David Banack

[David Banack @DavidBanack]

@BeardedBlueDevl Rivers
McCain
Flagg
Paolo
Wendell

[Francesco Semprucci @fra_sempru]

I ain't seeing all those post ups people love talk about.

[Seth Davis @SethDavisHoops]

Duke is underrated

[Andy Katz @TheAndyKatz]

Katz’s Corner: Jon Scheyer should now be the leading candidate for @NaismithTrophy Coach of the Year following @DukeMBB win over @umichbball: https://t.co/P6I2LKHE25

[David Banack @DavidBanack]

@BlueDevilTalk Duke 84
UNC 76
Slim 22

[Riċ @ricblurs]

for a dry ass phone i be on it a lot

[Mike B 😈 @M_Bulger19]

I wonder which overachieving coach is going to win ACC COY over Scheyer this year .. perhaps Brownell after his departures? Ryan Odom?

[Zion O. @DukeNBA]

We are witnessing an all-time season from Cam Boozer.

Don’t take it for granted.

[David Banack @DavidBanack]

@BlueDevilTalk Duke 83
Cal 67
Cam 26

[Zion O. @DukeNBA]

We dont play on Fox so not worried about you and if we watching the game on mute fam if you on there.

Gus Johnson clears.

[louis vuitton jon @dukebluesamurai]

0-10 bum ass @jeremy_fears

[David Banack @DavidBanack]

@BlueDevilTalk Duke 69
MSU 65
Foster 17

[David Banack @DavidBanack]

@BlueDevilTalk Duke 74
Florida 67

Evans 21

[David Banack @DavidBanack]

@BlueDevilTalk Duke 83 Arkansas 70
Evans 22

[Brian H @Dukeblogger]

Duke fans tried to tell the world but y'all didn't wanna listen and trust your eyes

[David Banack @DavidBanack]

@BlueDevilTalk Duke 81
Kansas 65
Boozer 23

[College Basketball Report @CBKReport]

The Duke Blue Devils are the new No. 1 team on KenPom 😈

[Blue Devil Nation @BlueDevilNation]

Great Teams Don't Always Win It All, But They're Still Worthy of Praise

With college hoops starting tomorrow and watching the Toronto Blue Jays go down to the Los Angeles Dodgers in last night's World Series, I thought back on last season's Duke team.

Teams can have phenomenal seasons and not win it all.

It took the Dodgers extra innings and the seventh game to dispose of Toronto. It is an excellent time of year with so many sports going on, so I was able to flip over and catch the ending, bringing joy to some and sadness to others.

At my age, I have been around and was in their stadium at the Hard Rock Cafe, which used to allow you to eat and watch a game back in the day, but I have no love for the Blue Jays.

I do, however, respect what Toronto accomplished, and almost winning it all, consistently dominating much of the season, yet falling short.

They accomplished some great things and had a great year.

So, did last season's Duke team.

We now see Cooper Flagg revving up the Dallas Mavericks, but a season ago, he did things as a Blue Devil that people will speak of for decades to come.

You know, breaking the Duke all-time single-game scoring mark, Player of the Year sweeps, etc.

Kon Knueppel got picked 4th by the Charlotte Hornets, but when in Durham, he was tough as hell's nails.

I am thinking he still has scuff marks from diving for loose balls.

Let's not forget Sion James' toughness, which landed him as a teammate of Knueppels in Charlotte, where he is already playing a significant role.

Who can forget the forthright honesty of Man-Man, Khaman Maluach, who just kept getting better at Duke?

They're slow-baking him in Phoenix at the moment, hoping to keep him long-term.

Tyrese Proctor was one of Jon Scheyer's first recruits, coming to Duke early. The plesantries of his Aussie accent will be missed in the locker room, and he has reshaped his physique even more playing in Cleveland.

I could keep naming players, and some of the guys have returned, but the point is Duke, like Toronto, had a hell of a season, got a lot done and that should be remembered one last time before Tuesday and the start of a new season.

Duke stacked 35 wins a season ago, dominated the ACC, won the tournament against hungry teams without Cooper Flagg, and made the Final Four.

Teams can have great seasons and fall short of winning it all. It does not diminish their accomplishments along the way.

One last tip of the cap to last season's cast, for the new year is upon us. Fortunately for Duke fans, the team reloads under Jon Scheyer, but the top of the ACC has a bit as well, and that is all the more reason to recognize last season's team's dominance one final time.

[GA Scumbags @ga_scumbags]

Does that say…. Duke?

[B/R Hoops @brhoops]

Duke freshman Cameron Boozer in the first half against Tennessee:

▪️13 PTS
▪️15 REBS
▪️4 AST
▪️19 MINS