UNC Men"s Basketball: Carolina Falls to Duke in ACCT Semis
By Jeff Gravley
Durham, N.C. Mike Krzyzewski likes to work in the garden. Nothing extravagant, just something to ease the pressures of being the most successful coach in the history of college basketball.
Scratch around in the dirt, plant a seed and watch it grow.
In the beginning of each season, Krzyzewskis basketball garden consists of dirt, seeds, water and fertilizer. Mix it all together then see what happens.
Crops and basketball teams grow at different rates and some never reach full bloom.
There were times this season when it appeared that the Duke basketball garden wouldnt produce a bumper crop. Missing or bad ingredients stunted the growth process. Things like injuries to players, the Grayson Allen situations and the back surgery that kept Krzyzewski idle and out of his natural element.
But Krzyzewski and his staff continued to work with their crop to pull out the weeds and nurture it. From the dirt, seeds, water and fertilizer the plants began to grow and strengthen. It showed potential of producing something bountiful in the future.
A split with North Carolina and a gritty win on senior day over Florida State was followed up by four incredible days in Brooklyn. Players talked about their lengthy trip in New York as a catalyst for team growth. Double-digit, second half comeback wins over Louisville and North Carolina set up a chance for an ACC championship, a first for Duke since 2011.
Freshman Jason Tatum and grad student Amile Jefferson echoed the same sentiment. It would be an honor to win a championship with this group.
Commitment fulfilled.
No team in ACC history had ever won four games in route to the championship and never has a No. 5 seed cut down the nets.
Standing at mid-court with Krzyzewski, I watched him try to answer questions about the journey of this season. The winningest coach in college basketball history and gold medal USA coach had nothing to compare this championship run to.
He just kept shaking his head from side to side, non-verbally punctuating the words he was trying to say. Im a little whacky right now, he said. Understood, because the feat was inexplicably amazing.
Look at the Duke garden now.
It is standing tall and yielding results. But the gardener and his staff are putting on the work gloves again. There is more labor to be done to try and squeeze even more growth and productivity from this crop.
Duke is 18-5 and ranked 21st in the country. This is a major fall from grace for a team that was the resounding preseason number one team in the countryand was talked about in the rare air of potentially going undefeated this season. The initial hype was overwhelming.
The season isnt turning out as everyone had hoped and there are many things wrong with Duke, but we dont need to delve into them all.
What we need to delve into is who should be the guy for Duke. With a team loaded with talent like Duke is, the responsibility of that go-to guy is a whos who of potential NBA lottery talent.
Does that position fall upon one of dukes herald recruits? does it fall upon the face of their program right now in Grayson Allen?
The short answer to all of these questions is, no. The freshmen are clearly not ready and Allen is just not the answer either. We could go over his mental state on the courtand all of the extra curricular activities that he finds himself in. We could go over the fact that he isnt putting up preseason POY numbers by any stretch of the imagination.
We dont need to go over any of these things, though. And the reason is Luke Kennard. We dont need to knock other players to appreciate how good Kennard is playing. It isnt anyones fault. On virtually every other team Allen would, and should be the go-to player. On most other teams, one of Dukes freshmen would be that go-to guy.
Thats how loaded Duke is, and that is also how good Kennard has played this year. We could focus on the fact that Kennard is averaging the most points on the team with 19.8 a game, while second places fallson both Allen and Tatum with 15.8 per game. We could mention how he is second in assists and third in rebounds. However, none of these stats would truly point out how good he has been.
Kennard is so fluid and his old school style of play makes him incredibly hard to guard. He shoots the three-point ball at an incredible 45.8 percent but his ability to slither into the lane and create shots using a repertoire of shot fakes and adjusting his pivot foot is lethal. See video below.
The guy is cold blooded when it matters, like when he did this against Wake Forest.
His ability to score when it matters goes beyond just Dukes game versus Wake. In Dukes six games this year versus ranked opponents, Kennard has come up big, averaging 21.8 points per game. You may be saying to yourself well thats not an insane amount of points. And you would be correct, although it is still impressive. What is most impressive is that he is shooting 45-of-73 (61.6 percent) in those six contests.
The clear makings of someone who is considered that guy is someone who plays their best on the biggest stage. Kennard does just that, when the lights are brightest he plays his best basketball.
All of this backs up my point, Kennard needs to be that guy for Duke. It needs to be his team. He plays well when the lights are brightest and thats what you want from your go-to guy. Kennard has been Dukes best player all year and its time the Blue Devils give him the keys to the car.
The Blue Devils started this season looking every bit the part of a force to be reckoned with. After jumping out to an early lead on the No. 14 ranked Louisville Cardinals, the Cardinals outscored Duke 20-5 to end the first half.
Louisville went on to secure the win, 78-69.
With a four-point lead coming out of the break, Duke appeared to be drowning at times against their conference foe.
Led by Anas Mahmouds double-double (17 points, 11 rebounds), and 15 points contributed by Donovan Mitchell, the Cardinals handled their opponent handily.
What once appeared as if it would be one of the more challenging games on the schedule for either team failed to live up to the expected billing. Neither team wowed the other with its offensive prowess, but Louisville managed to hit key shots near the end of each half and connected seven times from behind the arc.
