Duke fans: what's up?

[Blakeon18]

So far: record is 3-5. 3 wins are not against good teams.
Losses to Baylor/West Virginia/South Florida/South Carolina/UCLA

Lots of losses to really good teams.

Injuries a problem? Any issues at all with the coach?

 

[Geew1992]

I’m not a duke fan but it’s def a coaching problem. Kara is not an offensive coach. She needs to hire someone to help in that department or the losses vs good teams will be more common

 

[jumpstart]

I’m not a duke fan but it’s def a coaching problem. Kara is not an offensive coach. She needs to hire someone to help in that department or the losses vs good teams will be more common

When it comes to basketball the head coach is the offensive coach. They are useless if they are not. The salary could not justify a "pay her/him" but let's hire someone else to run the team. Not happening. Kara will be on the hot seat if she can't do deep run in the tournament or misses the tournament all together. She can right the ship, but they are in a deep hole for now.

 

[Geew1992]

When it comes to basketball the head coach is the offensive coach. They are useless if they are not. The salary could not justify a "pay her/him" but let's hire someone else to run the team. Not happening. Kara will be on the hot seat if she can't do deep run in the tournament or misses the tournament all together. She can right the ship, but they are in a deep hole for now.

No disagreement here. Even with her winning theACC tournament, there was little offense. It’s just worse this year with Okanawa transferring

 

[DefenseBB]

I’m not a duke fan but it’s def a coaching problem. Kara is not an offensive coach. She needs to hire someone to help in that department or the losses vs good teams will be more common

I have to disagree, I find her coaching HIGHLY OFFENSIVE! 🤣 The USA Basketball suits better be taking notice and force her to put an offensive minded coach as her top assistant. Jennie B perhaps?

 

[Reignman79]

They currently don’t have any offensive rhythm at all! There is no one on this team that you can throw the ball to and you know they will get you a bucket. Lots of role players and no stars! That is what I see!

 

[Centerstream]

Would the Duke AD even think about firing Lawson as long as she is still the coach for our Olympic team? Wouldn't be a good look for Duke, IMO.

 

[uconnever]

Yeah I love Lawson but I see bad recruiting. Bad mix of players. I understand you can’t make certain kids come to play for you, but I don’t understand why teams like Duke and South Carolina most seasons lack a good shooter. Imagine South Carolina with some pure shooters on their team. Duke as well, it’s just a weird mix of talent when I have watched them. Team building is important. There are girls that are not highly ranked that I’m sure can shoot the out of the ball. South Carolina and Duke needs to find them because I think they will be a top ranked team year in and out if they can fix this one problem.

 

[Geew1992]

Yeah I love Lawson but I see bad recruiting. Bad mix of players. I understand you can’t make certain kids come to play for you, but I don’t understand why teams like Duke and South Carolina most seasons lack a good shooter. Imagine South Carolina with some pure shooters on their team. Duke as well, it’s just a weird mix of talent when I have watched them. Team building is important. There are girls that are not highly ranked that I’m sure can shoot the out of the ball. South Carolina and Duke needs to find them because I think they will be a top ranked team year in and out if they can fix this one problem.

It’s not they don’t recruit that type of player but where that player choses to go.

 

[Bone Dog]

It’s not they don’t recruit that type of player but where that player choses to go.

I tend to think of recruiting less in terms of who you go after and more in terms of who you can persuade to come to your program. Dawn ends up with quick athletic teams because her program and style look attractive to those athletes. Lindsay gets players to come to USC because they want exposure in a major media center and that means playing a flashy game. I’m not sure how to finish out this speculative analogy for Cori. What is she doing to attract so many bigs?

 

[FanInNC]

2024 7th ranked class
2023 6th ranked class
2022 11th ranked class

It’s not a lack of perceived talent. Maybe pieces not fitting. But this team is largely the same team from last year (granted offense was an issue, but they won last year at a high rate).

I’m not a Duke insider by any means but perhaps Kara recruits highly ranked kids with an emphasis on athleticism that can fit her pressure scheme on defense. If so, maybe that’s something she needs to tweak.

Regardless, this seems wild. You can be an offensively challenged team and compete at a high level. UNC has proven that over the last several years. Duke has too. It was 30-7 against UCLA yesterday after 1 and Betts didn’t even play!!!

That’s more than offensive issues right?

 

[HuskyFan1125]

I’m gonna take a stab here and it was something I mentioned preseason when discussing Duke.

My biggest concern for them was offense. They were elite defensively last year and it is what the Duke team is known for under Lawson. That’s a given. However if you look back last year they lost 2 important pieces (Richardson and Okanawa). On the season those two were just 10ppg scores but it was the collective of that they did as a team. Richardson and Jackson were both scoring guards. I think Richardson took some of the scoring pressure and load off of Jackson. That is missing this year! Skinner should help when she returns.

Okanawa was absolutely brilliant in the ACCT last year winning MOP. She was their leading scorer 5 out of their last 7 games. Her defense was spectacular and it generated a lot of offense. Any Duke steal or live ball turnover on the defensive end, Okanawa was the first player down the floor for an easy bucket consistently. She gained a better 3pt shot by seasons end. Donovan has done none of those things. Both are extremely athletic but Okanawa was the better offensive player.

Then you go to the post. Fournier is great but i think she is undersized against bigger post players and I think that’s why she misses some bunnies in close. Not sure her and Thomas are the best pairing but until Roberson gets 100% and proves she can score that’s what they have.

Duke has great players but it’s the combination on the floor for me and my basketball eyes. Should Jackson and Mair get hot from 3 that would open the lane for Fournier inside. But even then you have to realize that Donovan is not an offensive threat. So that causes the defense to pack in the post or run multiple defenders at the shooters.

I think Duke will be fine. There are winnable games in the ACC for them but they may just as easily take some lumps until they figure out how to have ALL 5 players on the floor a threat to score. Or find their best offensive combination. Right now i dont know what that is and it would seem neither does the coaching staff.

 

[Stagnant]

I saw this and thought it was interesting

 

[Geew1992]

I saw this and thought it was interesting

A show?? Ain’t no way….. yet they can’t score 60