Acc Basketball Preview 2015

the chronicle

november 6, 2015

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what’sinside Veteran presence

Editor: Ryan Hoerger Managing Editor: Brian Pollack Blog Editor: Sameer Pandhare Photo Editor: Lily Coad Senior Editors: Nick Martin Associate Editors: Meredith Cash, Jack Dolgin, Jake Herb, Seth Johnson, Delaney King, Danielle Lazarus, Brian Mazur, Alex Serebransky, Sam Turken, Jacob Weiss, Ali Wells Staff Writers: Sid Bhaskara, Cassie Calvert, Matthew Conley, Philip Coons, Dominic Elzner, Ben Feder, George Gallagher, Mitchell Gladstone, Taseen Haque, Steve Hassey, Jesús Hidalgo, Drew Johnson, Jackson Korman, Shourya Kumar, Peishu Li, Ted Marchildon, Dylan Posner, David Rieder, Jesse Shatsky, Sammy Solomon, Hank Tucker Special thanks to: Matthew Conley, Recess Photo Editor Jesús Hidalgo, Editor-in-Chief Amrith Ramkumar, entire Chronicle Photo Department, General Manager Chrissy Beck

Junior Matt Jones is ready to lead Duke’s backcourt entering his junior season as a team captain PAGE 3

Changing the rules

A new 30-second shot clock, expansion of the restricted area and loss of a timeout will influence the game this year PAGE 8

A year ahead

Meet Derryck Thornton—Duke’s new freshman point guard and the latest Findlay Prep product PAGE 9

Forging their own path

Duke’s latest top-ranked class is ready to write its own script led by swingman Brandon Ingram PAGE 12

Backcourt reloaded

Duke women’s basketball reeled in the top-ranked recruiting class anchored by some of the nation’s top guards PAGE 13

Changing of the guards

Despite only having one true point guard, expectations are still sky high for Duke’s deep backcourt this season PAGE 14

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015 | 3

MEN’S BASKETBALL VETERAN PRESENCE

‘EVERYONE LOVES MATT JONES’ Jack Dolgin The Chronicle

The only returning starter from the Blue Devils’ national championship game against Wisconsin may have the most active hands on the court, but Matt Jones wants his teammates to be still this season. “‘Be still’ to me can mean a lot of things. For us, it was kind of just embracing our own mantra, our own journey,” Jones said. “‘Be still’ is realizing all the hard work that we’ve put in up to this point and will put in up to March. We can hone in on that and rest on that. If we do that, it’s kind of not worrying about ‘Oh, we lost’ or ‘This isn’t going our way.’ If we just continue to trust in the process, trust that we’re hard workers and trust in the coaches, then we will succeed and get to where we need to be.”

Jones’ journey has more or less followed along those lines. As the quintessential glue guy now getting set to step into a larger role, being still may be more important than ever.

Jones was recruited out of high school for his sharp-shooting skills, which complemented his stalwart defensive abilities. But those talents did not manifest themselves at the college level right away—as a freshman, Jones averaged just 1.8 points in 7.3 minutes per game and shot 3-for-21 from beyond the arc. His shot lacked the expected smooth rotation coming out of his hand, and he took a back seat to Quinn Cook, Rasheed Sulaimon and Tyler Thornton as complements to stars Jabari Parker and Rodney Hood.

The DeSoto, Texas, native slowly found his place at the beginning of last season with strong

Darbi Griffith | The Chronicle Junior Matt Jones has always been known for his defense, but Duke will need the captain to elevate his offensive game once again this year.

performances against Stanford and Furman.

But Jones’ ascendance from surprise scorer to consistent role player accelerated once head coach Mike Krzyzewski began using Justise Winslow more at the power forward slot. That tactical shift opened up another perimeter spot, and by the middle of February, Jones was an established starter.

The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 7.4 points per game in his final 19 contests of the year, as the

team went 12-1 once he assumed a starting role for good.

Against Gonzaga with a trip to the Final Four on the line, Jones delivered his signature game in a Duke uniform, torching the Bulldogs in the Elite Eight with 16 points on 4-of-7 shooting from downtown. Thanks to his multiple key plays down the stretch and trademark defense, Duke advanced to Indianapolis with a 66-52 victory.

With Cook and Jones now plying their trades

at the professional level, Jones is expected to step up as the leader of a crowded backcourt.

Sophomore Grayson Allen is seeking the same consistency that Jones found in his second year in Durham, and Brandon Ingram, Luke Kennard and Derryck Thornton will need time to fully adjust to the college level.

Whether Jones keeps his starting role—as he See JONES on Page 22

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The Chronicle MEN’S BASKETBALL CHANGING THE RULES

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015 | 5

New rule changes add wrinkles to men’s game Brian Pollack The Chronicle From the time they were in grade school, basketball players have been taught to play until the whistle. All the way up until the referee’s signal, but not past it—because those are the rules.

But now the rules have changed.

In addition to having to incorporate four new starters, Duke must navigate a new set of rules on the court as it sets out to defend its national title. The NCAA Men’s Basketball Committee announced a set of 25 regulation changes in June that will be implemented beginning this season.

With scoring declining across the country in recent years, the changes are aimed at opening up play and creating a game more akin to the one played overseas and in the NBA. Reducing the shot clock from 35 seconds to 30 and moving the restricted circle out from three feet to four are the two most obvious changes fans will see, with several other minor tweaks to officiating norms also coming into play.

The new procedures certainly have not been lost on coaches—who will now have to manage with one fewer timeout in the second half—and Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski made it a point to begin his first media availability session of the season with his take on their projected effects.

“They’re going to have a big impact on the game. They’re going to want to talk about the clock and I think that five seconds is a huge decrease so you can’t have extended dribbles,” Krzyzewski said. “And what does that mean for the defense, for how you run the offense, for the personnel that you might use? We have to take a good look at that. I think that will have a big impact on the game. In fact, I know it will have a big impact.”

The NCAA last made changes to its shot clock heading into the 1993-94 campaign, when it decreased from 45 seconds to the 35 that had been in place for the last 20 years.

This most recent reduction moves the NCAA’s shot clock even closer to the 24 seconds used by the NBA and FIBA—a mark Krzyzewski said he would be in favor of the college game eventually transitioning to.

ACC Commissioner John Swofford said the main purpose of the new regulations is for “providing better balance between offense and defense.” The extension of the restricted

Chronicle File Photo Amile Jefferson defended Frank Kaminsky down the stretch of the national championship game, but new rules concerning positioning will come to the low post this season.

circle should presumably allow offensive players to attack the rim more freely—and when the change was implemented in the 2015 NIT, there was a nearly 30 percent decrease in block and charge calls per game.

Blue Devil forward Amile Jefferson—who as a senior has to adjust from three years of experience under the old rules—has noticed a difference right away with the new rules after just a few exhibitions.

“The charge [circle] was a lot bigger. Yeah, it’s different,” Jefferson said. “And guys have to now be aware of where it is, so that when we’re doing drills, it’s really about teaching guys that you have to be a step up now. When you’re taking a charge, you have to really be set. But I think it’ll help speed the game up.”

Although the charge circle and shot clock modifications will likely receive the most attention, the majority of the 25 rule changes have to do with subtly changing the way the game is officiated. Swofford said all officials were given instructions to “reduce physicality in order to create more freedom of movement in the game,” mainly by being stricter on the hand-checking defensive restrictions implemented two seasons ago and giving less leeway with moving screens in both pick-androll and off-ball screen situations.

Despite the primary focus on shifting the game toward offense, defensive-minded players and coaches can still glean advantages

from the new rules. Post defenders in the past were allowed to use an arm bar when the offensive player was battling for position, but not once he had the ball—a distinction that now no longer exists.

Jefferson in particular was excited about the arm bar change, which he anticipated would allow him and other interior defenders to use their bodies and create a stronger base stance. The strategy for defending dominant post scorers like former Duke center Jahlil Okafor may no longer be to swarm them

with double-and-triple teams—a scheme opponents frequently threw at Okafor last season—thanks to defenders who can now more easily stand their ground.

“I think [post scorers] took advantage of being able to back down easier,” Krzyzewski said. “I think that’s a huge thing, because whatever you’re doing out from the perimeter to the inside, or if you wanted to attack or blitz the low post, you probably have a chance to do it higher now than lower because of that. I’m intrigued by it, so I think it’s a big thing.”

At this point, it is nearly impossible for players and coaches to assess the impact of the new rules from just a few scrimmages and practices. Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton noticed an increase in whistles on screens and said his team has been at the free-throw line more than ever during the Seminoles’ two preseason scrimmages. Other coaches such as N.C. State’s Mark Gottfried expressed skepticism that whistles will blow with more regularity.

The regular season will be an experiment of sorts—and nobody really knows what the results will be.

“It’s going to be a very interesting challenge as coaches. People have asked me, ‘How do you think the rules will affect the game?’ Twentyfive different rule changes and you ask me how it’s going to affect the game?’” Hamilton said at ACC Media Day last month. “I don’t think the guys who made the rules and who recommended the rules have any idea how 25 rules are going to affect the game.”

Graphic by Matthew Conley | The Chronicle

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

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6 | FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

A NEW ERA

Shift to 4 quarters among big rule changes Mitchell Gladstone The Chronicle GREENSBORO, N.C.—The NCAA gave coaches and players a lot of change to sift through this offseason in an attempt to make the game more attractive to fans both at the arena and watching on television.

Beginning Nov. 13, the results of those efforts will finally kick into gear.

On June 8, the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved a series of changes designed to improve the fan experience at games. They will also drastically alter the way teams strategize and execute throughout the season.

The biggest change to the prior rules is the shift from two 20-minute halves to four 10-minute quarters, which aligns with FIBA rules. Dividing the game into shorter segments will produce more chances for buzzer-beating shots, but will also affect the way players mentally approach their time on the court.

“I think it’s more of a psychological thing, in a standpoint of when you look up, you never see 15 minutes on the clock,” Duke head coach Joanne P. McCallie said. “To me, it’s more urgent.

You better get going and take care of business, and so I think it’s going to have a good effect that way maybe on the urgency level.”

Although the length of the games will remain the same, there will be fewer dead-ball breaks, as team timeouts will be reduced from eight to six. There will be a break after the first and third quarters as well as on either the first dead ball after the five-minute mark of each quarter or a team timeout before then. The longer stretches will allow for a more continuous flow of action for fans and force players to potentially be on the court for more minutes at a time.

Although teams across the ACC recognize that these adjustments are designed to boost the popularity of women’s basketball, players and coaches noted that there will likely be an adjustment period—one that has already begun during preseason practices.

“Practice definitely has been really hard,” Syracuse senior guard Brianna Butler said. “We’re playing really fast and we’re trying to limit the number of times we’re walking around. We’re trying to run everything full speed, whether it be in the plays or just running to go get a water break.”

The switch to quarters instead of halves now removes the distinction between the one-and-one and the double bonus at the charity stripe. After the fifth team foul of a quarter, the opposing side will shoot a pair of free throws for the remainder of the period.

Success at the free-throw line is now more important than ever, because a shooter will be guaranteed two shots.

“Shooting two free throws means you’ve got to be a really good free-throw shooting team, so obviously I’d think that means more teams are practicing that a lot,” Virginia head coach Joanne Boyle said.

The panel also adjusted the 10-second backcourt rule—which was added for the 2013-14 season—so that the count will not reset on a deflected ball out of bounds or a held ball that remains with the offensive team. This should benefit teams that apply full-court pressure, something Duke intends to do more of this season after relenting on McCallie’s usual press last season.

“I think its one of those situations where maybe teams that didn’t press in the past will press because now if you knock the ball out on the sideline in the backcourt, the ten-second rule

Melanie Park | The Chronicle Duke head coach Joanne P. McCallie and coaches around the country will have to adjust to a new format this season, adopting a four-quarter timing system instead of two halves.

doesn’t reset,” Georgia Tech head coach MaChelle Joseph said. “I think you’re going to see a lot more pressing and trapping in those situations.”

Like the NBA, during the the final minute of the fourth quarter or any overtime period, a team may use a timeout to advance the ball into the frontcourt for an inbounds play following either a made basket, a rebound or a change of possession. This change will create the opportunity for more buzzer-beating plays, rather than last-gasp heaves from the other side of the court.

Although some coaches are intrigued to see how the game changes this season, there are others in the ACC who are not so enthralled to see the game being tweaked and revised.

“Personally, I don’t know what’s so wrong with our game that we keep

changing the rules,” North Carolina head coach Sylvia Hatchell said. “We’re the only country in the world that plays rules other than international rules.”

Many coaches at ACC Media Day last month expressed optimism that the rules would change the game, but opted to reserve judgment until after the season begins.

“I think the rules are fine,” McCallie said. “I don’t think it’ll be that much of a deal, I don’t believe. None of us have played with the rules yet, so we can’t really answer without playing.”

Players around the conference have indicated that, although they anticipate differences within the games as well as practices, they do not see the changes having a major impact on themselves.

“I definitely think we’re going to See RULES on Page 20

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1. NORTH CAROLINA

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015 | 7

2. VIRGINIA

Preseason ACC Co-Player of the Year Marcus Paige headlines The nation’s stingiest defense last year, Tony Bennett’s squad has a Tar Heel squad that returns nearly everyone from a year ago. a pair of veteran leaders in Malcom Brogdon and Anthony Gill.

2014-15 record: 26-12, 11-7 in the ACC (Sweet 16) Head coach: Roy Williams Tenure at North Carolina: 13th season Career coaching record: 750-202 Home court: Dean Smith Center Starters: G Marcus Paige, G Justin Jackson, G/F Theo Pinson, F Brice Johnson, C Kennedy Meeks Head coach Roy Williams returns four starters and nine of his top 10 scorers, none more important than senior point guard Marcus Paige, who averaged 14.1 points and 4.5 assists per game in 2014-15 despite battling multiple injuries throughout the season.

Paige will miss the first few weeks with an injury but could lead North Carolina to its first Final Four appearance in six years. The floor general was named Preseason ACC Co-Player of the Year.

Marcus Paige Fellow Preseason All-ACC pick Brice Johnson averaged 12.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game last season, and sophomore Justin Jackson and junior Kennedy Meeks were also double-digit scorers. After a slump midway through his freshman season, Jackson is poised to increase his scoring output with a year of experience under his belt, and Meeks has gotten into better shape, shedding 30 pounds since his freshman season.

—Meredith Cash

3. DUKE

2014-15 record: 30-4, 16-2 in the ACC (Round of 32) Head coach: Tony Bennett Tenure at Virginia: 7th season Career coaching record: 205-97 Home court: John Paul Jones Arena Starters: G Malcolm Brogdon, G London Perrantes, F Anthony Gill, C Mike Tobey, G Darius Thompson After tying a program record with 30 wins last year, the back-to-back ACC regular season champions open the season looking to cement their spot as a conference heavyweight. In his seventh season in Charlottesville, head coach Tony Bennett will again rely on his lockdown defense to win low-scoring games and frustrate opponents. Last year, the Cavaliers ranked first in the country in average points allowed at 51.5 per game.

Malcom Brogdon Virginia returns nearly all of its key weapons with the exception of swingman Justin Anderson, who left for the NBA. Redshirt seniors Malcolm Brogdon and Anthony Gill will carry most of the offensive load for the Cavaliers.

An athletic 6-foot-5 guard, Brogdon averaged a team-high 14.0 points per game with 3.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists a season ago.

—Peishu Li

4. MIAMI

After losing three-fourths of the nation’s top-ranked recruiting A veteran squad fueled by standout guards makes the class to the NBA, the Blue Devils reloaded with more elite talent.

Hurricanes a team to watch in the ACC race.

2014-15 record: 35-4, 15-3 in the ACC (NCAA champions) Head coach: Mike Krzyzewski Tenure at Duke: 36th season Overall record: 1,018-310 Home court: Cameron Indoor Stadium Starters: G Grayson Allen, G Matt Jones, G/F Brandon Ingram, F Amile Jefferson, Brandon Ingram C Marshall Plumlee A year after cutting down the nets in Indianapolis, the Blue Devils start anew in 2015-16, acclimating another top-ranked recruiting class to Durham to join the core of role players that remain from last year’s titlewinning squad. Gone are freshmen phenoms Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow and Tyus Jones, who combined to score 60 of Duke’s 68 points in the national title game against Wisconsin, as is the consummate role model and team captain, Quinn Cook. Highly touted recruits

Brandon Ingram, Derryck Thornton, Luke Kennard and Chase Jeter must step into the big shoes left by last year’s rookies, though Krzyzewski has cautioned against any sort of comparisons between the two groups.

Sophomore Grayson Allen exploded onto the national stage against the Badgers and must prove himself consistent night in and night out against ACC defenses that will begin to key on him.