Grayson Allen managed to pour in 23 points but couldnt will his team to victory. Without head coach Mike Krzyzewski, the Blue Devils are floundering and for the first time have lost two games in a row. Meanwhile, the Cardinals have won four times in seven chances against ranked opponents this year, the most of any other team in the college basketball.
Duke falls to 2-3 in the conference and needs to come up with answers, fast.
Coach K is out indefinitely with a back injury and he isnt going to come walking through the door. Allen might be able to redeem some of his behavior with hard, clean play that wills a suddenly suspect duke team to a title run.
Louisville continues to look like one of the most formidable opponents in the AC.
Cant get enough of Campus Sports? Follow us onTwitter,Facebookand Instagram to stay updated with the latest news and exclusive giveaways!
Michael is originally from Miami, FL and is of Cuban descent. He holds BFA from the University of Florida/New World School of the Arts and is also a stand-up comedian based in New York City. Michael is 5"11", but wears elevators in his shoes to make himself 6 feet tall.Twitter: @MichaelNapoles
Duke"s Frank Jackson (15) and Grayson Allen (3) guard Grand Canyon"s Fiifi Aidoo (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016. Duke won 96-61.
The Kansas Jayhawks certainly did themselves no favors with their schedule, traveling several time zones to play two top-10 teams in the nation within a span of five days.
The good news: There might not be a better time to play top-ranked Duke this season. The No. 7 Jayhawks will face a team that"s at much less than full strength during the Champions Classic around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.
The Blue Devils are without three freshmen in their highly-regarded recruiting class because of injuries.
Of course, even with some injuries, Duke is still Duke. Theres a high-scoring backcourt led by All-American junior Grayson Allen, who is averaging more than 20 points per game. Along with Allen is emerging sophomore Luke Kennard, senior Matt Jones and freshman point guard Frank Jackson.
And then there"s a guy in charge named Mike Krzyzewski, the winningest coach in NCAA history.
But if there"s a good sign for the Jayhawks, Duke misses its three star freshmen in the frontcourt. The Blue Devils returned fifth-year senior Amile Jefferson, who missed 27 games last year with a broken foot and received a medical redshirt. After that, its a bunch of question marks. In the first two games, Duke leaned on sophomore Chase Jeter, who wasnt strong enough to hold a steady spot in the rotation last year.
Plus, there"s not many regular season events that can produce great matchups like the Champions Classic each year.
Interesting note: Duke has won 45 of its past 68 games (66 percent) when both teams have been ranked in the top 10.
Series history: Duke leads, 7-3. The last time these two schools met was in the Champions Classic in Chicago in 2013, which the Jayhawks won, 94-83. It was KUs lone win in the history of the Champions Classic.
DUKE STARTERSNo. 5 G Luke Kennard | 6-6, 202, soph.
One of the most improved players for the Blue Devils, Kennard is averaging 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists through two games. Hes shooting 57 percent from the floor (12-of-21) and is 4-of-8 from deep.
The left-handed sharpshooter connected on 52.8 percent of his shots from inside the three-point line last year (86 of 163). Plus hes a phenomenal free-throw shooter, making 88.9 percent last year.
The Franklin, Ohio native had some shooting slumps during his freshman season, but averaged a strong 1.03 points per possessions, according to Synergy Sports Technology. He makes smart decisions with the ball and is equally strong with jump shots and driving to the rim.
Kennard ended his prep career as the second highest scorer in Ohio state history with 2,997 points, only trailing former Ohio State guard Jon Diebler.
QUOTE: He doesnt have to force me to play him, coach Mike Krzyzewski said after the teams first exhibition game. Hes played great. I think, to be quite frank with it, hes played the best overall since we started practice.
No. 3 G Grayson Allen | 6-5, 202, jr.
Beloved by Duke fans and despised by opposing fan bases, Allen is one of the most prolific scorers in the country. Hes a preseason All-American and the preseason ACC Player of the Year.
Through two games, Allen has picked up where left off last season. Hes averaging 20.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
A skilled driver, especially with his right hand, Allen took 32.6 percent of his shots at the rim last season, according to hoop-math.com. Hes only taken 14.3 percent of his shots at the rim in Dukes two games.
He hasnt shot the ball particularly well, 11 of 28 (39.3 percent), but knows how to earn trips to the free throw line, where hes shooting 81.3 percent (13 of 16).
Highlighted Dukes 2015 national championship with 16 points in 21 minutes.
QUOTE: I feel quicker, Allen told Sports Illustrated, noting he dropped 10 pounds in the offseason. Im not walking into the gym feeling sluggish. Thats going to be big if Im able to stay fresh game to game.
No. 13 G Matt Jones | 6-5, 204, sr.
His hamstring tightened up in Dukes first exhibition game, but there hasnt been any lingering effects. In two games, hes averaged 11 points, 4.5 rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Jones, who has a slower release compared to most shooters, shot 41.5 percent from behind the three-point line last year (76-of-183). Hes started slow this season at 28.6 percent (4-of-14).
Dukes best on-ball defender, Jones usually draws the assignment of the opposing teams top guard. Hes a big reason the Blue Devils held their first two opponents to an average of 55 points on 16.2 percent shooting from deep.
Jones only played four minutes when the Blue Devils played Kansas in the 2013 Champions Classic. He was scoreless, missing a three-pointer and two free throws.
