Hmm... I wonder if the current Andre Dawkins rumors could keep him from transferring. Supposedly kicked off the team, now it seems like the school will let him sit out a year. No word on what he did though.
Here's the latest on that
buzztap.com/link.jsp?id=8490304&cid=231&source=twitter
I was glad to see Mark Watson finally stepped up.
Posting the same thing I posted on the Duke boards.
"I am not a premium member anywhere but I agree with you (regarding silence is deafending, why doesn't so and so expert comment etc) ...
It's one thing to keep things close to the vest when it's positive news that people who paid for the priviledge should have that information somewhat earlier until it becomes public domain.
It's another when something is conjectured so publicly that hurts the team and the individual but is way off base, worse than the actual truth.
Then the premium board owner need to sanction stopping the bleeding of untruths or half truths.
I realize each kid deserves his privacy but at Duke or UNC and in politics, no such thing, a public personna.
I have a hard time believeing a quiet kid like Dawkins would do any conduct detrimental to the team, though we all make mistakes.
Dre has made a number of personal sacrifices that helped Duke win a championship and helped Duke win many games. He had played a fine role on Duke Blue Planet Videos and seems to be a great kid.
Do what needs to be done Dre and hope to see you on the Bball court when the timing is right for you.
The latest statements that Dre will be back with the team this year or next and we should all respect his privacy should be sufficient for everybody. Just wish they had come sooner before speculation ran rampant, self included."
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Regarding this thread on Gbinije, Jeff Goodman had an article citicizing Bo Ryan that indicated Duke has placed no restrictions on Mike Gbinije. I don't have the link handy but should be easy to locate
Edit, here it is
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebas...297/bo-doesnt-know-transfers-and-restrictions
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Too early to tell if Dawson news would cause Mike to reconsider, but I doubt it. Family had gone pretty far down the transfer path before they spoke with coach K after the team banquet. He was unsuccessful convincing tham and Mike that he should stay but may not have shared this. Who knows?, but who is not telling.
At a minimum I would expect Mike to wait and see what happens at Duke with Amile Jefferson, Rodney Hood and Tony Parker that are in various stages of in play for Duke for this year though Hood has to sit a year wherever he goes. An even bigger concern for him would be if they get Jabari Parker for 2013 or Michigan State does or someone not currently in the lead 2.
Duke now only has Alex Murphy to play SF and Dre Dawkins would have played as a third guard. Josh Hairston has bulked up to 235 to play backup PF and could not guard a SF. It may default to the strongest guard, Tyler Thornton a PG by trade to be the backup WF defender.
Not clear if Amile is strictly a PF or a SF possibility too. He's not heavy or strong enough for the former yet and may not have the skills yet for the latter.
The Dawkins thing is not a huge concern PT wise @ SG since Duke has 4 other combo guards Quinn Cook, Seth Curry, Rasheed Soulaimon the top rated PG this year, and Tyler Thornton (may actualy help them when Seth Curry and Ryan Kelly and Mason Plumlee graduate this year).
But Duke is in a world of hurt at SF if something happens to the red shirt Alex Murphy, (or if he is not as good as advertised, though Mike must have thought he could not win the job over him), on the former much as UNC was with Kendall Marshall this year at PG. That said, may not matter to Gbinije any more.
Mike is very athletic, could flourish in the Boeheim zone and an offense not as free form as Duke's that relies almost exclusively on individual reads and no set plays.