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Lineup 16.4 | February 2012
ON THE COVER THE SEASON
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Austin’s Buzzer-Beater
Recap of one of the all-time great Duke/UNC games
FRONTCOURT 4
Opening Tip
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Players Lounge
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Crazies
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BACKCOURT 38
Quick Hitters
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On Campus
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LA’s Corner
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NBA Blue Devils
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Emily K Center
New Jerseys, History Lesson, USA Basketball Mason Plumlee - Academic All-American Dogs
Luol Deng, Kyrie Irving EKC visits Coach K Court
AND ONE STRENGTH/CONDITIONING
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THE BELT
Miles Plumlee wins impressive new award
National Champions 1991, 1992, 2001, 2010 Final Fours 1963, 1964, 1966, 1978, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2010 ACC Champions ‘54, ‘58, ‘60, ‘63, ‘64, ‘65, ‘66, ‘78, ‘79, ‘80, ‘86, ‘88, ‘91, ‘92, ‘94, ‘97, ‘98, ‘99, ‘00, ‘01, ‘02, ‘03, ‘04, ‘05, ‘06, ‘09, ‘10, ‘11
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OPENING TIP
LET’S GO! A point of emphasis each season with Coach K’s Duke teams is enthusiasm. These pictures taken this season are examples of what the coaching staff likes to see, with teammates supporting each other and excited for the team’s success. Pictured left: Tyler Thornton, Mason Plumlee, Josh Hairston, Alex Murphy, Marshall Plumlee and Todd Zafirovski.
Photography by Jon Gardiner (left) 5 DukeBluePlanet.com Mike/Dave Bradley (above)
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OPENING TIP
CHAPEL THRILL Austin Rivers and the Blue Devils stunned the capacity crowd of 21,750 at the Smith Center with one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the Duke/UNC rivalry. Rivers scored a careerhigh 29 points including his three-pointer at the buzzer as Duke rallied from 10 down in the final 2:15. The 85-84 victory was Duke’s fifth win in the past six games against UNC.
Photography by Mike Bradley DukeBluePlanet.com
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OPENING TIP
PLATINUM PLUMLEES Sporting Duke’s new platinum uniforms, Plumlee brothers Mason and Miles were double trouble for Maryland. The brothers combined for just one fewer rebound (32) than the entire Terrapin team as Duke muscled past Maryland 73-55. Miles scored 13 points and collected a Coach K-era record 22 rebounds, while Mason added 16 points and 10 boards.
Photography by Mike Bradley DukeBluePlanet.com
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DUKE v. NCSU Feb. 16, 2012
*Duke trailed by 16 at halftime, rallying for the largest second-half comeback of the Coach K era (and the second largest in Duke Basketball history). *In the last 11:06, Duke went 10-for16 from the floor with no turnovers. NC State was 4-for-17 with five turnovers in that span. *After trailing by 20 with 11:30 left, Duke closed the game outscoring NC State 37-12. *If Duke had outscored NC State over the entire 40 minutes at the same rate as the final 11:20, the Blue Devils would have won by more than 85 points. *Duke closed the game with scoring runs of 13-0 and 20-3. *The last time NC State beat a Coach K-led Duke team in Cameron was 1988. Seth Curry was born in 1990. 10
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OPENING TIP
HISTORIC COMEBACK After falling behind by 20 with 11:30 left, Duke rallied for a 78-73 win over NC State in Cameron. Seth Curry scored 21 of his careerhigh 26 points in the second half.
Photography by Mike Bradley DukeBluePlanet.com
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OPENING TIP
BOSTON 3 PARTY After BC jumped out to a 13-7 lead, Duke held the Eagles scoreless over the next 9:11 and without a field goal for the next 14:12. BC went 0-of-12 from the floor during the field-goal drought as Duke went on an 18-3 run. The Blue Devils rolled to a 75-50 win, hitting 10 3’s in the game and dominating the boards, 45-21. The 25-point win is Duke’s largest margin of victory in an ACC game since the 82-50 win over UNC in 2010.
Photography by Dave Bradley DukeBluePlanet.com
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OPENING TIP
ROAD WARRIORS Andre Dawkins scored 12 points in a three-minute span, sparking a 14-4 spurt midway through the first half that gave the Blue Devils a 26-17 lead. FSU battled back to within three points late in the second half but crucial 3’s by Ryan Kelly and Seth Curry helped seal it for Duke. Andre buried 6-of-9 from downtown and Austin Rivers scored 20 in the game. Duke was 13-for28 from 3-point range in the 74-66 win at No. 16 FSU. With the victory, Duke improved to 7-0 in ACC road games.
