Basketball pundits and analysts everywhere began the debate in the offseason: Who in the stellar 2013 recruiting class, which included Kansas University wingman Andrew Wiggins, University of Kentucky forward Julius Randle and University of Arizona forward Aaron Gordon, was going to have the greatest impact on college basketball, and how quickly would any of the nation’s “impact” freshmen adjust to the college game?
So far, no freshman has been more important to his team than Duke University forward Jabari Parker. He’s the team’s leading scorer, rebounder, and shot-blocker, all while accumulating thirty-plus minutes a game. He’s proved to be further along in his development on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor than any of the other three, with the ability to shoot or drive to the basket, crash the glass or be the eraser underneath. If the opponent is focusing on him, Parker, who averages about two assists a game, is more than willing to find an open teammate.
What’s more impressive is that Parker doesn’t shrink in the spotlight like so many freshmen in their first experience in the national spotlight. Instead, he embraced the spotlight and relished in it. In Duke’s highly publicized clash with then-No. 5 Kansas and Andrew Wiggins in the Champions Classic, Parker finished with 27 points, nine rebounds and two steals, all while playing in front of his friends and family in Chicago, his hometown.
In Duke’s game against then-No. 4 Arizona at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Parker scored 19 points, grabbed three rebounds and two blocks. It was the first game that Parker was held under 20 points, and, as a result, the usually prolific Duke offense struggled to find enough scoring to keep up with the Wildcats.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exiGtzX7SSg
But, as much as the media likes to talk about Parker, the Blue Devils are by no means a one-man team. Junior guard Quinn Cook and Sophomore forward Rodney Hood are complementary pieces that can provide scoring, rebounding and, in the case of Cook, one of the nation’s premier point guards, get Parker the ball in a variety of ways.
Cook and Hood may take a back seat to their talented teammate more often than not, but both are underrated veterans who bring experience to a team with several underclassman playing big minutes in meaningful games.
Against University of Michigan, in another game in which Parker struggled to get going offensively, Cook scored 24 points, all in the second half, and dished out nine assists, leading Duke to an impressive nonconference victory over a ranked opponent.
Hood, meanwhile, has scored twenty points or more in four of the Blue Devils’ first 11 games, including 22 in a close game with the University of Vermont to help the Blue Devils avoid an embarrassing loss at home.
It’s the little, seldom talked about intangibles that Cook and Hood bring to the Blue Devils, though, that make them invaluable to the team moving forward.
Cook leads the team with 6.5 assists per game, while also leading the Blue Devils in steals with 1.5 per game. Hood, meanwhile, is a jack-of-all-trades, leading or near the top on the team in points per game, rebounds per game, assists per game and blocks per game.
If Cook and Hood can provide second and third options on offense behind Parker while continuing to play good defense, get rebounds and distribute the basketball, then Duke will be difficult to beat, especially if they can clean up their defense, which was suspect early against both Kansas and Vermont, both of whom scored over 80 points. Lately, however, the Blue Devils’ defense has improved dramatically, especially after giving up 90 to Vermont. The Blue Devils have kept their next six opponents, including Arizona and Michigan, to less than 73 points. It’s a mark that must continue if the Blue Devils want to make a late run into March.
Check back with The Pendulum on Monday for a full preview of Elon University vs. Duke University men's basketball. The game is slated for 1 p.m. on Tuesday Dec. 31 at the Greensboro Coliseum. Also, follow Pendulum Sports on twitter for the latest.