Great Yahoo Sports Story on Kyrie Irving

http://collegebasketball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1118270

by Steve Megargee

As a Duke fan you have to be looking forward to seeing this kid play this year.  Anyone else getting the...shhh....*whisper* Jason Williams type feeling....k back to normal voices.  Enjoy the read!

Tail of a cat that can predict death

http://www.cinematical.com/2010/08/25/oscar-the-death-predicting-cat-gets-his-own-movie/

Not sure how this story will transfer to the big screen but I'd sure love Oscar to cuddle up real nice and close to UNC's season again this year.

Wonder if he curled up next to the UNC mascot a couple years ago before he went for a walk.....too soon?...too heartless?....probably....still kind of funny?.....I think so.

Mr. Duke's Recipe for a Championship

Cinnamon and sugar are nice but this recipe doesn't call for either.  You won't have to turn on the oven or dirty a pan either.  No sir or ma'am this is the recipe for a NCAA Basketball Championship.  And of course, since I am Mr. Duke I will show you how Duke's 2010-2011 team has most if not all the ingredients required to accomplish this wonderfully tasty dish.

1 C - PG
- You need a point guard, everyone knows it and if you look at the teams that have won the championship over the years this seems to be one of the top things that stays the same from team to team.  Last years Duke team, although Scheyer wasn't a "typical" point guard the guy got it done and got it done well.  This year, Duke has arguably the best freshman PG in the nation on the team in Kyrie Irving.  Irving is a prototypical PG unlike Scheyer.  Irving is quick and can get anywhere he wants on the court, he has been heralded by many for his leadership skills.  You want a cup of PG....Duke has it.

2 C - Veteran Leadership
- Ask John Calipari all about this ingredient, lately when he has been mixing up teams he has a lot of great ingredients but whoever gave him the recipe, forgot to include this secret ingredient.  Tyler Hansbrough, Jon Scheyer, Mario Chalmers, Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer, Mateen Cleaves...I could go on, you look at past champions and you will see at least one pivotal veteran player if not more.  Kentucky had the most talent last year, a more veteran laden West Virginia team took them out by forcing the youngsters to change the style they had played all year.  Lets look at Duke this year, well you got two cups of leadership from veterans here.  Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith, two guys that have won it once before as pivotal players on a championship team and are back again.  This doesn't happen often these days in when you can jump to the NBA after season's like both of them had.  They are back though and they maybe the most important pieces that make Duke the favorite to repeat this year.  Need 2 cups of veteran leadership?  Knock on Coach K's door, Duke has them.

2 Tb. - Shooters
-  The shooter is something that lately has become more and more an important ingredient in winning a championship in college basketball.  While a championship team shouldn't rely solely on the three, it has been an important part of most of the recent championship teams winning recipe.  Duke has hot shooting brother of the Davidson superstar Stephen Curry, the Liberty transfer Seth Curry who is frothing at the mouth to get out there and play for real after a year off from the transfer.  Expect big things from Curry not only as a shooter, but to stay with the recipe he fits the bill for shooters for Duke this year.  Another shooter?  Sure, Andre Dawkins, second year player this year who at times showed flashes last year of being a great player.  Even though his overall game wasn't all there last year, what was there was his shooting touch, and with an improved overall game and more comfort on the court this year could lead to big things.  I need a shooter!  Duke's got em.

4 Tb - Big Men
- Big men have always and will always be a major ingredient in winning a championship in college basketball.  If you don't know that then you wouldn't be reading this blog...so..Ill save you the naming of big men that have helped a championship team win and move on to what Duke has this year.  The Plumlees.  These two are hopefully putting in the same amount of time working on their inside touch and in the weight room as Miles seems to be putting in time jumping over people/kids for dunks to put on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y23eNBZrds0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG8nXH7Dl04
If they are then Duke will be formidable inside.  These two, soon to be joined by their already committed other brother Marshall next year, are athletic as heck, they have the ability to score, ability to play good defense, the key will be using that ability.  Coach K doesn't have Zoubek and Thomas to bring in when Mason gets out of control or Miles is asleep on the court.  I believe both of them will be on their game this year and that gives Duke this ingredient.  Add to the Plumlees, Josh Hairston a thick Freshman that can bang inside, and Ryan Kelly a 6'10 shooter McDonald's AA that can stretch the court with his 3 pt touch.  The difference in a championship contending Duke team and the Duke teams a few years prior is big men, and in 2010-2011 Duke's big. 