Photography by Dave Bradley DukeBluePlanet.com
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OPENING TIP
WORKING OVERTIME Virginia Tech banked in a 3 with 1:26 left for a 58-55 lead but the Blue Devils responded to force overtime and eventually win, 70-65. Austin Rivers led Duke with 23 points while Miles Plumlee collected 15 boards. “Whatever reservoir we had there at the end, we were able to get through,” said Coach K. “This team has a really good will to win. You have some shortcomings, which all teams do. At the end of the day, they have a will to win.”
Photography by Mike Bradley DukeBluePlanet.com
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BLUE DEVIL PROFILES
Miles PLUMLEE
Players Lounge
#21 Senior | 6’10”, 245 lbs Warsaw, IN | Christ School Favorite class at Duke Psychology of Business. It was fun. I felt like it was really applicable to what I want to do after college. Favorite movie Shawshank Redemption Favorite home-cooked meal My grandma’s rice Bucket list item I think I might want to sky-dive.
Pre-game ritual I just like to get in the hot tub, listen to music and get ready to play. Can You cook? I don’t know if this counts as cooking, but I like those things you buy in the frozen food section -- they’re scrambles and they’re full of sausage, potatoes and everything. You put that in the skillet and add like six eggs and mix it all together.
Skill you wish you had Computer programming
Who has had the biggest impact on your life My grandfather and my father -- just watching how hard they work their whole lives and what they’ve been through has really taught me a lot.
Who would play you in a movie? Will Ferrell
Coach K in one word Competitive
Favorite Durham restaurant Firebirds
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Memorable Duke play We were up 30 against UNC and Nolan threw a lob to me for a dunk. The crowd went crazy!
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Crazies SIXTH MAN
CRAZIES IN ACTION
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For Crazie photos:
http://www.blueplanetshots.com/ keyword/crazies
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“STORYBOOK” Austin Rivers caps unbelievable Duke comeback with epic buzzer-beater to lead Blue Devils to victory in Chapel Hill
DUKE 85 UNC 84 DukeBluePlanet.com
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Graph from KenPom.com
THE COMEBACK
This graph reflects the win probability for both Duke and UNC at each point in the game, based on a complex KenPom.com formula that considers time and score along with a variety of other stats for each team. With 2:38 left, the chance of UNC winning was around 95%.
• UNC bounces in a jumper for an 82-72 Tar Heels lead with 2:38 left. UNC calls timeout. • A Ryan Kelly 3-pointer is tipped, going out of bounds to the Blue Devils at 2:18. Nine seconds later, Tyler Thornton buries his first made shot of the game, a 3-pointer. Score: UNC 82-75. Time remaining: 2:09. • UNC again calls timeout. Time: 1:59. • Mason Plumlee steals UNC’s first pass after the Tar Heels had inbounded the ball out of the timeout. In transition, Mason passes to Tyler who finds Seth Curry on the left wing for a deep 3-ball, which he buries. Score: UNC 82-78. Time: 1:48. “I think that was worth more [than three],” said Coach K. “I was shocked by it. He was almost sitting in our lap.” • Duke’s leader in charges drawn, Ryan Kelly, steps in front of an out-of-control Harrison Barnes. Charge. Time: 1:23. • Ryan attempts a 3-pointer that misses, but he tracks down the rebound on the baseline, offers a nifty head fake and hits a jumper. Score: UNC 82-80. Time: 1:10. • Mason is called for a foul on Tyler Zeller. The UNC big man misses the first free throw and makes the second. Score: UNC 83-80. Time: 44.3 seconds. • Duke calls timeout with 20.3 seconds left. Ryan fires a 3-pointer from the wing that Tyler Zeller deflects into his own basket while attempting to rebound. Score: UNC 83-82. Time: 14.2 seconds. • UNC inbounds the ball to Zeller, who is quickly fouled by Thornton. The Duke PG heads to the bench with his fifth foul, giving Duke time to evaluate the situation and plan for the next possession. Zeller heads to the charity stripe, where he makes the first and misses the second. Score: UNC 84-82. Time: 13.9 seconds. • Mason corrals the rebound of Zeller’s missed free throw and hands the ball to Rivers without any hesitation. Austin has played great all game with five 3’s and 26 points. “He believes he should be in games like this and play well,”said Coach K afterward. “I’m sure he’s fantasized about hitting winning shots and putting himself in this situation.” • Austin takes the ball up the court to the left, dribbling towards the Duke bench guarded by UNC’s top perimeter defender, Reggie Bullock. Austin loses Bullock as he swings around Mason’s screen and the Tar Heels switch off, with Zeller (previously guarding Mason) sliding over to Austin. Time: 5 seconds.
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• Austin squares up with Zeller guarding him. With around 3 seconds left, Seth yells at Austin from the corner to go. Austin raises his left hand, offering the universal sign for “calm down, we’re cool.” The freshman sets up to shoot with 1.8 left and the ball leaves his finger tips with 1.0 on the clock. The ball drops through the net -- SWISH -- after time expires for Duke’s first lead of the second half. FINAL SCORE: Duke 85, UNC 84.
