Duke All-Decade Team 2005-2014

1st Team

• Nolan Smith, Sr 2011                  
• JJ Redick, Sr 2006                
• Kyle Singler, Sr 2011
• Jabari Parker, Fr 2014
• Shelden Williams, Sr 2006

• Sean Dockery, Sr 06   
• Rasheed Sulaimon, Fr 14
• Shav Randolph, Jr 05 

• Martynas Pocius, Sr 09
• Marshall Plumlee, So 14

2nd Team

• Kyrie Irving, Fr 11
• Jon Scheyer, Sr 10
• Gerald Henderson, Jr 09    
• Josh McRoberts, So 07
• Mason Plumlee, Sr 13

• Tyler Thornton, Sr 14
• Andre Dawkins, Sr 14
• Amile Jefferson, So 14

 

• Matt Jones, Fr 14
• Taylor King, Fr 08
  

3rd Team

• Quinn Cook, Jr 14
• Seth Curry, Sr 13
• Rodney Hood, So 14
• Ryan Kelly, Sr 13
• Brian Zoubek, Sr 10

• Greg Paulus, Jr 08    
  
• David McClure, Sr 09
  
• Reggie Love, Sr 05
  

• Semi Ojeleye, Fr 14  
• Erik Murphy, So 14

 
Honorable Mention

• Daniel Ewing, Sr 05
• Austin Rivers, Fr 12
• DeMarcus Nelson, Sr 08
  
• Lance Thomas, Sr 10
• Miles Plumlee, Sr 12

• Elliot Williams, Fr 09
• Reggie Love, Sr 06
• Lee Melchionni, Sr 06

• Michael Gbinije, Fr 12 
• Eric Boateng, Fr 06

In-depth "analysis" of UNC - UK

Had to post an excerpt from this column by Peter Bukowski of SI.com, apparently a college basketball/NBA draft expert.  Based on his analysis of UNC - UK as a "game to watch" its apparent that he's never actually watched a UNC game, at least this year:

Saturday, Dec. 14: No. 11 Kentucky vs. No.18 North Carolina
Julius Randle has yet to face a frontcourt player with the type of skill James Michael McAdoo possesses, so seeing him try to defend Carolina's talented forward will be critical for NBA scouts who want to see Randle defend stretch fours. It's also a great test for the Harrison twins who will face a Carolina backcourt capable of outshooting and potentially outscoring them. If they want to make a statement after underperforming most of the year, this is the time to get back in the good graces of NBA scouts and front offices.

McAdoo is UNC's third best big man on offense (behind Johnson and Meeks) and he has no post game to speak of - so in terms of the test UNC poses to Julius Randle's draft status in the scouts' eyes, I'm not sure the array of hurried turn-around jumpers UNC's third post option is going to throw up will factor in.

Similarly, I personally love what Marcus Paige is doing this year, Britt has been a pleasantly solid surprise, and Luke Davis certainly...plays...basketball, but I don't think I would necessarily identify Carolina's backcourt - without Hairston and McDonald - as a particularly important test of the Harrison twins' draft status.  Also - they are capable of "outshooting and potentially outscoring" Kentucky?  Wow - that is some really insightful, cogent analysis.  So let me get this straight, they are "capable" of outshooting Kentucky but only "potentially capable" of outscoring them?  That is fascinating...nonsense.  I'm hearing UNC is going to try to dribble and run too; surprised he didn't mention that as well.

I'm actually not sure this author watches college basketball, period, and I'm only half joking.  I've always been amazed at the sheer persistence of wrong-headed analysis in the national media when it comes to college basketball.   A guy like McAdoo has a storyline written for him early on, and that becomes the reference point, the established narrative, by which he is discussed thereafter.  It probably has something to do with the fact that people who appear on tv or write for established media outlets simply don't have time to watch a lot of games, so they have to fall back on secondary sources.  And if everyone is relying on secondary sources, well, then you start to have an echo chamber that doesn't necessarily bear much of a resemblance to reality. 

I understand they're under pressure to keep producing content - but, c'mon, they can do better than this.

Thoughts on UNC All-Decade Team 2005-2014

- As is no surprise from a perennial power and two-time national champion during this span, UNC basically has two first teams.  Danny Green is the only non-first round pick among the two starting squads - and I think he's been doing pretty well for himself lately.  In fact, that brings up another important "rule" of the game.  The selections are based on college success only, specifically, in the year chosen.  The fact that someone, like Green, goes on to NBA-success is not directly considered, however, it can sort of confirm a selection if, for instance, the biggest question mark about a player was his athleticism or lack of high competition in college.  In other words, Jimmer Fredette's selection has not been confirmed yet.

- You could basically make a case for completely reversing the 1st and 2nd team backcourts.  But I went with Lawson over Felton as a matter of personal preference.  And though McCants and Barnes may have been more talented than Ellington and Green, the pair from 2009 simply continued to produce at a high level all the way through their championship runs.  McCants may have had the potential to be a better player than Ellington, but Ellington might be the perfect Roy Williams wing: athleticism, hustle, terrific shooter, didn't need the ball in his hands a lot to get shots.  McCants could also shoot the 3, and showed freakish strength and athleticism for his size, but he really didn't display it down the stretch in 2005 when he was a clear 3rd option behind Felton and May.   Barnes also faltered down the stretch in the tourney, essentially reverting back to his pre-Kendall Marshall levels of inefficiency after - shocker - Marshall went down.

- I was tempted to pair May with Henson on the first team.  The idea of the low post force May paired with the all time great defender Henson - who tended to float around a bit more offensively anyways - was enticing.  But to leave Hansbrough off the 1st team just isn't right, even if he was sort of a 1st (or 2nd?) among equals on the 2009 championship team.

- 3rd team and honorable mention bigs.  Don't forget how good Brandan Wright was.  From day one he was a dominant long-armed shot blocker and efficient scorer with a nice touch around the basket.  And he wasn't as skinny as Davis or Henson.  He would have been a monster if he stayed for a second season.  Davis is sort of a poor man's version of Wright, but he was too talented - even playing on the dreadful 2010 team - to not make 3rd team.  After that you could make a case for Noel, M. Williams, J. Williams or Thompson to make HM.

- Kendall Marshall and Kennedy Meeks - 3rd team here, 1st team in my heart.

- Leslie McDonald makes it as a sophomore (pre-ACL) tear.  He seemed a step slow and didn't shoot nearly as well last year, although admittedly he wasn't playing with as good a team.  Larry Drew makes it as a sophomore as well because, well, c'mon, he quit the fucking team halfway through his junior year.  Wes Miller and Bobby Frasor make it as seniors even though they were both more productive statistically when they started in 2006.

...and it's UNC (not a big surprise).

UNC All-Decade Team 2005-2014

1st Team

• Ty Lawson, Jr 2009                  
• Wayne Ellington, Jr 2009                
• Danny Green, Sr 2009
• Tyler Hansbrough, Sr 2009
• Sean May, Jr 2005

• Jackie Manual, Sr 05    
• Marvin Williams, Fr 05
• Jawad Williams, Sr 05 

• Quentin Thomas, Sr 08 
• Leslie McDonald, So 12

2nd Team

• Raymond Felton, Jr 05
• Rashad McCants, Jr 05
• Harrison Barnes, So 12    
• John Henson, Jr 12
• Tyler Zeller, Sr 12 

• Bobby Frasor, Sr 09
• Marcus Ginyard, Jr 08 
• Brice Johnson, So 14

 

• Larry Drew, So 10
• Alex Stepheson, So 08

3rd Team

• Kendall Marshall, So 12
• PJ Hairston, So 13
• Reggie Bullock, Jr 13
• Ed Davis, So 10
• Brandan Wright, Fr 07

• Melvin Scott, Sr 05     
• JP Tokoto, So 14
• Kennedy Meeks, Fr 14

• Kenny Britt, Fr 14  
• Joel James, So 14

 

Honorable Mention

• Marcus Paige, So 14
• Dexter Strickland, Sr 13
• Reyshawn Terry, Sr 07
• David Noel, Sr 06
• Deon Thompson, Sr 10

• Wes Miller, Sr 07  
• James McAdoo, Jr 14 
• Justin Knox, Sr 11 

• Justin Watts, Sr 12 
• Will Graves, Jr 10

All-Decade Teams 

All right, the raison d'etre for this blog, or at least its title - all-decade teams for college basketball's best.  In putting these together, the goal is a lineup that balances selecting the best individual players while putting together a lineup that would actually fit together on the floor.  Because it's kind of silly for the "bench" player to be the sixth best person from the school - I pick the starters for every team first, then 3 bench players, then, for the same reason, the last 2 bench players.   I try to pick each team to be as good as possible, but again, with an eye towards making sure that all four teams (1st, 2nd, 3rd and HM) are competitive.

Imagine there is a single coach or GM who is trying to get as many wins out of the four squads as possible - like a high school tennis team - while trying to make each team as good as possible, i.e. no cheating and dropping your best players down a team.  Given the diminishing size of front court players and proliferation of 3 and even 4 guard lineups in college basketball over the last couple decades, this issue arises the most with regard to point guards.  For instance, you could make a strong argument for a starting UNC outside trio of Lawson, Felton and, say McCants; with Marshall, Ellington, and Barnes on the 2nd team.   But I'd rather split up Lawson and Felton - so that the 2nd team has a point guard that could start on most other 1st teams.  It's not like there would be a big downgrade (if at all) with a 1st team of Lawson (or Felton), McCants and Barnes. 

