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A Duke Basketball Dilemma

May 1, 2012

Posted by under Wojo's Hoop Thoughts

It is a fun time for us at Duke with the NBA Playoffs going on but I can’t figure out which team to root for.  I am following our eight Duke guys on playoff teams as well as the Olympic players we’ve worked with and the coaches, front office guys and owners with ties to our program.  I have rooting interest with every team so it is impossible to pick just one.
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Usually at night after the kids are in bed and my wife is reading a book, I am tuned in to TNT, ESPN or ABC and watching the games.  Obviously the Duke guys we coached here are the players we follow most closely.  The Bulls/Sixers series is especially tough on me.  Chicago has Carlos and Luol who I coached here and Philly has a former Duke teammate of mine in Elton Brand.  Also, the Sixers coaching staff includes the dads of my fellow assistants with Doug Collins (father of Chris) as head coach and Jeff Capel, Sr. (father of Jeff) as an assistant.  I root for both teams.  Adam Silver (the NBA’s No. 2 guy to David Stern) is a Duke grad and big fan of our program so I may have Coach K reach out to him to see if we could have that series end in a tie.
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Coach K follows the playoffs like crazy too because he has a personal relationship with so many of the players and coaches in the NBA.  He’d follow it as closely as anyone because of all those relationship even in a non-USA Basketball year.  With the Olympics coming up, he is as glued in as ever.
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We were all sad to see Derrick Rose get injured.  He’s so talented and loves to play.  I am sure Carlos and Luol are devastated on a personal level but they’ll be ready to step up and answer that challenge.  They are guys who have been All-Stars and outstanding players.
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It is a blessing to be able to work with guys like Carlos and Luol, players who make it to the NBA Playoffs.  That is one of the amazing things about being a player or coach here at Duke.  You get to be around guys who achieve at the highest of levels and dream big.  Carlos did that at Duke as a main cog on a national championship team.  I’ll never forget working with him as he pushed to get back in shape for the 2001 NCAA Tournament after breaking his foot.  His return in the Final Four pushed us over the edge against Maryland and Arizona, helping us become national champions.
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With Luol, he was one of our first one-and-done players.  He handled that well and got as much out of Duke as you could in a year’s time.  One of my favorite memories from Luol’s Duke career came in the 2004 regional final.  With a spot in the Final Four on the line, he came in at halftime and gave an emotional speech to the team.  In the second half, his actions on the court spoke as loudly as his inspiring words at the half in the locker room.  The biggest play of the game came with 3:00 left and the score tied.  Luol really battled for an offensive rebound and found JJ Redick for a three.  A minute later, Luol found a piece of the paint and converted an acrobatic tip-in to push the lead up to five.  His regional MVP honor was well-deserved.  Off the court, Luol has been an amazing representative of our university from day one when he arrived at Duke on a mission.  Both Luol and Carlos are winners, great players and team guys.  We are lucky to have had them in our program.
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Another great Duke story in these playoffs is unfolding down in Miami where former college roommates have reunited.  Nick Arison was a student-manager for our team and now is CEO of the Heat.  He lived with Shane at Duke and helped recruit him to Miami.  Shane’s had such a good career and been so consistent.  For him now to be on a team that has a chance to win an NBA championship and share it with one of his best friends and former college roommates is fun for us to see.  Those are the types of incredible stories that happen at Duke not only within our program but all over campus.  You are talking about a guy who is eventually probably going to own the Heat and his close friend who is a key player on a serious championship contender.  The dream started in a dorm room at Duke.
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Those are just a few stories and Duke thoughts from the playoffs — I’d like to share more as the playoffs continue.  Before I go, I want to thank everybody for reading the blog and sending feedback on Twitter (@steve_wojo).
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Duke Basketball Never Stops.
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Coach Wojo

Carlos helped us hang one of the banners in the background in 2001
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8 Devils Begin NBA Playoffs

April 28, 2012

Posted by under NBA Devils

The NBA Playoffs began on Saturday with eight of Duke’s 16 players in the NBA continuing their seasons.  The Blue Devils still alive and battling to advance in the playoffs include Luol Deng (Chicago), Carlos Boozer (Chicago), Elton Brand (Philly), Shane Battier (Miami), JJ Redick (Orlando), Chris Duhon (Orlando), Dahntay Jones (Indiana) and Josh McRoberts (Lakers).