3 Tb - Bench
- Ah the bench.  You gotta be deep to go deep in the tournament.  Why? Well injuries, foul trouble, eligibility issues (I am looking at you Gophers), spark off the bench and end of season fatigue.  Look at the teams that took the title and usually you will see a very strong bench helping the starters.  In college basketball with the one and done style of the tournament, it is very important that if your stars get in trouble in a game you don't lose that game because you have nobody to come in and carry the load while they are out.  As you can see from the above ingredients Duke will have a bench, I have named many more that 5 players, and a backup at every position is there and not just a scrub, they are very competent backups.  Look to Duke's bench, they are ready.

1 Gal - Great Coach
- What came first, being known as a great coach? Or winning a championship?  Its arguable.  Can you be known as a GREAT coach without a championship?  Lets take a look.

- Calipari - Great recruiter there is no doubt about it, whether he does it within the NCAA rules...tough call.  I would say though he is a good coach, I haven't seen in game or in season adjustments that make me think he has it.  He has had the most talented team a few times now, Memphis loss to Kansas in championship game and as previously mentioned Kentucky last year.  He may win a championship soon with his recruiting skills alone but its going to be tough.  He isn't great.

- Tubby Smith - Won a championship...yeah.....since then when he hasn't had Pitino's players still he has struggled a bit.  Oh sure his teams have been good, they've made the tournament but does losing 10 games a year and advancing a round or two in the tournament make you a GREAT coach?  I think not, again, good coach, even though he has the championship.

- Billy Donovan - Back to back...WOW. Yeah he went back to back and yes he has had solid teams while at Florida.  Florida's consistency though is an issue.  Two championships with one core group of players, and since nothing.  Good coach, best thing that ever happened to the Orlando Magic was him saying "never mind" to being their head coach.

- Izzo - The fact all I have to say is Izzo says enough. Great.

- Brad Stevens - On the right track.  But one season, that was one lucky bounce away from being a title winning coach does not make a great coach.  The kid has spunk and will maybe develop into a great coach, as of now, Good.

- Coach K - Gold Medal, 4 national championships, most consistent program in the past 20 years.  GREAT.

Duke's got it.

1 Liberal Splash of Luck
- I can hear you...yes I know I know...yep I agree....yep I hear you ok ok...yeah...listen no one else can hear you so let me put this into words that everyone can read.  Your saying "Well yeah you are referring to Duke winning last year, what if Butler's last shot went in?  What if Laettner wasn't allowed to catch the ball, allowed to get a good look against Kentucky?  What if Jason Williams decided to take up motorcycle riding in college instead of when he was a Chicago Bull?  Or Bobby Hurley decided to go for a drive through Durham?"  I get it, in all 4 championships, Coach K and Duke got a lot of luck to fall their way.  In order to repeat they will need it again.  Gotta stay healthy, hit some lucky shots, have opponents miss some easy shots, have opponents get hurt, and not get food poisoning from the egg salad at the Durham Old Country Buffet!  I want to say though that its only a splash of luck because if you have every other ingredient that I've listed you will put yourself in the position to benefit from the luck.  Without the other ingredients all the luck in the world will get you 1-2 wins.  Will Duke get the luck this year?  I have no idea....I hope so.

Thanks for reading!  Please comment with your extra ingredients for a championship.  Maybe Ill come back and add some at a later date.

There has to be a first...

Yes there must be a first post... and this is it.  You will probably assume that I am riding high currently as Duke is the reigning champions and according to most outlets the preseason #1 for the 2010-2011 season, you would be correct in your assumption.  When Duke takes the court for the first time this year they will be loaded with talent.  Thanks for the most part in the decisions of both Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler to return to Duke and not jump for the NBA after their Junior seasons.  With their return Duke also has added a stud Freshman that is expected to start at PG in Kyrie Irving, sharpshooter transfer Seth Curry, a second year for sharp shooter in Andre Dawkins, another year of maturation for the Plumlee brothers, also freshman Hairston and Thornton.  Don't forget about second year player big man sharpshooter Ryan Kelly who came in with high hopes in his Freshman year but never got into the rotation for the championship team but should see more time at the PF or C position this season with the departure of Brian Zoubek and Lance Thomas.

There will be challenges for this loaded team, UNC will be much improved by winning the recruiting battle for Harrison Barnes.  Virginia Tech is getting a lot of love from the national media for being improved and hoping to upset the UNC/Duke dominance of the ACC for the past few years.  Looking forward I will post more on all of these subjects I touched on today and player breakdowns, full season preview, predictions for Duke, but also other popular subjects of the day and other sports that spark my interest over time. 

Duke will be athletic, long, talented and of course well coached.  If there is a recipe for a championship, this year's Duke team should be as close to following that recipe as a team possibly could.  Wonder what that recipe might be...hmmm...sounds like blog #2 to Mr. Duke.