Duke's Smith to Return, Singler Still Undecided

• reclegend22

  

  Duke junior Nolan Smith, who averaged 17.4 points per game this past season during Duke's run to the national championship, told the Charlotte News & Observer today, "I'm definitely not even considering going. Unless someone said, 'Nolan, you're going to be the No. 1 pick, and John Wall has that on lock.'"
  
  ""This squad, coming in next year," continued Smith, "it could be something special. Back-to-back champs could be our future."
  
  Kyle Singler says that he has "no idea." I find that very comforting as a Duke fan, either way. My heart says he's back, but my head says gone. I will be happy for him no matter what.
  
  http://blogs.newsobserver.com/accnow/dukes-smith-says-he-will-return-singler-undecided#ixzz0kNEZCrux
  
  We Are Duke.
• wildcats20

  

  Singler will be gone when all is said and done IMO.
• reclegend22

  

  ^^More than likely. Heading into the Tournament, he had no business considering it. But, after the run, he's played his way back into the discussion. That's how it works.
  
  I'm happy for him if decides so. He's earned that option. Hell of a player.
• wildcats20

  

  I agree. I've said all along that Singler is one of, if not the best, player in the country.
• reclegend22

  

  As a caveat for Duke haters, though (), Smith and Singler are incredibly tight. If Smith is talking about this "back to back champion" stuff, perhaps he knows something about his good friend.
  
  Everyone deserves the right to hope, right, even a Devil?
• wildcats20

  

  Nope I actually mean it when I say it about him lol
  
  I didn't know Singler and Smith were that tight?? I always figured Scheyer and Singler had some kind of love connection though
• 77Legend

  

  I think Duke will have a stellar team next year if all return. IMO, not ragging, but from history, Duke players need to stay.
• reclegend22

  

  Yeah, Nolan and Kyle are pretty good friends. I obviously don't know either personally, but there friendship is pretty well documented among Duke circles.
  
  I wonder how many subordinates (bench players) Kris Lang took to the showers... I won't bring out The Photograph, but it is legendary.
• mattinctown

  At the celebration at Cameron today, Kyle got up to speak and the "one more year" chant started loudly from everyone. He seemed a bit annoyed by it, almost like he is out of here, but hopefully he is truly undecided or will be back. However, I understand if he goes, doesn't get much better than a national title and MOP of the Final Four.
• swamisez

  

  I kind of hope Singler leaves.
  
  He doesn't have anything else to prove. He should have enough credits to graduate with his degree in corporate media and graphic design.
  
  Go to the NBA get your money and enjoy yourself. Why stay at Duke, your job here is done.
  
  Also it opens up some more pt for players who have been waiting. Got to keep developing players. Ryan Kelly could be a Singler clone. We will see.
• ironman02

  I thought that I had heard that Smith already said he was coming back. I was hoping his performance lately might make him at least test the waters, but I figured he would end up back for another season no matter what. Singler, I hope, has played his last game for Duke. However, as I said before, I doubt if I'm that lucky. If Singler returns, Duke could definitely repeat. Without him, they're still gonna be VERY good.
  
  I've been hearing that Ed Davis may be leaning toward returning to Carolina, which would make things really interesting. If Carolina ends up not losing Davis or Drew II, they could be in good shape. That said, the latest rumors about Davis returning probably mean it's just the opposite...he'll probably declare for tha draft next week, haha.
• wildcats20

  

  Drew, Henson and Davis have been going back and forth on their twitter accounts about Ed staying. I think he'll be back.
• ironman02

  ccrunner609 wrote: Duke starters: (off the bench)
  
  PG- Curry
  SG- Smith (Dawkins)
  SF/F- Singler, Kelly
  PF- Plumlee
  C- Plumlee

  What about Irving?
• ironman02

  I bet he's the PG from Day 1, but you could be right.
  
  Will Curry really play the point? I thought he would be a two-guard. Maybe a three guard lineup for Duke next year, with Singler (if he stays) at the 4.
• ironman02

  http://duke.scout.com/a.z?s=167&p=8&c=2&nid=354&yr=2009
  
  He's listed at 6'3" here, but that doesn't matter anyway. He can be a SG at 6'1", which is what he's listed as on the roster.
  
  Not trying to argue here...just pointing out that I think he'll be more of a shooter than a primary ball handler, but it's not my team so I could easily be wrong.
• ZeroCool

  kyrie irving will be at the point by midseason next year. dawkins will either learn a new position or transfer.
• september63

  

  FYI: Kyle Singler wont start an NBA game. (EVER) Just sayin.
• reclegend22

  

  I think Irving starts from day one. That's I take from the situation anyway. People are comparing him to Jason Williams in the things he can do with the ball in his hands, and as the best pure PG talent since Williams, period. Not as physically gifted as Wall, but in terms of pure PG skills. If this stuff is legit, he starts, and Curry spells Nolan/Kyrie and Andre Nolan/Singler (please!) (and Kelly perhaps the four with his length).
  
  I've also heard that Seth would like to play point, but, if Kyrie stays three years, which some believe he may, that will never happen. Likely, Seth will become Duke's primary shooting guard when Nolan leaves.
• RiverRat13

  Irving starts from Day 1. He is a stud. No chance he stays 3 years. Maybe 2 since there may be a lock-out.
  
  I think Singler is gone. There's a good chance there won't be an NBA season in '11-'12, so he should go now if he can graduate anyway.
  
  If Singler comes back, it would be interesting to see if he plays the 3 or 4. There would be a lot of talent at the guard position (Irving, Smith, Singler, Curry, Dawkins) and I can't help but think K would want to get it all on the court. The key in my mind to Duke's success was that K was basically forced to play a true 4 and 5 at all times due to lack of guards. Duke still shot a ton of threes, but they had the bigs to track down the misses. If Singler plays the 4, Duke in my mind loses what was different for them than the previous few seasons.
• Nate

  Singler should stay. No reason to leave Duke early for a less than stellar NBA career ahead of him.
• Prescott

  I'm sure Singler will weigh his options very carefully.This is a weak draft and Singler's play in the tournament had to boost his stock in the eyes of the NBA execs. He may be in the best draft position that is possible. If his dream is playing in the league, leaving this year might be his best move.
  
  I've heard that a new collective bargaining agreement probably means a 30% reduction in rookie salaries.That can translate into a ton of money.