Blue Devils report: Getting inside

July 3, 2002

Notes, quotes, anecdotes | Strategy and personnel

All-American point guard Jason Williams (call him Jay now) and forward Mike Dunleavy -- both of whom would have been leading contenders for college player of the year honors in 2002-03 -- were instead taken No. 2 and 3 in the NBA draft. All-ACC center Carlos Boozer went in the early second round, No. 35 overall to Cleveland.

For most teams, such a personnel drain would be devastating. But this is Duke. Even though the loss of Dunleavy was especially crippling because there was some thought that he would withdraw his name from the draft list, the Blue Devils are not about to fall into the abyss.

Head coach Mike Krzyzewski has come up with a sensational recruiting class (see NOTES, QUOTES, ANECDOTES) that will keep Duke right where its crazy fans expect -- competing for the big prize in March.

For sure, this team should have plenty of motivation. Duke's season came to a stunning end in a 74-73 loss to Indiana in the third round of the NCAA Tournament. The Blue Devils blew a 17-point lead and saw their thin interior defense fall apart in the second half.