On the cusp of the first Duke basketball action of the season there are certain things fans should be looking for when the Blue Devils take the court. This iteration of our beloved Blue Devils will not resemble what we saw last season. Needless to say the style of play will be completely different - to what end we have no idea. Even what we see in Canada on this mini-tour will be only a subset with the absence of Cam Reddish and Tre Jones.
There are still some things we can glean from these games without the hyperbole that has followed teams like the Kentucky Wildcats on their tour. We can most likely tell the style of play and the comfortableness of the players in their roles.
Of major interest to Duke fans will be how the returning players, most notably Marques Bolden fairs with a much more visible and engaged role on the court. Bolden comes into the season with arguable the most question marks. If he can establish himself that can only serve to benefit this team which is one of the youngest in the Coach K era.
About Ryerson
The Ryerson Rams are coached by Roy Rana, who knows R.J. Barrett fairly well. Roy Rana became the 11th coach in Ryerson men’s basketball history when he joined the Rams in 2009. Rana has experience coaching on the international stage for Canada in addition to his time at Ryerson where he's had his team play Baylor, and Wisconsin as well over the years. As the Head Coach of Ontario's U17 Provincial Team, Rana led the team to the 2004 and 2005 National Championship, as well as Ontario's first ever Canada Summer Games Gold Medal in 2005.
Rana has received many Coaching accolades including the 2003, 2004, 2006 Canadian High School Coach of the Year and the 2003 Toronto Sun High School Coach of the Year. He was also awarded the 2009 High School Coach of the Year in Canada Award.
Last Year the Rams went 17-6 overall, 10-2 at home and 7-4 on the road. They averaged 81.6 point per game and shot 31.5% from 3 point range. The leading scorer off of last years squad, Manny Diressa, has since graduated (21.8ppg). Myle Charvis, the high scoring returning player at 12ppg and 4 apg returns as a 5th year senior, in fact the Rams have 5 5th year seniors on the team. Last year's leading rebounder Jean-Victor Mukama who averaged 7.9 rebounds a game and how is listed as a 6'8 guard also returns for a 5th year for Coach Rana.
Presumptive Starting Lineup:
Myles Charvis
Filip Vujadinovic
Jean-Victor Mukama
Keevon Small
Tanor Ngom