#DukeintheNBA Facts

*Duke is tied with Kentucky, UCLA and UNC for most alums alive in the playoffs.

*The first playoff game of the day pitted Chicago against Philly.  Three of the game’s 10 starters were Blue Devils and Sixers head coach Doug Collins is a Duke dad (father of our Associate Head Coach Chris Collins).  Also, Jeff Capel, Sr. (father of Duke assistant coach Jeff Capel) is an assistant for the Sixers.

*15 of the 16 Big East schools had fewer players in the NBA this season than Duke has in the NBA Playoffs.

*All 12 Big Ten schools had fewer players in the NBA this season than Duke has in the NBA Playoffs.

*The Miami Heat have strong Duke ties.  Shane Battier is a key player for the Heat and the team is owned by the Arison family (including Nick Arison who is the team’s CEO and was a Duke Basketball manager while Shane was a player at Duke).

*The Boston Celtics are co-owned by Steve Pagliuca (Duke grad and father of former Duke player Joe Pagliuca), while Celtics head coach Doc Rivers is a Duke dad (father of Austin Rivers).

*In addition to Josh McRoberts, the LA Lakers have Duke ties with Quin Snyder serving as assistant coach.

*Over in San Antonio, we’ll be rooting for Danny Ferry (Spurs VP) to make a deep playoff run.

*The Oklahoma City Thunder are co-owned by Aubrey McClendon, who graduated from Duke a few months after Coach K finished up his first season on the Blue Devil sidelines.

Luol Deng is Chicago's second-leading scorer

 

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Swag Up for @JayBilas

April 28, 2012

Posted by under Wojo's Hoop Thoughts

I had some laughs with good friend Jay Bilas on Twitter yesterday. After seeing some photos on his Facebook from before he came to Duke in the early 80′s, I thought I’d remind him of one of the key people who helped him get his “swag” up to a high level as a lawyer and one of ESPN’s best analysts.

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Critics Do Not Count

April 26, 2012

Posted by under Wojo's Hoop Thoughts

One of my favorite quotes comes from one of the toughest U.S. Presidents of all-time.  This is one I have in my office and like to share.

It is not the critic who counts,
or how the strongman stumbled and fell,
or where the doer of deeds
could have done better.

The credit belongs to the man
who is actually in the arena,
who knows the great enthusiasms,
the great devotion,
and who spends himself
in a worthy cause.

If he fails,
at least he fails while daring greatly,
so that he may never be
one of those cold and timid souls,
who know neither victory nor defeat.

  - Theodore Roosevelt

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@NdotSmitty Checks In

April 25, 2012

Posted by under Q&A

We caught up with 2011 ACC Player of the Year Nolan Smith as he is finishing up his rookie year with the Portland Trailblazers.  Here’s the update on The People’s Champ…

The NBA life.  What is that like?
The NBA is special.  It’s what you think it’s gonna be.  A lot of travel.  Everything you imagine getting you can get.  You have everything you could ever want.  You get to wake up every day and play basketball.  Do what you love.  That is the most important thing and everything else comes after that.  You worked your whole life to have these opportunities.  It is a blessing.

How is the setup out there for you?  Has your family been able to stay close?
We’ve been great.  My mom doesn’t like flying too much and Portland is the farthest possible flight.  It is like a seven-hour flight but she has been down here to see a couple games.  My sister and I live together which has been great.  Some people are like, “You live with your sister your rookie year?”  But everybody knows I am a laid-back guy anyways and I love having my sister around taking care of me.  She’s done a great job.  It has been a great experience living together.  We have a nice spot in downtown Portland.  We see a lot of rain and a lot great people out here.  It has been a good time.