—Ryan Hoerger

2014-15 record: 25-13, 10-8 in the ACC Head coach: Jim Larrañaga Tenure at Miami: 5th season Career coaching record: 561–383 Home court: BankUnited Center Starters: G Angel Rodriguez, C Tonye Jekiri, G Sheldon McClellan, F Kamari Murphy, G Davon Reed Miami returns four of its five starters from last season’s NIT title game squad aside from the transfer of point guard Manu Lacomte to Baylor. Point guard Angel Rodriguez will look to shake off last season’s poor performance in conference play—shooting just 16-of77 in eight games between Jan. 17 and Feb. 11—and lead Miami to an NCAA tournament berth. Sheldon McClellan will also be a strong presence for the Hurricanes, coming off last year’s

Angel Rodriguez campaign in which he averaged 14.5 points per game on 48.4 percent shooting. Seven-foot center Tonye Jekiri led the ACC in rebounds last year with 9.9 per game and the Hurricanes welcome transfer Kamari Murphy from Oklahoma State, who led the Cowboys in rebounds and blocks during the 2013-14 season, tallying 199 and 40, respectively.

—Ali Wells

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5. NOTRE DAME

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6. FLORIDA STATE

After losing Jerian Grant and Pat Connaughton from last Sophomore Xavier Rathan-Mayes can score at will, and a year’s Elite Eight squad, the Irish turn to Demetrius Jackson. loaded recruiting class makes the Seminoles an ACC dark horse.

2014-15 record: 32-6, 14-4 in the ACC (Elite Eight) Head coach: Mike Brey Tenure at Notre Dame: 16th season Career coaching record: 431-217 Home court: Edmund P. Joyce Center Starters: G Demetrius Jackson, G Steve Vasturia, F Zach Auguste, F Bonzie Colson, F V.J. Beachem Notre Dame finished 32-6 and beat Duke and North Carolina to win the ACC tournament in just its second year in the league. But in the offseason, Notre Dame lost two of its most important contributors in Jerian Grant and Pat Connaughton, who combined for 29.0 points, 10.4 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game last season.

Junior point guard Demetrius Jackson must lead the team defensively and pull his weight as a playmaker in the backcourt. More importantly,

Demetrius Jackson he will be expected to fill the leadership void left after the departures of Grant and Connaughton. Jackson averaged 12.4 points in 34.7 minutes per game last season, making him the fourth scoring option in the Fighting Irish’s spread offense, which emphasizes crisp passing and 3-point shooting. Notre Dame also returns 6-foot-10 forward Zach Auguste, who trailed only Grant with 12.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per contest last season.

—Meredith Cash

7. N.C. STATE

2014-15 record: 17-16, 8-10 in the ACC Head coach: Leonard Hamilton Tenure at Florida State: 14th season Career coaching record: 458–383 Home court: Donald L. Tucker Civic Center Starters: C Michael Ojo, F Phil Cofer, G Devon Bookert, G Montay Brandon, G Xavier Rathan-Mayes With the Seminoles returning their entire starting five from last season, there is hope in Tallahassee that the 2015-16 campaign will bring more positive results than last year’s sub.500 conference record. Florida State adds a top scorer in freshman Dwayne Bacon to complement its strong existing core.

In a college basketball scene where teams often see their top players leave before chemistry can develop, the Seminoles maintain 87 percent of their scoring from 2014-15. A senior-laden

Xavier Rathan-Mayes backcourt of Devon Bookert and Montay Brandon along with sophomore Xavier RanhanMayes—the team’s leading scorer from last year—will provide multiple scoring options for head coach Leonard Hamilton.

Bringing in the third-ranked recruiting class gives Florida State an incoming crop even deeper than just Bacon. He will be joined

by Malik Beasley, Terance Mann and 7-foot-4 Christ Koumadje.

—Mitchell Gladstone

8. LOUISVILLE

Pure scorer Trevor Lacey is gone, but Anthony “Cat” Barber and With uncertainty clouding the program off the court, the BeeJay Anya return to help the Wolfpack back to the postseason.

Cardinals must find answers on the offensive end.

2014-15 record: 22-14, 10-8 in the ACC (Sweet 16) Head coach: Mark Gottfried Tenure at N.C. State: 5th season Career coaching record: 370-207 Home court: PNC Arena Starters: G Anthony “Cat” Barber, G Terry Henderson, G Caleb Martin, F Abdul-Malik Abu, C BeeJay Anya Despite losing top scorer Trevor Lacey, N.C. State will still be a formidable squad in the ACC this season behind two experienced guards and a young and talented frontcourt.

Point guard Anthony “Cat” Barber took enormous strides to become one of the league’s best defensive guards as a sophomore.

Barber will be expected to shoulder more of the offensive load, but he won’t be alone in the backcourt, as N.C. State also added guard Terry Henderson, a West Virginia transfer who

Anthony “Cat” Barber averaged 9.8 points per game last season. But besides those two, the N.C. State backcourt is light on experience and talent, so the health of Henderson and Barber will be something to watch throughout the year as they rack up the minutes.

BeeJay Anya, Lennard Freeman and Abdul-Malik Abu give N.C. State an imposing shot-blocking presence, with some scoring to boot.

—Nick Martin

2014-15 record: 27-9, 12-6 in the ACC (Elite Eight) Head coach: Rick Pitino Tenure at Louisville: 15th Season Career coaching record: 722-254 Home court: KFC YUM! Center Starters: G Quentin Snider, G Damion Lee, G Trey Lewis, F Chinanu Onuaku, C Mangok Mathiang Despite finishing last season with a respectable run in the NCAA tournament, Louisville has fallen from grace and out of the preseason top 25.

A large part of this has to do with the departures of Terry Rozier, Montrezl Harrell and Wayne Blackshear, among the most explosive trios in college basketball.

Graduate transfer guards Damion Lee and Trey Lewis will step in and lead the Cardinal backcourt alongside returnee

Mangok Mathiang Quentin Snider, who had a big finish to the 2014-15 campaign, scoring in double-figures in four of his last six games.

Added to the pressure of establishing a fresh team core is the fact that Louisville is currently mired in controversy. The NCAA is investigating claims made in a book that a former member of the Cardinal staff set up and paid for escort services for Louisville recruits.

—Nick Martin

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015 | 9

MEN’S BASKETBALL REPLACING TYUS JONES

Thornton fitting into Duke scheme a year early Ryan Hoerger The Chronicle When college teams first approached him about the possibility of leaving high school a year early, Derryck Thornton’s initial reaction was one of shock.

“I wasn’t really taking it seriously until later in my junior year,” he said.

“Some schools contacted me and said I would be eligible to come a year early, so I thought about it but I wasn’t really taking it seriously. After a while, the coaching staff here kind of talked about it more once they knew Tyus [Jones] was leaving.”

Jones, the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player, announced his decision to enter the NBA draft April 15. A week later, Thornton committed to Duke and head coach Mike Krzyzewski.

The newest member of the Blue Devil backcourt pointed to the opportunity to step in as a freshman floor general and make an impact—much the way Jones did in 2014-15—as a big selling point on leaving school early and heading to Durham.

But Thornton was only able to make things work out because of the high school he attended.

Thornton is a native of Chatsworth, Calif., but spent his last two years of high school at Findlay Prep—which has just 12 students—near Las Vegas. All 12 of

those students happen to be very good at basketball and suit up for the Pilots.

Three other members of Findlay’s Class of 2015 will suit up for Division I programs this year, and the school has produced 10 NBA players since 2010.

Findlay Prep has become a pipeline of sorts for several prominent programs, including Arizona, which landed Allonzo Trier, Nick Johnson and Brandon Ashley; UNLV, which kept Rashad Vaughn, former No. 1 NBA draft pick Anthony Bennett and Christian Wood close to home; and Texas, which benefitted from the scoring prowess of Myck Kabongo, Tristan Thompson and Avery Bradley.

With so many talented recruits under one roof, Findlay Prep eschews the local Nevada competition for a national schedule that sent Thornton criss-crossing the country all winter.

Taking on some of the best teams in the country, Thornton found himself in hostile gyms—excellent practice for what he will go through this season as a Blue Devil.

“Most of our games were on the road, so we had a lot of away games,” Thornton said. “We traveled pretty much the whole season so I think that’s going to help a lot as far as this season coming up. We had some [home games] but the majority were on the road.... There were only 12 people in our high school, so obviously there was no one else from our

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Khloe Kim | The Chronicle Point guard Derryck Thornton arrived on campus later than the other freshmen but used FaceTime to get to know his new teammates.

high school that came [to home games], but there were some local high school kids that would come and some parents that lived around there.”

Thornton’s classes at Findlay were created and taught by teachers at the nearby Henderson International School, a private school for pre-school through eighth grade. At Findlay Prep, Thornton took core class after core class, which allowed him to meet his graduation

requirements in just three years.

According to the program’s website, Thornton is just the second Findlay Prep player to make the jump to the ACC, following in the footsteps of former Florida State marksman Deividas Dulkys.

After making his decision to bypass his senior season at Findlay, Thornton still had to inform his head coach, Andy See THORNTON on Page 20

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10 | FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PUSHING THE PACE

VERSATILE BLUE DEVILS READY TO RUN Ben Feder The Chronicle

With the influx of talent coming from the top-ranked recruiting class in the nation, Duke head coach Joanne P. McCallie will have plenty of opportunities to vary her lineups, and the Blue Devils plan to take advantage of every opportunity they can get.

After a 2014-15 season in which the Blue Devils adapted to a roster loaded with frontcourt size, Duke will revert back to its more traditional style of play this season, looking to push the ball in transition and apply a greater level of defensive intensity.

Last year, with National Defensive Player of the Year Elizabeth Williams and 6-foot-6 forward Azurá Stevens in the post, the Blue Devils boasted one of the tallest teams in the country. As a result, Duke sought to slow down the game and score in half-court sets.

This year, though, the Blue Devils are much more guard-heavy, and Stevens and redshirt senior Amber Henson— who have spent parts of their careers extending out to the perimeter—may see more time strictly inside the paint.

McCallie will try to employ them in the high and low posts in the half-court offense, as Stevens will have a height advantage over many defenders with her towering frame.

The Blue Devils are not expected

to spend much time in the half-court, though. Because both Henson and Stevens have the versatility to run the floor, Duke will look to push the ball off every miss. Henson and Stevens both have capable outside jump shots and will be options in transition. With the addition of quick guards like Angela Salvadores and Kyra Lambert, the Blue Devils will take advantage of their surplus of ball-handlers to leak out for fast breaks.

“If there’s one thing we’ve learned, we’re not putting the ball in one hand.

We’re going to be versatile,” McCallie said. “We’re going to be able to change things up based on foul trouble, according to the matchups on the floor, so we are definitely going to have a lot of point guard play from different people at different times.”

In that respect, this year’s Duke team could resemble the 2013-14 squad, spearheaded by a two-headed monster in the backcourt of point guards Chelsea Gray and Alexis Jones. The duo played together, taking turns leading the fast break and delivering no-look passes left and right, before each suffered seasonending knee injuries. With sharp-shooter Tricia Liston on the wing and Williams down low, that season’s squad averaged 80.0 points per game—10.4 more than Duke’s output in 2014-15.

This year, McCallie’s roster is a happy medium between the speed and flashy play of the 2013-14 squad and

Khloe Kim | The Chronicle Redshirt sophomore Rebecca Greenwell and sophomore Azurá Stevens will lead the Blue Devil offense this season as it looks to speed up the pace after slowing things down a year ago.

the overpowering height of last year’s team. Duke’s quintet of freshmen guards—Lambert, Salvadores, Haley Gorecki, Faith Suggs and Crystal Primm—joins forces with returning post players Stevens, Oderah Chidom, Kendall Cooper, Erin Mathias and Lyneé Belton. The versatility will allow the Blue Devils to pick and choose their lineup combinations to take advantage

of their opponents’ weaknesses.

Regardless of the pace of play, Duke will aim to cut down on the rash of turnovers that have plagued the Blue Devils in each of the past two years. With Gray and Jones at the helm, Duke committed 17.3 giveaways per game. Despite slowing down the See STYLE on Page 21

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NEW FACES, SAM Top-ranked class ready to write own script Meredith Cash The Chronicle If there is one question on Duke fans’ minds heading into the season, it is this: How will the Blue Devils fare without the talented band of freshmen that supplied 60 of the 68 points necessary to secure last year’s national championship?

If the recruiting services did their jobs well, Duke should be just fine. Head coach Mike Krzyzewski once again assembled the best recruiting class in the country to fill the void left by his top four contributors from last season. The Blue Devils’ incoming class features four of the top 25 players in the Class of 2015—the same number as their 2014-15 haul—among their six new scholarship players.

Throughout the preseason, Duke has insisted that this year’s crop not be compared to the title-winning quartet of Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow, Tyus Jones and Grayson Allen. But, fair or not, those comparisons will inevitably persist.

“It’s about sharing a new journey with a new group,” senior captain Amile Jefferson said. “Last year’s team was last year’s team, but the goal is always the same at Duke. We want to win, we want to have a great season.

They understand that, and I think they’ll be really good, so there’s no comparisons to old guys.”

Preseason ACC Freshman of the Year Brandon Ingram headlines Krzyzewski’s second consecutive topranked recruiting class. Despite typical power forward measurements at 6-foot9 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Ingram has the handles of a guard, a welcome asset for a Blue Devil team with just one true point guard. It comes as no surprise, then, that the McDonald’s All-American has drawn comparisons to 2014 NBA MVP Kevin Durant.

Ingram won four state championships at Kinston High School—the second player ever in state history to do so—and chose Duke in late April in lieu of North Carolina despite Kinston’s ties to the Tar Heels, which include former North Carolina standouts Jerry Stackhouse and Reggie Bullock.

“Brandon has a unique skill set that he can shoot the ball, wherever that may be— whether it’s at the three or in the post,” junior captain Matt Jones said. “When he’s in the post, he can just turn around and shoot over a smaller guard, and I feel like with the guards we play, they’re going to be smaller because he’s 6-foot-9.”

Ingram’s spot on the floor will likely fluctuate as the year progresses. Last year, Krzyzewski started Winslow at the three before shifting him to power forward as Jones stepped into the starting lineup for Jefferson. The Blue Devils thrived with Winslow at the four, but Winslow came to Durham listed at 225 pounds—35 pounds heavier than Ingram despite standing three inches shorter.

Ingram’s slight frame fueled concerns about his ability to compete in the post. But since arriving in Durham, Krzyzewski said the five-star forward has packed on 23 pounds of muscle that should better equip him to absorb contact against bulkier defenders and finish above the rim.

“Ingram’s talent is a separator, because he’s 6-foot-9 and has a 7-foot-3 wingspan and he can handle and shoot,” Krzyzewski said. “With the extra weight, he can play the big. That versatility, that flexibility puts him in a position to be in the starting lineup.”

Fellow McDonald’s All-American Chase Jeter also joins Duke’s frontcourt. A threetime Nevada state champion, Jeter excels at running the floor and finishing with his back to the basket. Offensively, the big man is known for his jump hook deep in the post, but his face-up jump shot is nearly impossible to block given his length.

The 6-foot-11 center already has some experience playing at a higher level, helping the United States earn a gold medal at the 2014 FIBA Americas U18 Championship.

Jeter is a resolute rebounder on both ends of the floor, but must adjust to the strength and speed of the college game.

“Guys are a lot stronger on the next level,” Jeter said. “When I first got here in the summer, that was one of the biggest things I was struggling with, but ever since we’ve gone in the weight room and started making gains as a team, we’ve all pushed each other and we’ve all really gotten

better in terms of our bodies.”

Freshman Luke Kennard joined Jeter on that U18 team. The two-time Gatorade Ohio Player of the Year averaged 38.1 points, 9.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game last year to finish his high school career second on Ohio’s career scoring list with 2,997 points— more than NBA superstar and Akron native LeBron James.

Despite the Blue Devils’ crowded backcourt, Kennard will demand attention on the perimeter and will be tasked with some ball-handling responsibilities.

“Coach has told us that the perimeter guys—we’re not just playing one specific position,” he said. “We’re not just playing shooting guard or small forward or point guard—he wants us to be playmakers.”

On April 15, Tyus Jones declared for the NBA draft, leaving Duke in desperate need of a point guard. Less than a week later, Krzyzewski received a commitment from five-star floor general Derryck Thornton.

The Chatsworth, Calif., native was initially a member of the Class of 2016 but graduated high school a year early in order to join the Blue Devils.

Thornton is a true point guard, a huge addition to a team that would have been forced to trust Kennard or sophomore Grayson Allen with primary ball-handling duties. Krzyzewski gave Jones the keys to the offense last season, but the Final Four Most Outstanding Player had a veteran leader in Quinn Cook to help him out. Thornton must transition without an experienced point guard by his side.

“As far as being a leader and helping the guys, they know some of the plays and some of the ways that Coach likes, so they’re helping me out with that,” Thornton said. “I feel like just being vocal and commanding the team is going to help me as far as leading and helping our team form as one.”

For most programs, losing four starters to the NBA would likely result in a rebuilding year, but Duke is the exception. With yet another stellar recruiting class, the Blue Devils are poised to once again compete for the national championship, provided they can craft a new identity and incorporate another set of talented freshmen.

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015 | 13

ME EXPECTATIONS

Guard-heavy class just what Duke needs Jake Herb The Chronicle One year ago, Duke’s men’s basketball program debuted four highly-touted freshmen and five months later, those players led their team to a national championship.

Now, the Blue Devils’ women’s squad is welcoming its own top-ranked recruiting class to Durham, and everyone is wondering—can they do it too?

This offseason, Duke struck gold. Head coach Joanne P. McCallie and her team of scouts recruited five top-60 prospects—all of them guards—to revive a depleted backcourt that was understaffed last year, with some players forced to play out of position.

The gang of five in this year’s class is fifthranked Angela Salvadores, ninth-ranked Kyra Lambert, 42nd-ranked Crystal Primm, 47thranked Faith Suggs and 52nd-ranked Haley Gorecki. Together, they make up a dynamic group of passers, shooters and ball-handlers.

But McCallie said that more than either their technical skills or raw athletic abilities, the unit’s intangibles is what makes these players a special group.

“They realize that they’ve come here to play at the highest level,” McCallie said.

“We’re really fortunate because you could have kids that think they’re all that, but they’re very willing [to work] and that’s what makes it a lot of fun.”

With the addition of multiple ball-handlers and perimeter scorers, the Blue Devils can finally balance their inside-outside game and curb the amount of turnovers they commit— the number of Duke giveaways has increased in each of the last three years, finishing last year at 18.3 per game.

Salvadores is the brightest prospect of Duke’s star-studded freshman class, but it could be a while before the floor general takes the court in Durham. The Leon, Spain, native is getting a well-deserved rest after representing her country at multiple international tournaments this summer.

At the FIBA Women’s U19 Championship in Russia this July—which included two matchups against Duke sophomore Azurá Stevens and Team

USA—the point guard averaged 18.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists through seven games and was the tournament’s top scorer. A month later, Salvadores won gold at the FIBA Women’s U18 European Championship, posting 20.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.

McCallie has limited Salvadores in practice to allow her time to recover, but the freshman has still picked up Duke’s system by watching and talking with coaches and teammates in order to step in seamlessly when the time comes.

“She was overplayed by miles, so we need to ease her in gradually,” McCallie said. “She wants to play so badly. She’s never missed any practice in her entire life, so that’s really, really hard.... This is going to challenge her. I know right now it’s not very pleasant for her, but I think it’s going to be very good for her in the long run.”

When Salvadores finally does make her first appearance for the Blue Devils, she will no doubt make an immediate impact, especially on the offensive end of the court.

With the ball in her hands, Salvadores is a potent weapon from any distance. A gifted passer with the ability to knock down 3-pointers, the 5-foot-10 Salvadores will be a nightmare matchup for any defense that stands in Duke’s path.

Salvadores’ quickness and keen eye for finding the open player promise to revitalize the Blue Devils’ transition offense—a lessemphasized aspect of Duke’s post-oriented squad last season. Her ability to control the tempo of the game, refined by years of international playing experience, will come in handy for McCallie and her young Blue Devils as they learn to play in high-pressure situations.

“She really has a knack for the game, particularly on offense,” McCallie said. “She plays the game so smoothly…I really hope that’s going to be something that passes on to the team, especially the young players, because right now we’re a little rushy.”

Even without Salvadores, the strength of the freshman group was on full display at the annual Blue-White Scrimmage. Primm paced the freshmen with 16 points, two steals and an assist and Lambert joined her in doublefigures with 11 points, four assists and five

steals. Gorecki notched nine points and three assists, and Suggs rounded things out with four points, four assists, seven rebounds and two steals.

The group has accomplished a lot in the short time they have had on campus to learn to play with each other and gel as a team. On top of the adjustment to the college lifestyle and staying on top of their academics—a burden the program has tried to ease by delaying their availability to the media—the freshmen must adapt to a higher level of competition on the court.

“Everything’s at a faster pace,” Stevens said, reflecting on her experience a freshman. “You’re stronger, [the game is] quicker, you’re having to focus more on things that you might not have had to focus on in high school. It is just really being able to be coachable and learning a bunch of different things.”

Shooting guards Suggs and Gorecki will support Salvadores on the wings. Both talented shooters from beyond the arc, the duo will work together along with redshirt sophomore shooting guard Rebecca Greenwell to replace scoring potential lost in the offseason due to the graduations of four-time All-American Elizabeth Williams and gritty leader Ka’lia Johnson.

Lambert and Primm provide Duke with two more capable weapons in the backcourt. At point, Lambert is a skilled facilitator, boasting a high basketball IQ and strong court awareness. Primm, a combo guard, adds a versatile skill set that combines post play with a smooth jump shot, making her a dangerous weapon from nearly any spot on the floor.

The Blue Devils’ top-ranked freshman class has taken the steps toward meeting the challenges that this season will bring— but will they be ready to contend for a championship when the time comes?

Only time will tell.

“They’re going to have a really big role this year,” Greenwell said. “They all are very versatile and offer a lot of different weapons and skills, but they’re going to help us be a faster team and definitely a more dangerous team.”

14 | FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

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The Chronicle

MEN’S BASKETBALL NEXT MAN UP

Guarding against a drop-off in the backcourt Sameer Pandhare The Chronicle A season ago, the combination of Quinn Cook and Tyus Jones faced questions about backcourt chemistry before the duo emerged as one of the ACC’s top tandems during the course of the year.

Heading into this season, Duke’s guard spots are once again in flux, but this time around, there appear to be no clear answers. Familiar faces in Matt Jones and Grayson Allen, along with highly touted freshmen Derryck Thornton and Luke Kennard, all bring varied skill sets to the table and remain in contention for ball-handling duties.

“Our team will be very fluid in that way, where you may not have the same starting line up all the time or the same team that starts at the beginning of the game and in the second half,” Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “I don’t know that we’re going to turn it over to one particular person.

I think we’re going to be a team that runs a lot of motion offense.”

The conventional solution would be to name Thornton the starting point guard. The Chatsworth, Calif., native was the 17th-ranked player in the ESPN Class of 2015 after reclassifying and committing to the Blue Devils. With the quickness to blow by defenders and set up teammates and a savvy handle that will produce highlight-reel plays, Thornton fits the bill as the quintessential floor-general for a perimeteroriented team.

“He’s got the ball on a string,” Allen said. “Being able to push the ball up the court and keep control of the ball like that is going to be really good, especially for our team, as athletic as we are.”

But the freshman also comes with a question mark— inexperience.

“Me being a little bit younger than everybody else and just being a point guard, it takes some time, but I’m starting to turn the [corner],” Thornton said. “I think the biggest difference really is building a relationship with the guys.

I wasn’t here over the summer so I didn’t get that chance to build a relationship with all the guys so I’m trying to play catch-up in that aspect.”

Just a few months ago, Allen was the inexperienced freshman that people were concerned about in high-pressure contests against top opponents. But after his game-changing performance in the team’s national championship victory, those concerns have subsided. With his intensity and high-

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Chronicle File Photo After exploding onto the national scene against Wisconsin, Grayson Allen will be looked to as a primary scorer this year.

level of activity all across the court, the sophomore is now prepared to take his game to the next level on both ends of the floor.

For Allen, the next step is consistency. Playing big minutes offers the guard less leeway for over-aggressive fouls or mistakes afforded to him by his role off the bench a year ago.

With teams beginning to game-plan for him, the Jacksonville, Fla., native will have to learn to channel frustration when he’s denied the ball and continue to compete on the other end. Similar to Cook and Tyus Jones a year ago, it may be the ability of Allen and Thornton to coexist in the backcourt that determines the team’s success this season.

“We try to get each other better in practice each and every day,” Thornton said. “Whether that’s playing with each other, trying to get each other open, get shots for each other, or just playing against each other, guarding each other, banging with each other, it’s just all about us getting better. I want him to push me and I know he wants me to push him.”

Kennard presents another option the Blue Devils could turn to, especially when in need of shooting. With a smooth lefty stroke and the ability to navigate to open spots on the court, the former Ohio Mr. Basketball is capable of lighting it

up from distance. Often overshadowed by the scoring records Kennard broke in high school is the fact that the freshman stands at 6-foot-5 and has the athleticism to contribute as both a rebounder and defender.

But another factor in Duke’s backcourt could in fact be elder statesman Matt Jones. In the team’s opening exhibition game against Florida Southern, Krzyzewski opted for a big lineup featuring the 6-foot-5 Jones in the backcourt. Although he may not have the ball-handling skills or quickness of last year’s floor generals, Jones’ versatility to defend the opposing team’s best player and nail open perimeter jumpers makes him an option for the Blue Devils.

The likely outcome of the backcourt dilemma will be a mix-and-match approach depending on the opponent. When facing speedy, guard-oriented teams, Krzyzewski can employ Thornton’s game-changing quickness. But against teams with more conventional lineups that look to play in the backcourt, Allen’s size or Jones’ defensive prowess may win out.

In the perimeter-oriented state of college basketball today, Duke’s ability to find the perfect combinations of its four McDonald’s All-Americans in the backcourt could decide how well the team defends its national title.

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015 | 15

GREEN LIGHT

Greenwell back to shooting guard role, ready to thrive

Jesús Hidalgo | The Chronicle Redshirt sophmore Rebecca Greenwell wants to round out her game this season.

class, though the three remaining players in that group all stand 6-foot3 or taller. This left much of the ballhandling responsibilities last year in the hands of Greenwell—who is really more of a shooting guard by trade.

This year’s team also boasts the topranked recruiting class in the nation, but with a completely different look. In contrast with last year’s forward-centric class, this year’s influx of freshmen revolves around the guard position.

With five new guards in Durham,

Drew Johnson The Chronicle Now that the Blue Devils have plenty of talent at the point guard position, Rebecca Greenwell will have a chance to shine in new ways.

Last year’s team had one of the deepest frontcourts in the country, but lacked the same depth in the backcourt.

Duke head coach Joanne P. McCallie brought in the No. 1 overall recruiting

the point guard responsibilities that Greenwell had last season are likely to shrink significantly during her redshirt sophomore campaign, but last year’s experience will make her an even bigger threat.

“We were definitely put out of our comfort zones…to play positions that we’re not used to,” Greenwell said. “[I learned the importance of] being able to embrace our role and what we’re being called to do.”

The fact that Greenwell spent much of the season playing out of position did not stop her from turning into one of the Blue Devils’ biggest threats.

The Owensboro, Ky., native quickly asserted herself as a viable scoring option, notching double-figures 28 times. Greenwell became a perpetual part of the Duke rotation, falling just one minute shy of the school record for minutes played in a season.

Greenwell’s game has always been driven by her skills from beyond the arc. Before arriving at Duke, she once notched 17 3-pointers in a single game—a national record at the high school level. The 6-foot-1 sharp-shooter continued to display her abilities during her first season with the Blue Devils, ranking fourth nationally among freshmen in 3-pointers made and setting the Duke freshman record in the same category.

Although Greenwell’s long-range abilities served as a valuable tool within last year’s offense, downtown talent is more easily found on this year’s roster.

She attempted more than three times as many shots from behind the arc as any other teammate last season, but with the addition of freshmen Haley Gorecki, Kyra Lambert and Angela Salvadores, See GREENWELL on Page 20

Melanie Park | The Chronicle A prolific outside shooter, Greenwell will fire away from the perimeter this season.

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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL AN EXTRA PAIR OF EYES

BROWN GUIDES FROM THE BENCH Hank Tucker The Chronicle

Duke’s roster boasts several electric backcourt players this season, but the guard that may have the biggest impact on the team will never see the floor during a game.

Lexie Brown was a third-team AllAmerican as a sophomore last year at Maryland, leading the Terrapins to back-to-back Final Four appearances before deciding to transfer to Duke in the offseason. She will have to sit out of competition this year due to NCAA transfer regulations, but the Suwanee, Ga., native will still practice with the team and challenge the Blue Devils’ young backcourt in practice all winter.

“It’s definitely going to be hard [sitting out], but I’ve talked a lot with [Duke head coach Joanne P. McCallie] about it. I still contribute a lot in practice. I basically do everything that everyone else does except for play in the game, so it’s my job this year to make everyone else better,” Brown said. “If I’m feeling down one day, I can’t act like that because I need to be able to push everybody in practice. Coach P said I need to be a practice All-American this year, so that’s what I’m trying to be.”

The 5-foot-9 point guard did it all at Maryland, starting 66 games during her two seasons there and averaging 13.3 points and 4.5 assists her sophomore

year. She also tallied 2.2 steals per game last season to earn a spot on the All-Big Ten Defensive Team.

Brown faced off against her future teammates when the Terrapins beat the Blue Devils 65-55 in the Sweet 16 during their run to the 2015 Final Four. Duke shut her down in the loss—holding Brown to just one point on 0-for-7 shooting from the field—but Brown rebounded in the Elite Eight against Tennessee, leading her team with 15 points to advance to the Final Four.

Brown’s postseason pedigree commands the respect of her teammates.

“She’s been to a Final Four multiple times, so she understands and knows what it takes to get there, and her being at practice and her leadership in practice helps us a lot,” sophomore forward Azurá Stevens said. “She’s just a phenomenal player—she’ll knock down four or five threes in a row in practice, and we might not get that every time, but to have that in practice and play against it is helpful for when we do play against guards that are that talented.”

After so much success in the first half of her college career, it will be difficult for Brown to sit on the bench and watch for an entire season. But the junior is embracing her unfamiliar role with a positive attitude and an open mind. She will mentor highly touted freshmen guards Kyra Lambert, Angela Salvadores, Faith Suggs, Haley Gorecki

Khloe Kim | The Chronicle Senior Lexie Brown will sit next to head coach Joanne P. McCallie on the bench this season, where she will be able to offer advice to her teammates.

and Crystal Primm in practice.

“Lexie has a huge role, and I think it’s going to be important for Lexie to own it, meaning a role of teaching, showing and communicating,” McCallie said.

“She’s got to become somebody who wants this team to be a championship team more than anyone else.”

Duke has not had any incoming transfers of Brown’s caliber in recent memory, but the men’s team has had great success with high-profile transfers in the past few years. Rodney Hood

helped prepare his teammates for the opponents’ best player in practice during the 2012-13 season, which he sat out after transferring from Mississippi State. The Blue Devils advanced to the Elite Eight that year. Seth Curry transferred to Duke from Liberty and had a similar role on the 200910 national championship team. Rice transfer Sean Obi is eligible to play this year after spending last year battling See BROWN on Page 22

2015-16 Duke University Women’s Basketball Schedule

Home Games Date

Opponent

Time (EST)

Sun, Nov. 15

Winthrop

6:00 p.m.

Wed, Nov. 18

Texas A&M

7:00 p.m.

Sun, Nov. 22

Army

2:00 p.m.

Thu, Dec. 3

Minnesota

7:00 p.m.

Mon, Dec. 14

UMass

7:00 p.m.

Thu, Dec. 17

Liberty

7:00 p.m.

Tue, Dec. 29

Western Carolina

7:00 p.m.

Thu, Dec. 31

UNC Wilmington

2:00 p.m.

Duke Students get in FREE for all home games

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9. SYRACUSE

10. PITTSBURGH

Former Blue Devil Michael Gbinije will team with Trevor Jamel Artis and James Robinson will determine how far the Cooney in the Orange backcourt to carry the offensive load. Panthers can go after missing out on the Big Dance last year.

2014-15 record: 18-13, 9-9 in the ACC Head coach: Jim Boeheim Tenure at Syracuse: 40th season Career coaching record: 966–333 (.744) Home court: Carrier Dome Starters: C DaJuan Coleman, F Tyler Roberson, F Kaleb Joseph, G Michael Gbinije, G Trevor Cooney

Michael Gbinije

2014-15 record: 19-15, 8-10 in the ACC Head coach: Jamie Dixon Tenure at Pittsburgh: 13th season Career coaching record: 307-11 Home court: Petersen Events Center Starters: G James Robinson, G Chris Jones, F Jamel Artis, F Michael Young, C Alonzo Nelson-Odonda Jamel Artis

Look for Syracuse to rely on one of the most experienced backcourts in the country with graduate student guards Michael Gbinije and Trevor Cooney. Gbinije, originally a member of the Duke program before transferring for his final three years of eligibility, has continually improved on both ends of the floor. His defensive prowess showed in an upset win at Notre Dame, when he collected a career-high six steals. Alongside him will be Cooney, a long-range specialist, who attempted 230 3-pointers last season. Together, the pair

provides leadership for a squad that brings in four talented freshmen.

Having lost two players to the NBA and another pair to transfers, Syracuse will have no choice but to play its freshmen often this season. Malachi Richardson, the No. 5 shooting guard in his class, will be an immediate scoring threat and Moustapha Diagne should help the Orange’s famous 2-3 defensive zone.

—Mitchell Gladstone

11. WAKE FOREST

After missing the NCAA tournament for just the second time in the last 12 seasons, Pittsburgh is poised to emerge as a dark-horse ACC contender. Although the Panthers lost three key players from a year ago, Dixon has added three graduate transfers to his roster and will look for key contributions from forwards Jamel Artis and Michael Young. Artis is coming off a breakout sophomore campaign, during which he averaged 13.6 points per game

along with 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. He relied on his versatility to finish the season with 18 consecutive double-digit scoring games—the second-best streak in the ACC. Young, who earned honorable mention All-ACC honors after recording 13.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last year, is a powerful interior force and can also stretch opposing defenses with his ability to hit outside shots.

—Sam Turken

12. CLEMSON

Seniors Codi Miller-McIntyre and Devin Thomas look to lay Leading scorer and rebounder Jaron Blossomgame returns to the foundation for Danny Manning’s Demon Deacons. lead the offense of a defensive-minded Tiger squad.

2014-15 record: 13-19, 5-13 in the ACC Head coach: Danny Manning Tenure at Wake Forest: 2nd season Career coaching record: 51-48 Home court: Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum Starters: G Codi Miller-McIntyre, F Devin Thomas, G Mitchell Wilbekin, F Konstantinos Mitoglu, C Andre Washington Wake Forest allowed 69.0 points per game and committed 13 turnovers per contest, two areas Manning will look to address this season. The Demon Deacons did not beat any ranked opponents last year, but Manning’s squad will get excellent preparation for the gauntlet of ACC play with a trip to the Maui Invitational in November, where they will play Indiana and could possibly face Kansas, St. John’s and UCLA. Wake Forest’s attack will rely on two seniors—

Devin Thomas guard Codi Miller-McIntyre and forward Devin Thomas—as the veteran duo averaged 26.5 points per game last season. Although the Demon Deacons dropped both contests against Duke last year, Miller-McIntyre and Thomas combined for 57 of their team’s 116 points in those games. Miller-McIntyre, though, will miss the first two to three weeks of competition due to a fractured foot, and will likely need some time to acclimate to the lineup.

—Jesús Hidalgo

2014-15 record: 16-15, 8-10 in the ACC Head coach: Brad Brownell Tenure at Clemson: 6th season Career coaching record: 257-158 Home court: The Bon Secours Wellness Arena (Temporary) Starters: F Jaron Blossomgame, F Donte Gratham, G Jordan Roper, G Gabe DeVoe, C Landry Nnoko Clemson returns three starters and nine players from last year’s campaign. Despite eight ACC wins last season, the Tigers did not partake in any postseason play past the ACC Tournament. Although that will certainly be a goal for Clemson this year, it could have a difficult time making an impact in the starstudded ACC, especially while playing its home games a half-hour away from its usual home court as Littlejohn Coliseum undergoes extensive renovations.

Jaron Blossomgame The Tigers return leading scorer and rebounder Jaron Blossomgame, who averaged 13.1 points per game but lost point guard Rod Hall. Senior and 3-point sharp-shooter Jordan Roper should be equipped to take over after averaging 6.5 points per game last season.

Sophomore forward Donte Grantham is coming off of a solid rookie season in which he averaged 8.8 points and blocked 31 shots.

—Meredith Cash

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13. VIRGINIA TECH 14. GEORGIA TECH

With guards Justin Bibbs and Maryland transfer Seth Allen With an influx of transfers, the Yellow Jackets will have plenty in the backcourt, the Hokies look to make noise. of new faces in Atlanta but remain a veteran squad.

2014-15 record: 11-22, 2-16 in the ACC Head coach: Buzz Williams Tenure at Virginia Tech: 2nd season Career coaching record: 164-108 Home court: Cassell Coliseum Starters: G Jalen Hudson, G Justin Bibbs, G Ahmed Hill, F Satchel Pierce, C Johnny Hamilton Virginia Tech’s leading scorer, Adam Smith, transferred to Georgia Tech during the offseason and Williams will have to find new contributors on a roster that features only one senior. But the Hokies certainly have the talent on their roster to give the top teams in the conference a scare, as evident in the Blue Devils’ narrow 91-86 overtime victory in Blacksburg a year ago.

The best candidate to replace Smith as the go-to scorer for the Hokies is guard

Seth Allen Justin Bibbs. The sophomore averaged 11.4 points per game a year ago—good for second on the team—and shot 41 percent from beyond the arc. Bibbs will be joined in the backcourt by sophomore Jalen Hudson, who had 23 points and six rebounds against Duke a year ago. With Bibbs and Hudson manning the backcourt, Williams will look to a develop an unproven collection of bigs into a reliable post presence.

—Sameer Pandhare

2014-15 record: 12-19, 3-15 in the ACC Head coach: Brian Gregory Tenure at Georgia Tech: 5th season Career coaching record: 227-165 Home court: McCamish Pavilion Starters: G Marcus Georges-Hunt, G Adam Smith, F Nick Jacobs, F James White, F Charles Mitchell Although Georgia Tech only has one freshman, it still enters this season with several unfamiliar faces, with three major expected contributors coming via the transfer route.

Nick Jacobs is eligible to play after starting 57 games in his first three seasons at Alabama and sitting out last season with the Yellow Jackets due to NCAA transfer regulations. Adam Smith led the ACC in three-point shooting last year at Virginia

Charles Mitchell Tech—knocking down 42.4 percent of his long-range attempts—and is eligible to play right away as a graduate transfer. James White also averaged double-digit points during his last two campaigns at ArkansasLittle Rock before transferring to Georgia Tech as a graduate student.

The newcomers join a roster that returns last year’s top two scorers—Marcus GeorgesHunt and Charles Mitchell.

—Hank Tucker

15. BOSTON COLLEGE NONCONFERENCE After star guard Olivier Hanlan left for the NBA draft, big man Visit dukechronicle.com for previews of Duke’s nonconference Dennis Clifford will shoulder the load for the Eagles. opponents, including No. 2 Kentucky, No. 16 Utah and more.

Nov. 13 vs. Siena Nov. 14 vs. Bryant Nov. 17 vs. Kentucky (in Chicago) Nov. 20 vs. Virginia Commonwealth (in New York) 2014-15 record: 13-19, 4-14 in the ACC Head coach: Jim Christian Tenure at Boston College: 2nd season Career coaching record: 255-172 Home court: Conte Forum Starters: G Matt Milon, G Eli Carter, F A.J. Turner, F Garland Owens, C Dennis Clifford

Nov. 22 vs. Wisconsin/Georgetown (in New York) Nov. 25 vs. Yale Nov. 29 vs. Utah State Dennis Clifford

Dec. 2 vs. Indiana Dec. 5 vs. Buffalo

After suffering its worst season in program history in 2013, Boston College progressed last season under Christian. But as the Eagles look to build off their momentum from a year ago, they will face a daunting challenge of replacing nearly half their team.

Boston College suffered a major blow this offseason when Olivier Hanlan decided to forego his senior season and entered the NBA draft. Hanlan was Boston College’s primary scorer and playmaker, averaging

19.5 points, 4.2 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game. The Eagles will also miss sophomore forward Will Magarity—who transferred to Davidson—as well as guard Lonnie Jackson, who will complete his final year of eligibility at Boise State. Although Christian brought in Florida transfer Eli Carter and returns 7-foot center Dennis Clifford, he will likely rely on contributions from several freshmen, including former four-star recruit A.J. Turner.

—Sam Turken

Dec. 15 vs. Georgia Southern Dec. 19 vs. Utah (in New York) Dec. 28 vs. Elon Dec. 30 vs. Long Beach State

Alex Poythress

GREENWELL from page 15

Khloe Kim | The Chronicle Derryck Thornton’s leadership of the offense will be key this season, but the frehsman also prides himself on his defense.

THORNTON from page 9 Johnson, which proved to be bittersweet.

“It was definitely tough. He was excited, but he wasn’t excited at the same time,” Thornton said. “He kind of supported it after he realized what the opportunity was.”

But even after committing, there was still work to be done. Thornton remained in Las Vegas during the summer to finish up the last credits he needed to be eligible this season.

As a result, he arrived later than the rest of the Duke freshmen in July, but said he started building bonds with his teammates via FaceTime.

Now in Durham, Thornton will be tasked with managing the Duke offense—no easy assignment for a freshman, though Jones made it look so at times last year. Although he skipped his senior year of high school, Thornton is actually the usual age for a college freshman—he said an arm injury forced him to repeat the third grade—and is

We accept

older than classmates Chase Jeter and Brandon Ingram. But there will still be growing pains.

“It will take time. The physicality of the defense is difficult for a freshman to adjust to,” Krzyzewski said after the Blue Devils’ Countdown to Craziness event Oct. 17. “Derryck is really good and he will be fine.”

Sophomore Grayson Allen touted Thornton’s speed as a difference-maker, calling him a great scorer in addition to his skills as a distributor. But for Thornton, the game begins on the other end of the floor.

“If you score first and then lock down your defender, you’re going to win. It’s not all about offense,” Thornton said.

“If you could lock down your defender, I don’t care who you’re playing defense against, that’s half of the game. If you could knock off that half of the game, then the other half comes easy.”

From Chatsworth to Findlay Prep to Duke, basketball as a whole has come easy for Thornton. Although he took an unusual route to get here, his moment is officially beginning.

that will likely change this season. Now that her primary talent is no longer a scarce resource for the Blue Devils, Greenwell said she wants to expand her scoring repertoire.

“Throughout the summer I’ve been working on my mid-range game,” Greenwell said. “[I’m] not just trying to be a 3-point shooter and [be] stuck out there on the wing…. I probably won’t be a point guard as much but I’ll definitely still bring up the ball every now and then and still try and be a versatile player, but it’ll be nice having other weapons around the wings to play off of.”

A reprise of Greenwell’s heavy participation at the point guard position is unlikely in the coming years, but her time as floor general did not go to waste.

Although she averaged a team-high 3.1 turnovers per game, she learned the importance of being versatile and will serve as a sure-handed veteran for Salvadores and the other freshmen this season.

Despite the ball-handling duties, Greenwell was not afraid to call her own number. In last year’s first round of the NCAA tournament, she hit a gamewinning 3-pointer with 14.9 seconds left to help Duke escape an upset bid from 14th-seeded Albany. For the season, she shot a team-best 35.6 percent from downtown.

“Becca will definitely not play as much point as she did last year,” McCallie said. “When you think back on what [Greenwell and Azurá Stevens] did as freshmen, I still can’t even believe it, really, when you think about the schedule that we had and what transpired with last year.”

There are plenty of ways in which Greenwell can be utilized in the Blue Devils’ new, faster-paced offense now that McCallie has so many additional

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options in the backcourt. The redshirt sophomore will have more liberty to move about the floor, letting Salvadores and the point guards free her up for open looks rather than having to create them herself.

Regardless of what Greenwell’s new role will be, McCallie said that the wealth of diverse talent on this year’s team puts Duke in an advantageous position as it looks forward to the season opener against Pennsylvania.

“To build a championship team and a special team, you better have options,” McCallie said. “You better have different people who can step up.”

So far, Greenwell has proven that she can step into whatever role is required of her.

RULES from page 6 have to work hard on getting used to those new rules, but it shouldn’t be that hard,” Pittsburgh sophomore guard Stasha Carey said. “We’ve [all] done it [transitioning from high school to college] and I think we can definitely do it again. We just have to stay focused.”

Regardless of its impact, the new bundle of rules will give women’s college basketball a new feel this season.

A faster pace of play appears to be a positive in the minds of most players and coaches, but questions linger as to why the NCAA chose to make another round of incremental adjustments, rather than simply entirely adopting FIBA’s rulebook altogether.

With the season tipping off in just one week, fans are about to get their first glimpse at the future.

“I think it’s going to be a lot more fun,” Boston College head coach Erik Johnson said. “I think it’s going to be fun for the players, fun for the coaches, and it’s going to be a whole ton of fun for the fans.”

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Jesús Hidalgo | The Chronicle At 6-foot-6, sophomore Azurá Stevens is a matchup nightmare for opponents, able to run the floor and step outside the arc in addition to finishing around the basket.

STYLE from page 10 offense, that figure rose to 18.3 last season, due in part to the lack of true point guard depth.

There may be growing pains early on as the Blue Devils’ young guards adjust to the college game, but the suddenlybrimming backcourt should enable redshirt sophomore Rebecca Greenwell to slide back to her more natural position—spotted up on the perimeter ready to launch a 3-pointer.

“I probably won’t be a point guard as much but I’ll definitely still bring up the ball every now and then and still try and be a versatile player,” Greenwell said. “But it’ll be

nice having other weapons around the wings to play off of, and I think we’ll be a lot faster team, and definitely more versatile.”

But the changes in Duke’s style of play are not limited to the offensive end of the court.

Last year, the Blue Devils rarely pressed on defense for the first time in McCallie’s tenure in Durham. But Duke will return to form this season, equipped with the speed and depth in the backcourt that it lacked last season.

“We do have a variety of defenses we’re trying to shore up, whether it’s pressing, whether it’s man, whether it’s matchups,” McCallie said. “If you’re going to press more, you’re going to have to run people in and out more. You can’t keep up the intensity without that.”

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JONES from page 3

Khloe Kim | The Chronicle Matt Jones is one of Duke’s three captains this season.

has so far through exhibition play—or eventually cedes a spot to one of the younger guards, there is no question that his demeanor and attitude make him a terrific mentor for a young Blue Devil team. And regardless of whether or not his 37.6 percent long-range clip continues into his junior year, Jones will always have his gritty defense to fall back on.

“Matt Jones is a very, very important guy for our team. He has a level of maturity that is beyond his years,” Krzyzewski said. “Anybody who is guarded by Matt Jones is going to have a hard time.”

Jones is the only remaining scholarship player in his class after Parker left early for the NBA and Semi Ojeleye transferred to Southern Methodist last December. In each of his three seasons, he has been part of a Duke team with many elite underclassmen. He is accustomed to the changes, and has stressed taking things one year at a time.

As the pieces of the puzzle evolve around him, Jones’ focus is on

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using his experience to guide the newcomers. At the same time, he must carve out a new role for himself and be at ease with it.

“We just have to continue to embrace our moment,” Jones said. “One medium through it all, they’ve all been great guys, very unselfish players. It’s very easy to adapt with them because they’re willing to be team players.”

Jones actually may have to do the most adapting of any of the guards. He is ready to lead a perimeter-oriented backcourt, having tweaked his footwork over the offseason to improve his jump shot.

But with a freshman in Thornton as the only true point guard on the team, Jones has shared time with Allen and Kennard in taking the ball up the court.

His versatility is precisely why he is so important to such a young team—a team that has not yet figured out what its strengths and weaknesses are.

“He’s glue in the sense that he can do everything, but he’s so much more than that too,” graduate student and tri-captain Marshall Plumlee said. “He can be our leading scorer, he can be our top defender—he’s a man of many talents.”

Jones has never asked for, and has not always been given, the credit he is due for his role as the team’s backbone. When the championship team visited the White House in September, President Barack Obama singled out the contributions of every Blue Devil who played in the title game, except Jones.

The ACC viewed him as a backup—despite starting the last 13 games of the season, Jones finished second in the voting for ACC Sixth Man of the Year.

Always one to work diligently out of the spotlight, Jones’ time to shine may be on the horizon. With an increased role this season, his steady contributions could quickly gain the attention he has long deserved.

“I just have to bring that toughness,” Jones said. “I feel that I’ve always been a team-first guy, but being a captain, you definitely have to epitomize that.”

As a freshman, Jones was anything but consistent. But he stayed the course, found his identity within Duke’s system and developed into the rock of an ever-changing program.

“He’s probably the most consistent person on our team in terms of energy, effort and enthusiasm,” Plumlee said.

“Everyone loves Matt Jones.”

BROWN from page 17

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Jahlil Okafor down low in practice.

Brown said she is hoping to have a similar impact on this year’s team and is excited about how the experience will help her future with the Blue Devils. She will learn from watching every game this year and see things to help her improve that she would not be able to see as a player on the court.

Brown will also sit next to McCallie on the bench during games so that they can talk about what is happening on the floor. The All-American will keep track of the little things she notices as she prepares to lead Duke as a new and improved point guard next year.

“Sitting right next to Coach P on the bench—to have a new perspective on the game this year—I feel is going to be critical to my growth as an individual,” Brown said. “Even though I’m sad about it, I’m really looking forward to this. I feel like this is going to bring a whole new dimension to my game.”

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Khloe Kim | The Chronicle Brown impressed at Duke’s Blue-White scrimmage and will continue to test her teammates in practice this season.

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