DUKE BASKETBALL
MOST MEMORABLE DUKE WINS AT UNC (Coach K Era)
1. (#10) Duke 85, (#5) UNC 84
February 8, 2012: Austin Rivers said earlier in the week, “I will have an impact on this game.” The freshman then poured in a career-high 29 points and Duke rallied from 10 down in the final 2:15. Austin’s 3-pointer as time expired capped one of the most dramatic Duke wins of all-time.
2. (#2) Duke 95, (#4) UNC 81
March 4, 2001: Duke’s outlook was somewhat bleak having just lost Carlos Boozer to a broken foot. However, Coach K altered Duke’s plan of attack and the Blue Devils launched 38 3’s, connecting on 14. Jason Williams torched the Heels with 33 points, Shane Battier added 25 and Duke jumpstarted it’s 2001 national title run in Chapel Hill.
3. (#9) Duke 70, (#2) UNC 69
January 21, 1988: Duke roared out in front 29-15 before UNC rallied to tie it at 69 with 1:24 to go. Danny Ferry got to the line to push Duke back in front and UNC missed four FG attempts in the final 30 seconds, including a block by Robert Brickey at the buzzer. The win was Duke’s first of three that season over UNC.
4. (#1) Duke 83, (#17) UNC 81
February 5, 2004: UNC hit a late 3 to force overtime but Chris Duhon responded with a late drive to push Duke ahead by two. UNC missed a 3 at the buzzer as Duke held on. Shelden Williams went for 22 points and 12 boards in the game.
5. (#1) Duke 81, (#14) UNC 61
February 27, 1999: Duke closed out the ACC’s only 16-0 regular season with a blowout win at the Smith Center. William Avery scored 24 points and Elton Brand had 17 points and 13 rebounds.
The first for Coach K...
(#2) Duke 93, (#6) UNC 77
January 19, 1985: Tied at 39 at halftime, the Blue Devils blitzed UNC 54-38 in the second half as Coach K earned his first win at UNC. Johnny Dawkins scored 34 points in the game and Jay Bilas added a double-double with 17 points and 11 boards. DukeBluePlanet.com 25
DUKE at UNC
THE CRAZIE
PERSPECTIVE By Mark Baden (Duke ‘12)
Mark (right) with Blue Planet editor Dave Bradley
Mark is a Senior Civil Engineering major at Duke planning to graduate in May, get married a few days later to his lovely fiancee Anna Beth Pezzoli, and begin a career in the United States Navy days after that. The Raleigh native is also president of the club basketball team and serves as the Battalion Commander of the Naval ROTC program. In addition, Mark assists with Blue Planet and attends every home basketball game.
I love Duke Basketball and have attended virtually every home game since I arrived on campus four years ago. There is no greater honor on campus than watching Coach K and his Blue Devils in Cameron. As much as I enjoy the team, I admit that I was hesitant about watching Round 1 of the Duke-Carolina matchup. In my mind, there was almost no way we were going to win that game on the road. I had never been over to Chapel Hill to watch Duke play but had observed every game on TV for as long as I can remember. On February 8th, however, I had a ticket that was three rows behind the Duke bench in the Smith Center with my name on it. I had to support the Blue Devils win or lose and I was curious to see how the Smith Center stacked up against my beloved Cameron Indoor Stadium. I intentionally arrived at the Smith Center approximately 45 minutes before the game to take in the pre-game atmosphere. The initial characteristics that stood out were the massive size, all of the concrete, and the blitz of baby blue. You can’t help but notice the banners hanging from the rafters either – from NIT appearances
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to National Championships and everything in between. The environment at the game was different than what I’ve experienced at Duke. There was a definite buzz in the air but it felt more like Augusta National or Churchill Downs with a reverence for the event as opposed to wild excitement. The sheer size of the place is daunting and UNC’s lineup with at least a few future NBA first-rounders is not for the faint of heart. The game started out favorably for us. The 3’s were falling and the Duke team looked as poised as I had seen them all year. However, grumbles in the crowd gave way to a loud eruption as UNC scored on a run-out to close the first half with a three-point lead. The Tar Heels jumped further ahead to start the second half, with Duke’s shots not falling like they were to start the game. Once UNC took a doubledigit lead, the teams began trading baskets. There was a feeling that Duke could not win the game, with fans relaxing in their seats and casually munching on popcorn. Meanwhile, in the Duke section, we were cheering for any positive momentum or possible turning point, even if the outcome seemed determined in UNC’s favor. Then, with about twoand-a-half minutes remaining, everything changed. Through a series of improbable events, aggressive defense and clutch shots, we suddenly not only were in the game but had a chance to win. Now, fast-forward to 13.9 seconds left. With the Tar Heels on the line for two
