Duke's fans - some of whom are concerned that the Blue Devils may be overworking Jon Scheyer, Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith - aren't the only ones paying close attention to the minutes logged by the Big Three.
ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews said Clemson coach Oliver Purnell was urging the Tigers to keep pushing in an effort to tire the Blue Devils in Duke's 60-47 win on Saturday. Purnell admitted as much on Monday during the ACC's weekly teleconference call.
"We were monitoring minutes during the game and recognized that Scheyer and Singler had not been out of the game," Purnell said. "With our style and all of that, it was soemthing we were trying to do at the end. And quite honestly, they looked bushed. But I give them all the credit in the world. With tremendous mental toughness, those two, along with Smith and their other guys hung in there when they were tired."
But Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski sounded confident that superior conditioning is keeping his top players from wearing down. Scheyer and Singler played 40 minutes each Saturday, and Smith played 37.
"They're in great shape," Krzyzewski said Monday of Duke's three top players. "They finished the Clemson game, and all three of them, they could have played another 20 minutes."
Comments
Thanks mann Think about
Mon, 05/10/2010 - 10:20 — NomberoneThanks mann
Think about it...we will have the Plumlee brothers down low who both seem extremely athletic and able to get out and run along with some excellent guards and hopefully Kyle playing a hybrid forward position and we already know he's got the legs to run!!
coach k knows what he is doing
Tue, 01/26/2010 - 00:41 — foreverdukeDuke played Clemson very well. Coach k knows what he is doing and if kyle, Jon or Nolan was tired it did not show. I think Kyle will finish his senior year and Nolan will stay. Jon will be missed but any fan knows that when they have a good player graduate you wish they could stay longer. As far as Duke being back in a couple of years I think they are here now. I think they are better than they were last year and will go far. The ACC is wide open as Coach K has stated but when Duke plays good defense and plays like a team as they did at Clemson they will be hard to beat. No one knows how the ACC will finish or who will be the national champion. Good teams have some bad nights thats human nature. I have learned over the years to be glad for the wins and put the losts ones behind you. Alot of people hate players from other teams but when they go pro they play together. Anyway I respect Coach K and the choices he makes. Go Duke!
Some points I agree on and
Sat, 01/30/2010 - 23:11 — unc098Some points I agree on and others I don't. I would have thought that Duke would have been dominant this year, but their not. I am seeing a lack of back court leadership on this team that has been missing for some time. Its not that they are bad, just not the caliber it takes to lead this very talented team to the promised land. Front court seems a bit tight., Zoubek is Z and the same could be said for Thompson at UNC. I have to agree with Gville that my observation is that Duke does tend to wear out by the end of the year. Curious to see if they expand and get better or run out of gas at the end of the line.
Re: Coack K knows what he is doing
Tue, 01/26/2010 - 11:16 — gvillegatri'm not trying to be a hater here, foreverDUIke, but why is it for so many seasons in a row now, his couple of main, core guys look so beat down and tired at the end of the year?
I'll never say Krusheshkov doesn't know what he is doing b/c that would be false, but he does overlook this area IMO.
Good question
Tue, 01/26/2010 - 13:48 — JPDOhioNo one can reasonably argue that K is not a great coach. I do think it is fair to challenge his tendency to rely too much on his starters. Duke does seem to wear down more than many teams at the end of the season.
One thing I will say- it is good to have a Duke supporter on this site that is capable of a rational argument. I wish there were more.
duke- no. 8---- holes no where to be found!!!!
Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:45 — bluecat69bluecat69a worn down duke will beat carawhina any day of the week, --- example of a rational argument, ok, ditty, go duke!!!!!!!!!!!!! ditty do u know where saint marys college is?? hole-20 and hole98 dont seem to know, lets see how smart u are , ok, go duke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We will see. One thing about
Sat, 01/30/2010 - 23:17 — unc098We will see. One thing about absolutes is that you have no where to go and nowhere to hide. I say we take one off the dukies this year. Probably at home. With this Carolina team you never know what to expect. I wouldn't say the same for Duke. I am one up on Mamba and bluecat in the crystal ball arena.
Ditto, sort of...
Tue, 01/26/2010 - 14:08 — SurferAgree, but I don't wish there were more, but wish that the other ones here were capable of a rational argument.
The blue dude is a gnat, if you know what I mean. (a.k.a. bluegnat)
Oliver?
Mon, 01/25/2010 - 17:35 — airoweDo you still think Duke is going to get tired? Maybe you should have come up with a better game plan than to expect Duke's guys to tire out. The slow, methodical pace played by Duke in breaking the press led to a number of Duke's players standing around for 10-15 seconds per possession.
mickey mouse
Mon, 01/25/2010 - 16:56 — gvillegatrthis is not news to even the casual basketball fan. K always plays a handful of guys the maximum and he's left with a couple of jalopy's in March.
Agree
Mon, 01/25/2010 - 17:41 — SurferYep, you can see it coming, classic.
In tight games it's good to
Mon, 01/25/2010 - 16:48 — duke_blueIn tight games it's good to know that they can run for the full 40. But we still need to give the other guys time on the court whenever possible. Next year Scheyer is gone and if Singler and Smith decide that they want to move on...we are going to be hurting for some high minute runners. I know K will do whatever he needs to do to get them into shape....I just hope it's going to be enough.
Nolan Smith
Mon, 01/25/2010 - 19:53 — Heels20I know that Singler has the option to move on if he so chooses, but is Smith good enough? I know he's developed into a much better scorer, but he hasn't really demonstrated true point guard ability. That being said, if he is expected to get drafted after this season then he needs to go because Seth Curry is about to get lots of minutes at guard next year, along with Kyrie Irving. If the Plumlees continue to improve, I think it's safe to say that Dook may very well be back in the next couple years.
Oh no I agree....Smith is
Tue, 01/26/2010 - 16:37 — duke_blueOh no I agree....Smith is not ready to move on. He definitely needs to stick around and improve his consistency. But I think with Seth and Kyrie coming on and the fact that he is already getting subbed with Andre, his minutes will dwindle. He may foresee this and try to get out while he has made some kind of impression.
On Nolan leaving
Tue, 01/26/2010 - 22:03 — HateCarolinaOn Nolan leaving early....You seem to be forgetting that Duke usually has a pretty big contingent of guards that all play sustantial minutes so I am sure that Nolan will "get his" so to speak. I would hope with the addition of Kyrie and Seth to the line up that we can return to a run and gun offense. Think about it...we will have the Plumlee brothers down low who both seem extremely athletic and able to get out and run along with some excellent guards and hopefully Kyle playing a hybrid forward position and we already know he's got the legs to run!!
I hope both Nolan and Kyle
Wed, 01/27/2010 - 12:51 — duke_blueI hope both Nolan and Kyle stick around for next year. Nothing would make me happier. There are no guarantees that the newcomers are going to play at a high level right off the bat. But if they do and Nolan doesn't improve his consistency, his minutes will be reduced. And that will hurt come draft time. I know that's a lot of coulda and maybe, but it is possible.
I mean...
Wed, 01/27/2010 - 03:30 — Heels20...if you're assuming the best. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. I think Dook has something special boiling up, but there is still work to be done. Maybe we'll be fortunate enough to see a #1 vs #2 matchup in he upcoming 2 years.