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Building a dynasty Tradition, talent the secret to Duke's success
Posted: Tuesday March 23, 1999 10:08 PM
DURHAM, N.C. (CNN/SI) -- The sales pitch opens with a scenic campus in the heart of college basketball's most rabidly supportive region. It closes with evidence of more success during the last 15 years than anyone east of Microsoft. The capital of competitive advantages could well be Duke University. "It's just the atmosphere, a great atmosphere academically, athletically and socially," Duke junior forward Chris Carrawell said. "I know when guys come on a visit, I know they think that Duke guys, all they do is study. When we take them out and show them fun, it's like, 'Not only are they on TV but these guys have fun.'" The primary draw is Mike Krzyzewski. Annually, the prospects on the top of everyone's wish list put Duke at the top of theirs, largely for the chance to play for the active leader in NCAA tournament coaching wins. Not to mention for the pretty good chance that they'll play in a Final Four. In the '90s alone, Krzyzewski has taken five Blue Devil teams there. "He's a great teacher and a great guy, and that's someone I wanted to be around," sophomore point guard William Avery said. "I knew coming to Duke, I would have a chance to play for a national championship every year." What gives Duke the chance to compete for a national title seemingly every year is a continuous stream of top-shelf talent. All nine of the team's current scholarship players were either McDonald's or Parade All-Americans. Krzyzewski even has two more on the sidelines in assistants Quin Snider and Johnny Dawkins. "I think that is one of the biggest reasons I came here," said senior guard Trajan Langdon, who came to Duke all the way from Alaska. "A lot of people, when I was trying to make my decision, looked at the people coming in with me and the people already here and they said, 'Why are you going there?' "They had Kenny Blakeney, they had Chris Collins, Jeff Capel, Wojo [Steve Wojciechowski] and Ricky Price were coming in with me, and they were like, 'What are you doing? What are you thinking?'" Such competition for playing time is the only thing Krzyzewski promises during the recruiting process. "[Krzyzewski] actually told me 'I can't promise you anything,'" forward Elton Brand said. "He said, 'I can't promise you you'll play a minute. I promise you if you work hard and you play to your capabilities and you improve, there's a possibility you can play.' That's what I got." The depth is what has made Duke so scary. The Devils have six players averaging more than nine points a game and have three others who have received decent playing time in their run toward their third national title of the decade. And whether Duke wins another national championship or not, it looks like the rich will continue to get richer. Three future Blue Devils will be on display Wednesday night in the McDonald's All-America Game. Point guard Jason Williams, center Casey Sanders and forward Mike Dunleavy Jr. already have signed with Duke, and a fourth, Carlos Boozer Jr., is also said to be considering Krzyzewski's program. "Coach's gonna tell you if you don't perform, you're not gonna play," Langdon said. "We have this many players here, this is gonna be your role. But we win here."
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