the talent isn't overrated when you look back at the team before the year began. you have 4 super scorers one of which is a returning all-american with allen, kennard, tatum, and jackson. you have the number one highschooler (albeit coming off major injuries) in giles, you have a HUGE center with defensive capabilities and some post moves in bolden, you have returning sophomore Mcd's AA in jeter who had a great summer, and you have 2 senior/grad leaders who were McD's AA as well in jefferson and jones. not to mention a top-50 frosh in delaurier. the problem has been injuries with poor chemistry development since the return of the injured freshmen, and no true PG. I was worried about having jackson and wanted DSJ much more than I wanted jackson. I would've taken thornton back rather than jackson. I love jackson and his fire/competitiveness; he and allen fit well in the backcourt better than he fits with kennard as kennard's personality is too passive and his game too one-dimensional for the most part. having DSJ or thornton would've made a huge difference. Frank is not a PG in the slightest; he's an aggresive monta ellis/jerryd bayless type of player. Having tyus would've been huge as he was projected to be a 2 or 3 yr player. Him leaving early was a domino effect. I'm worried that now duval may end up choosing zona given how they've looked lately and how well their guard play has been with kadeem allen, simmons, PJC, and now trier. Regardless of all that, despite injuries and chemistry issues, this duke team as assembled is still far too talented to be playing close games against miami and NC state. How they looked against GT is what I expected but the performances and coaching have been so uneven. Capel fukked us from the start with his starting lineup last nite.
