Avon Barksdale

April 24th, 2014 at 1:14 PM ^

I've said all along I think Chatman is going to be spectacular. If Mitch leaves, there is no doubt in my mind he starts. I'm thinking we look like this with a Mitch departure:

PG - Walton

SG - Caris

SF - Irvin

SF - Chatman

C - Donnal

I know, I know it's not ideal for Irvin or Chatman to have to play the 4. It's about as ideal as GR3 having to play it. But, that's just how it will have to be I'd assume unless Mitch comes back. Even if Mitch comes back, it wouldn't surprise me to see Donnal come off the bench and Chatman/Irvin still at the 3/4.

Avon Barksdale

April 24th, 2014 at 3:18 PM ^

That lineup comes off as one that could be one of Beilein's best offensive teams, but one of his worst defensive teams. Then again, we'll see how Irvin and Walton develop on the defensive end. Stauskas couldn't stay in front of ANYONE in 2012, but was a serviceable defender last year.

With a lineup like that, we'd need Walton, LeVert, and Irvin to clamp down their guys. We'd have problems with big teams again - like Kentucky, but everyone will have a problem with Kentucky next year. They will have three 7 footers.  

denardogasm

April 24th, 2014 at 5:28 PM ^

I don't think Irvin had the tools to play the 4. While he looks like a slightly smaller GRIII, he hasn't shown the explosiveness and strength that allowed GRIII to bang with the big boys while being a mismatch on offense. He may have just not been called upon to show it though of course.

I do think this offense could be just as effective as the '13-'14 version because it sounds like Donnal will be an upgrade on offense, and I'm expecting big improvement from Walton, Irvin, and even Levert. With the added experience we may be better at the guard position on defense, but the post will be a problem again. Goes without saying, but McGary takes us from very good again to holy shit, even without GRIII.

ken725

April 24th, 2014 at 3:16 PM ^

The 247Composite Rating is a proprietary algorithm that compiles prospect "rankings" and "ratings" listed in the public domain by the major media recruiting services. It converts average industry ranks and ratings into a linear composite index capping at 1.0000, which indicates a consensus No. 1 prospect across all services.

Ty Butterfield

April 24th, 2014 at 3:35 PM ^

Great news. I wish Mitch would just announce already! My liver can't take much more of this.

dahblue

April 24th, 2014 at 5:08 PM ^

It's strange to look at the rise of the 1 (or 2) and done players and how that might affect a program like Duke (with a coach like K).  I expect this year's loss to Mercer to be an outlier, but I wonder if Coach K just isn't suited to managing a team with the way modern players are ready to leave as soon as they arrive.  He used to coach highly rated players who stayed for yaers and learned to play a good (though I hate them) team game.  Will he become Kentucky-lite?

denardogasm

April 24th, 2014 at 5:20 PM ^

I had this exact same thought when they got upset this year. It seems like they started underachieving/getting upset pretty consistently when he started taking one and done guys. I remember there was a big hullabaloo when Rivers (I think) wanted to leave early, because "that doesnt happen at Duke."

kyeblue

April 24th, 2014 at 9:06 PM ^

Wilson close to 7'3 and Doyle 7'2.

Chatman was measured last summer in Nike camp as 6'6.5 with shoes and 6'9.5 wingspan, almost identical to GR3's measure at the same camp. Given that he might grow another inch since then, will put him at 6'7.5 with shoes and a 6'10-6'11 wing span.