2008–09 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team

American college basketball season March 2026 August 2023 Basketball 2008–09 Duke Blue Devils Duke Blue Devils basketball mark.svg 125 Atlantic Coast Conference ACC 11 6 30–7 11–5 Mike Krzyzewski (29th season) Chris Collins Steve Wojciechowski Nate James Cameron Indoor Stadium ACC Tournament champions Coaches vs. Cancer Classic champions NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen The 2008–09 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team represented Duke University in the 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team's head coach was Mike Krzyzewski, who served for his 29th year. The team played its home games in Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. The Blue Devils captured the ACC Championship by defeating Florida State in the championship game in Atlanta.https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/16/sports/ncaabasketball/16men.html?ref=sports The New York Times Duke Lifts a Trophy and Puffs Out Its Chest Ray Glier 2009-03-16 2010-04-22 Pre-season The 2007–08 Duke Blue Devils finished the season 28–6 (13–3), placed second in the ACC regular season standings, and lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Earlier in the season, the squad reached as high as #2 in the Coaches' Poll with only one loss. Some late season losses caused them to finish the regular season ranked #9 in the country and #2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/confstandings?confID=2 Atlantic Coast Conference Standings 2007–2008 ESPN 2008-04-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20080121082711/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/confstandings?confID=2 January 21, 2008 dead Duke then lost in the semifinals in the ACC tournament to the Clemson Tigers.http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-baskbl/acc-mtournament-central-2008.html 55th Annual ACC men's basketball tournament Atlantic Coast Conference 2008-03-16 2008-04-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20080509235139/http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-baskbl/acc-mtournament-central-2008.html 9 May 2008 dead dmy-all Duke was given a #2 seed in the NCAA tournament. After narrowly defeating #15 Belmont, Duke lost 73–67 to the #7 West Virginia Mountaineers.http://www.collegesports-fans.com/ncaa-tournament/2007-tourney-teams.html 2008 NCAA Tournament Scores & Results CollegeSports-Fans.com 2008-04-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20080415211818/http://www.collegesports-fans.com/ncaa-tournament/2007-tourney-teams.html 15 April 2008 live Recruiting no no 2008 Olek Czyz PF Reno, Nevada Reno 6 7 240 09/26/2007 4 3 92 Miles Plumlee PF Warsaw, Indiana Christ School (NC) 6 10 220 05/01/2008 4 3 96 Elliot Williams SG Memphis, Tennessee St. George's 6 4 180 11/01/2007 5 5 96 2008 Duke Basketball Commitments 2008 Duke Basketball Commits ESPN duke 167 150 13 27 23 2008-12-09 yes On September 26, 2007, forward Olek Czyz committed to Duke University. Czyz is a 6–7 Poland native who has spent the last three years in Reno, Nevada. Both Scout and Rivals.com listed him as the 27th best power forward in the nation. However, Scout.com had him 80th overall, while Rivals.com had him back at 102nd. As a junior at Reno High School, Czyz averaged 18.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, leading Reno to a 24–6 record. In his sophomore year, Olek had a ten-point and six rebound average, while leading his team to a state championship.Duke Media Relations, WRAL Duke Basketball Lands Two Signees in 2008–2009 Recruiting Class. Retrieved on 2008-04-18. Other schools to make offers to Czyz were Arizona State, Colorado State, Florida, Kentucky, Louisville, Nevada, Pepperdine, and Washington State.Scouts.com Olek Czyz Retrieved on 2008-04-18. On the first day of November, the Blue Devils received a commitment from Elliot Williams. The 6–4 shooting guard from Memphis, Tennessee was listed as the number 3 shooting guard in the country by Rivals.com, while Scout.com had him as the number 4 shooting guard and the number 14 overall prospect in the country. Williams spent high school at St. George's where he averaged 25 points, seven rebounds, and six assists per game. In his junior year, Elliot averaged 22 points and six rebounds per contest, while leading his team to a state championship. Williams turned down offers from Clemson, Memphis, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Virginia.Scouts.com Elliot Williams Retrieved on 2008-04-18. Power forward Miles Plumlee, a 6–10 native of Warsaw, Indiana, who attended high school in Arden, North Carolina, committed to the Blue Devils on May 1, 2008. Miles, who is the older brother of 2009 commitment Mason Plumlee, had signed a letter of intent to Stanford University, but after head coach Trent Johnson took the coaching job at Louisiana State, Plumlee requested and was granted a release. Plumlee is rated as the 17th best power forward of the 2008 recruiting class by Scouts.com, while Rivals has him ranked 29th at forward and 101st overall.Ryan Craig, WRAL Duke adds power forward to '08 class Retrieved on 2008-05-02. Offseason changes The only senior Duke lost from their 2007–08 squad was DeMarcus Nelson who graduated. Nelson was projected to go somewhere in the late second round in the 2008 NBA draft,Staff Reports, The News and Observer King headed to Villanova https://web.archive.org/web/20080419201007/http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/story/1038731.html 2008-04-19 Retrieved on 2008-04-27. but instead went undrafted."2008 NBA Draft Prospects: By School/Country." ESPN Draft Tracker. ESPN.com. Retrieved on July 14, 2008. On September 9, 2008, Nelson was signed by the Golden State Warriors.Hoops World Warriors sign three undrafted rookies Retrieved on 2008-09-09. Joe Alleva, the Duke Athletics Director, interviewed for the athletics director job at Louisiana State on April 1, and was offered for the position on April 3. After 10 years as Duke's athletics director, Alleva took the job and is scheduled to start on July 1.Dave Nathan, WRAL Duke's Alleva Wanted New Challenge, Found it at LSU Retrieved on 2008-05-09. At Duke a twelve-person committee, assembled by Duke President, Richard H. Brodhead, searched for a new athletics director. Joe Alleva said in an interview that he would do anything to help in the search.Dave Nathan, WRAL Duke Hopes to Select AD by End of Summer Retrieved on 2008-05-09. On May 30, Brodhead announced that the Duke had hired former Notre Dame athletics director Kevin White.Ken Tysiac, The Charlotte Observer Duke lures new AD from Notre Dame https://web.archive.org/web/20080604002041/http://www.charlotte.com/sports/story/648792.html 2008-06-04 Retrieved