bp 16.2

DukeBluePlanet.com 1

DUKE BASKETBALL2


THE SEASON30 Maui ChampsRecap of one of the all-time great Duke road trips

6 Opening Tip

16 Players Lounge

18 Crazies

20 Starting Five

National Champions 1991, 1992, 2001, 2010Final Fours 1963, 1964, 1966, 1978, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2010

ACC Champions ‘54, ‘58, ‘60, ‘63, ‘64, ‘65, ‘66, ‘78, ‘79, ‘80, ‘86, ‘88, ‘91, ‘92, ‘94, ‘97, ‘98, ‘99, ‘00, ‘01, ‘02, ‘03, ‘04, ‘05, ‘06, ‘09, ‘10, ‘11

FRONTCOURT

ON THE COVER

Lineup16.2 | November 2011

BACKCOURT

DBP EXCLUSIVES

THE PLAYERS38 Newest Blue DevilExcited Rasheed Sulaimon signs his letter of intent

OFF THE COURT42 Exclusive ResearchQuinn Cook interviews Spike Lee for class paper

38 Quick Hitters Coach K, the Duke Brand, Harvard, Bahamas

42 Off Court Spike Lee, GSR, Class of 2011

44 LA’s Corner Robert Brickey

46 NBA Blue Devils NBA Ballers Visit Duke, JJ Redick Interview

50 Emily K Center EKC celebrates Coach K reaching 903

04

12

50

DUKE BASKETBALL4

DUKE BASKETBALL6

OPENING TIP

DUKE NEVER STOPS

Cameron was primed for another great season as the enormous “Duke Basketball Never Stops” banner was draped over Coach K Court during Countdown to Crazieness.

DUKE BASKETBALL8

OPENING TIP

TEAM INDY WINS AGAIN

The last time Coach Wojo, Lance Thomas and Brian Zoubek teamed up, Duke won a national title in Indianapolis. Wojo worked closely with LT and Zoubs during practice as their big man coach and ultimately the Blue Devil frontcourt was the difference for Duke in the 2010 Big Dance.

The group reunited this summer in Durham as a coaching staff in K Academy IX. The event brings together former Duke players who serve as coaches of around 80 “campers” (men 35 and up) every June. 31 former players returned to reunite with the Duke family and also to connect with a group of campers who are extremely successful in their various businesses and fields. The event also raises money for the Emily K Center (around $400,000 this year!), and provides a unique platform for some fun hoops, great networking and lasting friendships.

The coaches of Team Indy ended up right where many Duke fans last saw them… On top of a ladder cutting the nets down. Their squad became the first team in K Academy to go undefeated, steamrolling to a perfect 8-0 record. Led by co-MVPs Justin Kitch and Rick Schnall, Team Indy won the coveted K Academy Cup.


K Academy

DUKE BASKETBALL10

OPENING TIP

ART AND HOOPS

The Duke coaching staff and players attended the Nasher Museum of Art’s annual benefit gala on October 3rd. Honorary co-chairs included former Duke basketball stars Jay Bilas, Mike Gminski and Grant Hill.

“We have the same standard,” Coach K said at the gala about Duke Basketball and the Nasher. “We both bring excellence to our community” while offering “a window to other great things that occur at Duke.” Coach K added, “They’ve allowed people to come in here and say this is a great place, this is a great school.”

The Nasher, located on campus, is one of the finest art museums in the nation. For more info:http://www.nasher.duke.edu/


COACH K LEADS USA TO WORLD TITLENASHER

DUKE BASKETBALL12

OPENING TIP

GRAD CAMPOUT

Duke grad students held their annual campout for tickets in September. Around 2,500 grad students camped out over two nights for the opportunity to enter a lottery for 700 tickets. THANKS!

DUKE BASKETBALL14

OPENING TIP

POSTERIZED

The Blue Devils brought the sunglasses out and had some fun with this photo after the team’s annual poster shoot. This year’s theme: “First Class.”

The Blue Devils react after seeing the poster for the first time.

DUKE BASKETBALL16

HERE COMES DUKE

Junior | 6’11”, 230 lbsRaleigh, NC | Ravenscroft

#34Why Duke? I came to Duke because it’s the best situation for me both for basketball and academically. It’s an unbelievable basketball program and a great academic institution.

Favorite TV Show Seinfeld

Favorite Player Growing Up Larry Bird

Me in 3 Words Faith-filled, fun and hardworking

Best Hoops Skill Shooting, especially for a guy my size

Top Meal Steak cooked by mom or dad Favorite All-Time Holiday Gift Trampoline

FACTS*Ryan comes from an impressive family. His dad Chris played hoops at Yale and his mom Doreen was a volleyball player at Penn!

*Ryan is a consummate student-athlete. The versatile forward has made the ACC Honor Roll and the ACC’s men’s basketball All-Academic team in each of his two years.

*Ryan won the Coach’s Award at our team banquet last year as the player who best exemplifies the commitment and values of Duke Basketball while displaying overall improvement.

Players Lounge

Rya

nK

ELL

Y

“The biggest thing is, we have a lot of unproven talent — guys who haven’t done things on a consistent basis, guys who have shown flashes in seasons past or are considered highly touted freshmen. Consistency is going to be huge for us. Guys who are good or great players have to be good or great every single night and in every single practice. If we have that consistency, we believe we have the talent level to win a lot of games.”

Ryan Kelly

DukeBluePlanet.com 1726 CHAMPIONSHIP EXPERIENCE 26 consecutive graduating classes at Duke have witnessed a Final Four and/or ACC championship while on campus during their four-year stints

Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon, on Coach K’s influence in the game of basketball

DEVIL TALK

“He’s probably in a position now to have more of an influence and impact than others in previous times. I wouldn’t take away from Coach Wooden in that, but it’s a different time and more people can get

films, go to their practices, see the action. The game has grown. More people are watching. His involvement in USA Basketball brings him to another level, as well. It’s only growing.”

Tyler Thornton pumps some iron in the Gunnar Peterson strength/conditioning room.

Duke team captains Ryan Kelly, Seth Curry and Miles Plumlee in CameronPlayers Lounge

DUKE BASKETBALL18

CraziesCRAZIES WHO CARESIXTH MAN

The Cameron Crazies are known across the country for their passionate and sometimes hilarious support of Duke Basketball. However, the Crazies are about more than just blue body paint, funny chants and standing up all game. Away from Cameron, our fans are highly engaged on campus, working hard and giving back to the Duke community. One example is the student organization Crazies Who Care. Adrienne Niederriter, this year’s president of CWC, sat down with DBP to provide some background on the organization and their goals.

For Crazie photos:http://www.blueplanetshots.com/

keyword/crazies

Give us the general background info on CWC?Crazies Who Care (CWC) is a Duke student group that aims to establish a new tradition of giving associated with Duke sports. By encouraging donations at sporting events, Crazies Who Care hopes to make a difference in the Durham community by supporting the Emily Krzyzewski Center and the Duke Children’s Hospital. Members are also encouraged to volunteer with these organizations and are provided with special opportunities to get involved. These include a wide range of activities; Duke Recycles for the Children at home football games, gym class every Friday afternoon at Emily K, and even partnering with UNC for competition fundraisers. Our most notable is probably collecting donations, or “swiping”, in line at basketball games and raffling signed items to our fans. This has been one of the central activities from the beginning when one of our founders asked “What if every student gave a dollar to charity on his or her way into Cameron before basketball games?” Duke students are pretty lucky to get in to Cameron for free; no tickets, no lottery, nothing. We only ask for one dollar donations in cash or FLEX which get completely donated to Emily K and Children’s. People love to hate Duke -- but really, who could hate fans that give to charity at every home game?

What's your favorite thing about Cameron?I’ve never been in an atmosphere quite like it- it’s amazing! Cameron is known for its intensity and excitement, but I think that’s because of the togetherness of the Crazies. We move, chant, and cheer as one massive force. I know I definitely wouldn’t want to play Duke at home and have that power bearing down on me!

How did you become involved in CWC and why?I remember visiting campus for Blue Devil Days and seeing someone with a “Crazies Who Care” shirt on. It just kind of stuck in the back of my mind until I saw the group at the Freshman Activities Fair and actually found out what exactly they did. I loved that CWC combined two of my favorite things -- basketball and service -- so it didn’t take me long to get involved. I don’t know if you’ve ever been to the Activities Fair, but it’s a tad overwhelming. I decided right there that I didn’t want to do what many of us Type A Duke students did in high school, and overload myself with clubs, groups, and extracurriculars. I wanted to devote a lot and time and effort to something really important to me, and CWC seemed like a perfect fit. (Of course, I do have a few other side interests -- what Duke student wouldn’t?) There are plenty of service organizations to choose from, but Duke and Durham were my new home, and I wanted to be a part of it. I started going to the Exec Meetings to help plan events, became Class of 2013 Representative, then Special Events Chair, and now President. I’m really glad that I’ve become so involved with CWC and Emily K; sometimes we just get so caught up in things inside the Duke bubble, but don’t really get away or focus on anything else. Being with the kids and other Crazies brings everything back down to earth.

Duke students traditionally paint the bridge between West and East campus as CWC did here.


What are your goals this year?First of all, I’m hoping to get more people active with CWC -- so if you know anyone passionate about Duke Basketball or the Durham area, send them my way. This year I’m hoping to take a broader, three-pronged approach -- fundraising, volunteering, and raising awareness. Our goal is to raise $5,000+ (which can be difficult with donations in $1 increments), get the kids excited about things like fitness, learning, and leadership, and also to make more Duke students aware of the challenges facing the Durham youth and how they can get involved.

I know you guys have a great relationship with the Emily K Center. Tell us more about that?We have been close to the Emily K Center from the inception of CWC. For people who don’t know about Emily K -- it is a program for local children who come from economically or socially disadvantaged backgrounds, much like Coach K. The program aims to inspire and encourage the Durham youth to aim high, work hard, and do great things by developing character and building confidence. CWC is a large part of this effort by supporting the center and the kids in any way we can. We tutor, run a gym class, organize sports clinics, fund-raise, and help out with other Emily K events. One of the most important things that we do is to simply be a constant presence in the students’ lives; we see them weekly, and some of us have even been doing so for years, so we have been able to form personal relationships with them.

What's been your toughest challenge with CWC?CWC is still a pretty new group, this is only our fourth year, and it’s been somewhat hard to get people to know who we are, what we do, and why they should care. There are so many groups at Duke that breaking out can be pretty hard. We had a lot of freshman show up to information sessions last year, but not many ended up getting involved. A core group of people have done most of the work for the last few years, and now many of them have graduated. I’m hoping to jump-start things this year and attract a lot of new faces. We’re planning some new events and volunteer opportunities that will be a lot of fun; a Leadership Roundtable with Emily K, Go To Hell Carolina Day in K-Ville, benefit dances, etc.

And how about your greatest reward?The greatest reward has definitely getting to know the kids at the Emily K Center. We get to see them grow up really and it’s nice to be able to help them along the way. Providing constancy to their lives lets us be like an older sibling to them; it’s more than just helping them with homework or playing games -- its sharing experiences, stories, and advice week after week. Its easy to see talent in all of the students, even if they don’t see it in themselves. Just being there and believing in them is one of the simplest yet most powerful things that we can do. Almost half of the students in Durham public schools are economically disadvantaged and half of the students will drop out, but these students are fighting that statistic valiantly. Every week I see their hard work and big dreams and I’m just glad to be a part of it.

DUKE BASKETBALL20

Starting FiveStarting Five

FOR MORE ON 903

*Visit 903andcounting.com for great photos, information and the results of our fun “How Do You 903” fan contest.

*Stay tuned for our next edition of Blue Planet -- a Coach K tribute issue.

Coach K speaks to his team in the locker room after the historic win over Michigan State.


02Three Devils Drafted 01Coach K Sets Wins Record

MOST CAREER WINSMen’s Division I

1. COACH K 910

2. Bob Knight 902

3. Dean Smith 879

4. Adolph Rupp 876

903 ANDCOUNTING

An improbable stage was set. Coach K would have a chance to become the all-time wins leader in men’s Division I college hoops with a victory over one of college basketball’s great programs (Michigan State) in one of the most storied venues in sport (Madison Square Garden). To top it off, Coach K was tied with his mentor Bob Knight at 902 wins and Coach Knight would be at the Garden calling the game alongside Jay Bilas (who was a starter on Coach K’s first Final Four team). Joining Jay were around 40 former players standing by to give their coach a congratulatory hug after the game if Duke was able to win.

The Blue Devils handled the pressure of the moment with impressive poise and came away with a 74-69 win. Andre Dawkins

had one of the best games of his career with 26 points and Duke pulled away thanks to a 20-1 run midway through the second half. As the buzzer sounded, Coach K hustled over to Coach Knight and embraced his college coach at West Point as a sellout crowd of 19.979 looked on.

I just told Coach I love him,” Coach K said about his remarks to Coach Knight after the game. “I wouldn’t be in this position without him. It’s a moment shared. I know he’s very proud and I’m very proud to have been somebody who’s worked under him and studied him and tried to be like him.”

Coach Knight’s response to his former pass-first point guard: “Boy, you’ve done pretty good for a kid who couldn’t shoot.”

