Duke Basketball Roundup

DBR Bites #15 - Seeking revenge against VT

We're back with DBR Bites to talk Virginia Tech. Duke faces the Hokies on Saturday at Cameron Indoor, and the Blue Devils are looking to even the score after the throat-punching loss in Blacksburg a month ago. Jason and Sam are back to break this one down, and we have to first acknowledge that we know there has been some reporting this week about Jon Scheyer's recruiting approach and Mike Krzyzewski's retirement thoughts, but we need a full episode to dive into all of that. What can Duke fans expect on Saturday? We're looking forward to better big man play and a full appearance by Dariq Whitehead. Virginia Tech hasn't put themselves in a good position for a tournament appearance, but they are always excited to spoil a home stretch in Cameron. Speaking of home arenas, we take a very weird detour into discussing concerts at Reynolds Coliseum. We'll be back again soon, but in the meantime, don't forget to write to us. You know the drill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#491 - Balanced Duke too much weight for Louisville’s house of Cards

The Duke Blue Devils took care of business last night against the Louisville Cardinals, and the podcast trio is here to cover it on Episode 491. Duke started out slow but then eventually took care of business with balanced scoring and several highlight moments on offense and defense. After we go through some of the great headlines we received, we move to the good, and there was a ton to cover in this game. The low number of turnovers in this ballgame is certainly a cause for celebration, and it led to incredible ball movement and a ton of assists. The team also shot pretty well and everyone was getting involved. All 5 starters in double figures and the 3 bench contributors giving a lot made this an overall good team win, our first time this season winning the 2nd game of a Saturday/Monday back-to-back. After the break, we do shift to what needs to improve, beginning with the missed high percentage shots leading to shooting droughts. The quick start by Louisville also is discussed as we look at what didn’t go well in this game. We cap the episode with some of our favorite plays, and there were a bunch to choose from! We will be back this week with some Bites hopefully as we get ready to host Virginia Tech this weekend. Stay in touch with us at DBR Podcast at Gmail dot com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

DBR Bites #14 - Nolan Smith returns to Cameron

On this episode of DBR Bites, we dive into Duke's upcoming home game against the Louisville Cardinals, who have mostly been a disaster this year under first-year head coach Kenny Baker and first-year assistant coach, Duke alum and Louisville legacy Nolan Smith. Sam and Donald break down Louisville's rocky season, but we have to highlight some good developments lately for Louisville, most notably a win Saturday against competitive Clemson, whom Louisville held to an abysmal night from three. Durham native El Ellis has also been a revelation for the Cardinals this year, averaging over 18 points a game, and he is sure to be fired up to be playing back home. We'll be back again, hopefully with the full podcast crew, to recap this one and look ahead at another long layoff before a Saturday matchup. Keep emailing us at dbrpodcast at gmail.com - we haven't decided a new name for the show, so keep those ideas coming! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#490 - Orange Crushed

We knew they had a game like this in them, but it was oh so much fun watching Duke dismantle Syracuse on the way to a 77-55 victory. The Duke Basketball Report podcast crew chime in with their take on the ways this Duke team is evolving into a very dangerous opponent. The three point shooting, led by Dariq Whitehead, and the stellar interior defense, led by Derek Lively were major difference-makers in this contest. The podcast guys also talk about Duke's biggest problem lately, turnovers, and discuss how Duke got them under control in the second half against the Orange. The podcast wraps it all up with the player of the week picks, including on selection that may come as a bit of a surprise. Oh, and stay tuned for a post-credit moment where Donald breaks down why the NBA slam dunk contest wasn't all that interesting to him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

DBR Bites #13 - Rimshots and Recruiting

If you have watched any Duke game this year, you have probably wanted to fire your shoe at the TV at least a couple times because of an unexpected miss from right at the rim. It sure feels like this Duke club struggles to finish in the lane more than many we have seen in the past. So, is that really the case? The DBR Podcast crew dug deep into the numbers to find out how Duke does compared to the rest of the conference. And, after dispensing with the shooting, the podcast gang turns their attention to recruiting, specifically the impact of the transfer portal on high school recruiting. It may not be a topic that directly relates to Duke, but if you care about college basketball, there are some very interesting perspectives here about how things are changing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

DBR Bites #12 - Orange Opinions

It may not have seemed like Duke's visit to Syracuse would be a big deal when the season began, but with both teams sitting at 9-6 in the ACC standings, this weekend's matchup with the Orange is the very definition of a hugely important game. Figuring out the vaunted Syracuse 2-3 zone won't be easy, especially for a Duke team that has really struggled this season with outside shooting. The DBR podcast is here to tell you all about what the Orange bring to the table for this matchup and also clue you in on who the key players may be for Duke. So, if you want to know who Duke will use to attack Jim Boeheim's zone and who Syracuse will use to punish Duke on the other end of the floor, the DBR Podcast has all the answers... we think, the podcast guys could also be dead wrong about their projections for the game. That is what makes sports so much fun! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#489 - Close Call Against Notre Dame

Jason, Sam, and Donald are having way too much fun on the latest episode of the Duke Basketball Report Podcast. Before they can even get to their recap of what worked and what didn't against Notre Dame, they talk about what it was like having Coach K back in Cameron. Was his seat in the right place and what did he think of watching two of his assistant coaches go at it on opposite benches? After dispelling with that, the podcast crew breaks down Duke's closer than expected victory over the Fighting Irish (and an unconscious Dane Goodwin), including that clutch 3 by Mark Mitchell. Donald Wine was in Cameron for the game and he tells us everything he saw from press row while also letting us in on his post-game conversation with Jon Scheyer. And, beforfe the guys leave, they have a challenge for all of you... they will soon need a (slightly) new name for the DBR Podcast. The emailbox is open for suggestions! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

DBR Bites #11 - Brey’s last visit

The podcast is back to preview Duke's upcoming home game against Mike Brey's Notre Dame team, which has been one of the most disappointing in the ACC this season. Brey's final trip to Cameron should be a good opportunity for Duke to right the ship after two tough road losses last week. As we dive into the Irish, we're somewhat flummoxed at their underperformance this season given their experience and prior ACC success. Freshman JJ Starling hasn't performed to expectations, having been removed from the starting lineup recently, and Notre Dame is having a hard time stopping opponents from scoring, despite a relatively slow tempo. If you'll be at the game on Tuesday, stop into Devil's Krafthouse beforehand to say hi to Donald Wine! We also have to spend a few minutes on the Super Bowl, but you probably didn't come here for that. Enjoy it anyway, and whether you liked it or not, stay in touch with the show at dbrpodcast at gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices