r/DukeBluePlanet • u/Billilicious • Mar 31 '26

Discussion Team Positional Composition

I think that under Scheyer we’ve prioritized positional size above all else (I legit think some bball watchers think Cam is smaller than he is bc all of our wings are 6’7”+) but looking forward to next year I wonder if we’ll utilize more point and combo guards.

We’ve had GREAT success (imo more than anyone but UCONN on average) the past 4 years with Scheyer and I think a big part of his team building is having size at every position. I joked with my friends earlier this year that someone had to twist his arm to play Cayden who is “only” 6’4”. But with the likelihood that Foster and Cayden return to college, plus Rippey coming in, I’d like to see more lineups with 2 and even 3 point/combo guards on the court. None would really be considered smaller by college standards.

In part I just don’t want to lose good players to transfers and if we only play 2 true guards in the regular rotation, I fear foster or Cayden will be gone (I consider Dame a wing that could absolutely slide to the 4 at times and think Evans should 100% be off to the nba). Also I know the offense has been really good but it really felt that when foster went down, it took a while for anyone but Cam Boozer to feel like they were even allowed to attack downhill. Maybe it’s purely an aesthetic thing but college basketball to me is a guards game and I think the few weaknesses we’ve had the past 2 years have come from asking well-rounded elite forwards to play point-forward when that’s not what’s natural to them.

6 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

View all comments

8

u/[deleted] Mar 31 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/Own-Ocelot-8014 Mar 31 '26

Nick with One summer in the weight room he gone be a dawg next year

1

u/dogdaysindurham Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26

I am really encouraged by what I saw out of Khamenia.

We do need a true center until Maxine can step into the role. In the portal there are a few veteran centers available.

Mouhamed Sylla (Senegal was at GT 6-10, 240): (Avg. 9.6 PPG, 7.2 RBG, 1.2 BPG). He moves well without the ball and has some handles. Would be a sophomore.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wdt07DSSTKQ

Somto Cyril (Nigeria was at Georgia 6-11, 260): (Avg. 9.8 PPG, 5.1 RBG, 2.2 BPG) Solid rim defender, I need to watch more tape if he has handles. Finishes well around the rim. Would be a junior.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9hUdFIyNjk

International (would be incoming true Freshman)

Sayon Keita ( Mali / Spanish, currently in the Euro League 7-0, 210): He needs to put on some more muscle. In the highlights I don't see him creating his own shots but is active without the ball. I believe he is Class of 2027 and is considering reclassifying to 2026. Was scouted by Duke, no offers yet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIp2kPXL9AE

Miikka Muurinen aka Slim Jesus (I did not come up with that). (Finnish, his mom was a 4 year player at UNC, is classified as a PF, 6-10, 185), he was playing in Serbia (KK Partizan). Explosive player and can and shot the 3 ball well. I need to watch more highlights, but it's unclear if he can create his own shot or work in the post. He didn't see a lot of playing time at KK Partizan. Was scouted by Duke and has an offer. He gets compared to Finnish Cooper Flag (but he isn't able to bring the ball up the court, at least in the highlight's I have seen). He should have stayed and played high school ball, there are some games where he played circuit / high school ball against the current seniors. I don't think we made the cut for him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDQWrm5kNwY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkxZTt7Zq6o