Duke Basketball Roundup

For a couple of weeks, the Duke Basketball Report Podcast has been speculating about potential transfers who might be coming into the program following a few announcements of departures. We got some news on that front this week in the form of Theo John and Bates Jones, but the transfer news is overshadowed by former Duke All-American and National Champion Nolan Smith's promotion from Director of Basketball Operations to Assistant Head Coach. We start with Nolan, not just because he's filling Nate James's sizable shoes on the Duke bench, but because all three of the hosts of this show are huge fans of Nolan Smith the basketball player and Nolan Smith the man. We break down some of our favorite Nolan Smith moments and qualities before diving into his introductory press conference, which was a celebratory affair not just for Nolan but also for the media in attendance, many of whom know him well. After the break, we discuss the transfer announcements of big men Theo John and Bates Jones. We speculate that John should actually get a few minutes of burn behind Mark Williams and Paolo Banchero as a banger around the rim, and though Jones may not get to play much in a now crowded front court, he will be a key practice player and leader. Both John and Jones are transferring in from programs run by reputable coaches. John played his first four years at Marquette for former Duke player and assistant Steve Wojciechowski and Jones played down the road at Davidson for Bob McKillop. Don't forget to stay in touch with the DBR Podcast at dbrpodcast at gmail.com, fill out our soon-to-close survey at tinyurl.com/dbrpodcastsurvey, and keep your podcast feed up to date as more news comes out of the Duke program this spring. We also may have some more fun interviews coming in the next few weeks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode 3 of Return to Glory, the 2001 Duke Blue Devil national champions relive their first battle with the Maryland Terrapins. They reflect on what it was like to play in Cole Field House and talk about some of the crazy antics they saw from the rabid Maryland fans. And they talk about that epic game itself, the one that has come to be known as The Miracle Minute. Maryland was blowing Duke out, but the team never lost faith. What was it that kept them so convinced they would pull out a victory? Have a listen and you will find out. And if, for some reason, you have not listened to the first 2 episodes of Return to glory, what are you waiting for? This amazing series gets you up close with the 2001 team in a way never before possible. Check out episode 1, about the preseason, here: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP8261243587.mp3?updated=1617378853 And episode 2, about the intensity of the practices, here: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP2755474565.mp3?updated=1617944020 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just when you thought today's podcast content was limited to an interview with one of Duke's most prominent alumni, the Duke Basketball Report Podcast is back for a second episode to discuss the not entirely surprising announcement that Matthew Hurt is leaving Duke to pursue his NBA dreams. We spend the first segment of the podcast reminiscing on Matthew Hurt's second season in Durham, which the three of us agree was one of the most impressive sophomore campaigns that we can remember. Hurt promised that he would spend the summer of 2020 bulking up and improving his scoring, and he delivered an All-ACC season full of daggers. Sam makes some potentially lazy comparisons to Duke scorers of yore, Jason admires Hurt's commitment to development, and Donald notes how Hurt became Duke's most consistent player in an otherwise strange year. After the break, we dive into Hurt's NBA prospects. We agree that he is destined for a second round pick, but could Matthew Hurt be slated for a big early impact in the league? Stay in touch with us at dbrpodcast at gmail.com, and don't forget to fill out the listener survey at tinyurl.com/dbrpodcastsurvey. We'll be back whenever Duke news pops again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a relatively slow news week, we have the chance to sit down with one of Duke University’s greatest philanthropists and leaders. David Rubenstein, class of 1970 and former chairman of the Duke Board of Trustees, joins the DBR Podcast for a great conversation! Before we get to David, Jason has some news on the recruiting front about a 4-star point guard that the Duke Blue Devils have recently shown interest in bringing to Durham. Jaylen Blakes, who went to the same high school as former Duke great Luol Deng, is considering Duke along with several other schools, including Pitt. We discuss that briefly at the top. Then, we sit down with David Rubenstein, who gives us a lot of insights on life at Duke, his interactions with Coach K, and tells us his motivation for getting into university development and his philanthropic efforts both at Duke and in Washington, DC. It’s a terrific interview that you don’t want to miss. Finally, Jason teases us with what we can hear on the 3rd episode of Return to Glory! Don’t forget, our survey is still up for you to fill out if you haven’t yet, and we will share the results soon. Also, keep subscribing and tell your friends...we got more great content coming soon! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to episode 2 of our oral history of the 2001 Duke Blue Devil national champions. Listen in as Jason Evans sits down with Shane Battier, Chris Duhon, Carlos Boozer, and all the other members of the 2001 team to hear the behind the scenes stories about what made that great season. This time, we are talking about practice including some epic battles between the big men and a very special player who never appeared in a game that season, but who made a huge difference in the performance of the team. Plus, we share more than a few laughs as we find out what was going on in the showers after practice was done. Oh, and stick around until the end to hear a preview of our next episode, a deep dive into one of the most memorable games in college basketball history! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He is expected to be a big part of Duke's resurgence in 2021-22. The DBR Podcast sits down for a conversation with power forward Paolo Banchero, one of the top players in the class of 2021. He tells us about what to expect from his game and also reveals the recruiting pitch that Duke made to sell him on coming to Durham. He's a thoughtful young man and clearly seems dedicated to makin next year's Blue Devils into a formidable national contender. And the recruiting talk isn't done yet. Duke is working hard in the transfer portal to find experienced college basketball players who want to become Blue Devils. One of them, Furman PF Noah Gurley, is about to make his decision and the podcast team talks about what he would bring to the table and what his recruitment says about the Duke roster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The college basketball season is done and the Duke Basketball Report podcast crew is here to praise the Baylor Bears for their victory over Gonzaga. The guys see plenty of stuff in the championship game that can be applied to next year's Duke team, especially the focus on guard play. Plus, we look at the news that North Carolina has hired Hubert Davis as their next head coach, which was hardly a surprise. Donald thinks it was a good decision by UNC, Sam thinks it is a sign Carolina is not modernizing their approach, and Jason see both good and bad in the hiring decision. We bring it all home with a quick look at the pre-pre-preseason polls for next year in college basketball. Where do the experts see Duke and do we agree with their assessment of the 2021-22 Blue Devils? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the Duke Shooting Guard Report. The podcast team is torn as they celebrate the commitment of 5-star high school wing Trevor Keels, but lament the departure of wing DJ Steward to the NBA Draft. Jason, Sam, and Donald look back on the highlights of DJ's time in Durham and look forward to what Keels brings to the table. We even answer the question -- would you rather have a soph DJ or a freshman Trevor? Plus, we wish Nate James luck in his new gig as head coach at Austin Peay by playing a little game -- can you name all the former K players and staffers who are currently in head coaching gigs? No cheating by looking it up! The final few names don't come to mind as quickly as you might think. Oh, and stay tuned after the band plays us out for a discussion about plastic cups... we know this is the kind of high quality content that brings you back to the DBR Podcast again and again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Duke Basketball Report Podcast releases episode 1 of Return to Glory: The Story of the 2001 Duke Blue Devils. Host Jason Evans interviewed every member of the 2001 team, leading them on a stroll down memory lane as they look back on what it took to reach the pinnacle of the sport and win a national title. In episode 1, the team reflects on the lead up to the 2000-01 season, the motivations they got from previous failures, and how they prepared to begin practice that season. You will hear from Shane Battier, Jay Williams, Carlos Boozer, Mike Dunleavy, Nate James, and many other members of the team. Look for new episodes of Return to Glory on the DBR Podcast feed every week throughout the summer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

April 1st is April Fools Day, and it’s supposed to be a day light on actual news. Well, there was a ton of news that dropped, so the DBR Podcast crew jumped on to talk about the coaching news on Episode 302. The episode was recorded about 15 minutes before DJ Steward announced he was leaving the Duke Blue Devils to enter the NBA Draft, so there will be more analysis of that news this weekend. First, we start with the news that Nate James is set to leave Duke to take over the head coaching job with the Austin Peay Governors. We discuss what this means for Duke and who will possibly fill his spot as an assistant head coach on Coach K’s staff. Could it be Nolan Smith getting a promotion, Steve Wojciechowski returning to his alma mater, or could someone else be waiting in the wings? After the break, the big national news was that Roy Williams retired as the head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels. We discuss what it means for UNC, for the rivalry, and for college basketball. Who is primed to take one of the most important jobs in college basketball? Duke content is coming fast, everyone! Subscribe so you don’t miss all of the action! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Duke Basketball Report Podcast, we get into the latest news and rumors about Duke's roster and coaching staff. First, we lament the news that Patrick Tape has decided to transfer, and despite his limited contribution on the court for Duke, we are rooting for him wherever he goes. We then get into the speculation that associate head coach Nate James is a finalist for the head coaching job at Austin Peay. Could Tape and/or Jordan Goldwire be on the move with him if James moves to Clarksville? Before the break, we present a quick tease of an interview we recently did with incoming Duke forward Paolo Banchero, which will air next week. Paolo strongly considered Gonzaga, so we get his thoughts on the Bulldogs as the favorite in the Final Four. After the break, we further break down the Final Four, where top-seeded Gonzaga will face UCLA and Baylor will play Houston. Finally, we finish with some discussion about the first day of the NCAA vs. Alston trial that is now happening at the Supreme Court. Good thing we have Donald Wine, Esq. on the case. Stay in touch with us by email at dbrpodcast at gmail.com and, if you haven't done so yet, let us know what you think about the show in our listener survey, at tinyurl.com/dbrpodcastsurvey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Duke Basketball Report Podcast is thrilled to announce the debut of our most ambitious project yet. Starting Friday, April 2nd, we will be presenting a complete oral history of the 2001 National Championship season featuring extensive interviews with every player on that team. You don't want to miss a single episode of this wonderful tribute to our champions. Return to Glory: The Story of the 2001 Duke Blue Devils will appear on the Duke Basketball Report Podcast throughout this summer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hard to believe it, but the podcast crew is on episode #300... and just like they did for episode #100 and #200, they bring former