Let the Good Times Roll

Retention rate.

Until 1999 it had always been the mens basketball program's forte--getting players who, by their senior season would lead the Blue Devils to the Final Four. It was that constant cycle that worked wonders, taking Duke to five straight Final Fours between 1988 and 1992.

But with the mass exodus of 1999, which saw one of the nation's last virginal programs lose three players to early entry, it appeared as if Duke would have to succumb to losing one, two or three-year players just like every other top-notch program in the country.

That was, until Shane Battier, who was taken with the sixth pick in this year's NBA Draft, stayed for his senior season, become national player of the year, and led the Blue Devils back to the top of the collegiate basketball world with a win over Arizona in the national championship.

After Battier's example, Jason Williams, who would have almost certainly been the No. 1 pick in the draft, stayed in school, as did Carlos Boozer after "informed speculation" that both would bolt following their sophomore years. Instead, the pair both formed plans that would allow them to graduate within three years and then, with their diplomas and the blessings of their coach, move onto the professional level. All the while, top programs like Michigan State and Arizona were both losing multiple underclassmen to the NBA.

"The Duke degree, not only for Jason, but for his family, is huge," coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "At the end of next year he'll leave. He's in both sessions of summer school, he's happy, he's learning, he's getting better. I think it's a great decision. Also, it might set a precedent for a kid who is two classes short."

Although Williams and Boozer may depart early, they are by no means setting a precedent for the Blue Devils program. Currently it appears that neither Dahntay Jones nor Chris Duhon have any plans of skipping their final year in Cameron, although both could graduate with one year of eligibility left if they wanted to.

With a record underclassman departure in the rest of the collegiate basketball world, the Blue Devils are again favorites to have the best team next year, with most of their competition coming from the ACC. Neither Maryland nor Virginia lost more than one senior and no underclassmen, and are the early favorites along with Duke to win the ACC crown.

With Mike Dunleavy and Williams taking the summer off and hitting the books, the trio of Boozer, Duhon and Jones were named to the 16-man USA World Championship for Young Men Team, which will compete in the FIBA World Championship for Young Men in Saitama, Japan. Duke and Illinois were the only schools that placed more than one member on the squad. With three Blue Devils, it can only help their play more as they prepare to defend their title.

"It definitely helped Jason and Mike last summer," Duhon said. "They came back a lot more confident in themselves and those two together, they know how to play with each other better than most of the rest of us. It definitely helped them and I hope it does the same thing for me."

The team, led by Syracuse head coach Jim Boheim, will now travel to Dallas on July 22 to compete in two exhibitions games against the Yugoslavia and Lithuania junior national teams, before going Oakland on July 27 to complete domestic training. After that, it's off to Japan for the tournament, which begins on August 3.

The trio have been preforming well during the try-outs with Jones leading the team in scoring and Boozer improving his play considerably after an embarrassing performance with last year's team, when he did not make the final cut.

"I was definitely trying to redeem myself from last summer," Boozer said. "Coming back, working hard against these guys and trying to make the team."

Krzyzewski voted into Hall of Fame

Basketball bestowed its highest honor upon Krzyzewski May 30 when a 24-member panel elected him to the National Basketball Hall of Fame.

Krzyzewski, who has been coaching for 25 years, was elected on his first try and, with 606 career victories, nine Final Fours and three national championships, boasts one of the most impressive resumes in the hall.

"I really believe that this is not an accomplishment, but an honor," Krzyzewski said. "Winning a national championship is an accomplishment because you're competing against other people. Professionally its the ultimate honor that you can receive. Given the love I have for coaching, to be put as a coach into the Hall of Fame could not be any better."

Krzyzewski will join Temple coach John Chaney and ABA and NBA star Moses Malone as part of the class of 2001. The ceremony will take place on October 5.

Chaney has coached the Owls for 19 seasons leading them to the postseason 18 times and amassing 656 career victories.

Malone, on the other hand, started the precedent of high schoolers in the NBA by jumping straight from Petersburg (Va.) High School to the ABA. He spent 21 years playing professional basketball. The 12-time NBA All-Star, who ranks fifth all-time in points, led the Philadelphia 76ers to the NBA championship in 1983.

"Certainly when a coach gets inducted it's because he's had great players who formed great teams and had amazing assistants," Krzyzewski said. "My mom always told me to associate myself with great people and great institutions. I've tried to do that at the United States Military Academy and here at Duke University, two of the great institutions in the world. As a result, I've been around some amazing people."

2002 recruiting puzzle almost complete

Krzyzewski has continued to do what he does best during the offseason by landing another blue-chip recruit to the Class of 2006 with the recent verbal commitment of Chicago point guard Sean Dockery. Dockery joins J. J. Redick, Michael Thompson and Lee Melchionni in the class of 2002.

"There were some good schools that wanted me--Illinois, Florida, Michigan State and Memphis--but I have wanted to play for the Blue Devils and Coach K since I was in fourth grade," Dockery said.

However, even with four members for 2002, Krzyzewski, is not quite finished. He is expected to land power forward Shelden Williams from Oklahoma, according to several recruiting sources; however, Williams has not yet made his final decision.

Duke is also in the running for Raleigh native Shavlik Randolph, arguably the nation's top recruit. He has narrowed his choices to Duke, North Carolina, Florida, and possibly the NBA. The Blue Devils are rumored to be the early frontrunner for Randolph, who, incidentally, is the grandson of former N.C. State standout Ronnie Shavlik.

"I think it's going to come out between Duke or Carolina, but I wouldn't weigh out the NBA on this one, especially since the NBA is really starting to look for skilled players," recruiting analyst Clint Jackson said. "That's like the first thing you think of when you see Shavlik Randolph--he's real skilled he's like 6-foot-10, he can play in the post and shoot. Those kids are going to go high in the NBA draft. Personally I hope Shavlik doesn't go pro because I love the college game, and I love Shavlik and I'd love to see him play on the college level, wherever it is."

Injury report

Nick Horvath, who took a medical redshirt last season with a compressed stress fracture in his leg, has spent the summer taking classing and plans to be back to full playing strength by the time the season starts.