QUOTE: Im really excited about my growth, Jones said. I feel like Ive became a man just through all the ups and downs that Ive been through. As far as my game goes, Im more confident than ever but mentally I feel like thats where Ive had my biggest growth spurt and thats what I hang my hat on.
No. 2 F Chase Jeter | 6-10, 230, soph.
Duke forward Chase Jeter (2) blocks a shot by Marist guard Brian Parker, lower left, as Marist center Kentrall Brooks (1) and forward Isaiah Lamb (4) watch during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Friday, Nov. 11, 2016.
Jeter earned his first two career starts this season, averaging seven points, five rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 1.5 steals. He set career highs with 11 points and eight rebounds in the season opener against Marist.
He was at the bottom of Dukes rotation last season. He didnt have enough strength necessary to battle inside for layups or play strong post defense without fouling.
The Las Vegas native took 73.7 percent of his shots at the rim last year, but only had a 60.7 field goal percentage on those shots, per hoop-math.com. This season, hes improved those numbers to 83.3 percent shots at the rim and hes made 80 percent.
His father, Chris, played basketball at UNLV and was a reserve big man on the 1989-90 national championship team.
QUOTE: Im finally coming into my own here at Duke, Jeter said. I always knew I could do this and its just finally happening for me now. Its much different than last year for me, being able to get in and be composed and have that type of mindset to be relaxed out there on the court.
No. 21 F Amile Jefferson | 6-9, 224, r-sr.
Jefferson is Dukes glue guy that does the dirty work, is an extra coachs voice on the court and helps all of his teammates play better. He missed the final 27 games last year with a right foot fracture and the Blue Devils certainly missed his presence.
Back on the court following a medical redshirt season, Jefferson is averaging 10 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks per game. Hes shot 7-for-11 from the floor.
One of the best offensive rebounders in school history, Jefferson entered this season ranked sixth on Dukes all-time career list with 277 offensive boards.
An efficient scorer in the post with a steady dose of dunks and layups, he ranks second in Duke history in field goal percentage (.624). He only trails Carlos Boozer, who shot .631 from the floor.
When Duke played Kansas in the Champions Classic in 2013, Jefferson scored 17 points in 26 minutes, making 7 of his 9 shots. He added two rebounds, one assist and one turnover.
QUOTE: Hes just evolving. Hes a really good basketball player, and he doesnt have a position, Krzyzewski said at the teams media day. If he gets a rebound, he can bring it up the court and hed be our so-called point guard. He can make really good decisions and he can defend multiple positions, and hes a great guy to lead our full-court pressure.
DUKE BENCHNo. 15 G Frank Jackson | 6-3, 205, fr.
After Derryck Thornton transferred at the end of last season, Jackson became the de facto point guard though hes played off of the bench in the first two games and hes more of a scoring guard.
In his first two collegiate games, Jackson has shown the same level of scoring that made him so successful in high school. Hes averaging 19.5 points per game in 25 minutes, adding a total of five rebounds, six assists, four steals and five turnovers. He was named the ACC Freshman of the Week.
Jackson is shooting 50 percent from deep, making 5 of his first 10 attempts this year.
His father, Al, was appointed to state senator in Utah. He resigned in July to move to Virginia for a new job.
QUOTE: Frank did a great job of that tonight coming off the bench and playing with a verve, lifting our team up, Jefferson said after Saturdays game. Hes crafty, hes quick and he understands the spacing of the floor for where he needs to be to be most advantageous.
No. 12 F Javin DeLaurier | 6-10, 220, fr.
Quietly hiding in Dukes star-studded freshmen recruiting class, DeLaurier impresses with his athleticism.
In Dukes first two games, he was the second player off of the bench. But he only played a few seconds in the first half against Grand Canyon, so its really a six-man rotation.
The Shipman, Va., native has scored eight points in 23 minutes, shooting 4-of-4 from the floor. Hes added nine rebounds and six fouls.
His mother, Cta, earned Atlantic 10 Tournament MVP honors in 1993 while playing for Rutgers.
No. 30 C Antonio Vrankovic | 7-0, 261, soph.
Marist guard Khallid Hart (5) drives past Duke center Antonio Vrankovic (30) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Friday, Nov. 11, 2016. Duke won 94-49.
He appeared in five games last year, only in blowouts. But injuries have forced him into the front-court rotation. He doesnt have a polished offensive game, but can use his height to grab rebounds.
A Delray Beach, Fla., native, Vrankovic has scored seven points in 24 minutes during Dukes first two games, grabbing 12 rebounds and dishing two assists. Hes only made 40 percent of his shots at the rim, according to hoop-math.com.
His father, Stojiko, played five seasons in the NBA and won Olympic silver medals in 1988 and 1992 with Yugoslavia.
No. 41 F Jack White | 6-7, 215, fr.
From Australia, White made a name for himself during international play. He averaged 8.3 points and 3.9 rebounds in 11 games at the FIBA U-19 World Championships.
During the first two games of the season, White has played sparingly. Hes scored eight points in 16 minutes, make six of his eight free throws.
No. 0 F Jayson Tatum | 6-8, 205, fr.
Out with a sprained foot that he suffered in a preseason practice/showcase for NBA scouts.
"We"ve got to be careful not to get these guys coming back too soon," Krzyzewski said. "Jayson was doing great. I think we put him in practice a little too soon, and I think that hurt him. We"re just going to shut those guys down for a while."
No. 20 C Marques Bolden | 6-11, 245, fr.
Out with a lower-leg injury that Krzyzewski said was too difficult to explain. There wasnt an event (that caused it). Sometimes you wake up, and it"s something you didn"t notice."
No. 1 F Harry Giles | 6-10, 240, fr.
After suffering two major knee injuries during high school, Giles underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in October. Its expected he will take the longest to return to the court among the three injured freshmen.
In a nice story by ESPNs Dana ONeil, Giles is hoping to play in his friends memory.
There is a moment early in the 1986 classic Hoosiers, when Coach Norman Dale introduces his new team to the fans at Hickory High School.
Its just a six man team at this point well, more like five and a half with Ollie as the sixth man. Buddy Luper has quit the team, threatening to transfer to Terhune, and the gifted Jimmy Chitwood has decided not to play basketball.
As the team lines up across the court, the fans who jam the stands start chanting, We want Jimmy We want Jimmy! (Apparently, nobody is upset by Buddys absence).
Gene Hackman, as Coach Dale, grabs the microphone and quiets the crowd.
I would hope you would support who we are and not who we are not, he tells them, gesturing to the six players behind him. This is our team!
I cant help thinking about that scene as I watch Dukes No. 1 ranked basketball team prepare to take on Kansas tonight in New York City. The truth is, the team that will wear the Duke blue tonight in The Garden is not the team voted No. 1 in almost every preseason poll. Its not the team expected to cut down the nets in April. Its not the team Blue Devil fans have been dreaming of for the entire offseason.
This team lacks its own Jimmy Chitwood and Buddy Luper.
Duke enters the season missing three potential NBA lottery picks. forward Harry Giles, forward Jayson Tatum and center Marques Bolden. With those three gifted big men healthy and fully integrated into the rotation, Duke is a superteam and would be heavily favored against any college team in the country.
But that is not who we are at this moment.
The Duke team that opened the season with lopsided victories over Marist (a very weak opponent) and Grand Canyon (somewhat better, but still outclassed) is a very good basketball team probably about as good as last years team was at its best.
The Devils have three explosive wing scorers junior Grayson Allen, sophomore Luke Kennard and freshman Frank Jackson -- and two seniors who are GREAT complementary players Amile Jefferson and Matt Jones.
The post situation is not much better than last year. Jefferson is an accomplished player on the boards and defensively, while sophomore Chase Jeter has made major strides in his sophomore season, but remains a work in progress. Neither is much of an offensive threat.
Thats too bad because Kansas almost exactly mirrors Duke.
The Jayhawks played a majority of three-guard offense in their opening night loss to Indiana with slender 6-8 freshman Josh Jackson actually seeing considerable time at the four. Their nominal big men soph Carlton Bragg and senior Landen Lucas -- combined for 23 points and a mere 11 rebounds in the 45-minute overtime game. The Jayhawks were abused inside by Indianas 7-foot Thomas Bryant.
It would be nice to see what Giles or Bolden could do in the post, but stop thinking that they are not going to be there. Id like to think that Jefferson and Jeter could hold their own defensively and in the boards.
Then it comes down to a shootout between Dukes Big Three and the Kansas trio of Frank Mason (great against Indiana), Devonte Graham and Josh Jackson.
Its a game the Duke team we all dream of would be heavily favored.
But its a game the Duke team as it currently exists will have to play at a high level to win. Its much like last year when the Devils were on their game, they were good enough to win at UNC and beat such teams as Virginia and Louisville. On nights when it was not clicking, the 2016 Devils could lose at home to Notre Dame or on the road at Clemson.
Last years team was a Sweet 16 team.
Its much too early to categorize this team.
Remember, in Hoosiers, Luper rejoined the team and Jimmy Chitwood eventually decided it was time to play some basketball. They sparked Hickory to the state championship.
At some point, Giles, Tatum and Bolden will return to action and that will transform a very good Duke team as now exists into a great Duke team, a potential championship team.
I know that Krzyzewski has discouraged speculation as to the return dates for the three missing players, but I also know that the staff thinks it wont be that long. Try to be patient its still early. If we get to Christmas and one or two or (G*d forbid!) all three are still out, then we can start to worry.
Its understandable that Duke fans are concerned. Injuries have been the bane of Dukes program in recent years. At least two national championship favorites have been derailed by injuries:
-- 2011: Before Kyrie Irving got hurt in his eighth game, Duke was unquestionably the best team in college basketball. Coach K once said that he thought the 11 Devils could have been undefeated without that loss. Irving returned for the NCAA Tournament, but the team never regained its chemistry.
-- 2013: Before Ryan Kelly was hurt in January, Duke was once again the clearcut best team in college basketball a claim proven by an unbeaten record against the toughest schedule in the country. Kelly returned late, but despite a memorable comeback game against Miami, he never regained full speed. Plus, star guard Seth Curry was plagued all year with a stress fracture. Duke was eliminated by eventual champion Louisville a team the Devils beat in November in the Elite Eight.