Blue Devil great Kenny Dennard on as a guest. Kenny gives us an update on how his life has changed during the crazy pandemic and also talks about Coach K's relationship with the Duke, giving us a story about how close K came to leaving Duke a couple decades ago. And Kenny also has a surprising opinion about how much longer Coach K will stick around as Duke coach. After a break, Jason, Donald, and Sam dive into a Sweet 16 conversation, which begins with Jason giving an amazing stat on Oregon State and then somehow includes Sam wondering whether Bob Dylan plays hoops. Plus, we talk about Jordan Goldwire's transfer decision and what it says about Duke's roster for next season. And we wrap it up with a look at the Dukies on the move in the NBA, including Donald telling us a jaw-dropping piece of trivia. Trust us, you are not going to believe this one! It may be the off-season for Duke but there has never been a better time to subscribe to the DBR podcast. Jason is about to begin dropping his exclusive interviews with the entire 2001 Duke basketball team. Subscribe now so you don't miss a single one of these very special episodes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Duke Basketball Report Podcast is back for a quick update on the roster situation at Duke, as freshman forward Jaemyn Brakefield announced tonight, in conjunction with the program, that he is entering the transfer portal. Our reaction is overwhelmingly supportive of Jaemyn, who offered some memorable highlights to an otherwise less memorable season for Duke Men's Basketball. We reminisce on his performance in wins against Notre Dame and Virginia, and we offer some hope for his pro future in spite of the transfer. Looking at the Duke roster, we can clearly see why Jaemyn has decided to transfer, as Duke is likely going to be loaded next year at both the wing and in the post, with numerous returners as well as a couple of star recruits coming in. After the break, we touch on former UNC head coach Matt Doherty's new book, which apparently is not friendly to our neighbors in baby blue. Jason enjoys the internal rock fight, Donald fondly remembers UNC's 8-20 season, and Sam is too young to remember of this ancient history. Don't forget to give your feedback to the DBR Podcast at tinyurl.com/dbrpodcastsurvey, and stay in touch with us by emailing us at dbrpodcast at gmail.com. We'll be back soon with some excellent guests! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Sweet 16 is set in the NCAA Tournament, and the DBR Podcast is here to recap how we got there on Episode 298! We discuss some of the teams that surprised in getting to the Sweet 16, including Loyola Chicago Ramblers, the UCLA Bruins, and the Syracuse Orange. The Midwest Region is especially open, and we reflect on some of the teams that have made it to the second weekend. The ACC, who everyone said was down this year, got 2 teams into the Sweet 16, while the highly regarded Big Ten only has 1 team remaining. We also discuss the Illinois Fighting Illini and debate whether playing Loyola Chicago may have been unfair for the #1 seed. After the break, it’s recruiting season...but for transfers! The transfer portal is wild so far this offseason, and we discuss the North Carolina Tar Heels losing Walker Kessler (and possibly a few others) and what it means for Roy Williams’ squad. The Duke Blue Devils have escaped the transfer carousel thus far, but we know we could be active participants on the transfer market this offseason. Don’t forget to fill out our survey at TinyURL dot com slash DBR Podcast Survey and let us know how we’re doing and how we can improve. And, for all questions, hit us up at DBR Podcast at Gmail dot com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first round of the NCAA Tournament is done and the podcast crew has many thoughts. They begin by looking at the performance of the ACC (not good) and also talk about all those fun upsets by double-digit seeds. Next, it is time to consult our brackets to see what we got right and wrong. Jason and Sam's picks are a mess, but Donald is doing pretty well. After the break, the guys spend some time talking about how awful the NCAA has been to the women participating in their tournament and they look at some of the high-profile coaching jobs that are coming open across the college basketball landscape. It is certainly possible that all these coaching dominoes will end up impacting the shape of the Duke coaching staff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The podcast crew looks back on what we thought would happen this season with our annual recap of the stats game. Sam, Jason, and Donald have a good laugh as they look back on what they got right (not much) and what they got wrong (a lot lot lot). Plus, we look ahead to the NCAA tournament with our final four picks and some upsets that could make (or break) your bracket. And, seeing as the season is over, it is a good time for all of you to reach out to us. We have set up a survey to find out what you think of the podcast and to he[p us make it better. Please take a moment and go to http://tinyurl.com/dbrpodcastsurvey and answer the questions there. It should not take long and we really do want to know how we can make you love the DBRPodcast even more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The NCAA Tournament bracket is out, and for the first time since 1995, the Duke Blue Devils will not be a part of March Madness. The DBR Podcast crew is here to react to the news on Episode 295. Duke also passed up a bid to the National Invitational Tournament, presumably due to COVID concerns, and with not being selected as a replacement team for the NCAA Tournament, Duke’s season is over. Still, we quickly react to some of the ACC teams that made the Dance, and we comment on which teams got a difficult draw. After the break, we recap the ACC Tournament and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets winning it all. We conclude with our final Player of the Week honors and one giant sneeze. We’ll be back at some point before the start of the NCAA Tournament to give a more thorough preview, and we’ll also have the recap of the Stats Game soon as well. If you have questions for us, hit us up at DBR Podcast at Gmail dot com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s an emergency Episode 294 of the DBR Podcast, but it’s not the emergency we like. The Duke Blue Devils are out of the ACC Tournament after a positive COVID-19 test was found in the program. This all but ends Duke’s hopes of making a run and earning a trip to the NCAA Tournament. We jump on to provide our instant reactions to the news, literally as the proverbial ink was still wet on the paper. There’s not a lot of words that we can say to express how we feel about this, but crushed is a good start. To go through the entire season with our strict protocols remaining successful only to have a COVID test stop our season at the worst time is just incredibly heartbreaking for us as fans and especially for the players. The run through the ACC Tournament was so wonderful thus far, and we were excited for the game tonight against the Florida State Seminoles. FSU will now advance to the ACC semifinals, and Duke is done. We will be back later for more reactions to any new information we receive, but for now, Duke’s NCAA dreams are done, and we’re pretty sad and disappointed that our players didn’t get their chance to go for glory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the "Mark Williams Basketball Report." The podcast crew is delighted to talk about another Duke win and to gush over the play of Duke's freshman center. They might use a couple naughty words to describe how Mark Williams played. The guys also have plenty of praise for Duke's defense against Louisville and discuss how Coach K and his staff put in a brand new scheme to foil Louisville's outstanding PG Carlik Jones. But, there is no rest for the weary because Florida State is next on the menu for the Blue Devils and Jason, Donald, and Sam have done their homework to tell you all about what to expect from the Seminoles. Here's a hint, Florida State is biiiig! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The ACC Tournament is here, and the Duke Blue Devils opened it in a big way with a 35-point victory over the Boston College Eagles. The DBR Podcast guy react minutes after the final whistle on Episode 292! The guys mention the terrific performance by Mark Williams, and they also give a lot of praise for the guards and how they played on both ends of the floor. Everyone on the team played and even some of the walk-ons were able to contribute, which is amazing to see. We also get into some of the things that can be improved, but there is a ton of great performances to take from this game. After the break, the focus shifts to the Louisville Cardinals, who Duke plays in the 2nd round of the ACC Tournament. What do the Devils need to do in order to once again survive and advance? Each of us pick a couple of focus points. Finally, ACC season awards have been handed out, and we have guys who made various All-ACC teams. We shout out those players who did well enough individually to collect some well-deserved conference honors. We’ll be back after the Louisville game, but don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review. And, keep the great emails coming by dropping us a line at DBR Podcast at Gmail dot com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duke may not be playing well, but the Duke Basketball Report is here to talk about...uh...the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Skip the first four minutes if you don't want tv and film talk. Getting to the Duke game, we have words of praise for Mark Williams's offensive output last night, and some disagreement about the macro issues plaguing Duke at this point in the season. We all agree that something is wrong between game-planning, leadership, focus, and/or energy, but it takes us a lot of words to explain how we feel. After the break, we talk about Duke's upcoming appearance in the ACC Tournament, which begins Tuesday in Greensboro. Duke opens against a Boston College team that has had an even more tumultuous season than Duke has had to this point, and though BC may not pose an overwhelming challenge for the Blue Devils (ignore Duke's victory over the Eagles by a single point back in December, if you will), the road gets very challenging very quickly should Duke make it to Wednesday. We give out our last Player of the Week award of the regular season (guess who?) and celebrate Zion Williamson's surprise elevation to the starting lineup for the All-Star Game tonight to wrap the show. Stay in touch with the podcast by emailing us at dbrpodcast at gmail.com, and we'll see you again after each and every Duke game in the ACC Tournament this week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Saturday is almost here! The Duke Blue Devils are set to take on the North Carolina Tar Heels in the 2nd matchup between the two rivals this season. Episode 290 is here to preview everything you need to know about it. We begin by recapping Coach K’s press conference from earlier Thursday, where his comments focused on the battle of the big men. Neutralizing UNC’s big men will be a big task for Mark Williams, Matthew Hurt, and even Jaemyn Brakefield. Then, we get into the analysis of the Tar Heels, keying in on the advanced metrics, the players to watch, and what Duke needs to do to beat them. A win could mean the difference between Duke beginning the ACC Tournament on Tuesday or Wednesday. A deep run in the ACC Tournament will be needed to reach the NCAA Tournament, but beating the Heels will help in how deep that run has to be. Finally, we close with a quick glimpse down memory lane on Jay Williams and how he decided to return to Duke for his junior year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The podcast crew has a special guest, none other than former Dukie Cassius Stanley. Cash is getting ready to appear in this weekend's NBA slam dunk contest and he tells us all about his dunking idols and the surprises he has in store for the basketball world at All-Star Weekend. Plus, we go back in time exactly one year to hear how Cash thinks the 2020 season would have turned out... if Covid had not prevented Duke from playing in the NCAA tournament. Cassius has some very interesting insight into the troubles of the current Duke team and you simply cannot miss hearing about some of his favorite memories from being coached by Mike Krzyzewski. It is one of the most interesting interviews we have ever done here on the DBR Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Close, but no cigar... that seems to be the story of this season for the Blue Devils. Duke falls in another nail biter, this time to a confident and experienced Georgia Tech team. There was plenty to like from this game -- Mark Williams is turning into a beast and Wendell Moore is putting up stats in every category there is -- but there is plenty to be worried about too, especially the play of our young guards. Time is running out for the team to make its case for the NCAA tournament so the podcast crew takes a moment to talk about what will happen if Duke gets invited to the NIT tournament. We make the case -- pro and con -- for whether Duke should take a trip to the NIT for the first time in 40 years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Duke Basketball Report, we have to dissect Duke's loss over the weekend to Louisville, a game that doesn't completely shut the door on Duke making the NCAA tournament, but it certainly hurts. First, let's get to the good. All three of the guys are excited to celebrate Matthew Hurt's performance at both ends of the court. If this was Hurt's audition tape for the NBA, the only clear flaw we found was his occasionally leaving a toe on the three-point line. Moving to the bad, Jason is fired up to talk about the guard play in this game. After a few weeks of improved performance, particularly from the freshman guards, this game was a major step back for the backcourt. After the break, we preview Duke's second to last game of the regular season, a return tilt against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Duke already owns one win against them this season, and if Duke wants to stay in tournament contention, they have to make it 2-0 against Josh Pastner's team this week. Finally, we wrap with some discussion on the confusing NCAA COVID-19 policies heading into the postseason tournament, and an anticlimactic Player of the Week discussion. Stay in touch with us on the discussion forum, at dbrpodcast at gmail.com, or by leaving us a review anywhere podcasts are found. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Blue Devils are back! Duke once again looks like an ACC power after administering the third beat down in their past four games, spanking the Syracuse Orange. The star of the game was Mark Williams, who was dunking all over the smaller Syracuse front line. Meanwhile, Jeremy Roach and DJ Steward were leading Duke to one of their best assist days in decades. The podcas crew -- Jason, Donald, and Sam -- are quite excited at the progress the team is making and are eager for more more more games like this one. After the break, the guys are back to talk about the next contest on the schedule as the Devils looks to boost their NCAA resume by getting revenge on Louisville. Will Duke be able to stop the Cardinals potent pick-and-roll offense and do we expect big Mark to have another big game? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The DBR Podcast trio has calmed down a bit, but they’re still very excited to recap the big Duke Blue Devils victory over the Virginia Cavaliers. We break down all the good and even the veggies from the victory, powered by some excellent defense down the stretch and some incredible play from several players. After the break, we preview tomorrow’s game against the Syracuse Orange, and what the Blue Devils need to do in order to get the win and keep the momentum going. We also dive into the Bracketology, as our NCAA Tournament chances steadily improve. How does Duke’s remaining schedule help them in making the field once again? We conclude with Player of the Week honors, and remember: the DBR Podcast Player of the Week standards are high! Don’t forget to subscribe if you haven’t already, and please spread the word to your friends and fellow Duke fans! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

WOOOOOO!!! An emergency Episode 284 is here, recording seconds after the Duke Blue Devils take down the Virginia Cavaliers 66-65! Warning: there is a lot of cursing on this episode, and why wouldn’t there be?! We’re FIRED up after the big win, and we show just how pumped we are! This episode doesn’t have any of the normal analysis or breakdowns of the game. Just pure, raw emotion as we go through some of the moments that made us happy. We’ll break down the good and the bad on Episode 285, which you should find ready to go sometime tomorrow afternoon. We’ll do a full recap of this win and preview the Syracuse Orange game that takes place on Monday night. We can’t celebrate this win for long, but celebrate we must. That was a tremendous game for the neutral fan, and an even better one for all of us who rep that Duke Blue! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to the Duke Basketball Report Podcast, where we always look on the bright side of life. This week, though Duke lost one of its best players prematurely to NBA Draft preparation, we get to enjoy seeing Duke beat the pants off of Wake Forest in Winston-Salem. We start with the headlines and the good, where there is a lot to praise, from Matthew Hurt to Mark Williams to Jaemyn Brakefield. We also have admiration for the team's defensive effort and the continuing improvement in the passing game for Duke. Hopefully, this full team development isn't too little too late. As for the bad from the Wake game, we have a few limited points of improvement that the Blue Devils can check before facing Virginia this weekend, including wanting more guys to score in double figures (come on, Donald!). After the break, we dive into the limited but lingering fallout from Jalen Johnson's decision to leave the team late in the season. The big takeaway is that we know enough to know that we don't know enough. Looking ahead, Duke has a huge game against Virginia this weekend, and we dive deep into why this is going to be a tough challenge for Duke. Virginia is back to their plodding, efficient ways, and they bring multiple starters with experience from their 2019 championship run and some highly regarded transfers. Can Duke overcome Virginia's size and discipline? Stay in touch with us at dbrpodcast at gmail.com, and we'll talk to you again after the Virginia game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whoa!!! Star freshman forward Jalen Johnson has opted to enter the NBA Draft (not a surprise) and will not be playing any more basketball for Duke (a huge surprise). Jason, Sam, and Donald hop on the line just minutes after hearing the news to see what they can figure out. What impact will this have on the team's on court performance and what may have led Johnson to make this decision? Join the podcast gang for all their analysis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 281 of the DBR Podcast is ready to take you into the week! On this show, the gang is here to discuss the big victory against the NC State Wolfpack. We discuss the emergence of Mark Williams, the return to form for Matthew Hurt, and how well the defense played on Coach K’s birthday. We also preview the Wake Forest Demon Deacons game that’s coming up on Wednesday night. Wake is struggling this season, and we focus on how they’ve fared since the last matchup between the two teams over a month ago. After the break, we get into the NCAA Tournament and the bracket preview that the selection committee released on Saturday. Duke’s not in it, but it’s still interesting to see what the committee is thinking in a unique tournament setup. Finally, we hand out Player of the Week honors. A couple of players are in contention, but will the gang all choose the same guy? You only know if you listen in, and make sure to subscribe and tell your friends! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Where has the defense gone? Notre Dame seemed to score at will against Duke on Tuesday and even though the Blue Devils had one of their best offensive games, it still ended in a defeat. Jason, Sam, and Donald break down what went wrong, including some individual players who really struggled to make a positive impact when they were on the floor. Ever the optimists, the guys saw some good news in the contest and they look ahead to how Duke builds on this against NC State in our next game this weekend. And, before the episode is done, the podcast team looks at Duke's remaining schedule to see what the team needs to do to make the NCAA tourney... and they reflect on some sage words from Coach K about how the tough times can lead to good times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The DBR Podcast is back for some sad, yet hopeful, notes about Duke's loss to UNC last night at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Among the standout performances for Duke were guys who have been mostly stuck on the bench this season, like junior Joey Baker and freshman Henry Coleman. Baker had a double-figure scoring night and Coleman brought the intensity and energy that Jason, Donald, and Sam have all known was there but we hadn't seen yet. Additionally, we saw the Duke offense sharing the ball and hunting good shots in a way that it hasn't in a long while. On the bad side for Duke, the defense allowed career nights for multiple Tar Heels, including freshman Caleb Love, who was key for UNC down the stretch. UNC was making threes and taking foul shots at abnormally large rates, and both of those stats will haunt Duke when they look at the tape. We also strongly suspect that this will be Matt Hurt's worst performance this year in an otherwise standout sophomore campaign. Looking ahead, Duke hosts Notre Dame this week, two months after their first meeting, a game when Duke won by 10. Jalen Johnson was unavailable for that game and Wendell Moore was ineffective, so the crew feels hopeful that Duke will get back on track with those guys giving even average performances. Jason highlights the extreme nature of Notre Dame's playing style via the advanced metrics. Stay in touch with the DBR Podcast by emailing us at dbrpodcast at gmail.com and leaving us five-star ratings wherever you find podcasts. We'll be back after the Notre Dame game this week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The DBR Podcast crew is here to break down everything you need to know about the big game this weekend with the Tarheels. Ordinarily, this game is huge because both teams are jockeying for position at the top of the ACC, but this year it is big because one team will walk away from it with an important step forward in the effort to get a NCAA bid and the other will have taken another step backwards. With that in mind, the guys break down the analytics, the players, and who each team has played so far in this crazy season. And their preview also includes some words from Coach K about the matchup. The podcast crew reads between the lines to hear some interesting analysis of the psyche of this year's very young Duke team. We wrap it all up with a deep dive into the NCAA NET rankings to see how Duke's resume is shaping up and what can be done to improve it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have a special treat for you on Episode 277 of the Duke Basketball Report Podcast! First, the guys discuss the potential for Waffle House in Washington, DC. Let’s just say it’s shooting off the charts! For the meat of the episode, Brendan Marks, Duke Blue Devils and UNC Tar Heels beat writer for The Athletic, joins the Podcast. The gang gets to speak with him about Duke’s struggles this season and what they need to do to turn it around. Brendan talks about how he became a fan of the ACC and the teams that are contenders for the NCAA Tournament. He also talks about which players he thinks are All-ACC at this point and how the pandemic has changed his approach to covering the ACC. Finally, the conversation shifts to this weekend’s Duke-UNC game. Brendan gives us the goods on the players to watch, the matchups to pay attention to, and each team’s strengths and weaknesses. It’s an interview you don’t want to miss! The DBR Podcast will be back on Thursday to do a full preview show for the big game coming up this weekend, so make sure you mash that subscribe button so you don’t miss any of the good stuff! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sam, Jason, and Donald are frustrated and confused. How did the Duke team that hammered Clemson fall just 48 hours later to an undermanned Miami? The guys try to make sense of it all. They point out the few good things to happen in the game and then spend a long time discussing everything that went wrong. Plenty of attention is paid to Duke's defense (or lack thereof) and to Duke just making terrible decisions on offense. And the podcast crew dips into the history book to find a Duke team that reminds them of the current Blue Devils, Let them know if you agree with the comparison. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy days are here again as the Blue Devils take Clemson to the woodshed for a good old fashioned spanking. This one was never in doubt. Donald, Jason, and Sam can't even get through their normal hellos without spinning off into a conversation about Jalen Johnson dunking the life out of a foolish Clemson player who got in his way on a fast-break. The guys also spend a lot of time talking about the way Mark Williams changes the game when he gets in the contest. Plus, there is an extensive preview of Duke's upcoming contest with the Miami Hurricanes, a team that is really hurting these days. Donald is a big Miami fan so he has plenty of dirt to dish on them. We close with remembrances of Temple basketball giant John Cheney and Hammering Hank Aaron before handing out the coveted Player of the Week award. And, if you miss dining out as much as we do, make sure you listen out for a side-conversation about how much meat we want to eat at Fogo de Chão. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duke gets back in the win column with a hard fought victory over Georgia Tech. Even the optimists, the podcast crew saw plenty to like in this one with specific praise for Jordan Goldwire and Mark Williams... oh, and we finally saw Duke taking more free throws than our opponent! We break down what Coach K singled out from the victory and talk about whether Duke can find the consistency that has bene so difficult to come by during this crazy Covid season. After a quick break, Donald, Jason, and Sam look ahead to the game this weekend against Clemson, a team that looked great a couple weeks ago but now seems to be struggling. A win streak would sure be nice right about now. And be sure to stick around at the end after the band has played to hear about all kinds of trouble that Jason has been getting into lately... a sneak peak inside the life of a podcaster who does not want to be interrupted while recording his musings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the DBR Podcast, Jason, Donald, and Sam are back to break down Duke's third consecutive loss. We try to keep things hopeful as we work through what has been going wrong for the Blue Devils the last couple of weeks. One of the interesting dynamics from this game was Lousville having fans in the KFC Yum! Center, which, despite rooting against Duke, may have given our guys some extra energy. Donald in particular is impressed with Duke's energy throughout this game, particularly early, which has been a challenge for Duke so far this season. Jason is impressed with Wendell Moore and Joey Baker, who both seem to be improving in little ways during conference play. Sam is excited about Matthew Hurt, who continues to garner praise not just from partisans in Duke blue goggles but from the college basketball media writ large. Before the break, we dive into the weird exchange between Coach K and the Duke Chronicle student reporter from the postgame press conference. Looking ahead, the guys break down Duke's upcoming matchup against Georgia Tech, a team on the rise in the ACC. We hope that Duke will be able to snap this losing streak Tuesday against the Yellow Jackets. We wrap with a unanimous Player of the Week nomination and some more NCAA tournament scheduling news and speculation. Don't forget to email the podcast at dbrpodcast at gmail.com to have your words featured on the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s Inauguration Day, but the DBR Podcast crew is here to talk Duke Blue Devils Basketball on Episode 272. Duke takes a loss to the Pitt Panthers Pittsburgh Panthers, and the guys break down what happened. Slow starts are dooming the team, and last night was no exception. We hear audio from Coach K, and you can sense his frustration with having no energy at the start of games. After the break, we discuss Duke’s next opponent, a Saturday tilt with the Louisville Cardinals. We preview what to look for and tell you which players will be a subject of focus when the two teams meet. Finally, the NCAA Tournament has slightly changed its normal set of dates. When should you expect to tell your boss you’re not going into your living room to work, but to watch the first couple rounds of the tournament? As always, rate, review, and subscribe, and drop us a line at DBR Podcast at Gmail dot com if you’re looking to ask us some questions! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode begins with some major Duke news as Athletic Director Kevin White plans to retire. We reflect on his legacy and speculate a bit about who might come next. Next, we preview Duke's matchup this coming week against Jeff Capel and his Pitt Panthers, a team that seems to be on the rise within the ACC ranks. And then Jason unveils a major project that is coming to the DBR podcast. He is interviewing every player on the 2001 national championship team and will be putting together an oral history of that season. He gives all of us a preview by playing a little bit of his interviews with Shane Battier, JD Simpson, Mike Dunleavy, and Chris Duhon. It is just a tiny taste of what is sure to be incredible insight into one of the most memorable seasons in Duke history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duke fell behind early and never fought out of that hole against Virginia Tech. It was a game where we struggled early on D and then struggled late on O, but there was a lot to be hopeful about too, including some stellar defense from Joey Baker and others. The podcast crew breaks down the good news and the bad news from all of it. They tell you what Coach K had to say about the game too, including a very telling comment about how the team still doesn't have a real plan of attack for games. And finally, Sam wants to talk about a commercial that got him thinking, which leads to Jason laughing hysterically... and you know you don't want to miss that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After some words of praise for the fabulous analytics of Ken Pomerory, the podcast crew breaks down the the headlines from the Wake Forest game and then get into the good and bad from Duke's third ACC victory. There is plenty of talk about Matthew Hurt, DJ Steward, steals, and rebounding. Plus, we listen in as Coach K describes what his time in quarantine was like. If you have ever wanted to know the name of Coach K's dog, we reveal it on this podcast. And we look ahead to the ACC wars getting a bit more difficult as Duke prepares to face a surprisingly strong Virginia Tech club. And with plenty of candidates, you may hear some surprises when we reveal our Player of the Week picks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Duke Blue Devils are back on the basketball court after 3 weeks, and Wendell Moore was the star! We recap the close victory over the Boston College Eagles on Episode 268 of the DBR Podcast. Jon Scheyer was the acting head coach last night, and the team was led on the court by Wendell Moore finally getting it going on the offensive end. We hear from Coach Scheyer on what it was like to take over the coaching duties and how much help he received from the rest of the coaching staff throughout. He also touched on Moore’s success and why he was a versatile player. The guys discuss the game and how difficult it was to overcome BC’s efficiency on the offensive end. We commend the Blue Devils on shaking off the rust and fighting through it to get the close victory. After the break, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons come to town this weekend. We preview the upcoming game and what it will take to keep Duke undefeated in 2021 and ACC play. We end with some speculation on when Jalen Johnson could be ready to play again for the Blue Devils. Don’t forget to drop us a line with comments or questions for the show at DBR Podcast at Gmail dot com. We always love hearing from our listeners! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason, Sam, and Donald are here to tell you everything you need to know about Duke's upcoming matchup with Boston College, including some predictions about which players on Duke may be in store for a big game against the Eagles. Then, after the break, we dive into two national issues in college basketball. First up is our take on the NCAA's NET ranking, which says Duke isn't even a bubble team right now. And then we talk about the decision to stage the entire NCAA tournament in Indy in early March... and you won't believe who we praise for saying something smart about what the NCAA should be doing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this edition of the DBR Podcast, we discuss Duke's second consecutive postponed conference game, as tonight's scheduled matchup against FSU in Tallahassee was called off just 24 hours before tipoff due to positive tests in FSU's program. The guys discuss the ongoing madness of trying to keep up with the schedule as it changes constantly. Sam points out that Duke is potentially in danger of not playing enough games to qualify for the postseason, and Jason brings the math. The discussion about the postponed games leads us down a few dirt roads, including wondering how other ACC coaches feel right now about the state of the schedule and various programs' culpability in keeping the season going. After the break, Jason observes that during the short time on Friday that we thought Duke would play this game without Coach K, the head coach had tapped Jon Scheyer to fill in for him as long as he was out, and that may indicate how Coach K feels about the heirarchy on his staff. We can't be sure what it means for Scheyer's career, or that of Nate James, but it's interesting nonetheless. Finally, we celebrate Duke Women's Basketball nabbing a highly ranked transfer from Louisville, freshman Nyah Green. Her arrival hopefully signifies another step for Kara Lawson bringing the program back to elite status. Stay in touch with us emailing the podcast at dbrpodcast at gmail.com. We'll be back to preview Duke's next game, be it Boston College or whomever else the ACC decides, whenever that comes to pass. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wendell Moore answered questions from the media today and the DBR Podcast was there to get all the details. Find out why Wendell thinks his game has struggled so far this year and listen in as he dishes on which of his teammates has been playing a whole new role in practices. Plus, we take a deep dive into Duke's next opponent, Florida State. And, after the break, they guys are again talking about Covid craziness, with some new intel on why the Duke women shut their program down and a good old fashioned rant from Jason asking why anyone is still playing right now. We wrap it all up with some heart-felt New Year's wishes from Donald that you won't want to miss. Happy New Year and keep on listening in 2021! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the wake of the shocking announcement that the Duke Women don't think it is safe to continue playing basketball, the podcast crew sits down to talk about what went into their decision and what it could mean for the Duke Men's basketball team. We agree that while one decision makes sense for one team, an opposite decision also makes sense for the other team. After the break, the guys do a deep dive on Jeff Capel's Pitt Panthers, the next opponent for the Blue Devils, including some stats that show what Pitt does well and its struggles. And, as an added bonus, the episode begins with some movie recommendations to keep you entertained over the holiday period. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s the Christmas edition of the DBR Podcast, and on Episode 263, we finally bring you the ACC preview! For the ACC preview, the crew each picks a team that they think are going to outperform expectations this season. They also pick teams that they think are going to severely underperform expectations, and of course we break down why we chose each team. No, Wake Forest Demon Deacons will not be discussed, despite Jason’s preparation! After the break, we hand out some Christmas gifts to the Duke Blue Devils. We have some general ones for the entire team, but it’s Jason’s wish that takes the cake. There’s one word to describe Jason’s Christmas wish for the team: BARS. We close out with a word on the number of Dukies in the NBA. 26 players, the most from one program in ACC history, are on NBA rosters as the season starts. We send a shoutout to those guys who are playing at the next level. And, stay tuned for some post-credits outtakes on...fire alarms. We here want to wish a Merry Christmas and a Happy Kwanzaa to all of you who celebrate it. If you wish to send your own Christmas gifts to the DBR crew or to the Duke team, drop an email to [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices