Duke Basketball

Based on seeding, Duke's worst loss in the NCAA tournament came in 2012 when No. 15 Lehigh stunned the Blue Devils 75-70 in the round of 64. 

On Wednesday's episode of Go Off alongside Seth Curry, former Duke guard Austin Rivers called that defeat a "stain" on the program's reputation (starting at 18:48 mark).

Rivers and Curry were the top two scorers for the 2011-12 Duke team that went 27-6 during the regular season and advanced to the semifinals of the ACC tournament. 

That squad won eight of its last 10 games between the regular season and conference tournament to earn a No. 2 seed. 

Lehigh won the Patriot League tournament, knocking off top-seeded Bucknell in the championship game. The Mountain Hawks were led by future Portland Trail Blazers star CJ McCollum. He scored a game-high 30 points, despite shooting 9-of-24 from the field.

Rivers and Curry combined to shoot 6-of-23 and only made three of their 14 three-point attempts. 

That game marked Duke's first opening-game loss in the NCAA tournament since 2007. It's one of only nine times in tournament history that a team seeded No. 15 or lower has won a round-of-64 game. 

Duke men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski may reportedly be deposed as part of Gina Ford's lawsuit against former Blue Devils star Zion Williamson.

Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated reported the news, noting lawyers for Ford, who is with Prime Sports Marketing and used to represent Williamson, are in the discovery process of the suit and are looking into various people to potentially depose.

That includes the legendary coach.

"We are leaving no stones unturned, if you get my message," attorney Willie Gary said when asked if Krzyzewski will face a deposition.

Forde summarized the situation, noting Williamson sued Ford and Prime Sports Marketing last June in an effort to end the representation agreement. The New Orleans Pelicans forward signed with Creative Artists Agency after entering into the agreement and said he could do so because the previous agreement violated North Carolina's Uniform Athlete Agents Act since Prime Sports is not certified as a registered athlete agent in the state.

In response, Ford sued Williamson for breaking their contract and is looking for $100 million in damages.

According to the attorneys Forde spoke with, proving Williamson received impermissible benefits during his time at Duke would mean he could not be covered by the Uniform Athlete Agents Act since he would not be an eligible student-athlete.

The attorneys said they are seeking to prove Williamson or his family received gifts, money, housing and possibly a car.

This comes after The Athletic's Daniel Wallach passed along Ford's requests for admission asking Williamson to say he received such benefits from sources such as Duke, Nike and Adidas:

Wallach pointed out the possibility remains this is an effort to convince the star rookie to settle:

Forde noted Williamson was also mentioned in federal court in 2018 during a trial looking into corruption in college basketball. Adidas consultant Merl Code told Kansas assistant coach Kurtis Townsend what Williamson's stepfather was looking for during his recruitment, which was revealed in a transcript of a wiretapped call.

"I know what he's asking for," Code said. "He's asking for opportunities from an occupational perspective, he's asking for cash in the pocket and he's asking for housing for him and his family."

Williamson played for Duke during the 2018-19 season and won the Associated Press Player of the Year and Wooden Award. New Orleans selected him with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2019 NBA draft.

Duke forward Matthew Hurt is forgoing the 2020 NBA draft to play his sophomore season for the Blue Devils in 2020-21, he announced on Thursday:

Hurt averaged 9.7 points and 3.8 rebounds in 20.5 minutes across 31 games (21 starts) as a freshman for No. 11 Duke in 2019-20. 

Duke has lost freshman guard Cassius Stanley, freshman center Vernon Carey Jr. and sophomore point guard Tre Jones to the 2020 draft:

Junior guard Alex O'Connell also left Durham to transfer to Creighton:

Hurt was Duke's fourth-leading scorer behind Carey (17.8 points per game), Jones (16.2) and Stanley (12.6). The former 5-star recruit committed to Duke as the top-ranked Minnesota prospect and second-best power forward prospect in April 2019. 247Sports' Brian Snow likened him to Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris.

The Blue Devils finished at 25-6 and second in the ACC when the NCAA canceled the remainder of the season on March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Duke guard Cassius Stanley announced Tuesday he's decided to forgo his final three seasons of eligibility with the Blue Devils to enter the 2020 NBA draft.

Expectations were high as Stanley arrived at Duke as a 4-star prospect and the No. 37 overall player in the 2019 college basketball recruiting class, according to 247Sports' composite rankings.

The 20-year-old Los Angeles native flashed plenty of potential en route to averaging 12.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.0 assists while shooting 47.4 percent from the field across 29 games before the remainder of the 2019-20 season was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Although there were growing pains throughout the season, including a five-game stretch starting in late November where he failed to crack double figures in scoring, there were moments of brilliance that helped put his high-end upside on display.

One of those was a terrific performance to help Duke avoid an upset bid by Georgia Tech on Jan. 8.

"For a freshman, especially, to turn that around in a game—an away game—that's huge," Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski told reporters. "That shows a lot about that kid. He made some sensational plays, some sensational plays. He ran the court a couple times big time."

Georgia Tech head coach Josh Pastner added: "What an incredible athlete."

Stanley also used that eye-popping athleticism on defense, finishing his freshman campaign with a 2.6 defensive box plus-minus, per Sports Reference.

His two-way contributions not only bolster his draft stock, but they should help him earn immediate playing time at the next level. A lot of rookies struggle on the defensive end, which leads to lesser minutes earlier in their NBA careers. The Blue Devils standout shouldn't have that issue.

Stanley's offense is still a work in progress, especially in terms of his outside shot. His explosiveness could push him toward the lottery with a team betting on his promising long-term potential, but he's probably more of a fringe first-round pick based purely on his current talent level.

Patrick Tape is going to Duke after all.

The Columbia transfer had originally committed to the Blue Devils on March 24, only to back out of that commitment eight days later, according to Evan Daniels of 247Sports. But after weighing his options, Tape decided to head to Durham, North Carolina, after all.

"I actually spoke with the Duke coaches again and they've agreed to let me join the team again," Tape said, per Daniels.

Syracuse, USC, Ohio State and Georgetown all made a push for Tape's services, per ESPN's Jeff Borzello, though the Blue Devils won out after his initial change of heart.

"I thought I rushed into it at first, but I realized that it was the best fit for me," he told Borzello.

Tape, a graduate transfer, sat out the last season after tearing a ligament in his toe over the summer and reinjuring it before the season began. Rather than playing an abbreviated season, he sat out and preserved his final season of eligibility.

Because he's a graduate transfer, he can play immediately for Duke, competing for time in a frontcourt that will also include a trio of freshman in Jaemyn Brakefield, Henry Coleman and Mark Williams.

In the 2018-19 campaign, Tape averaged 11.3 points and 5.9 rebounds for Columbia.

Columbia transfer Patrick Tape has reportedly reopened his recruitment less than two weeks after making a verbal commitment to Duke. 

Evan Daniels of 247Sports reported the update Thursday and noted the 6'10", 232-pound forward, who's eligible to play during the 2020-21 college basketball season, also received interest from Georgetown, Maryland, Ohio State and Syracuse before his initial choice of the Blue Devils.

Tape averaged 11.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.3 blocks while shooting 66.7 percent from the field across 27 appearances (21 starts) for the Lions during the 2018-19 campaign. He sat out this past season after suffering a toe injury.

The Charlotte native said having a chance to play close to his hometown and for Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski were the key factors in his decision.

"[It was] really just being close to home and having my family come see me, the excellent tradition they have there and the opportunity to play for the best coach of all time," Tape told ESPN's Jeff Borzello.

USC was another school in the running for the graduate transfer, per Borzello.

Tape said he had a couple goals in mind after deciding to leave Columbia.

"[When I left], my goals were to play at a high level, make the NCAA tournament, hopefully play pro and get into urban planning," he told reporters. "I thought I would get high-major interest, but Duke is a different level."

It's unclear whether Duke will remain under consideration.

Tape's decision comes after the NCAA announced Wednesday the "recruiting dead period" has been extended through at least May 31 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association announced Duke big man Vernon Carey Jr. as the 2020 Wayman Tisdale Award winner Wednesday, the second straight year a Blue Devil has bee named college basketball's top freshman.

Carey is the fourth Duke player to win the honor in the last seven years, joining Zion Williamson (2019), Jahlil Okafor (2015) and Jabari Parker (2014). He averaged 17.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, earning second-team All-American honors and winning the ACC Rookie of the Year.

Duke has become college basketball's central hub for one-and-done stars. The Blue Devils have produced a top-three selection in each of the last six years. The 2020 draft will likely end that streak—Carey is considered a late-lottery/top-20 selection—but that's more because of an evolution in NBA style than a lack of skill.

"Vernon is a combination of skill, athleticism, and power," North Carolina forward Armando Bacot told reporters. "You just have to play him early and front him. Don't let him get the ball. Don't let him get in a rhythm. Also, he likes to go left a lot, so keep him on the right side to make it a lot more difficult for him." 

Carey is a big man of a more classic mold and will have to greatly improve his jump shot to stick as an NBA starter. If Carey is able to add a jumper, he might be one of the biggest sleepers in a class that's lacking in superstar talent.

Patrick Tape was an unranked prospect from Charlotte, North Carolina when he committed to Columbia out of high school. After proving himself in the Ivy League, he's heading back to his home state to finish his college career with Duke: 

The senior forward announced his decision to transfer on Tuesday night, netting coach Mike Krzyzewski and the Blue Devils a 6'10" big man who averaged 11.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and shot 66.7 percent from the field during the 2018-19 season. 

The move makes sense for multiple reasons. Namely the fact that Duke is looking to reload while Columbia remains at the bottom of the Ivy League. The Lions went just 6-24 last season, picking up one conference win along the way, while Tape sat out the year.

Despite that, the forward has played exceptionally well against some of the tougher competition on Columbia's schedule in the past. As a junior, Tape posted 18 points and four rebounds against Northwestern, 15 points and four rebounds against Rutgers, 17 points and three rebounds against Boston College and 22 points and 12 rebounds against Harvard. 

It was quite a step up from a sophomore season in which he averaged just 4.4 points in 17.2 minutes per game. 

Now he'll join an incoming class at Duke that's already ranked No. 2 in the nation behind Kentucky, according to 247 Sports. The Blue Devils had previously picked up commitments from three five-stars in forward Jalen Johnson and guards Jeremy Roach and DJ Steward—along with three four-stars in big men Mark Williams, Jaemyn Brakefield and Henry Coleman. 

Aside from seniors Javin DeLaurier and Jack White, Duke is preparing to lose freshmen Wendell Moore Jr., Vernon Carey Jr. and Cassius Stanley to the NBA this offseason, along with others who may declare without an agent.

Adding Tape to the mix will give Coach K another embarrassment of riches that's sure to be the envy of most ACC teams yet again. 

Alex O'Connell is reportedly looking for a fresh start next season after spending three seasons playing at Duke. 

Per ESPN's Jeff Borzello, the junior guard is entering the NCAA transfer portal. 

O'Connell has primarily been a role player off the bench for head coach Mike Krzyzewski since arriving at Duke for the 2017-18 season.

Last November, Krzyzewski told Sports Illustrated's Shawn Krest one reason O'Connell struggled in his first two seasons was because of the pressure he put on himself:

"In our game, you can't get hard on yourself. After the game, if you feel like you didn't play well, do extra and all that. But during the game, there's no time to think about what you've just done. It's a continuous game. It favors the continuous thinker. You can't live in the last play. That's all I was telling him. 'Do not live in last play. Next play. Next play.' And that's how you become really good player. He is a good player. He has chance to be a real good player, and he's doing a good job for us."

There were high expectations for O'Connell coming out of Milton High School three years ago. The Georgia native was rated as a 4-star prospect and No. 68 overall player in the 2017 class by 247Sports composite rankings. 

The 2019-20 campaign was O'Connell's most productive as a college player. He averaged 5.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per contest in 29 games (six starts). His shooting struggled with career lows in field-goal percentage (40.5) and three-point percentage (27.3). 

Duke star Tre Jones will enter the 2020 NBA draft, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Jones was part of a loaded 2018 recruiting class for the Blue Devils that included Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett and Cam Reddish. With Williamson, Barrett and Reddish moving on to the NBA after their freshman seasons, Jones assumed a larger role in the offense.

The sophomore guard averaged 16.2 points, 6.4 assists and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 42.3 percent from the field and 36.1 percent from three. His true shooting (52.4) and effective field-goal (47.4) percentages were both increases over 2018-19 as well, per Sports Reference.

He was named the 2020 ACC Player of the Year and ACC Defensive Player of the Year for his efforts.

Jones' older brother, Tyus, was the 24th overall pick in the 2015 draft. By June, however, Tre might have family bragging rights.

Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman projected him to be the No. 20 pick to the Milwaukee Bucks (via the Indiana Pacers) in his most recent mock draft, writing:

"The Bucks could look at Jones as an immediate contributor during their championship window. He made a strong jump this year as a scorer (16.2 PPG) and shooter (1.3 3PT, 36.1 percent), but it's still his passing IQ, defensive pressure and intangibles that Milwaukee would see carrying over to its second unit."

The state of the 2020 class gave Jones added incentive for declaring. With a better crop of college and international stars expected in 2021, his draft value may never be higher.

Along with Jones, Duke might lose Vernon Carey Jr. and Cassius Stanley to the NBA. Weep not for the Blue Devils, though, since they have the second-best recruiting class in 247Sports' composite team rankings heading to Durham next season.