jump shooter and he hasnt played in 3+ months hes not going to be a 100% and will turn the ball over a lot could make duke worse i think or marginally betterComment -
will duke make a run at some of UCLA's recordsComment -
if able to contribute at close to the level he was at, makes duke fav to win it all. huge addition to a thin lineupComment -
The Blue Devils will hold their pre-NCAA tournament open practice Thursday at the arena in Charlotte, and "we'll know a heck of a lot more by then," Krzyzewski said.Comment -
The only issue would be his conditioning and flow with the game, changes alot for Duke but I see Irving as a change of pace guard if he makes a comeback not the starting point.Comment -
If I'm Coach K I don't play him in Rd1, just a few minutes in Rd 2, buy a few more days/practices and use him sparingly in R3 and as often as needed after that. Who the hell knows what politics are going on behind the scenes... his agent wants to showcase him on the biggest stage in hopes of ensuring him as #1 pick in draft but does not want to risk injury. Coach K wants him badly but won't use him foolishly.
Duke could win this thing without Irving, with him they are definite favorite now.Comment -
Good for Duke, bad for him. Why risk anything when your going to be a top pick?Comment -
p.t. as in prime time. Seriously,where this helps Duke,the Plumlees become a factor,especially Mason. Mason is an athletic big guy that really ran the floor well with Irving pushing the ball. Backs to the basket they are non factors on offense. Both are better players than Zoubec and Thomas last year,and Irving and Curry give them more depth at guard. Odd man out is Dawkins who can carry a lot of teams.
Not the easiest bracket this year, but a little production from Irving may push them over the top. Team they will have to beat to win it all is KansasLast edited by Duke Fan; 03-16-11, 02:23 PM.Comment -
I've been following this for the past few weeks very closely and posted he might play last weekend before they broke the story. I think this has a huge impact on their team.
Contrary to popular thinking, I strongly believe guards win in the tourney not the bigs. Take a look at the past several championship teams, very strong guards with mediocre big men. Duke UNCx2 Florida Kansas....
Name a recent team that rode a big man to the championship?? You can't because there aren't any, average post presence and outstanding guard play is how you win tournaments. (This years Big East/ACC Tournament ring a bell?!))
Kryrie not at 100% is still a good player and serviceable to give the Dukies minutes, which is basically all they would ask of him. Irving's minutes will allow the other guards Smith, Curry, Dawkins, Thorton (Dawkins and Thorton IMO are by far their best guard defenders) to be more aggressive and play the pressure defense they want to play and not have to worry about fouls as much, not to mention give them rest when they need a blow. This is a huge advantage and difference maker for the Dukies. Watch and see....
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Every college student with a basketball scholarship dreams of playing in this tournament. Kobe and Lebron both straight out of high school have admitted they wish they could of participated in something like this except they didn't.
This makes Duke even stronger not worse.Comment -
While I agree with the main point of the post (that Guard play is insanely important) , UNC and Florida weren't teams with mediocre big men. Sean May, Tyler Hansbrough, Al Horford, and Joakim Noah were all outstanding College big men. Granted the UNC teams also had Felton/Lawson so they had the PG covered too.
As for Irving, if he contributes even half what he did before the injury Duke is scary as hell. There's no way I could see this making them worse, becaues if he struggles K is a good enough coach to pull him.Comment -
Yeah I agree, Sean May would be the exception to my argument, he did win the MOP award. More often than not, though, guards are the difference maker in the tourney.
And with your Coach K comment, I couldn't agree more. If there is any coach in the tourney who I would trust the most to manage the play of Kryrie's playing status and role, it would be Coach K. I think sometimes people undervalue a coaches management of the game.Comment
