Welcome to The Sports Bank’s second annual college basketball season preview series. Last year we looked at 99 teams in 99 days. This year, we are being slightly more aggressive and expanding to 111 teams in 111 days. We will rank the 74 power conference teams and top 37 mid-majors in reverse power ranking order. We’ll break down rosters, non-conference schedules, and pick … [Read more...] about #5 Duke Blue Devils: College Basketball 111 in 111
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North Carolina Ties All-Time Record; #1 in AP Poll for 8th Time
With the release of today's college hoops AP preseason poll, the North Carolina Tar Heels further cemented themselves as one of college basketball's most storied programs. The Tar Heels, returning all five starters from last season's Elite 8 team, were the landslide #1 (62/65 votes) in the Associated Press' preseason poll. It's the eighth time they have been #1 with a bullet … [Read more...] about North Carolina Ties All-Time Record; #1 in AP Poll for 8th Time
Duke, Coach K. Welcome Jeff Capel Back to Blue Devils
A sesimic movement was announced today in the college basketball coaching landscape. Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski announced two staff changes on Sunday as former Blue Devil Jeff Capel joins the staff as an assistant coach and Nate James is named special assistant. Capel returns to Duke after spending the previous nine years as the head coach at Virginia Commonwealth … [Read more...] about Duke, Coach K. Welcome Jeff Capel Back to Blue Devils
Duke Recruit Quinn Cook Has Huge Shoes to Fill
With Nolan Smith graduating and Kyrie Irving likely the top pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, Duke has a huge hole fill at the point next season. Enter McDonald's All-American Quinn Cook who is one of the top point guard recruits in the country. (This is a Paul M. Banks/David Kay collaboration) … [Read more...] about Duke Recruit Quinn Cook Has Huge Shoes to Fill
The Influence of Doc Rivers on his son and Super Recruit Austin
Last night, Duke super-recruit Austin Rivers, the number one overall prospect in the class of 2011, rocked the McDonald's All-American Game skills competition known as Powerade Jam Fest. What event elicited the loudest roar from the crowd at the Chicago State Convocation Center? Austin revealing his warm-up to display his father's old school Atlanta Hawks #25 jersey while … [Read more...] about The Influence of Doc Rivers on his son and Super Recruit Austin
Meet the Nation’s #1 Recruit: Austin Rivers, Duke Blue Devils
Wednesday night, the McDonald's All-American game hits Chicago, and with it a showcase of the greatest high school talent in the country. Which means you'll also see the best freshmen in next year's college basketball season on display; as well as a few lottery picks in the 2012 NBA Draft. And there's no bigger name than Austin Rivers, a Duke Blue Devils commit that who has … [Read more...] about Meet the Nation’s #1 Recruit: Austin Rivers, Duke Blue Devils
Duke Blue Devils to Play Summer Exhibitions in China and Dubai
Duke University will circle the globe in August 2011, with games scheduled in China and Dubai, Vice President and Director of Athletics Kevin White announced Friday. The highly visible college basketball team will tip off August 17 in Kunshan, China, a suburb of Shanghai and the location of a new Duke-affiliated campus expected to open in 2012. On August 19 the team will … [Read more...] about Duke Blue Devils to Play Summer Exhibitions in China and Dubai
North Carolina and Duke Fuel Up the Rivalry
Rivalries. It’s what defines sports and in college basketball, there’s not one bigger than Duke and North Carolina. To each team, the other is the “Evil Empire”. That’s how it works. UNC dropped early games this season to teams like Minnesota and Vanderbilt. Harrison Barnes was looking more like Marvin Williams and less like Michael Jordan by the minute. On the other … [Read more...] about North Carolina and Duke Fuel Up the Rivalry
Mich St., Duke, KU and UK to Tip Off Next Season By Playing Each Other
What’s most interesting about the sport of college basketball is how much it’s Q Rating as a sport increases during this season. No other sport has such a wide level of disinterest in the beginning (and again that really bothers me. I’m not advocating this apathy- just pointing it out) but then creates such a tremendous buzz at the end. Everyone loves March Madness, but … [Read more...] about Mich St., Duke, KU and UK to Tip Off Next Season By Playing Each Other
Duke vs. Michigan State: Facts, Figures, Trends and Records
Ready for tonight's showdown between #1 Duke and #6 Michigan State? Yes, the main event of the Big Ten ACC Challenge, the premier event of the non-conference portion of the college basketball season. And tonight's final bout, the heavyweight match on the card features two Final Four teams from last season. Here are some numbers, trends and facts about Duke's history in the … [Read more...] about Duke vs. Michigan State: Facts, Figures, Trends and Records