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shots clinging to a one-point lead, I leaned over and said, “If he misses one of these, we have to take the 3; win or lose, we’re getting the heck out of here.” Tyler Zeller missed the second attempt. My eyes widened. The crowd grew quiet and a nervous buzz filled the air as Austin Rivers crossed half court with the ball in his hands. 84-82, UNC leads. Here was the biggest difference between Duke and UNC I noticed from a crowd perspective all night, and probably the most important. At Duke, we assume that we will win every game in Cameron, capitalize on every opportunity, and get defensive stops when our backs are against the wall. As a result, we cheer down 20 points just the same as when we are up 20 and rolling. There are certainly times when it gets louder (scoring runs, big dunks), but that consistent belief in winning goes a long way. For example, the Crazies almost willed the team to victory in comeback wins against NC State this year and UNC last year. Down three with under 1:30 after a banked in triple by Virginia Tech? We will find a way. In 2005, UNC had a chance to win in Cameron on the last possession with a three-pointer. The end-of-game situation was similar to this game. On that day, Duke’s defense locked in behind a RAUCOUS crowd and UNC dribbled out of bounds as time expired. At Carolina, in the moment Austin had the game in his hands, there was more of a hushed hopefulness not to lose. Hands went to heads. The volume in the Dean Dome went to nothing in an instant as Austin’s shot went through at the buzzer and all that could be heard were the shocked shrieks and excited cheers of the 100 or so Duke fans who bravely ventured over to Chapel Hill. Proud tears filled the eyes of many of the Duke parents thrilled to see their sons so happy after defeating a superb UNC team. I jumped, looking at the scoreboard, realizing Duke’s only lead of the second half came with no time on the clock. In the first Duke/UNC game ever to be decided on a buzzer-beater, the Blue Devils had won 85-84. My first trip to Chapel Hill for Duke/UNC was ideal.
Screenshot of ESPN’s cameras tracking the Duke bench’s reaction to Austin’s amazing shot
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THE RIVALRY In a sports world filled with hype and hyperbole, Duke/UNC is one sports story that has lived up to its billing over the years. Consider: *In the last 76 meetings, Duke has scored a total of 5,943 points. North Carolina has scored 5,941. *Duke and UNC have won two of the past three national titles and four of the past 11. *Either Duke or UNC has been in five of the past eight Final Fours and 22 of the past 31. *Duke has been ranked No. 1 in the nation in 91 weeks since 1990 (tops in the nation). UNC is second. *Duke has been ranked No. 1 in 15 different seasons under Coach K (AP). Roy Williams ranks third (behind John Wooden) with 11. *Duke has produced a record 16 lottery picks. UNC has 15. *Duke has 16 alums in the NBA. UNC has 12. *Duke and UNC have alternated victories in the last 11 meetings in the Smith Center. The average score of those 11 games? Duke 78, North Carolina 77. *Duke’s win at UNC marked the 43rd time the teams have met with both teams ranked in the Top 10. Duke pulled ahead 22-21 in those meetings, with the Blue Devils holding a cumulative 3,293-3,286 edge in points. *UNC (105) and Duke (96) have won a combined 201 NCAA Tournament games.
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“North Carolina can knock you out, and we didn’t get knocked out. We won the last round. I’m not sure we won the whole fight, but the last round, we did.” -- Coach K
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Several days after the game, Austin’s shot had already been viewed over 1,000,000 times on YouTube.
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“I saw him backing off. It looked good. I said, ‘Please go in. It seemed like the ball was in the air 10 minutes. When the ball went in, my heart jumped. Best feeling of my life.” -- Austin Rivers
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RIVERS
RUNS THROUGH IT
Austin Rivers sat down with DukeBluePlanet and shared his thoughts on the season so far, his progression at Duke, the hype that has surrounded his high school/college career and more. Here’s Austin in his words.
It is such a simple statement and kind of vague: “You only live once.” But I have a lot of expectations and dreams. I’d die to achieve them and want to do anything to achieve them. I want to get better and basketball is my life. How can I get better? How I can achieve everything I want to achieve in college and so forth? I just like to go to the gym. It’s what I love to do. It’s how I’ve been raised. My family has always been spread out and I’ve had times where I’ve been alone so I just played basketball. That’s why you’ll see me in there at 2 AM. I don’t sleep that much, I just like to play basketball. It’s what I love to do and I think that love for the game helps me.
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a chip on my shoulder just because I’ve been known as my dad’s son. That always propelled me to work harder. Now that I have my own name, I want to keep that going and keep working and not be known just as a great high school or college player. That’s where I get my edge to prove people wrong. I’ll keep working until I do that. I don’t even really think or care about the hype and expectations though. I look at it like this: I was in high school, I worked hard, I played my game, my team won. Everything has come
“You’ve got to keep going forward. You can’t live in the past. You never can do that. You’ve got to keep attacking and building.”
I am always doing something with or around the game. I work out constantly, late night and early morning, whatever the case is. When I am away from basketball, I am a totally different guy. On the court, I am a cocky guy and I know I come off like that to a lot of people but that’s just how I am. I like to be aggressive and play my game whether shots are falling or not. I want to keep attacking and having fun and playing with my teammates and loving to win. Off the court, I am pretty quiet and like to settle down. I have a really small circle outside of basketball that I like to be with. And I am a movie buff. That’s what I do in my free time. I watch movies. I have seen thousands of movies. When I am not in the gym working, I like to watch movies and relax. Growing up around the game has driven me and I have always had 36
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with that. That’s how I look at it. I am at Duke now. I am trying to play hard and help the team win. Whatever hype comes with that… comes with that. I don’t even worry about the expectations or meeting them. No one can ever meet everyone’s expectations. The only expectations I want to meet are my own which at the end of the day are higher than most people’s anyway, and the expectations of my teammates
and team. I think our team has come along great. We had a totally new team to start the year. Guys were in new positions . People didn’t know each other. In the beginning, we did not want to know each other as much as we do now. We could beat teams on talent. Now, we’ve grown more into a team. When we play together, we actually look pretty scary. I think that’s the biggest thing we’ve accomplished. Looking ahead, we need to keep growing as a team and things will come along for us. Guys are starting to establish themselves. Our bigs are starting to establish themselves down in the paint. Our perimeter is coming along. If we keep doing that, we have a chance to make a run and do big things the rest of the season. I think I’ve played well all year. I had a stretch of two games where I struggled a little bit and I had to get myself together. I think that happens to every freshman. That’s part of basketball. The biggest thing this season that I’ve been proud for me is bouncing back. That’s what you have to do. I’ve been playing well lately and I have to keep that going. If you let the game come to you and work hard and give people a chance to help you, I think college can be an easier transition. If you come in and try to do everything yourself and be stubborn, that can make things hard. When you come to college, you should be open to new ideas and ready to learn a lot and be willing to accept failure. I learned pretty quickly you need to come in with an open mind and it helped with the coaches that I have here. The biggest challenge for me has been adjusting to a whole different game. High school and the NBA are more similar. College is
“It’s amazing. It is not only just Coach K, it’s the whole Duke nation. There’s a legacy from what’s been done here. One thing I’d say about our team is we don’t take this for granted. We don’t just come here and say ‘Oh Duke was so great, now we get to come in and be Duke players.’ There’s a responsibility for us to keep it going. Players — I am really close with Nolan and those guys — they came in here and kept it going. That’s something I want to do this year. I want another great season for Duke. It’s so fun to play for that. We’re not playing for individual stuff. It is really nice to play for something that is way bigger than you. That’s one thing about Duke — Everything here is so much bigger than anybody. It’s amazing.”
totally different. I am definitely not saying high school and the NBA are alike. But as far as defense goes, it is more of a breakdown game in high school and the NBA. You can break down guys maybe differently than in college where defenses are more packed in and you have zones and the help side and the charge. College is a totally different game than high school. I am really looking forward to the rest of the season. It is big time now. We have the ACC then the NCAA Tournament. That’s what I look forward to – just elevating my game along with that. I need to keep being intense. And when I talk more on the defensive end, I play better on both ends. Every game for the rest of the season is a big game. I just want to elevate my game and try to be even better and help our team win big games. That’s what I look forward to most.
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Blue Devil
Quick Hitters
News & Notes
w NEW JERSEYS At the Feb. 11th game against Maryland, the Blue Devils sported brand-new Nike Hyper Elite Platinum uniforms in honor of the program’s four national championships. The uniforms are ultra-light with laser-etched perforations, and both the shorts and jerseys are made of recycled materials. The “system of dress” included new jerseys, shorts, warmup jackets, warmup pants, shoes, socks and base-layer gear. The Duke players’ reaction to the new uniforms was very positive. Recent Duke graduate Nolan Smith responded after seeing the uniforms on Twitter, “Wow!! Tough!”
CHAMPS AGAIN Helped by a pair of former Blue Devil teammates, Real Madrid took home its first Copa del Rey title in 19 years with a 91-74 win over rival Barcelona. Kyle Singler, who opted to stay in Spain after the NBA lockout ended, scored four points while Marty Pocius added six. Kyle was averaging 10.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game in the Liga ACB through the championship. Marty is in his third year of professional basketball, having played two years for Zalgiris Kaunas in Lithuania prior to signing with Real Madrid. Marty was averaging 6.9 points and 2.1 rebounds after the championship.