DUKE BASKETBALL22

Starting Five


With a field that combined for 20 national titles and included five teams ranked in the first AP poll of the season, the Maui Invitational was billed as the marquee pre-conference event. After victories over Tennesee, Michigan and Kansas, Duke emerged as Maui’s champion for an unbelievable fifth time in five visits to the island. Please see page 30 for a complete recap of perhaps the most memorable regular-season road trip in Duke Basketball history.

02Maui Champs Again

MAUI KINGS

DUKE BASKETBALL24

Starting Five

MOST 1ST ROUND PICKSBY ACTIVE COACHES

1. COACH K 23

2. Roy Williams 19

3. Jim Boeheim 16

3. Jim Calhoun 16


03Three Devils Drafted

DREAMS REALIZED

Former Duke players Kyrie Irving, Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler were selected in June’s NBA Draft. Kyrie went No. 1 to Cleveland, Nolan is now playing for Portland via the 21st pick and Detroit selected Kyle with the 33rd pick. With the three draft picks, Coach K has now coached 43 draft selections and Duke has produced 76 NBA draft picks overall.

KYRIE IRVING“I didn’t have any doubts about going No. 1. I was looking for the organization to pick who they felt was the right choice…. It’s a memory I’m going to remember for the rest of my life.”

NOLAN SMITH“Being selected in the NBA Draft is a dream come true. This is a special night for me and for my family. They have sacrificed a lot to help me reach my goals and my dreams. I am excited to have the opportunity to play for the Trail Blazers, set new goals and continue to work.”

KYLE SINGLER“I really think Detroit is going to be a great fit. The whole town and kind of their blue-collar culture, I think I fit in perfectly.”

DUKE IN THE DRAFT

*Duke has produced an all-time best 16 lottery picks.

*Duke has had 15 first-round picks in the past 14 years.

*Duke has had seven top-3 draft picks since 1985 (four more than any program).

DUKE BASKETBALL26

WELCOME

HOMEDuring the off-season, Coach K announced that Jeff Capel would be returning to Durham to serve as assistant coach. Coach Capel previously had served as head coach at both VCU and Oklahoma.

We are excited to have Jeff joining our staff,” Coach K said. “He is an outstanding coach and will be a great fit in our program. Jeff has been a highly successful head coach at the Division I level and he will continue that here at Duke. Adding a coach of his caliber will make everyone in our program better.”

The NC native was a four-year starter as a player at Duke from 1993-97, scoring 1,601 points in his Duke career. He won 175 games in nine seasons as a Division I head coach.

“Welcome back coach Jeff Capel!!” tweeted Nolan Smith upon hearing the news. “We already had the best coaching staff in America!!! Now, we just got better!! Yessirr!!”

Starting Five


04Coach Capel

COACH CAPEL: “The campus is different; it's a different program from when I was here. Things are different, but the standards are still the same. The coach is still the same. The expectation for excellence is still the same."

Coach Capel mentored NBA Rookie of the Year Blake Griffin at Oklahoma. The first pick of the 2009 NBA Draft visited his college coach at Duke this summer.

DUKE BASKETBALL28

Starting Five

December 5th was a big day for the Duke Basketball program as Sports Illustrated announced that Coach K is the 2011 Sportsman of the Year. Coach K shared the award and the cover of SI with Tennessee women’s coach Pat Summitt, joining an elite group of past winners that includes Muhammad Ali, Wayne Gretzky, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Tom Brady, Joe Montana and many others (the award dates back to 1954).

“The voices of those who have been inspired by Pat Summitt and Mike Krzyzewski echo from everywhere and will continue for decades,” wrote SI’s editor Terry McDowell. “What they have achieved through their coaching and, more importantly, their teaching places them among history’s transcendent figures. It is an honor to now include them in the select group of Sportsmen and Sportswomen.”

Coach K received the award in New York City alongside Coach Summitt and several past recipients. “It’s a great, great honor, especially sharing it with Pat,” Coach K said. “I think it’s great for our sport. Two programs that have stood the test of time, where kids work hard and values are really accentuated.”

TOPS IN SPORT

Past winners of SI’s Sportsman of the Year (from left to right): Chris Evert, Coach K, Pat Summitt, David Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Wayne Gretzky and David Ortiz


05Sportsman of the Year

DUKE BASKETBALL30


MAUIMAGIC

DUKE WINS FIFTH MAUI CROWN, TOPPING KANSAS IN THRILLING TITLE GAME

utside the Lahaina Civic Center, lush green mountains rise to the clouds and sailboats drift by as the sun reflects on tranquil ocean waters. Intense emotion, raucous cheering and energetic

basketball contrast this heavenly exterior serenity during the annual Maui Invitational (especially when programs with a combined 20 national titles travel to the island).

The Blue Devils arrived in Maui two days before the tournament kicked off after a non-stop flight from RDU to Maui that spanned over 10 hours and 4,700 miles. The field was loaded with seven teams coming off NCAA Tournament appearances and five ranked in the AP’s preseason Top 25.

Wrote the AP, “A tournament known for its beautiful surroundings and deep fields, the Maui Invitational could be on the verge of one-upping itself as the pre-eminent holiday hoops tournament.”

“That’s the reason it’s been such a great tournament because they’ve always had great fields,” Coach K said at an outdoor press conference with ocean views before the tournament started. “This one measures up to any of the others in the past.”

To reach the championship game, Duke first defeated a hard-working and athletic Tennessee team, 77-67. Duke’s depth wore down the Vols and the Blue Devils buried seven 3’s while becoming the first squad in 14 years to hold Tennessee without a triple for an entire game. Austin Rivers scored 18 and Ryan Kelly and Seth Curry each netted 17 in the victory.

In the Maui semifinal, Duke jumped on Michigan early, racing ahead 34-22 at the break. The Wolverines stormed back in an exciting second

O

DUKE BASKETBALL32


“It was just a great basketball game. Both teams were so deserving of winning, and that’s what makes a great basketball game, where so many kids are making big plays.”

Coach K, on the win over Kansas

half in which 101 points were scored. Duke found answers for Michigan’s offensive attack with clutch shots down the stretch. With the lead down to four, Austin nailed a 3. The freshman repeated the feat -- this time from NBA range -- when Michigan closed to within six a few minutes later.

Duke hit 11 of 21 3’s in the game while shooting 56% from the floor. “We were chasing them the whole time,” Michigan coach John Beilein said afterwards. “They’re not a great team to chase.”

Austin scored 20 in the game, while Ryan and Seth netted 17 apiece for the second straight day. The victory set the stage for the ballgame almost everyone on the island was hoping for.

Duke vs. Kansas. The No. 1 and No. 2 most prestigious programs of the modern era according to ESPN. 28 Final Fours. Seven national titles, including two of the past four. Close to 4,000 victories between the programs. The Blue Devils entered the game ranked No. 6, while Kansas was No. 14.

“We came here to play Duke,” said Kansas coach Bill Self after defeating UCLA to reach the final. “It’s pretty common

DUKE BASKETBALL34

“When Seth kicked me the ball, I looked at the shot clock -- it was three seconds -- and I just tried to get up a good shot. Once it left my hands I kind of thought it was going to be good and luckily it was.”Tyler Thornton


“This is what we came to Kansas for, for games like this. I haven’t been around that long, but I do think it’ll go down as one of the top games [ever] in the tournament.”

Kansas’ Thomas Robinson

knowledge they’ve never lost a game in Maui.... If you are going to win the tournament, you are probably going to have to play Duke. History shows that.”

The island was buzzing about the game and tickets were in high demand. The consolation prize for a number of locals who were denied tickets despite waking up early to wait in line was a relaxing day at the beach.

Inside the gym, fans from both schools tried their best to provide a home court flavor reminiscent of Cameron Indoor Stadium and Phog Allen Fieldhouse. The Maui News stated that the Lahaina Civic Center was “as rocking a house as the tournament has ever seen.” Aisles were packed, with fans overflowing into the standing-room-only spots in the gym’s corners. The environment was genuine, with a March Madness intensity and high school feel. Two of the great programs in college sports had traveled over 8,500 miles to compete in a bandbox gym that could fit inside the intimate Cameron Indoor.

“That was as good an atmosphere

as you could have, really,” said Coach K. “That’s what makes Maui. You watch these other tournaments and it is never really full, right? I mean, it’s good basketball, but the atmosphere just isn’t there and that’s why it is a real honor for us to be here.”

The Jayhawks took a 35-31 lead into halftime after outscoring Duke by nine over the last eight minutes of the half. The Kansas faithful roared with approval as the Blue Devils retreated upstairs to the locker room looking to regroup.

The second half was every bit as thrilling as the cliff dives, scenic parasailing and bike rides down volcanoes orchestrated on a postcard-perfect Wednesday in Maui. In a game that featured 16 lead changes, Andre Dawkins hit a clutch triple with 2:57 left to push Duke ahead 60-58.

The Jayhawks responded with a huge 3 of their own to take a 61-60 lead with 1:31 on the clock.

Then, according to the Maui News, “The menehune who provide a magic that seems to hibernate in the walls until the Blue Devils

Several Blue Devil players, team managers and staff members woke up early in Hawaii for a strenuous beach workout which included sprints and relay races on sand and in the ocean.

DUKE BASKETBALL36

MOST WINS IN MAUI

1. DUKE 15-0

2. UNC 13-2

3. Michigan 10-4

4. Kentucky 10-5

MOST MAUI TITLES

1. DUKE 5

2. UNC 3

3. Connecticut 2

3. Michigan 2

3. Syracuse 2

arrive -- they also own titles from 1992, 1997, 2001 and 2007 -- came out to play.”

Tyler Thornton, a floor general who had taken just nine shots through six games and had six 3’s in his career, shot an open three-pointer from the corner midway through the shot clock with the confidence of JJ Redick. If you watch Ty in practice, you know he likes that corner spot. And you also know he is a tough customer. Still, with sharp-shooting teammates Andre Dawkins and Seth Curry on the floor and only 1:14 left, the lack of hesitation in the delivery was hard to believe. The ball found nothing but net.

After defensive pressure from Ryan Kelly forced a Kansas turnover, Duke gained possession with a two-point lead and 56 seconds remaining. The Blue Devils looked to trim time off the clock and stingy Kansas defense left Duke scrambling as the shot clock wound down.

With 24 seconds left and only three on the shot clock, Seth handed the ball off to Tyler while draped by a pair of Jayhawk defenders. Thornton was well-defended also but had no choice. In front of the Duke bench with Blue Devils imploring him to shoot, the Virginia native heaved an off-balance, contested 3-ball, spreading his legs wide to help establish some balance and rhythm.

The Blue Devils celebrated their island sucess with some snorkeling, cliff diving and pool basketball. Pictured above: Marshall Plumlee goes up for the slam while manager Casey Stevenson plays defense. Below: this banner in the Lahaina Civic Center shows off past tournament champions and MVPs (Blue Devils can be found frequently)


“When Seth kicked me the ball, I looked at the shot clock -- it was three seconds -- and I just tried to get up a good shot,” Thornton said. “Once it left my hands I kind of thought it was going to be good and luckily it was.”

“When it left his hand, I knew it was splash waterfalls,” said Quinn Cook. After the splash, the Duke bench erupted in a wave of emotion. Players and coaches jumped up and down like kids on Christmas morning. Even Coach K, who usually opts for a confident, steady image that would intimidate champion Poker players, elevated in excitement with arms raised.

It’s a dream shot,” said the Duke Hall of Fame coach. “People will say it’s a lucky shot, but I’ll say I’m lucky to have him on my team. Sometimes you’re on a bus with a guy who deserves and for that moment we were on his bus. Thank goodness he knew how to drive it.”

The shot pushed the Duke lead

to five and essentially sealed the championship for Duke.

Mason Plumlee scored 17 points in the game, while hauling in 12 of his team’s 29 boards. The junior forward matched up well against talented Kansas forward Thomas Robinson, logging 37 critical minutes for Duke.

“I thought the key guy to the game was Mason,” said Coach K. “You know, Mason really played like such a man with physicality and size. When you’re playing with a guy that’s playing that hard and that demonstrative, it gives you confidence.”

Ryan also gave the Blue Devils a big lift, scoring 17 points for the third straight game in Maui on his way to earning tournament MVP honors.

Most importantly, the Blue Devils remained unbeaten on Maui (15-0!) and Duke would be flying back to the mainland with a championship trophy on board for the fifth time

(no other school has more than three Maui titles). Duke fans chanted “Our House” as the clock wound down.

“I thought the crowd was unbelievable,” Coach Self said. “I can’t believe there being a lot better atmosphere than that game with two historic programs -- with a packed house -- in the history of this tournament.”

“It was just a great basketball game,” stated Coach K. “Both teams were so deserving of winning, and that’s what makes a great basketball game, where so many kids are making big plays.”

Shortly after winning, Coach K huddled up with his coaching staff to share a memorable moment. Championship Hawaiian beads were draped over Blue Devil shoulders and the veteran coach shook his head and smiled. In improbable fashion, Coach K and Duke had discovered basketball paradise again.