Two other seasons, injuries spoiled what could have been Final Four, even (with luck) national title chances:
-- 2012: Duke was 26-5 and No. 6 in that nation when Ryan Kelly was hurt in practice before the ACC Tournament. Without that key cog, the Devils scratched out one win over Virginia Tech, but fell in close games to Florida State (the eventual ACC champ) and Lehigh to close the season. Probably not a title team without the injury, but one that could have won the ACC championship and should have gone deep into the NCAA Tournament. It was after all a team that beat Kansas, Michigan and Michigan State on neutral courts and UNC in Chapel Hill.
-- 2016: No telling how good the 16 Devils could have been with a healthy Amile Jefferson. The team actually struggled at times early when he was healthy, but that was due to the growing pains of Grayson Allen and Brandon Ingram. They were just starting to click as Jefferson was lost, leaving Duke desperately short-handed in the frontcourt. The team did reach the Sweet 16, but might have made a much deeper run with a healthy roster.
Will we look back on 2017 as another might-have-been?
Or will we be watching a juggernaut in March, barely remembering out injury concerns of November?
We all understand, its not how you start that matters, but how you finish. Coach K is coaching this team to be strong in March, not in November. Its not worth risking Jayson Tatum or Harry Giles or Marques Bolden to beat Kansas. And it wont be worth rushing any of them in a few weeks to beat Michigan State.
Especially since the team that we are now, could be good enough to win those games. What does that say about the depth of this roster that Duke could be without three freshmen lottery picks and STILL be competitive against the best teams in college basketball?
***
The first weekend of the new basketball season was pretty lackluster from an ACC perspective.
Not bad the league went 18-1. Thos only loss was by Boston College, which we knew was going to be awful this season. Oh, N.C. State and Pitt flirted with disaster at home, but each avoided a resume-busting loss.
The blah part of the equation was the low level of competition. Clemsons homecourt win over Georgia was probably the best victory of the weekend, especially with point guard Sheldon Mitchell sidelined.
There will be better tests later this week as several ACC teams start holiday tournament play. That will give us a better gage on the strength of the league.
I should note one disappointing aspect of the last week the poor start by the ACC as the early signing period opened.
Yes, Duke got Gary Trent and hopes to hear some good news in the next day or two from Wendell Carter, but the Devils are always going to recruit well.
However, one reason the ACC is as strong as it is this year is the breath of its recruiting success in recent years. Its no coincidence that six of the 2016 top 15 recruiting classes belong to the ACC.
Thats not the case this year not so far.
Late last week, ACC teams suffered a number of blows usually at the hands of the SEC.
Okay, Kentucky beating Syracuse for Nick Richards and beating UNC for P.J. Washington is no surprise. But it was disappointing to see N.C. State lose Collin Sexton (the No. 10 prospect on the country) to Alabama or to see Georgia beat FSU and Georgia Tech for Rayshaun Hammonds.
Its one thing to lose out to Kentucky on the recruiting trail, but when you see Alabama and Georgia kick ACC-b**t, its a bad sign.
Of course, there is still plenty of time to make up ground in recruiting. Plus, well get to test the theory that the SEC other than Kentucky is the place blue chip prospects go to die (or play in the NIT, which is basically the same thing). Well see if Sexton and Hammonds follow in the footsteps of Ben Simmons and Malik Newman.
It is 30 years ago, and the 1985-86 season. An earnest young coach has been struggling to get his program to full blossom, but now has seniors hardened by adversity. They went 11-17 as freshman, and 3-11 in their unforgiving league. But they are so much older now, and they are ready.
MARCH MADNESS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
JOIN THE TEAM.
This is Duke. And it is dawn of the Mike Krzyzewski empire.
Thirty years later, they remember how it was and what it meant, the Blue Devils of 1986. How they won 37 games, and carried Krzyzewski, in his sixth season, to his first Final Four. How they set the table for the enormous Duke glory to come. And how they fell one half short of a happy ending.
From Johnny Dawkins, then the star and now the coach at Stanford: "I think its special for all of us. Everything has a beginning, and that was the beginning of what Coach has put together. Who could have dreamed what would happen?"
From Jay Bilas, then the starting forward, and now an ESPN analyst: "There were certainly times we talked about laying a foundation, especially when we were first there, and building a winning culture there. But I think we also wanted to win for ourselves, instead of trying to become some sort of founding fathers."
Rich Clarkson | NCAA Photos
From Tommy Amaker, then the point guard and now the coach at Harvard: "Maybe you didnt know it as much at the time, but as you moved on, you realized how fortunate you were to be part of it. Sometimes, the floodgates can open after cracking something."
And from the coach who still toils for Duke, as he did then, 30 years and 12 Final Fours and five national championships ago.
"Certainly there wouldnt be a second time unless you had a first time,"Krzyzewski said. "To have a first time going to the Final Four is like a rite of passage for your program, for a coach, for a player.
"The 86 team is really the rock for our program, and I love all those guys."
The record will show the 1986 Duke team finished 37-3, and entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 ranked team the first of seven Krzyzewski teams to do that. It will show four veteran seniors Dawkins, Bilas, Mark Alarie and David Henderson teamed with junior Amaker for the starting lineup, with Danny Ferry and Billy King first off the bench.
It will show they fought off No. 2 Kansas 71-67 at the Final Four in Dallas the last of 11 ranked opponents they beat that season to land in the national championship game, all set for one shining moment. But then ran into Louisville and a most precocious freshman Pervis Ellison and lost 72-69.