DEVILS GET HISTORY LESSON The Blue Devils had some extra time on their hands in early February with a three-and-a-half hour bus ride to Virginia Tech ahead. To pass the time, the Duke coaching staff decided to provide a history lesson to everyone on board, playing highlights from Duke games of the past along with other videos shown to Blue Devil teams throughout the years. As the videos played, Coach K discussed some of the stories behind them, from the 2001 team’s resilience after Carlos Boozer went down with a foot injury to freshman Luol Deng’s willingness to do the dirty work in 2003-04. The Duke Head Coach also talked about the 2010 seniors finishing their career with a national title after losing in the first round of the 2007 NCAA Tournament as freshmen, to Shane Battier, Nate James and Chris Carrawell taking ownership of their team in 1999-00 after four players left for the NBA. The clips and stories told weren’t about winning as much as an emphasis on the enthusiasm, pride and toughness that has defined Duke’s great teams and the program overall. Coach K talked about taking ownership, paying a price and sharing the journey. With the ride falling on what would have been the 100th birthday of his late mother Emily, Coach K also talked about his mom and her unwavering spirit and pride. The Hall of Famer said his biggest hope for his former players is that they leave Duke as men with a great understanding and appreciation of these values. The history lesson seemed to help, as the Blue Devils played one of their most complete games of the year and won as a team at Virginia Tech. “It was a long bus ride up here,” Austin Rivers said after the win. ”Ten years from now, we want teams to watch videos of us.”
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“It was really one of the more amazing games that I’ve been a part of. I thought our fans were terrific. They never let us die, I thought it was one of those games in Cameron where the fans and the players were one, and I think that was a huge part of the basketball game.” Coach K, after Duke rallied from 20 down to defeat NC State on February 16th
DURHAM HONORS STARTING 5 At the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting, Coach K and his family were honored as the city’s Civic Honor Award recipients. The honor has been given by the chamber since 1933 to people who have made “extraordinary contributions” to the community. Since moving to Durham in 1980, Coach and Mrs. K have been consistent in giving back. The best example is the Emily K Center which now serves 1,500 people a month in downtown Durham as a community hub for tutoring, academic guidance, sports, theater and more. “Coaching a national team for the US, you get an opportunity to be with people from all over the world,” said Coach K. “In every interview I do, where they ask where I’m from, I say, ‘I’m from Durham, NC’. How good is that to be able to not only say it, but feel it?”
USA BASKETBALL UPDATE Team USA will compete in style this summer as the National Team looks to win another gold medal. Nike Basketball recently revealed the “Hyper Elite Uniform” that the National Team will wear, noting that Nike’s lightest-ever jersey is made of 96% recycled polyester. ALSO: Team USA announced its pre-London Olympic training schedule. The team will meet on July 6th for training in Las Vegas before embarking on an exhibition tour through Washington, DC, Manchester, England, Barcelona, Spain. During the exhibition tour, Team USA will face a tough five-game slate against Argentina, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Great Britain and Spain.
“I really think I have more enthusiasm and endurance than know I had whenwith I was CoachI K received the award Mrs.54. K and daughters Debbie Savarino, Lindy Frasher So I’m in a place that is perfect and Jamie Spatola. Around 800 community for attended me. I love my school. I’ve leaders the function, including a number of Duke employees and members of got all the guys on my staff — the Duke Basketball staff. they’re my guys. I’ve got great kids. I’ve got a fan base that supports us in such great fashion. Really, for me, I don’t have
Said Coach K, “This tour will be a very challenging schedule of five exhibition games that will each be played in outstanding environments and will be memorable for all basketball fans. The team’s training and these games will be absolutely critical in our preparation and we know that each of the teams will pose significant and unique challenges.”
McDonald’s Lovin’ Blue Devils To celebrate its 35 years as one of the marquee high school basketball events, the McDonald’s All-American game announced it’s top 35 players all-time. Four Blue Devils made the list -- Christian Laettner, Bobby Hurley, Grant Hill and Jason Williams. Duke has had 52 McDonald’s All-Americans all-time, including an NCAA-best 25 since 2000. The ACC dominated the group announced as the greatest ever, with 13 selections (eight more than any conference).
MLB All-Star Todd Helton and NFL All-Star Peyton Manning dropped by practice in February.
