Nolan Smith out for first 2 regular season games

[allenmurray]

Originally Posted by CEF1959

Both Wall and Nolan were punished for violating NCAA rules. Whining over perceived unfairness between the two situations seems very Kentucky-esque. I vote for moving on to a whine-free zone, as K and Nolan apparently have done.

There is a difference between whining and pointing out that what you said was factually incorrect.

[CEF1959]

No, what I said was correct. And this business of seeking small distinctions to justify whining about "1 preseason +1 season" vs. "2 season" suspensions is exactly the sort of thing I'm decrying. Both violated NCAA rules, both were penalized by being suspended for two games, and if you want to complain that John Wall got off lighter than Nolan Smith based on the distinctions you are drawing, that's whining. It sounds like a twelve-year old complaining to his mother how unfair it is that Johnny got more pudding.

I'll say it again, btw: You don't hear the Duke staff or Nolan Smith crying about it. Only among anal-retentive fandome is this an issue.

Let's man up, turn the page, forget about John Wall, and beat UNC-G.

Go Duke!

[airowe]

Originally Posted by CEF1959

No, what I said was correct. And this business of seeking small distinctions to justify whining about "1 preseason +1 season" vs. "2 season" suspensions is exactly the sort of thing I'm decrying. Both violated NCAA rules, both were penalized by being suspended for two games, and if you want to complain that John Wall got off lighter than Nolan Smith based on the distinctions you are drawing, that's whining. It sounds like a twelve-year old complaining to his mother how unfair it is that Johnny got more pudding.

I'll say it again, btw: You don't hear the Duke staff or Nolan Smith crying about it. Only among anal-retentive fandome is this an issue.

Let's man up, turn the page, forget about John Wall, and beat UNC-G.

Go Duke!

So we can't talk about John Wall. Got it.

And we can't talk about the relative punishment vs. crimes of two players, one who happens to be in our program. Got it.

And we can't be vocal about our feelings on a message board, just because Coach and Nolan aren't expressing their feelings publicly. Got it.

Thanks for keeping us in check CEF1959.

[mapei]

I don't really care about John Wall. But this sure seems like another stupid rule. I understand Jason's point about its purpose, but it could be crafted more narrowly to accomplish that.

[CEF1959]

Originally Posted by airowe

So we can't talk about John Wall. Got it.

And we can't talk about the relative punishment vs. crimes of two players, one who happens to be in our program. Got it.

And we can't be vocal about our feelings on a message board, just because Coach and Nolan aren't expressing their feelings publicly. Got it.

Thanks for keeping us in check CEF1959.

You're welcome, and you can post whatever you want. But if it's whining, I might point that out.

Oh, and it's whining.

[3ptSpecialist]

Well the good news is Duke's first 2 games won't be difficult and it gives our other guards more playing time, which they need. This might pay off when ACC play comes around.

[77devil]

Originally Posted by CEF1959

You're welcome, and you can post whatever you want. But if it's whining, I might point that out.

Oh, and it's whining.

Suggest you consider acting by your own words. You are whining a lot more about others' posts than anyone else wrote about the infractions.

[dukefanbrooklyn]

Originally Posted by 77devil

Suggest you consider acting by your own words. You are whining a lot more about others' posts than anyone else wrote about the infractions.

This sounds like " if my enemies ememy is my friend but my enemy is his own worst enemy is my enemy my friend."


Or someone complaining about people complaining.


I'm agreeing with your post just adding on.

[airowe]

So, anyways.

I agree with many above in that this will actually help the team. There will absolutely be times when Nolan is sick, injured, or in foul trouble, and we will already be prepared when this happens.

At the game, I noticed a lineup we've been talking about some in the preseason:

Scheyer, Singler, Kelly, Thomas, Miles.

There was a little trouble getting the ball inside on offense, but once that happened there was always a mismatch. Not many teams out there have 3 guys 6'9" or taller in the game at the same time so a smaller guy was caught guarding one of our bigs, and we took advantage.

On D, Lance was able to contain the quicker guard and Scheyer, Singler, and Kelly used their height well to defend the perimeter.

[3ptSpecialist]

The only problem I see with that line up is speed and pushing the ball. I think Smith driving the lane then kicking it out for an open 3 or to a frontcourt player with a size advantage would be better.

Smith
Scheyer
Singler
Thomas
MP1

I'd like to see Kelly a little before naming a freshman a starter. jmo

[airowe]

Originally Posted by 3ptSpecialist

The only problem I see with that line up is speed and pushing the ball. I think Smith driving the lane then kicking it out for an open 3 or to a frontcourt player with a size advantage would be better.