on 2008-06-01. Coach Mike Krzyzewski said the White "is one of the most respected people in intercollegiate athletics" and brings " wealth of experience and is someone who people admire".Bill Cole, Winston-Salem Journal White leaves Notre Dame for Duke Retrieved on 2008-06-01. Duke forward Taylor King decided to transfer to Villanova University in April 2008.WRAL King to leave Duke https://web.archive.org/web/20241228091251/https://www.wral.com/sports/basketball/ncaa/?tsn_page=xt.7375778-KING-DUKE&team=l.ncaa.org.mbasket-t.A77 December 28, 2024 Retrieved on 2008-04-19. As a freshman at Duke, King played in all 34 games, averaging 5.9 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. He had 43 three-pointers that season, putting him eighth all-time against Duke freshmen. When announcing his transfer, King told reporters "Nothing against Duke, but it's time for a change. I needed to explore other places. Villanova is a true family atmosphere where everyone's got each other's back." Per NCAA regulations, King will have to sit out a season.Jeff Fox DeMarcus Nelson: NBA Draft Profile https://web.archive.org/web/20080501224453/http://www.collegehoopsnet.com/new/demarcus-nelson-nba-draft-profile-42312 2008-05-01 Retrieved on 2008-04-29. On April 26, associate head coach Johnny Dawkins announced that he would be leaving the Blue Devils, to take over the head coaching spot at Stanford. Dawkins was a member of the 1986 Duke team that lost in the finals to Louisville. After nine seasons in the NBA, Dawkins was hired as an assistant coach during the 1998–99 season. Two years later he was promoted to associate head coach, a job he's held for nine years.WRAL Duke's Dawkins to Coach at Stanford Retrieved on 2008-04-27. It was announced on May 5, that Nate James would replace Johnny Dawkins as an assistant coach. James was a captain on the 2000-01 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team that won a national championship. After turning pro, James played in the Philippines, France, Hungary, Japan and the Netherlands. In 2004, James participated in the training camp of the Philadelphia 76ers, but did not make it onto the team. During the winter of 2007–2008, he was hired to oversee operations at the Duke's new practice facility.Luciana Chavez, The News and Observer James to join Duke bench https://web.archive.org/web/20080508044839/http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/duke/story/1062423.html 2008-05-08 Retrieved on 2008-05-06. Roster right|thumb|Smith (2), McClure (14), Zoubek (55), and Pocius (5) set up an offensive set vs. Michigan at the 2k Sports Classic Final (2008-11-21). right|thumb|Zoubek (55) grabs a rebound at Michigan (2008-12-06). 2008 Duke Blue Devils y yes Olek Czyz y 13 F 6 7 240 FR Reno, NV Reno Jordan Davidson 41 G 6 1 180 SR Melbourne, AR Blair Academy Gerald Henderson Jr. y 15 G 6 4 210 JR Merion, PA Episcopal Academy Steve Johnson 51 F 6 5 195 SO Colorado Springs, CO Cheyenne Mountain David McClure 14 F 6 6 200 SR Ridgefield, CT Trinity Catholic Greg Paulus y 3 G 6 1 185 SR Syracuse, NY Christian Brothers Miles Plumlee y 21 F 6 10 220 FR Warsaw, IN Christ School Martynas Pocius y 5 G/F 6 5 190 SR Vilnius, Lithuania Holderness School Jon Scheyer y 30 G 6 5 180 JR Northbrook, IL Glenbrook North Kyle Singler y 12 F 6 8 220 SO Medford, OR South Medford Nolan Smith y 2 G 6 2 180 SO Upper Marlboro, MD Oak Hill Academy (VA) Lance Thomas y 42 F 6 8 220 JR Scotch Plains, NJ St. Benedict's Prep Elliot Williams y 20 G 6 4 180 FR Memphis, TN St. George's Brian Zoubek y 55 C 7 1 260 JR Haddonfield, NJ Haddonfield Memorial Mike Krzyzewski Chris Collins Steve WojciechowskiNate James Rankings 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings 19 19 PreOct 31https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings?pollId=1&seasonYear=2009&weekNumber=1&seasonType=2 2008–09 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings – Preseason 2008-10-31 2008-11-01 Associated Press 1Nov 172008–09 AP Men's Basketball Rankings – Week1 2Nov 242008–09 AP Men's Basketball Rankings – Week2 3Dec 12008–09 AP Men's Basketball Rankings – Week3 4Dec 82008–09 AP Men's Basketball Rankings – Week4 5Dec 152008–09 AP Men's Basketball Rankings – Week5 6Dec 222008–09 AP Men's Basketball Rankings – Week6 7Dec 292008–09 AP Men's Basketball Rankings – Week7 8Jan 52008–09 AP Men's Basketball Rankings – Week8 9Jan 122008–09 AP Men's Basketball Rankings – Week9 10Jan 192008–09 AP Men's Basketball Rankings – Week10 11Jan 262008–09 AP Men's Basketball Rankings – Week11 12Feb 22008–09 AP Men's Basketball Rankings – Week12 13Feb 92008–09 AP Men's Basketball Rankings – Week13 14Feb 162008–09 AP Men's Basketball Rankings – Week14 15Feb 232008–09 AP Men's Basketball Rankings – Week15 16 Mar 22008–09 AP Men's Basketball Rankings – Week16 17Mar 92008–09 AP Men's Basketball Rankings – Week17 18 AP 8 10 7 4 7 6 5 5 2 3 2 1 4 6 9 7 7 9 6 N/A Coaches 5 5 5 4 7 6 5 5 2 2 2 1 3 5 9 7 7 8 5 11 Schedule yes Sat, Oct 18 1:00 p.m. yes Blue/White Cameron Indoor Stadium Durham, NC Scrimmage White 97–74, Blue 79–70   |- !colspan=12 style=Duke Blue Devils| Exhibition Sat, Oct 25 1:00 p.m. yes 2008–09 Virginia Union Panthers Virginia Union University Virginia Union Cameron Indoor Stadium Durham, NC 114–50   Wed, Nov 05 7:00 p.m. yes 2008–09 Lenoir-Rhyne Bears Lenoir-Rhyne University Lenoir-Rhyne Cameron Indoor Stadium Durham, NC 95–42   |- !colspan=12 style=Duke Blue Devils|Regular season Mon, Nov 10 7:00 p.m. yes 8 2008–09 Presbyterian Blue Hose Presbyterian College Presbyterian Cameron Indoor Stadium Durham, NC Coaches Vs. Cancer Classic ESPNU 80–49 9,314 1–0 Tue, Nov 11 9:05 p.m. yes 8 2008–09 Georgia Southern Eagles Georgia Southern University Georgia Southern Cameron Indoor Stadium Durham, NC Coaches Vs. Cancer Classic ESPNU 97–54 9,314 2–0 Sun, Nov 16 4:30 p.m. yes 8 2008–09 Rhode Island Rams University of Rhode Island Rhode Island Cameron Indoor Stadium Durham, NC ESPNU 82–79 9,314 3–0 Thu, Nov 20 7:00 p.m. yes yes 10 2008–09 Southern Illinois Salukis Southern Illinois University Carbondale Southern Illinois Madison Square Garden New York, NY Coaches Vs. Cancer Classic ESPN2 83–58 9,440 4–0 Fri, Nov 21 7:30 p.m. yes yes 10 Michigan Madison Square Garden New York, NY Coaches Vs. Cancer Classic ESPN2 71–56 12,543 5–0 Sun, Nov 23 1:00 p.m. yes 10 2008–09 none Montana Grizzlies University of Montana-Missoula Montana Cameron Indoor Stadium Durham, NC FSNS/NESN 78–58 9,314 6–0 Fri, Nov 28 3:00 p.m. yes 7 2008–09 Duquesne Dukes Duquesne University Duquesne Cameron Indoor Stadium Durham, NC ESPN 95–72 9,314 7–0 Tue, Dec 02 9:00 p.m. yes yes 4 Purdue 9 Mackey Arena West Lafayette, IN ACC – Big Ten Challenge ESPN 76–60 14,123 8–0 Sat, Dec 06 3:30 p.m. yes yes 4 Michigan Crisler Arena Ann Arbor, MI ESPN 73–81 13,751 8–1 