R.I.P. Blue Devils basketball dominance
morning wood: part deux
By: Tom Segal
Issue date: 3/28/08 Section: Columns
Last update: 3/28/08 at 7:37 AM EST
Last update: 3/28/08 at 7:37 AM EST
There are many things to point to in terms of how this season went so awry. For instance, DeMarc absolutely fell apart to end his Final Four-less Duke career, denting the rims of Cameron along the way with his oft-short line-drive free throws.
Or how about young Kyle Singler's love for the deep shot (he hit only 34 percent of his threes despite often being pretty open) when he was easily our best interior offensive player? And then there's his love for committing unnecessary fouls 40 feet from the basket. I was at my buddy's apartment the other day and he told me Singler would be coming over later to pick up some paint for an art class. I was amazed. Given that he spent the last month of the season on the perimeter, I could've sworn he was terrified of paint.
Let's not forget Taylor King, the guy who ESPN loves to tell us "never met a shot he didn't like" and "has no conscience" when it comes to shooting. They always say this as if it's a good thing. It's not. Especially when Taylor was riding one of the coldest streaks I've ever seen. Did he hit a single three after January? Tough to remember.
In the end, there's really only one person to put the blame on for this season, and it isn't Brian Zoubek. It's not his fault he's in the game. In fact, he seems to do just about everything he can to stay out of the game.
The person to blame is... oooh boy this is hard to say... Mike Krzyzewski (covering my head for fear of lightning bolts striking me). We had a great opportunity this year. We had a great team. We were one game from being the top-ranked team in the country, and it all fell apart. All those high school All-Americans, all that talent, and we weren't even the top private school in North Carolina (that'd be Davidson). That blame has to be placed on the man in charge.
And this is what our basketball program has come to: me, a Blue Devil for life, publicly skewering a man I've idolized since my youth.
I will now go cry myself to sleep. Hide the whiskey.
Tom Segal is a Trinity junior. His column runs every other Friday.
Or how about young Kyle Singler's love for the deep shot (he hit only 34 percent of his threes despite often being pretty open) when he was easily our best interior offensive player? And then there's his love for committing unnecessary fouls 40 feet from the basket. I was at my buddy's apartment the other day and he told me Singler would be coming over later to pick up some paint for an art class. I was amazed. Given that he spent the last month of the season on the perimeter, I could've sworn he was terrified of paint.
Let's not forget Taylor King, the guy who ESPN loves to tell us "never met a shot he didn't like" and "has no conscience" when it comes to shooting. They always say this as if it's a good thing. It's not. Especially when Taylor was riding one of the coldest streaks I've ever seen. Did he hit a single three after January? Tough to remember.
In the end, there's really only one person to put the blame on for this season, and it isn't Brian Zoubek. It's not his fault he's in the game. In fact, he seems to do just about everything he can to stay out of the game.
The person to blame is... oooh boy this is hard to say... Mike Krzyzewski (covering my head for fear of lightning bolts striking me). We had a great opportunity this year. We had a great team. We were one game from being the top-ranked team in the country, and it all fell apart. All those high school All-Americans, all that talent, and we weren't even the top private school in North Carolina (that'd be Davidson). That blame has to be placed on the man in charge.
And this is what our basketball program has come to: me, a Blue Devil for life, publicly skewering a man I've idolized since my youth.
I will now go cry myself to sleep. Hide the whiskey.
Tom Segal is a Trinity junior. His column runs every other Friday.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 72
Randy Watson
posted 3/28/08 @ 8:46 AM EST
What was the point of this column? Is your next column going to be about that time you got a parking ticket? I can't wait for the next serving of self centered, cry baby bull poo. (Continued…)
'08
posted 3/28/08 @ 9:13 AM EST
I'm not going defend Zoubek - but do you really think you need to rip him so enthusiastically in an op-ed column?
Zoubek was showing improvement towards the end of the season, in contrast to the rest of the team, and I'm excited to see what he can do next year, far removed from the injuries he's had. (Continued…)
Duke 92
posted 3/28/08 @ 10:19 AM EST
No big man will ever get good with Wojo coaching. He could probably wreck the next Shaquille Oneil. Someone please find coaching jobs elsewhere for Wojo and Collins. (Continued…)
TooPoopedToPop
posted 3/28/08 @ 10:25 AM EST
WOW, I can't wait to read your next column. You know, the one about your stained underwear when you open your door to find Zoubek, your new best friend, in the hall waiting to "talk". (Continued…)
Rudy
posted 3/28/08 @ 10:34 AM EST
The title should have had the periods removed from R.I.P.
What an ass.
True Duke Fan
posted 3/28/08 @ 10:40 AM EST
Since your basketball skills are beyond reproach, I can expect to see you playing next year?
anon
posted 3/28/08 @ 10:45 AM EST
this column is spot on. in humor there is truth.
Blue Devil Fan
posted 3/28/08 @ 11:57 AM EST
There's no excuse for meanness in the guise of humor. Perhaps while Brian Zoubek continues to work on improving his game over the summer, you could work on learning to be a little more compassionate and a little less entitled. (Continued…)
student
posted 3/28/08 @ 12:04 PM EST
I would understand your anger had our players not given it their all - but they did.
Unlike teams like Maryland and UCLA, it was obvious that our players played their hardest every game. (Continued…)
Was a time...
posted 3/28/08 @ 12:05 PM EST
...these kinds of columns, true or not, would have been written about Carolina players. Am I the only one who remembers Rich Yonakor and Michael OKoren being on the front page of the Chronicle as being on the "ACC All Ugly" team?
Some loyal fans the Chronicle has these days. (Continued…)
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