Each player can only be selected once - which unfortunately does advantage the one-and-done assembly line schools (i.e. Kentucky) - and that usually means their last season even if it is not their best statistical season, but not always.

So those are the rules of this silly made-up mental exercise/procrastination tool, and here is the first team...

More Random Thoughts from UNC - MSU:

- When Brice Johnson guards the inbounder under the basket he looks like he's bouncing up and down on two pogo sticks.

- JP Tokoto = poor man's Chase Budinger??  Clearly not the same shooter, but he's displayed obvious touch on mid-range and short jumpers this year.  But he really reminds me of Budinger physically (except for the obvious, of course).  Same height and frame; hold themselves sort of straight up and down.  Great leapers, but not necessarily super quick laterally.  Maybe I'm over thinking this and I should just say Reyshawn Terry 2.0. 

- Have I mentioned how much I love Kennedy Meeks?

- When McAdoo attempts a post move it's clear he has no awareness of where the other defenders are.  He'll spin into the lane, be met by two help defenders, and look like "holy shit, where did you guys come from."  His shots in those situations often look like he's throwing the ball at the backboard.  Ugly.

Gotta say, pretty excited about all of these guys - especially Justin Jackson.  Doesn't seem like he's playing that hard. Like, for instance, I assume he can dunk though you wouldn't know it from this video.  But, man, that shooting touch!  That is a natural born shooter right there.

Projecting a little bit and assuming that Hairston leaves (whether or not voluntarily) and hoping that McAdoo leaves, I very very much would look forward to a lineup of:

PG   Berry  Fr
SG   Paige  Jr
SF    Jackson  Fr  (Roy might start Tokoto here though)
PF   B. Johnson  Jr
C     Meeks  So

Britt  So
Pinson  Fr
Tokoto Jr
Hicks  So
James  Jr

Simmons, Hubert, L. Davis and Stillman White (!) rounding out the deep bench. 

It looks a little too deep in my opinion, a recurring issue with Roy's teams.  Good players need minutes and developing players need to know they're not going to get yanked for a redundant part after one bad play.  But these things seem to have a way of working out.

UNC - MSU

Big win by North Carolina over MSU last night.  Did you watch?  Reminded me of Louisville game in a lot of ways, except not quite as impressive.  MSU's crappy play (lots of missed 3s, ailing big guys) seemed to be a larger factor in this game than Louisville's in that game.  Same good and bad things stood out to me about UNC  - just not quite to the same degree, at least with regard to the good.

- Paige - even on a bad shooting night the transformation he's made continues to amaze.  It seems like all the skills were there at the end of last year and he just realized that he was good enough to use them all.  He plays like he knows he can be an all-american.  Trying to think of a good comp for him - not super athletic, but lanky and skilled, crafty-quick and a good shooter.  ha. basically he looks like all the combo guards on virginia tech and florida state et al. all these years about whom I've always complained that UNC never has guys like that.  Well, we do now.  Maybe Roy will realize that it's ok if other people besides your point guard are competent ball handlers.

- McAdoo - his terribleness continues to amaze. I try to fight the urge to jump to conclusions about guys early on, bc, as this year is a prime indicator, even high recruits (and particularly ones Roy recruits) can take a year to develop and will all of a sudden turn into a player that you didn't even see at all the first year - but McAdoo is a junior.  He is who he is at this point:

An athletic tweener, decent defender, shoots passing lanes really well, blocks some shots, good in space where he can showcase his athleticism, but....can't play with contact AT ALL which contributes to a) no advanced offensive game to speak of, b) terrible finishing ability inside, and c) him basically exclusively shooting turnaround jumpers unless wide open which he does not make a good percentage of.  He's always shown an ability to occasionally make them, but he also has horrible misses - including on free throws.  Not the kind of misses a natural shooter would make.  (i think defenders press up on him knowing he's not driving, which leads to tougher and tougher shots.  but that doesn't explain the free throws.)

He's taken a complete back seat to the younger and better bigs offensively and his usefulness seems almost purely based on his athleticism.  Though in true Harrison Barnes style analysis (i.e. formulate an inaccurate opinion about a player as an incoming freshman and then only talk about him in those terms for the entirety of his college and nba career - bonus points if those terms solely relate to psychological and intangible matters and not, you know, actual basketball abilities) the non-Jay-Bilas announcer did say "if McAdoo started playing like the monster we KNOW he can be, watch out."

Meeks/Johnson - still love these guys.

Conclusion - don't want to keep wildly changing expectations game to game, but I sort of think that if Hairston and McDonald come back this team could resemble the 2011 team (post Kendall Marshall insertion as a starter) in that over the course of the year the individual talents of a bunch of freshman and sophomores develop to the point that it is a pretty good team.  But without those two, they are way too reliant on Paige - as in I only slightly misuse the word literally when I say that he is literally the only person on the team who can hit 3s right now.