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Off Court
BLUE DEVILS ON CAMPUS
Feature by Duke Basketball Student Life & Campus Relations Director Kenny King
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDS
Mason Named 1st Team Academic All-American
Boasting impressive stats on the court and in the classroom, Mason Plumlee was named to the 2012 Academic All-America first team. Mason’s accomplishment marks the fourth time that a Duke player has earned first team honors and places him in the esteemed company of Shane Battier, Mike Gminski and Jim Spanarkel. Including Mason, 10 different Duke players have combined to earn 16 Academic All-America selections. The 6’10” forward is averaging 10.8 PPG, while ranking second in ACC rebounding with 9.4 RPG. Mason’s work in the paint has helped the Blue Devils to a 26-4 overall record. The Indiana native was named the Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week by the USBWA on Jan. 31st. Along with his success on the court, Plumlee owns a 3.44 GPA as a double major in Psychology and Cultural Anthropology. The two-time ACC Honor Roll and 2010 Dean’s List honoree added Cultural Anthropology as his second major after researching and experiencing various cultures during Duke’s preseason trip to China and Dubai. After immersing himself in these distinct societies halfway around the globe, Mason wanted to continue his study of human culture at Duke while sharing his experiences in Kunshan, Shanghai, Beijing, and Dubai. Ranked among the top 10 colleges and universities in America while maintaining a distinct reputation for challenging academics and rigorous athletics, Duke presents a still test for student-athletes seeking Academic All-America status. A big floor pound is in order for Mason!
DUKE ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS
Jay Buckley (1963, 1964) Dick DeVenzio (1971) Gary Melchionni (1972) Bob Fleischer (1975) Mike Gminski (1978, 1979, 1980) Jim Spanarkel (1978, 1979) Shane Battier (2000, 2001) Mike Dunleavy (2002) Greg Paulus (2008, 2009) Mason Plumlee (2012)
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“In my course ‘Sport as Performance,’ Mason made strong and candid contributions to our discussions about how race, class, gender, and nation are performed in sport. He also shared his appreciation for theater and the arts, and he wrote an innovative final research paper about how basketball players perform identity through body art (tattoos). What impressed me most about Mason as a student were his deep engagement with the material, his humility, and his dedication. Just one example is a day his team traveled for an away game: instead of missing class, he came with his suitcase--well prepared and full of enthusiasm -- and stayed until the bus was leaving. As a specialist on contemporary Chinese society and culture, it was a pleasure for me to help him prepare for his trip to China last summer and to hear about his experiences upon his return. That led to our independent study course last fall, in which he deepened his knowledge on sport, society, and politics in China through reading recent scholarship, viewing films, attending public lectures on campus, and accessing news media to understand current debates about sensitive issues. His final paper about the shifting meaning of sport in Chinese society shows his ability to connect his travel in China and personal journey in basketball to recent research on a country whose global impact will loom large for the rest of his life.” Dr. Claire Conceison, Professor of Theater Studies and Asian & Middle Eastern Studies
“In my experience with Mason, I've always been impressed with his commitment to and performance in the classroom. Though his schedule is hardly conducive to normal class attendance, he makes a concerted effort to contribute when he is there, to be present if at all possible, and to get his work done when he can't attend. I know I've received assignments completed on planes and emailed from airports, and despite the less than ideal conditions, his work has always been up to the standards I hold for all my students. With all the demands on his time, he does a really great job of making sure he knows what he needs to get done and ensuring that it does, in fact, get done. He's also just a very genuinely nice person to have around -- encouraging his classmates whether they're struggling or succeeding, and always ready with a genuine thank you when someone helps him out or provides a work-around for his crazy schedule. ... And really, you can't help but appreciate a student who is so committed to his courses that drives directly from a root canal to avoid missing class that day!”
DukeBluePlanet.com
Dr. Karen Murphy, Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies, Psychology and Neuroscience
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Off Court
LA’S CORNER
RE: DOGS
This time of year, work is very exciting but also a little bit stressful. No one ever said winning ACC and NCAA Tournament games was easy! Of course, players, staff and families work together to get through the challenging games but our coaches also receive support from their four-legged friends at home!
Laura Ann Howard is now in her 21st season as staff assistant in the Duke Basketball office. She works closely with our assistant coaches, coordinates player autographing, keeps tabs on former players, staff and managers, and delivers smiles at our offices on the fifth floor of the SchwartzButters Center. The Roxboro, NC native shares one of her updates in LA’s Corner as part of every issue of Blue Planet.
Blue shortly after arriving to his new home with Coach and Mrs. K
Coach K and Blue enjoy a backyard stroll. Blue is a highly-disciplined yellow lab who loves rebounding tennis balls.
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Clockwise from top left... Coach Wojo with Kobe Coach Capel with Clyde Coach Collins with Sarge Coach James with Barkley Coach Spatola with Bobby & Kramer
Cameron Crazies aren’t the only ones who enjoy photo opportunities at the jump circle inside historic Cameron Indoor Stadium!
