Wednesday, November 24th, 2010 at 11:26 am  |  29 responses

Can Duke Go Undefeated?

by David Cassilo / @dcassilo

Last night’s dominating 82-68 win over No. 4 Kansas State for No. 1 Duke confirmed what many already suspected: The Blue Devils are really, really good.

Already, this year’s squad looks even better than the one that won the national title last year. Kyrie Irving has flawlessly transitioned to the college level, Mason Plumlee and Andre Dawkins have taken the next step in their sophomore seasons and Seth Curry is making his case for the nation’s best Sixth Man. Returning seniors Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith aren’t too bad either.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s team is far and away looking like the country’s best right now, and although it’s only November, it is time to start bringing up the possibility of an undefeated season.

Aside from great talent, the Blue Devils schedule also works in their favor. Home games against No. 2 Michigan State (who are sure to drop after a loss to unranked UConn) and No. 21 Temple are the only ranked opponents left on Duke’s non-conference schedule.

Meanwhile, the ACC looks poised for a down year. No. 25 North Carolina is the only other team ranked, and Georgia Tech, Boston College and Wake Forest have already lost to mid-major opponents. Virgina Tech, the preseason pick to finish second in the conference, lost by 16 to the same Kansas State team Duke just dismantled.

After being on the other end of Tuesday’s loss, count Kansas State Head Coach Frank Martin as one of those who believes Duke is a special team.

From The Topeka Capital-Journal:

“They knocked the living (heck) out of us,” coach Frank Martin said. “If there’s one better than them, I don’t want to play them.”

The Blue Devils might just be 5-0, but they look like one of the elite teams in recent memory. So it’s time to start the undefeated talk because last night’s performance suggests it’s no longer enough to say Duke is just good. This team could be something more than that.

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  • TyMo

    No. That’s the easiest question I’ll answer all day.

  • benno

    maybe or maybe not.

    If they lose a game then no.

    `But if win all their games, then yes.

  • http://slamonline.com Nick Gibson

    Coach K needs 33 wins to pass Bob Knight on the all-time list, so a loss here and there, a couple wins in the ACC tourney and another title run could let him get the record in Houston. But I’m not getting ahead of myself or anything…

  • http://www.kb24.com The Seed

    Seth Curry should be starting!!1

  • http://pointingnofingers.wordpress.com/ twinparadox

    …As much as I hate Duke, this question is actually reasonable because people are starting to get bored of asking if they’ll repeat.

    Win it all or Bust…

  • arjae

    hate duke but damn if irving isn’t everything they said he was. Still want to see them play Kansas, UCONN, and Villanova but if Irving’s dominating like he has been then it’s a wrap for the field.

  • http://theurbangriot.com The Nupe

    Yes, they can. No they won’t.

  • http://slamonline.com The Black Rick Kamla

    They definitely can. The squad is almost perfect. One chink…Mason Plumlee is very athletic, great shot blocker….but he can be manhandled on the inside and doesn’t seem to enjoy 1-on-1 post D as much as he does helping out and getting blocks. We saw that with Jae Crowder and Curtis Kelly. Michigan State is a squad that matches up with them perfectly

  • http://slamonline.com The Black Rick Kamla

    @The Seed…I think so too fam, Coach K is kinda bringing him in with Dawkins in a shooting set, but Seth is much more than just a shooter….but Kyrie has been amazing, don’t wanna cut into his minutes just yet

  • All Day

    Let’s not get carried away…I remember the media asking the same question about UNC two years ago, when they started the season kicking everybody’s @ss by double-digits. No, Duke will not go undefeated this season, but they will repeat…Duke had Jacob Pullen shook in that game.

  • mike

    not a concern for a Duke team. they just need to focus on one goal at a time. beat Carolina twice. win the regular season ACC champion. win the ACC tournament. get a #1 seed.

    if any or all of those fail and they still win it all, then the true goal was reached… that’s how success is measured at Duke, not an undefeated season.

    although, if the do keep the L column at 0… hmmm… id pee myself as this team would have instant sports immortality and Coach K would have another amazing “check off” on his list as he furthers his legacy.

  • http://blogs.thescore.com/tbj/author/hollymackenzie/ Ghost

    COACH K!

  • KC Devil

    No, they won’t.

    Love Duke, and this is one of the best Duke teams I’ve seen. I think they could end up as dominant as the Brand-Battier era teams, but they’re not there yet.

    But the season is long, especially for Freshmen. Upsets are inevitable.

  • BlackHat

    Probably the best back-court in Duke history … Irving is a “one man fast break” as said on TV — extraordinary talent … Kelly is a surprise, and Mason P. is emerging as a dominant force … Duke truly deserves #1 at this time. But undefeated? They just got by un-ranked Marquette, and it means few or no injuries, no early foul-outs of a Mason P. or Singler or Smith in a big game … odds are against it. Otherwise, they look awfully hard to beat come March.

  • calcan

    Kenpom.com puts the odds at going undefeated in the regular season at 7.33%. That sounds about right.

  • true_blue

    No, they won’t. That’s for next year’s Duke team.

  • fitzy

    @Blackhat
    even if singler or smith foul out at some point. they got dawkins curry and irving. this is the reason why a lot of people think they can do it. cause they’re as deep as the ocean is. they might do it. they certainly have all the tools for it.

  • http://slamonline.com tealish

    No, the real question is — can the MIAMI HEAT go 82-0?
    Oh wait…

  • keeping it real

    Well first we have to realize that duke is not loved in college sports. That includes fans, and refs!!!!!!!!! So to say they will go undefeated is a longshot. And to think curry should be starting is ridiculous!!!!!! We will cut down the nets come march, but we will have a l or 2. Which doesnt matter

  • E-Devil

    Let’s not start talking about undefeated seasons. It is obvious this Duke team has more jelling to do to define each players role. I’m afraid the weak ACC competition this year will be their downfall. I hope I can eat these words in March and April.

  • Mencius

    Great team, has a chance to repeat, but undefeated teams are improbable.

    Our backcourt is better and deeper than last year, but in spite of Mason’s improvement, I think we’re not as deep with our bigs. Foul trouble for Mason, or both he and Miles, and we are fairly week in the paint. Kelly’s strictly a finesse player. We have no one that gives us the toughness that Zoubek did last year (but still overall better talent). That’d be my biggest concern. Barring foul trouble up front, I think we repeat.

  • opeycunn

    Duke won that game v. KSU because of mental toughness. Irving said he was nervous before the game, had never been in front of that many people who wanted him to fail–multiply that x 10 at UNC, mary-land, NC State, Clemson…and Va Tech has a history of sneaking up on us.

    Don’t rule out a Duke/Kansas State rematch in March, engineered by the evil geniuses on the Tournament Committee, and I assure you Pullen won’t be a no-show given a second chance.

    Possible to repeat, but unlikely. Would love to see an undefeated ACC run, though….some carowhina fans actually think they’re going to split with us home and home (HAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA).

    Kentucky, Michigan State, UConn, Nova all look good early so far.

  • opeycunningham

    Duke won that game v. KSU because of mental toughness. Irving said he was nervous before the game, had never been in front of that many people who wanted him to fail–multiply that x 10 at UNC, mary-land, NC State, Clemson…and Va Tech has a history of sneaking up on us. Don’t rule out a Duke/Kansas State rematch in March, engineered by the evil geniuses on the Tournament Committee, and I assure you Pullen won’t be a no-show given a second chance. Possible to repeat, but unlikely. Would love to see an undefeated ACC run, though….some carowhina fans actually think they’re going to split with us home and home (HAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA). Kentucky, Michigan State, UConn, Nova all look good early so far.

  • timmy

    I think if they win every game they will go undefeated but if they lose one they wont.

  • Jimbo

    It is time for our country to unite.
    Duke has a killer team. Let’s stand
    behind them and see them through an
    undefeated season! They are an heroic
    team representing the values that
    the USA holds dear. Get behind Duke!

  • comboduck

    I agree with timmy. If the bluedevils dont lose any games they have a very good chance of going undefeated. On the other hand if they lose i dont think theyll go undefeated.

  • pmmart2

    After Duke’s start it’s hard not to believe they can, but bad shooting nights happen. Coach K’s the best at teaching from a loss and in the long run, I think, it can only benefit the Blue Devils. In saying that who wouldn’t want to witness history?! (besides UNC fans)

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  • turkey jerkey

    I think it will be really hard for the bluedevils to go undefeated if they lose to michigan state, but if they win every game this season they have a good chance of going undefeated.

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