“We may never again see anything quite like what we just got for three days of perhaps the best in-season college basketball tournament ever played, fittingly capped by the thrilling championship game between Duke and Kansas. There had to be close to 3,000 folks in the venerable Lahaina Civic Center, which officially seats 2,400, watching the Blue Devils win 68-61 and run their Maui record to 15-0. Certainly, as the years pass, the number of people claiming to have been in the building Wednesday night will grow.”

Maui News’ Robert Collias

DUKE BASKETBALL38

Blue Devil News & NotesQuick Hitters

SULAIMON INKS WITH DUKENation’s Top-Ranked Shooting Guard Signs with Blue Devils

Rasheed Sulaimon is rated among the top 10 prospects in his class by Scout.com and has emerged as one of the top guards in high school. The 6’3”, 175-pound senior signed with Duke on November 9th and will join the program this summer as a freshman. The Texas native attends Strake Jesuit School and Dean of Students Kelly Clemons was kind enough to describe the fantastic scene as the newest Blue Devil signed his letter of intent.

“As Rasheed sat down to sign his letter, the revelation of his dream to be a Blue Devil was overwhelming. His dream since 7th grade was about to be realized. He would play for Coach K, and he would get an outstanding education from an elite university. He could not control his emotions. He cried tears of joy. He cried tears of gratitude and thankfulness. His mother and father sat down next to him, and they began to cry. I have been at Jesuit for 19 years, and we have had multiple college scholarships accepted by our student athletes. I have never experienced such a beautiful display of humility as I did today. Signing the scholarship today meant a great deal to him. It changed his life and probably the course of his family’s life. He gets what this means for his future. Rasheed is deeply greatful, and he demonstrated that emotion today with humility and transparency.”

COACH K WINS NAISMITHwCoach K added the Naismith Sportsmanship Award to his lengthy list of accolades on June 29th in Raleigh when he was honored along with Dean Smith and the late Kay Yow.

“What an amazing thing for us to recognize three giants in the history of the sport of college basketball,” said Associate Head Coach Steve Wojciechowski, who presented Coach K. “I think it’s so fitting that we are talking about (not only) how much they won, but more importantly the way in which they won. All three coaches, they won with class, they won with integrity and no matter where they went … everyone they touched wound up better for it.”

The rivalries between the three Triangle schools can get heated during the season but the evening revealed the high level of respect Duke, UNC and NC State share for one another as well.

Addressing Jan Naismith, grandson of basketball inventor Dr. James Naismith, Coach K said that Dr. Naismith “planted a lot of seeds for the game. But the best seeds were planted here in the Triangle.”

Coach K was the final coach to be honored after NC State Athletic Director Kay Yow spoke about her sister Kay (former NCSU women’s coach) and UNC’s Roy Williams presented Dean Smith.

“Coach K, thank you for always giving your best -- and demanding we do the same,” Coach Wojo said before Coach K took the mic to close the evening. “Thank you for allowing your family to become ours. Thank you for helping us in times of need, advising us in times of uncertainty and celebrating with us in times of joy.”

Coach K wrapped up the evening with compliments for Coach Yow and Coach Smith before detailing the strength of college basketball in the Triangle. Attendees walked away from a special event as sure as ever that their home is the mecca of college hoops.


“I really think I have more enthusiasm and endurance than I know I had when I was 54. So I’m in a place that is perfect for me. I love my school. I’ve got all the guys on my staff -- they’re my guys. I’ve got great kids. I’ve got a fan base that supports us in such great fashion. Really, for me, I don’t have a negative about my position, and really, it’s why I’m here, I’m still here coaching. For me, there could never be a better situation.”

“I really think I have more enthusiasm and endurance than

I know I had when I was 54. So I’m in a place that is perfect for me. I love my school. I’ve got all the guys on my staff — they’re my guys. I’ve got great

kids. I’ve got a fan base that supports us in such great fash-

ion. Really, for me, I don’t have

DUKE ENJOYS TROPICAL ISLANDS

Next Thanksgiving, the Blue Devils will head to the Bahamas and the impressive Atlantis resort to compete in the second annual Battle 4 Atlantis. The Blue Devils will stay at the Atlantis resort during part of Thanksgiving week and play three games. Joining Duke in a challenging tournament field will be Missouri, Stanford, Memphis, Northern Iowa, Minnesota, VCU and Louisville. The Blue Devils have won five straight pre-conference tournaments dating back to 2007!

A year after winning in Maui, the Blue Devils will be battling for Atlantis in the Bahamas.

About three decades ago, Coach K recruited Robert Brown to play for him at West Point. After three years together, Coach K headed down to Duke and we know what happened next. Meanwhile, Brown has since advanced all the way to Major General in the U.S. Army and currently serves as commanding general at Fort Benning (GA).

The long-time friends have stayed in touch regularly over the years and Coach K visited Fort Benning in September where he spoke to over 1,300 soldiers and civilians about working together. For the first time since the 1940s, the Armor School and Infantry School will train at the same post so Coach K spoke about teamwork and trust as the groups move forward together.

Command Sgt. Maj. Earla Reddock said about Coach K’s visit, “He was right on point, on target. Every single thing he said is what we go through every day. It’s just amazing.”

After Duke’s 96-55 win over Presbyterian, Blue Hose coach Gregg Nibert expressed his admiration for the Blue Devil front court.

“Their inside game was tremendous. I didn’t have anything else in. I wish I had a little bit more zone or something else in there to stop something, but it was like going to a knife fight with a toothpick with some of those guys out there. It was tough.”

DUKE BASKETBALL40

STILL THE TOUGHEST TICKETOn November 5th, NBC’s sports business expert Darren Rovell tweeted: “LSU-Bama game is the top selling regular-season college football game in @StubHub history. Avg price = $511/ticket.”

The top selling regular-season game in all of American sport -- pro or college? That would be UNC at Duke.

Right now, single tickets for this year’s edition of UNC at Duke are selling on StubHub (popular online ticket resale website) for anywhere between $940 (just to get into the gym) and $5,000.

“Duke at North Carolina and North Carolina at Duke are the two highest-grossing games of the season for our site,” StubHub spokesperson Sean Pate told The News & Observer.

Not only does Duke/UNC set the bar for all regular-season games but the battle of the blues is also among the toughest tickets in all of sports. In 2007, Rovell listed UNC at Duke as the second hottest ticket in American sports, behind the Masters (golf) and ahead of events such as the Super Bowl, NBA All-Star Game, BCS National Championship Game, World Series, Red Sox/Yankees, Kentucky Derby and U.S. Open (tennis).

The Cameron Crazies of course attend all home games for free but also pay a steep price to attend Duke/UNC. Our Sixth Man lives in tents in Krzyzewskiville for days, weeks or months in order to attend one of the world’s greatest sporting events.

Sample Ticket Sale Prices – StubHub in 2009

UNC at Duke: $1,260World Series (Philadelphia vs. Tampa): $903 in Philly, $378 in TampaNBA Finals (Lakers vs. Celtics): $884 in LA, $703 in BostonBCS Title Game (Florida vs. Oklahoma): $684National Championship Game (Kansas vs. Memphis): $389

AND THE TICKET IN HIGHEST DEMAND

Duke has compiled a couple of No. 1’s on the business end in the past year or so. The Blue Devils were named the strongest brand in college basketball and a survey found that Duke is the top revenue-generating program in the nation. Additional news off the court is a report on the top 25 most demanded NCAA Men’s Basketball tickets from seatgeek.com. The Blue Devils top the list.

Tickets in Highest Demand – College Hoops1. Duke2. Kentucky3. Tennessee4. GA Tech5. Ohio State6. Maryland7. Temple8. UNC9. VA Tech10. Kansas


On April 11, 2007, former Duke guard (class of 1987) and assistant coach (1988-97) Tommy Amaker took over as the head coach of Harvard Basketball. Before then, Harvard had experienced phenomenal success in almost every major area except men’s basketball. The team had never won the Ivy League and had competed in just one NCAA Tournament game (all the way back in 1946).

Since Amaker took over, the program earned its first-ever win over a ranked team (January 7, 2009 over No. 17 Boston College), enjoyed its two winningest seasons ever (21 wins in 2009-10 and 23 wins last season), set a school record for wins at home (14-0 last year), won a school record 12 league games (last season), won its first game over a Big 12 foe (Colorado), defeated a power conference opponent in five straight seasons (2008-2012), produced the school’s first Ivy League Player of the Year since 1984 (Keith Wright last season), and won a share of the Ivy League title for the first time in school history (last season).

This year, Harvard continues to roll, posting a 9-1 record to start the season and reaching the Top 25 for the first time ever. The Crimson headed to the Bahamas over Thanksgiving and won the inaugural Battle 4 Atlantis with wins over Utah (75-47), No. 22 Florida State (46-41) and then Central Florida (59-49) in the championship game. The field also included Connecticut, UMass, Charleston and UNC-Asheville (Duke will play in the tournament next season). Coach Amaker -- the first-ever National Defensive Player of the Year (1987) -- must have been impressed when Harvard held the Seminoles scoreless for the first 11 minutes of the game.

“The Crimson defend as well as those ‘long and athletic’ major-conference teams you hear so much about,” wrote ESPN’s John Gasaway. “Opposing offenses are making just 42 percent of their 2s against this D.” ESPN’s Andy Katz wrote after the championship victory, “Harvard left the Bahamas Sunday with immense confidence after winning the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament.”

“You’re exposed to greatness from every direction here,” said Amaker. “It’s one of the more enjoyable opportunities I’ve had. It’s been so enlightening for me just to sit down and listen. We talk basketball, politics, business, race.”

Harvard’s program has grown as much or more than any in the country over the past five years under the guidance of Coach Amaker. It is only November and the question has already been asked: “Harvard: Best Ivy ever?”

MVP’sWith a rich tradition of winning, consistent individual success, the most games on national TV, the longest sellout streak in all of basketball and incredible support from the best fans in America, Duke Basketball players are the most valuable in college sports. According to a recent study by the National College Players Association, Duke players are valued at $1,025,656 on average per year.

The average annual fair market value of a top-tier college football and men’s basketball player exceeds $100,000 according to the study. The Blue Devil players were well ahead of the $265,027 annual average for college hoops athletes. Texas players led the way in college football with a market value of $513,922 per year, while the average FBS college football player was valued at $120,048. The findings from the report were intended to add to the debate about the value of college football and men’s college basketball players.

TOPS IN REVENUEDuke Basketball generates more revenue than any program in the country, according to data from the U.S. Department of Education. The Blue Devil pro-gram generated $26.7 million in basketball revenue in 2009-10 -- compared to $12.3 million in expenses, also the highest in the nation. In other words, the program not only makes the most money but invests the most in its players, staff, facilities, travel and resources.

College Basketball – Most Revenue1. Duke: $26,667,0562. Louisville: $25,890,0003. UNC: $20,551,168

College Basketball – Highest Expenses1. Duke: $12,286,4752. Kentucky: $11,573,2833. Kansas: $10,984,833

HARVARD MAKING MOVES

DUKE BASKETBALL42

BLUE DEVILS ON CAMPUS

FIRST-HAND RESEARCH Feature by Duke Basketball Student Life & Campus Relations Director Kenny King

Quinn Cook InterviewsFilm Legend Spike Lee

Off Court

DUKE SHINES IN CLASSROOMStatistics for the Graduation Success Rate were released in late October and Duke Basketball was one of just five major conference schools to post a perfect 100% GSR. The GSR is based on student-athletes who entered college as freshmen in 2001-2004 and allows for the removal of those individuals from the cohort who left school in good academic standing.

Joining Duke Basketball with a perfect GSR among major conference schools (ACC, Big East, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12, SEC) were Notre Dame, Illinois, Villanova and Wake Forest.

A total of 13 Duke teams achieved a 100 percent GSR: men’s basketball, men’s golf, men’s swimming and diving, men’s tennis, women’s basketball, women’s cross country/track and field, women’s fencing, field hockey, women’s golf, women’s lacrosse, women’s soccer, women’s tennis and volleyball.

Earlier this semester, Quinn Cook decided to write his final Writing 20 paper in Professor Katya Wesolowski’s “Documenting Lives” about Spike Lee. The freshman guard is a big fan of Lee so the topic selection was an easy choice.

During the research stage of the paper, Quinn traveled to NYC to compete against Michigan State. The legendary filmmaker is a huge basketball fan and happened to attend the game, seated in his usual spot in the first row at the Garden (which ended up being near the Duke bench).

As the game unfolded, Quinn and I were able to connect with Spike about a possible phone interview. The end result, however, was even more amazing. It turns out that Spike had agreed to speak to a large UNC campus group on December 6th as well as visit Duke to speak to Professor Maurice Wallace’s English 189 class, “The Films of Spike Lee.”

The film director/producer/writer/actor agreed to stop by practice in Cameron beforehand. Afterwards, Spike spoke with Coach K, posed for some photos and then sat down with Quinn.

Quinn asked the producer of over 35 films various questions about his favorite movie scenes, Denzel Washington, Malcolm X, movie production and more. Quinn and Spike also talked about Quinn’s recruiting process and NBA basketball. Both guys enjoy Kobe Bryant (Kobe is Quinn’s favorite player and Spike made a movie about the Lakers star), and enjoyed sharing various predictions for the coming season.

One of the most memorable movie-related stories that Spike shared was about his work with Denzel Washington for the movie, Malcolm X. When Quinn asked what it was like working with Denzel, Spike responded, “Denzel is the best actor alive today. He knew he had to get the spirit of Malcolm to enter his vessel -- his body -- and then he could get the essence of the man. How did he do that? It’s the same thing with you athletes. You gotta prepare. You can’t just show up for the [game] and win. Denzel started to prepare for Malcolm X a year before. So for a year, he didn’t work on another movie. He started to learn how to read in Arabic, how to read the Quran, how to pray in Arabic. He stopped eating pork, he stopped drinking. He thought, ‘I can’t be playing a Muslim and still be eating that pig.’ Can’t do it. He knew if he did all of these things the spirit of Malcolm would come through. That’s a true story.”

The pair spoke for almost 15 minutes before Spike headed over to campus to visit with Professor Wallace’s class. Quinn shuffled back to the locker room with a big smile on his face. “That was Spike Lee,” he said. “That was Spike Lee! Know him.”


CLASS OF 2011 UPDATE

After graduating in May, our class of 2011 members Kyle Singler, Casey Peters and Nolan Smith have moved on to Spain, Dallas and Portland respectively. Kyle is playing for the pro club Real Madrid, Casey is working for Crestline Investors as an associate on the Strategic Partnering Team and Nolan is in training camp with the Trailblazers after waiting out the NBA lockout living in Durham (see page 50 for more on Nolan).

DUKE BASKETBALL44

Laura Ann Howard is now in her 20th season as staff assistant in the Duke Basketball office. She works closely with our assistant coaches, coordinates player autographing, keeps tabs on former players, staff and managers, and delivers smiles at our offices on the fifth floor of the Schwartz-Butters Center. The Roxboro, NC native shares one of her updates in LA’s Corner as part of every issue of Blue Planet.

LA’S CORNERRE: ROBERT BRICKEY UPDATE

Off Court

One of Coach K’s original high-flyers, Robert Brickey graduated from Duke in 1990. Since then, he has remained in the game of basketball with coaching stints at James Madison, SMU, West Point, Shaw University and at Duke with the women’s program. Today, Robert lives in Toronto where he runs his own basketball academy.

You had the opportunity to represent Duke at the Naismith Award presentation. What was that like being on stage representing Duke?RB: It was an amazing evening and I was honored to be there representing the Duke program. It’s remarkable how much three coaches, in such close proximity, have impacted the course of college basketball history. The NC Sports Hall of Fame presented a first-class event and it was great to talk with great players from the different institutions that played in different eras.

I see you have ventured out on your own with Robert Brickey Basketball -- tell us about it.RB: I have always loved the game of basketball. I have played the game, coached the game or taught the game most of my life. After 11 years coaching at the college level, I wanted to get back to the teaching the fundamentals.

Are you able to stay in touch with former teammates?RB: I do stay in touch with the guys that played during my era (1986-1990). Given the demands of families and careers it can be challenging. The K Academy serves as a great opportunity for old teammates to reconnect and to be able to get to know guys both younger and older.

Robert (Duke ‘90) was a member of three Final Four teams and one ACC championship team

Robert now runs Robert Brickey Basketball -- a hoops academy in Toronto


ROBERT BRICKEY AT DUKE

Follow Robert on Twitter: @coachbrickey

Can you talk about your experience at Duke and how it has helped you off the court?RB: Many of the things I learned came from Coach K. And many of those things were not spoken. It was the way he went about handling the things in his life and program. It was the way he prepared us to be successful on and off the court. It was the work ethic and commitment to being great on a daily basis. It was helping young men to understand the bigger picture. These things I carry with me to this day and I often share these principles when I speak to kids at my own clinics. These are the principles that I try to live by on a daily basis.

To Contact Robert:

Robert Brickey [email protected]

*Player from 1987 though 1990 (6’5”, 205 lbs, forward)

*Scored 1,299 points over four seasons

*Member of three Final Four teams

*One of the most athletic Duke players of all time

*Averaged over 10.0 PPG in each of his final three seasons at Duke

*Team captain in 1990

*Averaged 11.7 PPG and 5.4 RPG as a senior

Robert working hard on the coaching sideline in both Cameron Indoor Stadium and the Smith Center

DUKE BASKETBALL46

A half-dozen Duke Basketball alums in the NBA took advantage of the state-of-the-art K Center, returning to campus during the NBA lockout to stay in shape and visit with Duke family. Shane Battier, Mike Dunleavy, Gerald Henderson and JJ Redick all traveled to Durham and worked out on the court and in the weight room. Also, Kyrie Irving and Nolan Smith lived in Durham and were around frequently so the traditional pickup games our coaches play were contested at a slightly higher speed. Battier and Dunleavy (former Duke roommates) visited in September while Henderson and Redick came through in mid-October. Coach James led individual workouts on the court while Strength coach Will Stephens pushed the NBA players through workouts in the weight room.

NBA BALLERS RETURN

“I don’t like the vibe (on campus), I love it. I love Duke. I am back here because I love it. Duke is the place.” Kyrie Irving, during a CBS special on his decision to take classes during the NBA lockout

NBA BLUE DEVILS

NBA BLUE DEVILS ON THE MOVEShane Battier Memphis Grizzlies to Miami HeatMike Dunleavy Indiana Pacers to Milwaukee BucksCorey Maggette Milwaukee Bucks to Charlotte BobcatsJosh McRoberts Indiana Pacers to Los Angeles LakersShelden Williams New York Knicks to New Jersey Nets

From left to right:Jeff Capel, Chris Spatola, JJ Redick, Gerald Henderson, Chris Collins and Nate James

From left to right:Mike Dunleavy, Nate James and Shane Battier


How does our practice facility compare to others you have seen?

JJ: I actually think this is the nicest practice facility I have ever been in. We just built a new arena in Orlando and have a practice facility attached to it and it’s the best I’ve seen in the NBA but this one at Duke takes the cake. I just really, really wish we had this when I was here.

How do your experiences with Coach K and memories from Duke help you today five years later in the NBA?

JJ: There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t think of Coach K and some lesson he taught me. I impart his wisdom on my daily life, whether it’s how I interact with my teammates, how I prepare to play, mental preparation, physical preparation -- there’s so much that goes into being a professional and I wouldn’t have been as prepared going into the NBA if it wasn’t for Coach K.

Obviously our guys benefit from your visits and the experience and wisdom you can share. How does a visit like this help you as well?

JJ: For me it is fun because I am a Duke fan. When I got done here, I could go back to being a fan. As a fan, it is cool to interact with the current players but it is also great for me to get a little bit of energy from them. Any time I come back here I get a renewed spirit and being around the young bucks certainly helps that.

You entered Duke as a talented freshman and now are a successful NBA player earning a nice salary. How does that happen?

JJ: When I came to Duke as an 18-year-old freshman, I didn’t really think I was an NBA player. I never assumed that the NBA was in my future. Obviously the coaches here at Duke spent a lot of time with me developing my game, but they also gave me a lot of confidence in myself. Basketball is as much mental as it is physical and my transformation from a pudgy little 18-year-old freshman to National Player of the Year my junior and senior year happened because of the time and work invested in me by the coaching staff here at Duke. I wouldn’t have been a lottery pick if I hadn’t gone to Duke. That’s the bottom line.

You have played for a number of coaches now in your day. What makes Coach K different?

JJ: Coach K is the greatest because he’s the greatest all around. Obviously he knows the game, he knows X’s and O’s and he prepares his teams to play. Right along with that, he’s the ultimate motivator, he’s the ultimate teacher, and as you develop a relationship with him, the ultimate friend. As a player, knowing that your coach always has your back is of the utmost importance. It gives you confidence and security knowing that one of the greatest people and coaches to ever be involved in basketball has your back.

Where does Cameron stack up with the many other gyms you’ve hooped in?

JJ: First of all, I am a sports fan. I enjoy going to live sporting events and I grew up a Duke Basketball fan. Before I came to Duke, I went to a couple of games and since I’ve graduated I’ve been to a couple games. Just watching a game in Cameron -- there’s no greater sporting experience. So ultimately, playing here was just surreal at times. I played games for Duke in my backyard growing up pretending that I was in Cameron. The rush that I felt the first time coming through, I’ll always remember that. The great memories that I had here -- whether it was beating North Carolina my junior year and having the fans on the court yelling “Our House”, Sean Dockery’s buzzer-beater to beat Virginia Tech, our win against Wake my junior year when we were coming off two losses in a row and they had Chris Paul and were a top-five team -- those are the games that immediately stand out in my mind.

Gerald Henderson and JJ Redick served as judges of the annual dunk contest at Countdown to Craziness during their return to Duke

DUKE BASKETBALL48

I T TA K E S A T E A M

Emily K students took time out from the academic work at hand to share in the congratulations of Coach K’s 903rd win. Taking up a good part of the 2001 Final Four floor that serves as our gym, almost 70 students and staff members stood in formation.

EMILY K CENTER STUDENTS “903” FOR COACH K

CONGRATS COACH KIf we work as hard in the classroom as you do in your preparation we will become championship winners too!

903 LESSONS LEARNED1. The number nine was the easiest to replicate.

2. Emily K scholars are unmatched in terms of study skills -- we need a bit of work on parade formation.

3. Emily K students don’t need any coaching when it comes to celebrating their favorite coach.

emilyk.org @EmilyKCenterEmilyKCenter


6th grade Pioneer Scholar Daveion6th grade Pioneer Scholar Boluwatife

4th grade Pioneer Scholars students Jacqueline, Giuliana, Te’Quan, Walter, Dayron, and Oyinkan

“We are very proud of you for Winning 903 basketball games!!! We are very proud you made this place for us to become much better at school.” – Dayron

“i Wanted to congratulate you for Winning 903 games. you are the best coach. i love duke university. my dad Works there. i am a big big fan.” - Giuliana

“you are a great coach. you are hard on your players to make them good enough to Win championships and that is What you call a very aWesome coach. thank you for letting emily k be in durham.” – Te’Quan

DUKE BASKETBALL50

UNDER 4:00

THE PEOPLE’S CHAMP STAYS BUSYThe Duke Basketball staff obviously enjoys the NBA and loves following all of our alums in the league. There was some upside to the NBA lockout, however, as the program picked up about seven extra months of Nolan Smith.

The 21st pick of the 2011 NBA Draft lived in Durham during the lockout, working out almost every day in the K Center, playing regular games of pickup with our coaches, attending our games in Cameron (and even joining the Crazies as pictured), conducting locker room interviews for DukeBluePlanet, advancing his new foundation, advising Duke student-athletes and preparing for the next chapter of his life. In addition, Nolan hosted a “tweet-up” where fans could visit Duke and hang out with the 2010 national champ. Duke fan Eric Seidel attended the function and wrote up this recap of the event.

Featuring former Duke basketball player Nolan Smith, the Duke Tweet-Up was an amazing opportunity to spend some time with Nolan before attending the Duke/Wake Forest football game. A portion of the proceeds from the event would be donated to the Sydney and Nolan Smith Foundation.

What’s the Sydney and Nolan Smith foundation, you ask? In 2011, Nolan and his sister Sydney started their foundation to remember their father, basketball great Derek Smith, who passed away when Nolan and Sydney were very young. Sydney and Nolan’s foundation reaches out to other young people that are dealing with the loss of a loved one, letting them know they are not alone.

The event started with a private tour of the basketball practice courts, basketball offices, weight room, and locker room after a roundtable discussion with our humble tour guide, Nolan. The group asked questions and appreciated the open dialogue and Nolan’s cool demeanor. Prizes were won, pictures were taken and I

think everyone almost forgot we were going to a football game. On the short walk from Cameron Indoor to Wallace Wade, it was awesome experiencing people react when Nolan walked by. The group sat together and Nolan continued to hang out and converse with the group. During the game Nolan took the time to greet other fans and take pictures. At the start of the third quarter, Nolan graciously thanked each person for coming and shook everyone’s hand. It was an extremely memorable day for all in attendance.

If you ask any Duke fan their favorite thing about Nolan Smith, I guarantee there is no short answer to the question. In my opinion, Nolan really is the person you see on and off the court. His energy and enthusiasm is infectious which is complemented by his signature smile. My favorite part of the Tweet-Up was walking on the tour with Nolan and watching his expression as we passed by the myriad of accolades which pay homage to his tenure at Duke. It seemed bittersweet as you could see the pride in his eyes for what he and his teammates had accomplished in his four years. You could also tell he was realizing he would be starting a new chapter in his life outside of Duke.

In summary, the Duke Tweet-Up was an intimate gathering, bringing those in attendance together to become more familiar with the Sydney and Nolan Smith Foundation while spending time with a true champion.... “the Peoples’ Champion.” Written by Eric Seidel (pictured with Nolan during the Tweet-Up)

DUKE BASKETBALL52

Duke University Men’s BasketballBox 90556, Durham, NC 27708

Change Service Requested

PRESORTEDFIRST-CLASS MAILU.S. Postage Paid

Durham, NCPermit No. 60

CONGRATS to College

Basketball’sAll-Time

Men’sDivision I

Wins Leader!The next issue of Blue Planet will be a special edition dedicated to Coach K.

bp 16.2

Documents