DukeBluePlanet.com
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NBA BLUE DEVILS
DENG NAMED NBA ALL-STAR In January, Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose said about Luol Deng, “Lu is definitely going to make the All-Star team this year. If he don’t, that would be cheating man. It would be cheating for sure.” Rose proved to be correct as Luol was named to this year’s All-Star Game, played Feb. 26th in Orlando. On the year, Deng is averaging 15.9 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 3.3 APG and 1.1 SPG while shooting 42.0% from the floor. The Bulls are second in the Eastern Conference with a 27-8 record and Chicago is 23-5 on the year in games in which Deng plays. The former Blue Devil ranks second on the Bulls in scoring, third in rebounds and fourth in assists. The first British player ever named to the All-Star Game and the fourth among current Blue Devils in the NBA, Luol ranks third in the league in minutes played (38.3). “If you value winning,” said Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, “you appreciate all the things that he does.” Said Deng, “It’s a great honor. I’m really happy. It’s good to see. I don’t really have the words for it, except the fact that I’m really happy. I just want to go around and thank all my teammates because I believe by the way we’re playing and the record we have, that’s why I’m getting the opportunity.”
ALL-STARS IN THE NBA 1. DUKE
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Duke: Boozer, Brand, Hill, Deng UCLA: Davis, Love, Westbrook UConn: Allen, Butler, Hamilton UNC: Carter, Jamison, Stackhouse Wake Forest: Duncan, Howard, Paul
“I thought it would happen. Luol has gotten better and better. That’s a sign of how serious he is, how he approaches the game. He’s obviously a very well-rounded player. There isn’t anything he doesn’t do well. Obviously, he’s very significant for us in terms of us winning… he’s invaluable. There are so many intangibles he brings to our team -- unselfishness, hard work, caring about nothing but winning and how he can help. He’s a great teammate, very coachable and there’s nothing he doesn’t do well. He plays great defense, he moves without the ball, he shares the ball, he can hit threes, he can put it on the floor, he slashes, he can post. It’s his leadership, the way he approaches things every day, the example he sets, you can’t say enough about him.” Bulls Head Coach Tom Thibodeau
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KYRIE: YOUNG STARS MVP
Averaging 18.1 points and 5.1 assists while leading a much-improved Cleveland Cavaliers team, Kyrie Irving’s selection to the NBA’s Young Stars game was an easy choice. Charles Barkley then picked Kyrie with his first pick in the draft pool of standout NBA rookies and second-year players, and the young phenom did not disappoint. On his way to earning game MVP honors and a 146-133 win, Irving scored a game-high 34 points while dishing out nine assists. Most impressively, Kyrie made all eight of his 3-point FG attempts and was 13-for14 from the floor. Said the Cavs point guard, “It means a lot. I worked my butt off during the lockout [often at Duke]. It feels good to finally be here playing with these guys.”
DukeBluePlanet.com
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IT TAKES A TEAM EMILY K STUDENTS VISIT COACH K COURT! Eight students from the Emily K Center’s Pioneer Scholars program competed in a single elimination round of basketball musical chairs during half time of the Duke vs. UNC Greensboro Men’s Basketball game in Cameron Indoor Stadium. Wondering whether the bigger thrill was playing on the court, or getting to watch the 2011-2012 Blue Devils in their 90-63 win, the group decided it was a toss up. What is never in question is the Emily K student’s will to win both on the court, and in the classroom.
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When it comes to being prepared for rigorous coursework in high school and focused on college in the future, analysts have these Emily K students high in the early power rankings!
ADDITIONAL PHOTO CAPTIONS 2- Emily K students are eager to advance to the next round. 3- Garrison Lindsey shows Duke effort chasing a loose ball. 4- Teymi Pantoja looks strong under the basket. 5- Maurice Daye hustles back to find a seat. 6- The physical play on the court hasn’t deterred the players. 7- It’s down to the championship! 8- The bench is tense. 9- Lizet Hernandez shows goood sportsmanship, congratulating Maurice on his win.
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UNDER 4:00
MILES WINS...
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THE BELT Miles Plumlee made history in February when he was honored as the first-ever winner of the THE BELT. This prestigious award will be given annually to the “Iron Devil Champion” whose overall strength and conditioning performance, improvement and test results are the best on the Duke men’s basketball team. Strength and conditioning coach Will Stephens leads Duke’s strength and conditioning program and is the keeper of THE BELT. Miles won the award thanks to outstanding improvement along with impressive test results. THE BELT will be engraved with Miles’ name and hang in the weight room to inspire future winners. “THE BELT is pretty sick,” said Miles. ”I am really proud of that. I’ve put in a lot of work here and I’m excited for other guys to strive and work for that. It is a really nice belt.”
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PRESORTED FIRST-CLASS MAIL U.S. Postage Paid Durham, NC Permit No. 60
Duke University Men’s Basketball Box 90556, Durham, NC 27708 Change Service Requested
ACC ROAD WARRIORS Only 3 Duke Teams have Finished 8-0 on the Road in the ACC
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Only four ACC teams including Duke in 2011-12 have ever gone 8-0 on the road in conference games.