Wed, Dec 17 7:30 p.m. yes 6 2008–09 UNC Asheville Bulldogs University of North Carolina at Asheville UNC Asheville Cameron Indoor Stadium Durham, NC ESPN2 99–56 9,314 9–1 Sat, Dec 20 2:00 p.m. yes yes 6 Xavier 7 Izod Center East Rutherford, NJ CBS 82–64 14,818 10–1 Wed, Dec 31 4:00 p.m. yes 5 2008–09 Loyola Greyhounds Loyola College in Maryland Loyola, Md Cameron Indoor Stadium Durham, NC ESPN2 92–51 9,314 11–1 Sun, Jan 04 7:45 p.m. 5 Virginia Tech Cameron Indoor Stadium Durham, NC FSN 69–44 9,314 12–1 1–0 Wed, Jan 07 7:00 p.m. yes 2 Davidson Cameron Indoor Stadium Durham, NC ESPN 79–67 9,314 13–1 1–0 Sat, Jan 10 2:00 p.m. yes 2 Florida State Donald L. Tucker Center Tallahassee, FL ESPN 66–58 12,100 14–1 2–0 Wed, Jan 14 7:00 p.m. yes 3 Georgia Tech Alexander Memorial Coliseum Atlanta, GA ESPN 70–56 9,035 15–1 3–0 Sat, Jan 17 1:30 p.m. yes 3 Georgetown 13 Cameron Indoor Stadium Durham, NC CBS 76–67 9,314 16–1 3–0 Tue, Jan 20 8:00 p.m. 2 NC State Cameron Indoor Stadium Durham, NC ESPN2/Raycom 73–56 9,314 17–1 4–0 Sat, Jan 24 12:00 p.m. 2 Maryland Cameron Indoor Stadium Durham, NC Duke–Maryland rivalry ESPN 85–44 9,314 18–1 5–0 Wed, Jan 28 7:00 p.m. yes 1 Wake Forest 6 LJVM Coliseum Winston-Salem, NC ESPN 68–70 14,665 18–2 5–1 Sun, Feb 1 2:00 p.m. 1 Virginia Cameron Indoor Stadium Durham, NC FSN/ESPN3 79–54 9,314 19–2 6–1 Wed, Feb 4 9:00 p.m. yes 4 Clemson 10 Littlejohn Coliseum Clemson, SC ESPN 47–74 10,000 19–3 6–2 Sat, Feb 07 1:30 p.m. 4 Miami (FL) Cameron Indoor Stadium Durham, NC Raycom 78–75 OT 9,314 20–3 7–2 Thu, Feb 12 9:00 p.m. 6 North Carolina 3 Cameron Indoor Stadium Durham, NC Carolina–Duke rivalry ESPN/Raycom 87–101 9,314 20–4 7–3 Sun, Feb 15 5:30 p.m. yes 6 Boston College Conte Forum Chestnut Hill, MA FSN 74–80 8,606 20–5 7–4 Thu, Feb 19 7:00 p.m. yes yes 9 St. John's Madison Square Garden New York, NY Aeropostale Classic ESPN 76–69 13,800 21–5 7–4 Sun, Feb 22 7:45 p.m. 9 Wake Forest 8 Cameron Indoor Stadium Durham, NC FSN 101–91 9,314 22–5 8–4 Wed, Feb 25 9:00 p.m. yes 7 Maryland Comcast Center College Park, MD ESPN 78–67 17,950 23–5 9–4 Sat, Feb 28 3:30 p.m. yes 7 Virginia Tech Cassell Coliseum Blacksburg, VA ABC 72–65 9,847 24–5 10–4 Tue, Mar 3 8:00 p.m. 7 Florida State 24 Cameron Indoor Stadium Durham, NC Raycom 84–81 9,314 25–5 11–4 Sun, Mar 8 4:00 p.m. yes 7 North Carolina 2 Dean E. Smith Center Chapel Hill, NC Carolina–Duke rivalry CBS 71–79 21,750 25–6 11–5 |- !colspan=12 style=Duke Blue Devils|ACC Tournament Fri, Mar 13 9:30 p.m. yes 9 Boston College Georgia Dome Atlanta, GA Raycom/ESPN2 66–65 26,352 26–6 Sat, Mar 14 3:30 p.m. yes 9 Maryland Georgia Dome Atlanta, GA Raycom/ESPN2 67–61 26,352 27–6 Sun, Mar 15 1:00 p.m. yes 9 Florida State 22 Georgia Dome Atlanta, GA Raycom/ESPN2 79–69 26,352 28–6 |- !colspan=12 style=Duke Blue Devils|NCAA tournament Thurs, Mar 19 9:40 p.m. yes 6 (2) Binghamton (15) Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, NC First Round CBS 86–62 20,001 29–6 Sat, Mar 21 8:15 p.m. yes 6 (2) Texas (7) Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, NC Second Round CBS 74–69 22,479 30–6 Thurs., Mar 27 10:08 p.m. yes 6 (2) Villanova 11 (3) TD Banknorth Garden Boston, MA Sweet Sixteen CBS 54–77 18,831 30–7 AP Poll Eastern Time"." GoDuke.com. Retrieved on October 12, 2008 See also 2008–09 Duke Blue Devils women's basketball team References 2 Duke Duke Category:Duke Blue Devils men's basketball seasons Duke Duke