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BRUIN FAN IN OC
Joined: 11/08/11 Posts: 2,117
Duke going hard after these two
Posted Thu, May 01 1:46 pm
https://x.com/dukejay_/status/1917584474960793722?s=46&t=sZbnEyx9WyuG7cVbfOYG0w


Wish we could keep one in CA.
lakershen
Joined: 1/08/25 Posts: 268
Duke’s Dinosaur Strategy?
Posted Thu, May 01 4:01 pm
In response to Duke going hard after these two (BRUIN FAN IN OC)
According to many people on this board, what Duke is doing is outdated and a waste of money. It’s all about the transfer portal now. High school recruits's stars don’t mean much anymore. They won’t be able to contribute right away unless they’re generational talents like AD or Cooper Flagg.
Student Baller
Joined: 7/14/14 Posts: 6,578
Did Duke win the tournament
Posted Thu, May 01 7:11 pm
In response to Duke’s Dinosaur Strategy? (lakershen)
This year?

How many 5* freshmen did Florida have?

Just throwing it out there.
lakershen
Joined: 1/08/25 Posts: 268
No 1 seed, final four, national player of the year
Posted Fri, May 02 5:01 am
In response to Did Duke win the tournament (Student Baller)
This year

Just throwing it out there.
Flat 4
Joined: 1/13/14 Posts: 4,022
If you can get 3 or 4 of the top dudes
Posted Fri, May 02 5:34 am (Edited Fri, May 02 5:45 am)
In response to No 1 seed, final four, national player of the year (lakershen)
Then let er rip. It’s entertaining. Last year Duke had a lot of fun. Rutgers tried to imitate Duke but didn’t have as much fun.

An interesting squad to watch this year will be Houston. Sampson has been rolling out the grown men theory the last couple of years with huge success. Going with some diaper dandies in 2025/26
8years
Joined: 7/10/12 Posts: 1,694
Very nice, but did they get their name
Posted Fri, May 02 8:15 am
In response to No 1 seed, final four, national player of the year (lakershen)
on the championship trophy? Many here have shot down what Howland and Cronin did getting to the final four because they didn’t win it all. So, why think more highly of Duke when they didn’t win either despite having the National Player of the Year???
lakershen
Joined: 1/08/25 Posts: 268
Can We Talk About Something Not Cronin?
Posted Fri, May 02 8:38 am
In response to Very nice, but did they get their name (8years)
Why does everything have to come back to Cronin? He’s the youngest active coach with 500 wins and took UCLA on an amazing Final Four run as 11 seed in his first year. I get it. By the way, it's one of the most memorable Cinderella runs in recent tournament history. Now, can we get back to the topic?

Many on this board claim that five-star high school recruits mean nothing, that it’s a waste of money, and it’s all about the transfer portal now. Well, it turns out Duke is doing just fine using this so-called “outdated” strategy.
Flat 4
Joined: 1/13/14 Posts: 4,022
Outdated Strategy
Posted Fri, May 02 11:01 am
In response to Can We Talk About Something Not Cronin? (lakershen)
I think reliance on high school recruiting as your PRIMARY source of talent is an outdated strategy mostly because of the year to year deal that college hoops has become. There simply are very few freshman capable of impacting the game at a high level each and every year and there are no guarantees that those freshman will be around to become sophmores for your team next year due to the ease of transferring and the competitive NIL landscape. Duke is successful with high school recruiting because they are the highest profile squad and essentially select who they want as opposed to the other way around. Not enough 5 stars to go around for all the big programs to adopt that strategy.

I think the bigger problem is the high cost for elite talent. If you are swimming in the big pool trying to get elite talent you have to pay big and more importantly you have to get it right when you pick someone to give that bag to. They have to be a leader and a top player if you want harmony in the locker room because they are getting the most money. I think it is easier to project the productivity of an experienced transfer vs a high school senior simply because the transfer has already produced at this level.

lakershen
Joined: 1/08/25 Posts: 268
It’s a very balanced and fair view.
Posted Fri, May 02 11:14 am
In response to Outdated Strategy (Flat 4)
Yes, ideally, you need a combination of high school recruits and transfer portal additions. Also, if your program is elite, you have the right to choose who you want, and you get kind of a discount on things. On the other hand, you often have to pay a premium to "buy" top talent, especially through the transfer portal. Some elite transfers only have one year of eligibility left, so you’re essentially paying for just one season, which isn’t ideal if you’re looking for both talent and continuity.
8years
Joined: 7/10/12 Posts: 1,694
Excuse me, you were touting Duke’s year
Posted Fri, May 02 12:23 pm
In response to Can We Talk About Something Not Cronin? (lakershen)
saying how well they did. I was just making the comparison that UCLA (since you don’t want coaches named) was called much less than a success because they didn’t win it all those three final fours.
lakershen
Joined: 1/08/25 Posts: 268
That’s Not True—Our Final Four Run Was Way More Exciting
Posted Fri, May 02 2:09 pm
In response to Excuse me, you were touting Duke’s year (8years)
Not sure who you're referring to. I enjoyed every bit of our latest Final Four run, especially considering we were an 11 seed. It was much more exciting than Duke’s Final Four run as a No. 1 seed this year. The point here is that Duke is doing just fine by emphasizing high school recruiting. That strategy is not outdated, despite what some people on this board have been claiming. Are we good on this?
Student Baller
Joined: 7/14/14 Posts: 6,578
Ignored the question
Posted Fri, May 02 4:08 pm
In response to No 1 seed, final four, national player of the year (lakershen)
And no mention of Florida.

Telling.
Rabid Bruin
Joined: 9/26/23 Posts: 2,239
Duke gets whoever it wants.
Posted Thu, May 01 6:50 pm
In response to Duke going hard after these two (BRUIN FAN IN OC)
Be realistic and move on to the next targets.