How is the foundation going?  I know your sister helps you run that.
The foundation has been great.  There are a lot of resources in Portland we’ve been able to tap into and work with.  The American Heart Association — I’ve had a couple of events with them already.  The Dougy Center — it’s a center out here supporting grieving kids — I gave some tickets away to about 50 kids there, took pictures with them and talked with them after the game.  This summer, I’m having a camp out here for grieving kids and my sister is having a slumber party for girls.  It is going great.  This area needs it — there’s a lot of grieving kids out here.  I also can’t wait for my foundation to touch kids in other cities as well.
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You are the People’s Champ.  I am sure you’ve made some friends and connections with fans out there?  
Absolutely.  Nothing’s changed from that standpoint.  Every game, we have fans that come and wait out at the garage.  Everybody knows me — I am gonna go over there and sign autographs every single game and interact with fans and let them know I appreciate them.  I want to let them know who I am.  I still go on Twitter and talk to everybody, reaching out to the Portland fans and the Duke fans.  I am still trying to keep that title as The People’s Champ.
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No surprise there.  What do you miss most about Duke?
All my teammates.  I have been fortunate to come to the NBA this year and have great teammates.  I’ve been very lucky to have guys I can hang out with away from the gym but there’s nothing like college.  I miss every single one of the teammates I had at Duke and the relationships I had in college.  I miss being around those guys all day long, the coaches too.  The family environment I had down at Duke — It’s like that a little bit here in Portland.  People are close from top to bottom but it is nothing like Duke where people become your second mom like an LA or Miss Gerry, your coaches are like uncles.  Everyone becomes an extended family member at Duke.  You’re gonna miss that when you get to the NBA no matter where you go.
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Have you stayed in touch with the coaches?
Oh yeah, I text and call them every chance I get.  I text all the coaches.  I’ve had the chance to call Coach throughout the year.  It has been great talking to him about Duke’s season and he always wants to make sure I’m good and keeping my head straight through the ups and downs of the NBA.  They’ve been great to me.
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What has been Coach K’s advice?
When I talk to Coach he tells me to be patient and stay ready.  He knows my chance is going to come, especially with a good team and a good franchise that believes in me here in Portland.  I have to just keep working hard.
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You and Kyrie are really close.  Talk about his season.  Wow.
Kyrie’s been ballin’ this year.  He went right in and took the reigns of that team.  He is playing his game and hasn’t missed a beat.  That’s who he was in those first 11 games at Duke.  You give him that ball and he’s gonna make plays.  He’s confident.  That team needs him to go and he’s doing it.
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You’ve played well lately, taking advantage of some extended minutes.  That’s been great to see.
One thing I am figuring out about this league is once you get some extended time and get comfortable out there, you’ll find your way.  You will find out who you are as a player and you’ll get going.  At the end of the day, it is still basketball, just another level up.  I’ve been able to talk to our GM recently and he told me he wants me to be the same player I was at Duke.  That’s how I’ve felt lately as I am getting comfortable and being aggressive, and that’s what they want.
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What are your thoughts on next year’s Duke team?
I think next year’s team is going to be very good.  They’ll have a lot of experience.  The seniors will be ready to have a big year.  They’ll go out hungry to finish way better than this year and they’ll be ready for a fight.  The young guys coming along — Quinn, Josh, Tyler and those guys — they are ready to work hard and play better.  I watched Rasheed at the McDonald’s Game and the Jordan Game and he kind of reminds me of myself actually.  He seems like a hard-nosed player who plays defense and will find a way to put that ball in the hole.  I am excited for the season.
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You are especially tight with Quinn.  What are your thoughts on his game?
I think the key for him is having a big summer.  He worked out with Micah Lancaster — someone I trained with.  As soon as he was done with the workout, Micah texted me something that made me feel good.  He said Quinn is a hard worker.  When I saw that I knew he would have a big season.  That’s what I did.  After an up-and-down freshman season for me, I learned it is all about what you do every single summer.  To see him working with Micah and get a text like that that he’s working hard, I can see he is ready to get better.  That’s what it is all about.  Getting better every year.
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Appreciate your time, thanks Nolan.
Yessir, always.  See y’all this summer.
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