It will show they eventually went their separate ways to real life success after their playing days. Dawkins and Amaker to coaching, Henderson to coaching and scouting, Bilas to law and the broadcast booth, Alarie to investment-money management, Ferry and King to NBA front offices.
And it will show the coach they left behind kept stacking great Duke seasons one atop another, until he was a legend.
"Getting to the Final Four and playing the national championship game is a stamp that you can do it," Krzyzewski said. "Look, you can say youre going to do it, but until you do it, you havent done it. So theres a road map that you followed, and it worked. Now the fact that youve done it, can you do it again? In that nine-year period, we went seven of the nine years, so we followed the road map pretty well."
It was a special season from the start. A pre-season NIT championship led to a surge through December and January. The Blue Devils lost back-to-back games to Georgia Tech and North Carolina in January, but those would be the only stumbles. By March, they had given Duke its first sole ACC regular season title in 20 years, and added a conference tournament title, with a one-point win over Georgia Tech.
"I was sure of character when I recruited them," Krzyzewski said. "Theyre all so smart, successful, people-savvy, highly ambitious and team players. They had every ingredient that you would want to build a championship-level team with."
They were also a collection of accomplished young men, knowing where they wanted to go in basketball, and life. Dawkins still remembers postgame tomfoolery, when Bilas the future broadcaster -- would pretend to be interviewing his teammates with a fake microphone. He would do that from time to time, grab a fork or a spoon and say, "Hey, whatd you think about the game?" You kind of knew he might end up going that direction."
RELATED: The world was a much different place the last time Duke wasn"t in the AP Top 25
They entered the NCAA Tournament driven by memories of disappointment. They had narrowly lost in the second round in 1984 and 85, by two points to Washington and one to Boston College. "We werent going out like we did the previous two years," Dawkins said. "That was not happening."
Except, they almost did in the first round, against No. 16 seed Mississippi Valley State. Duke was pressured into 23 turnovers, trailed by seven points in the second half, couldnt get the lead until under the 12-minute mark, and escaped 85-78.
Krzyzewski remembers his team being worn down a bit by the ACC grind, and how fearlessly and well the underdog opponents played.
Bilas remembers the red shoes of Mississippi Valley State coach Lafayette Stribling, and how hard it was to chase the Delta Devils spread offense. "It was not a pleasant 40 minutes."
Amaker remembers the second half and how Johnny just took over. He put us on his back. Dawkins scored 16 of his 27 points in the final 12 minutes.
Dawkins remembers what a close call it was, and the lesson from it.
"I still use that example in every one of my coaching years when we get to the tournament. I will never forget the game. It was basically 1 vs. 64."
Bilas has a postscript.
"After the game, some of the Mississippi Valley State players came into our locker room. We were like, "d**n, you guys are good." They asked if they could get our autographs. We said, "You guys were kicking our a*s out there and you want our autograph?"
"We could have been the first No. 1 seed to lose."
It was the quintessential survive-and-advance. "I think that really propelled us from that point on," Dawkins said.
Next came Old Dominion and DePaul. Then Navy with David Robinson, to get to the Final Four. Then second-ranked Kansas, for Dukes 21st win in a row. That left only 31-7 Louisville.
The Blue Devils led 37-34 at halftime, but the Cardinals could not be held back. Ellison scored 25 points, becoming the first freshman in 42 years to be named Most Outstanding Player at the Final Four. The Duke team that shot 52 percent for the season hit only 40.3 percent that night.
Thirty years later, the pain is still there.
Amaker: "It was kind of hard for us to stomach that we didnt capture it all, given the kind of year we had, and the run we were on, and the team we had assembled . . . thats why it still cuts us today."
Dawkins, who scored 24 points and averaged 25.5 for the tournament: I remember an airball shot that Pervis tipped back in late. I remember them defending me differently, switching and keeping different guys on me, which was something I hadnt seen that much that year.
"Ive never rewatched that game. Im still getting over that one. You can tell 30 years later. Theres a good chance I wont ever get over it."
Krzyzewski: When I look back on the 86 team, I wish I was older coaching them. I think I did a good job with them, as good as I thought I could do. But they were a team worthy of winning it all, and where they came from, 11-17 to 37-3, is really one of the great journeys in the history of college basketball.
"The Final Four, I thought our game against Kansas was a war. Kansas was so good and we won a war. In playing Louisville, they were outstanding and coached by one of the great coaches in Denny Crum, and I thought we ran out of gas the last 10 minutes. I think Louisville had a lot to do with that but I also think the semifinal game had something to do with that."
Bilas: We went to something we had gone to most every game that we played that year. We called it 2-3 motion and every time we went into, we never lost. And that was the one time we lost. Some people say we took our foot off the gas too early. Some said we were tired. Nobody ever said we were tired when we won. We got beat, and we got beat by a really good team.
"There was this talk about where that Duke team fit in among the greatest teams to ever play, and if you win that championship game youre not only national champs, we would have won 38 games. Thirty-eight would still be standing (as a record, with 2012 Kentucky). It would have put us sort of in that mythical category among the greatest teams to ever play. When we lost, all that talk went away. The difference between winning and losing might be a bucket, but it seems in other ways its a world away.
So it was frustrating at the end. But look what it started.
Thirty years later, those Blue Devils are still close, still chat with one another, text, remember.
