With the College Basketball 2009-2010 Season just around the corner, we are providing season previews & predictions for all NCAA basketball teams to give you the betting edge this year. Follow the best College Basketball Handicappers as they analyze their teams in this 2009-2010 basketball season preview. Be sure to bookmark SportsbookBuzz.com your source for Sportsbook Reviews. Use our comprehensive and insider info to bet successfully on the College Basketball in our recommend online sportsbooks.View the rest of our 2009 NCAA Basketball Season Previews here.
2009-2010 Duke Preview Picks, & Odds.
Duke 2008-2009 Record: 30-7, 11-5
Duke 2008-2009 Post Season: NCAA
Duke Coach: Mike Krzyzewski (760-215 at Duke, 833-274 overall)
Duke Projected Starters:
- Jon Scheyer, Senior, Guard, 14.9 points per game
- Nolan Smith, Junior, Guard, 8.4 points per game
- Kyle Singler, Junior, Forward, 16.5 points per game
- Ryan Kelly, Freshman, Forward, DNP last season
- Brian Zoubek, Senior, Center, 4.1 points per game
Duke Player to Watch: Mason Plumlee
Duke Key Losses: G Gerald Henderson, F David McClure, G Greg Paulus, G Elliot Williams
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2009-2010 Duke Season Preview
Prepare yourself for a Duke team that you’ve never seen before, because you haven’t. You haven’t seen the kind of Duke team that Mike Krzyzewski will roll on to the floor this season.
Duke will be huge. And not by choice. It’s a simple math equation. Last season, Duke had six wing players, all six averaged at least 15 minutes per game. Now then, subtract four Greg Paulus and David McClure were seniors. Junior Gerald Henderson left for the NBA. Sophomore Elliot Williams transferred to be closer to his Memphis home.
Six minus four. That leaves two guards returning. Well, two … plus however many guards Duke has coming in this season. So, guess. Guess how many freshman guards Duke has coming in this season. None.
That was until Krzyzewski managed to convince 2010 guard recruit Andre Dawkins to reclassify as a 2009 graduate. That helps, but it doesn’t solve the issue … who’ll handle the rock?
Dawkins will certainly help, but the Devils will still have just three guards on the roster, and none is a point guard. Junior Nolan Smith was signed a few years ago as the point guard of the
future but has proven to be a scorer in point guard’s clothing. Jon Scheyer was signed a few years ago as a shooting guard, but he switched to the point last season and saw his play, and the team’s play, take off … right until the Sweet 16, when Villanova’s much more athletic backcourt blew Scheyer and Co. right out of the building. Dawkins? Shooting guard only. Don’t even think about it.
| 2009 Duke Basketball Schedule | 2009 ACC Basketball Preview Duke Sportsbooks | ACC Basketball Betting |
Duke Backcourt
Under Krzyzewski, Duke has typically rotated four wings around one big man, with more wings in reserve and with 3-pointers coming from everywhere. This season, the Blue Devils will still shoot from distance. Singler can do it, as can Scheyer. So can Ryan Kelly, the McDonald’s champ. And Smith is getting better. But there’s no depth. If anyone gets tired or into foul trouble – and Duke likes to run and play tenacious defense – where is the help?
Duke Frontcourt
On the bright side, Duke’s frontcourt is deep. It’s hard to say how good this frontcourt could be, but it will be deep enough that Kyle Singler, who has played almost all of his collegiate minutes at power forward and even center, will move to small forward, with some emergency minutes at shooting guard.
At power forward, Kelly is a fascinating freshman. Even though he’s enormous at 6-10, he won the 3-point shooting contest at the 2009 McDonald’s All-America Game.
At center are a bunch of candidates, none impressive. Lance Thomas and Brian Zoubek are seniors. In all those years at Duke, they have combined to do absolutely nothing of note. Neither have sophomores Olek Czyz or Miles Plumlee. Maybe Miles’ younger brother, Mason, will be productive, though his slender body suggests he’s at least year away.
2009-2010 Duke Predictions
Backcourt help is on the way, but not until next season, when Liberty transfer Seth Curry – former Davidson All-American Stephen Curry’s younger brother and the country’s leading freshman scorer last season at 20.2 ppg – becomes eligible. Until then, Duke has enough parts, and enough Krzyzewski, to piece together another NCAA Tournament run and perhaps one that goes back to the Sweet 16.
Anything beyond that would require a lot of NCAA Tournament magic and it’s been a few years since that was produced by the Blue Devils.
Duke Finish in the ACC: 2nd
Duke Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA
Duke Betting Odds
Duke Odds to Win 2010 Mens NCAA Basketball Tournament: +2000
Duke Odds to Win the ACC: +250
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Duke Basketball Handicapping Picks
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