Smith
Scheyer
Singler
Thomas
MP1

I'd like to see Kelly a little before naming a freshman a starter. jmo

I definitely wasn't talking about a starting lineup. Just one for 5-10 mins a game, at most. But, it will be nice to have it implemented before it is needed...

[Kedsy]

Originally Posted by airowe

I definitely wasn't talking about a starting lineup. Just one for 5-10 mins a game, at most. But, it will be nice to have it implemented before it is needed...

It doesn't have to be Ryan, either, it could be Mason, which makes it even bigger. Assuming Jon, Lance, and Kyle can handle the other team's perimeter players, those three plus any combination of big men is a huge lineup that will be very difficult for opposing defenses to match up with, and will tire out opposing teams (because defending taller/bigger players in the halfcourt is quite exhausting).

[Tucknut]

I'm just happy that the issue is not an injury. A healthy Nolan is key this year.

[CEF1959]

Yeah, anyway....

It's hard to see the team without Nolan as better than (or even close to as good as) the team with Nolan, but I do agree that there are benefits to this two-game thing.

At some point this season, they're going to have to play without one of the three recruited guards. So it's not so bad to get the practice in now, in real game situations. Singler as a 2, Davidson with some PT, Dre' and Scheyer pushed to exhaustion.

Duke should be able to handle UNC-G and CC without him, and Dre' till get lots of PT, which will pay dividends later. Plus, Nolan will come out of that stretch rested, which will be good heading into next few games. The danger is he could be rusty, but I don't see that based on his performance so far.

The trick might be ensuring that Dre' and Scheyer aren't unduly fatigued for the games that follow.

[airowe]

Just for reference:

Coastal Carolina: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/teams/roster?teamId=324

UNCG: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/teams/roster?teamId=2430

Neither team has much height, so it will be nice to have the bigs guarding smaller guys again.

Nolan will come back just in time for the trip to MSG.

[fuse]

Originally Posted by Maxwell1977

Is this a joke?

Why would this be a joke that I support Nolan (or any other Duke basketball player)?

The microscope these young kids are under is nothing I've ever experienced, and I was just trying to provide some perspective.

Sorry if I offended anyone.

-g

[CEF1959]

Originally Posted by airowe

Nolan will come back just in time for the trip to MSG.

Plus he'll have a chance to get a couple of games in against Elon and Radford the preceding week to work out any kinks.

BTW, it would be fun to see Eric Boateng match up against Duke's bigs in MSG. Jordan Davidson was a freshman with Eric B. The rest of the current players were still in HS.

[jimsumner]

"I agree with many above in that this will actually help the team. There will absolutely be times when Nolan is sick, injured, or in foul trouble, and we will already be prepared when this happens."

I understand the sentiment. This is a way to make the proverbial lemonade out of the proverbial lemons. Coaches use this all the time. Beats saying "this sucks. We might as well shut it down for awhile."

But let's examine this logically. If it's really going to help the team, why wait for a suspension? Why not hold out Nolan for a game or two anyway?

There may be a time when Singler is sick, injured or in foul trouble. So, why not hold Singler out for a game or two, so that Kelly and Czyz can play? Or hold out Scheyer so that Davidson can get some burn?

I hope I'm not being harsh and this certainly isn't directed at any specific post. But I've just never bought this argument's implications.

And I really hope I'm not registering on anyone's whine-o-meter.

[airowe]

Originally Posted by jimsumner

But let's examine this logically. If it's really going to help the team, why wait for a suspension? Why not hold out Nolan for a game or two anyway?

There may be a time when Singler is sick, injured or in foul trouble. So, why not hold Singler out for a game or two, so that Kelly and Czyz can play? Or hold out Scheyer so that Davidson can get some burn?

I hope I'm not being harsh and this certainly isn't directed at any specific post. But I've just never bought this argument's implications.

And I really hope I'm not registering on anyone's whine-o-meter.

Jim, I think this is done in small doses, especially in the preseason. We saw lineups during the last two games that definitely won't be in regular rotation come ACC time, but it's nice to get the guys some burn so they'll be game ready.

I don't see this as a strategy to be employed, but rather a positive side effect of what could be a negative occurrence.

I'm going to go eat some local goat cheese now...

[CEF1959]

+1. It's not a good thing. It's just a bad thing with some redeeming features. Can't ignore the silver linings on the cloud.

Another way to look at it: You don't wish for adversity, but when it comes, it often makes you stronger.

Hope this doesn't threaten anyone's ego. Can we stop now?