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This Just in, Duke Wins Again!

NCCA basketball season is on its way.  With double-doubles flying, thirty point games going around, and the greatest question of all, “Who is number one?”  Is it one of the unbeaten, or one of the underdogs?  Well, I am here to tell you that the number one team in the nation is the Duke Blue Devils.

Many reasons separate Duke from the rest of the pack.  Coach K is one of them.  In 31 years of coaching, there have not been many seasons that Coach K has not been playing in March.  With this experience, Coach K has had buzzer beaters, hard losses, and compelling victories.  All of this will help lead his young Duke team to the National Title in March.

Another reason Duke is the number one team in basketball is because of their speed and toughness.  Duke is outsized by many of the teams they play.  Shelden Williams, their tallest starting player, stands at 6 foot 9.  Because of this very large issue, Duke is forced to be quick to the ball.  This team can press the whole can and virtually lose no speed or reaction time.  Their point guard, Greg Paulus, can get up the floor quicker than most guards.  Besides being quick, Paulus takes charges better than anyone in the NCAA. Lee Melchionni is tough to crack under pressure.  He has hit numerous 3-pointers over his career but none bigger than the ones he hits at the buzzer for Duke. Sean Dockery is also a big presence for Duke.  He is a leader on the court and makes things happen when the team needs a spark. His attitude towards the game beats most players.   Duke’s toughness mentally and physically is leaps and bounds over everyone else.  With the strong starting five, who are not afraid of anything, they will go a long ways.

Yes, I know what you are thinking; Duke has one major issue holding them back.  This issue is that they are not very deep.  They only play about eight people.  Their tallest player is Josh McRoberts at 6 foot 10.  If Shelden Williams gets into foul trouble, McRobets is there to step in, but from there that is really their only sub for the inside game.  There are others who step in.  Jamal Boykin can step up, but he is a very streaky shooter and is lacking in experience.  Martynas Pocius, can also step up and get a few quick steals, but he is not as confident as Duke needs him to be.  Without depth, Duke will have to overcome this obstacle to go all the way.

Even with their depth problem, Duke has one thing over everyone else in the country.  This would be J.J. Redick.  J.J. is an all around player.  When you least expect it he will knock down a 3, he will make a behind-the-back pass to a teammate, he will get a steal and go coast-to-coast, and he will pump the crowd up with his magical touch.  J.J. is Duke’s key to the trophy in March.  He can do it all, but he is not a show boat.  J.J. is the man.  The big man on campus, who you can’t give an inch, or he will burn you, and he never goes away, whether it is going the length of the court, knocking down a shot from four feet behind the line, or pumping up the Cameron Crazies.  J.J. does it all, and he will be the blue devil ticket to success.

I am here to tell you, and argue if you want, but come March, Duke will be holding the trophy.

Mary Michael Maggio