Amaker on Krzyzewski: Knowing what he has been able to accomplish and become such an icon, to be able to say we were a part of the beginning of that for him, that feels really cool. Thats one of the things that helped me do what were trying to do at Harvard. We talked a lot about trying to win our first Ivy League championship five years ago (and four more since), and we mentioned that in some of the stories in recruiting. How wonderful its going to feel to know that you were one of the early ones.
Bilas: To me, the honor is I get to say I played for Coach K. I get to say Johnny Dawkins was my teammate. Mark Alarie was my teammate. Tommy Amaker was my teammate. David Henderson was my teammate. Thats honor enough for anybody.
Dawkins: We were fortunate to be at the beginning. Ill carry that experience with me for the rest of my life. I think it made me a better person.
Said Krzyzewski, That team was as good as any team Ive coached at Duke.
And they will always be his first to get the Final Four. Right?
Id rather, Bilas said, be the first one to have won it.
Duke vs #13 Louisville Basketball 2016 (Full Game)
Duke and North Carolina, two of college basketball"s bluest blue bloods, square off Wednesday (9 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Chapel Hill with four 247Sports Composite five-stars on each side. Here is a look at the ranking and college production of each teams top eight players.
Theo Pinson is contributing as a sophomore, but next season could see him break out. (Photo: Robert L. Poston/CarolinaBlue)
No. 5 NORTH CAROLINA (21-4)
*Senior forward Brice Johnson, No. 45 in 247Sports Composite, class of 2012
Johnson made a huge impression at the Peach Jam in July prior to his senior year with his athletic and bouncy game. Prior to that showcase, there had been flashes and potential was evident, but production wasnt always there.
At North Carolina, Johnson has blossomed into the Tar Heels leading scorer and rebounder at double-double clip of 16.4 points and 10 rebounds per game. As a lower-level top 50 prospect, Johnson has positioned himself as a No. 42 pick in this years draft by Draft Express.
*Senior guard Marcus Paige, No. 31 in 247Sports Composite, class of 2012
Marcus Paige was a consistently high producer on the travel team circuit. The questions that kept the Iowa product just out of the five-star range were his explosiveness as an athlete at his size. There was no doubt, however, about his high skill level and ability to run a team.
Paige has consistently developed over his four years at UNC and is the unquestioned leader of the squad. As a senior he is averaging 13 points and 3.7 assists to only 1.1 turnovers per game. He is projected as the No. 49 pick in the draft per Draft Express.
*Sophomore guard Joel Berry, No. 30 in 247Sports Composite, class of 2014
Carolina post presence is a double-double machine. (Photo: Matt Cashore, USA TODAY Sports)
Like Marcus Paige, Joel Berry was a consistent high-level performer at point guard on the travel team circuit. His ranking wavered on the four-star/five-star border throughout and he finished as a very high four-star player.
As a sophomore he has established himself as one of the more critical pieces of the UNC puzzle with his tough play and production of 12.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 4.2 rebounds per game.
*Sophomore forward Justin Jackson, No. 9 in 247Sports Composite, class of 2014
With his length and scoring ability, Justin Jackson was always considered a five-star prospect coming out of Spring, Texas two years ago ranked ahead of current NBA wings like Trey Lyles, Justise Winslow and Devin Booker.
Jackson finished his freshman year on a strong note but hasnt wowed scouts in his sophomore year. His stock has flatlined and he is considered a bubble first/second round draft prospect. He is averaging 12.1 points and 3.8 points per game while only shooting 24 percent from three.
*Junior center Kennedy Meeks, No. 58 in 247Sports Composite, class of 2013
Kennedy Meeks always intrigued me with his overall skill level. The question was ability to run and keep up with the game. He, nonetheless was named a McDonalds All American and held his own during the events practices and game.
He dropped the necessarily weight and has been a valuable contributor to the program throughout his three years in Chapel Hill. So far this year he is averaging 10.6 points and 10.6 rebounds per game in 21.9 minutes of play. He is considered a second round pick if he enters the draft this year.
Duke guard Grayson Allen is making the case for All-America honors. (Photo: Mark Dolejs, USA TODAY Sports)
*Junior forward Isaiah Hicks, No. 16 in 247Sports Composite, class of 2013
Isaiah Hicks was a promising athletic prospect coming out of high school. The read, however, was that he was a long term project considering his raw skill set to go with his 6-foot-8 frame.
It has been a slow and steady progression, though, as Hicks has settled into his role as a player off the bench. The promising thing is his minutes have increased each season and so has his production, with 9.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.
*Junior guard Nate Britt, No. 121 in 247Sports Composite, class of 2013
Nate Britt hit the national scene early on as a highly ranked point guard prospect. His ranking dropped dramatically throughout his high school career and he finished as a three-star recruit.
As a junior he has been a valuable reserve, playing 16.9 minutes while putting up 6.5 points and 2 assists per game.
*Sophomore forward Theo Pinson, No. 15 in 247Sports Composite, class of 2014
Theo Pinson was a name on the travel circuit for multiple years with his athletic game. But even as a low five-star prospect, Pinson engendered questions about his shooting range and overall skill level.
Next year looks to be the breakout year for Pinson as flashes of brilliance have occurred over the first two years at UNC. This year he is averaging 5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3 assists per game in 19.9 minutes of game.
No. 20 DUKE (19-6)
*Sophomore guard Grayson Allen, No. 25 in 247Sports Composite, class of 2014
Grayson Allen caught my eye in high school with his scoring ability and fearlessness attacking the basket. With questions about his ability to defend and involve teammates, his ranking hovered on that four-star/five-star border.
His freshman year was largely uneventful until he played a pivotal roll in Dukes National Championship win. Allen carried that momentum into his sophomore year leading the team in scoring at 20.6 points per game while also averaging 4.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game while paling a team leading 35.3 minutes per game. He scored the game-winning bucket against Virginia on Saturday.
*Freshman forward Brandon Ingram, No. 3 in 247Sports Composite, class of 2015
Ingram was considered a high five-star prospect coming out of the travel team circuit prior to his senior season. Concerns lingered, however, about his ability to produce against more physical competition. During the McDonalds All American Game practices, Ingram was a dominant performer and impressed NBA scouts as much as No. 1 ranked Ben Simmons.
Ingrams freshman year at Duke, however, started out slower than expected, and the earlier questions about him quickly came up again. Then the thoroughbred settled in and has established himself as a go-to player, averaging 17.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Draft Express currently has him slated as the No. 2 pick in this years draft.
*Freshman guard Luke Kennard, No. 21 in 247Sports Composite, class of 2015
Luke Kennard put up mega numbers for his high school in Ohio, surpassing LeBron James as the all-time scorer in the state. The five-star shooting guard was a lethal threat on the travel circuit as well.
Production has been up and down as a freshman for Duke, but Kennard has established himself as an integral contributor, averaging 12 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. When he gets hot from downtown, watch out.
*Junior guard Matt Jones, No. 37 in 247Sports Composite, class of 2013
Matt Jones was a McDonalds All American despite being at the end of the top 40 according to the industry driven 247Sports Composite,
After hardly playing as a freshman, Jones played an important role in Year 2, logging 21.7 minutes and scoring 6 points per game. As a junior, Jones is averaging 11.7 points in 33.7 minutes of action per game while shooting 41.3 percent from three-point range.
*Senior forward Amile Jefferson, No. 30 in 247Sports Composite, class of 2012
Amile Jefferson hovered on the 247Sports Composite five-star range as some scouts saw him as a go-to type scorer to go along with his strong all-around play down low while others saw didnt see him as a go-to scorer and thought he was a little undersized for his position.
Jefferson worked his way up in minutes to just over 20 per game his sophomore and junior years, averaging just over 6 points and 6 rebounds per game. Before suffering a prolonged foot injury this year, he was averaging a double-double of 11.4 points and 10.3 rebounds in 30.3 minutes per game. Jefferson is eligible for a medical redshirt if he doesn"t return this season.
*Freshman guard Derryck Thornton, No. 14 in 247Sports Composite
Derryck Thornton was a member of the 2016 class with the capability of moving up to the 2015 class. When Duke realized Tyus Jones was likely headed to the NBA, head coach Mike Krzyzewski convinced the five-star point guard to move up to 2016 and join the Blue Devils.
Thrown into a tough position, Thornton has averaged 25.8 minutes, scoring 8.1 points and dishing 2.7 assists to 1.8 turnovers per game.
*Senior center Marshall Plumlee, No. 62 in 247Sports Composite, class of 2011
Marshall Plumlee certainly had the lineage of two older brothers playing at Duke, but the rawness of the youngest Plumlee kept him out of the top 50 range. Regardless of ranking, Plumlee was named a McDonalds All American.
After averaging less than 10 minutes per game his first three years at Duke, Plumlee has evolved into a critical component of the Duke attack, playing 30.1 minutes while averaging 8.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game.
*Freshman forward Chase Jeter, No. 15 in 247Sports Composite, class of 2015
Chase Jeter was a standout at both Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman High School and on the travel team circuit. The five-star product earned McDonalds All American honors.
Jeter has struggled to find the court as a freshman, playing only 7.1 minutes per game. The expectation is that he will develop into an impact player next year.
Jerry Meyer is the Director of Basketball Scouting for 247Sports
A New Reason to Love March - 247 Realtime Brackets
DURHAM, N.C. Duke junior guard Rasheed Sulaimon has been dismissed from the Duke basketball program as announced by head coach Mike Krzyzewski Thursday. Sulaimon remains in good academic standing and is expected to finish the spring semester.
Rasheed has been unable to consistently live up to the standards required to be a member of our program, said Krzyzewski. It is a privilege to represent Duke University and with that privilege comes the responsibility to conduct oneself in a certain manner. After Rasheed repeatedly struggled to meet the necessary obligations, it became apparent that it was time to dismiss him from the program.
Sulaimon averaged 10.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game over 90 contests as a Blue Devil. The Houston, Texas, native posted a .391 career three-point field goal percentage (115-of-294) and scored in double-figures 49 times. Sulaimon earned ACC All-Freshman Team honors in 2013 after averaging 11.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. As a sophomore, he shot a career-best 41.0 percent (43-of-105) from three-point range but saw his scoring drop to 9.9 points per game due to inconsistent play on both ends of the floor.
Sulaimon averaged 7.5 points. 2.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game this season. He was 52-of-126 (.413) from the field and 23-of-57 (.404) from three-point range.
Duke travels to Charlottesville Saturday for matchup with No. 2 Virginia (7pm ESPN).
