In the organizational hierarchy of men’s and women’s basketball, managers surely aren’t at the top of the totem pole — you’ll likely see them behind the bench during games or wiping the floor during timeouts. However, they are a truly integral part of both programs, and their role has only increased during March Madness.
John Feinstein died March 13. He and his career — which might have been the same thing — began at The Chronicle.
ACE was born as a way to give athletes a summer international experience centered on civic engagement. David Rubenstein, Trinity '70, former chair of Duke’s Board of Trustees and a famous civic leader in his own right, stepped in with generous financial support. The Blue Devil athletic department also started putting a dollar from every regular-season home sporting event ticket toward the initiative. These efforts paid off when the program was officially announced in 2015, with the first batch of athletes going abroad in summer 2016.
Everything in Shelby’s life connects back to her innate concern for people, her desire to tell their stories and give them a platform to share the issues important to them. With her easy smile and infectious laugh, Shelby has the unique ability to make every single student-athlete she interviews feel comfortable sharing his or her story with a rare vulnerability.
The Cameron Crazies have earned a reputation as some of basketball's most dedicated fans. The Chronicle traces back some of their most notorious traditions.
No matter which side they are on, customers walk out of Rivals Barbershop with a fresh cut, a smile and maybe a new friend or mentor. Inside this small shop on the corner of N. Mangum Street, the Duke-North Carolina rivalry can be a force for good.
Sion James is a big guy to play point guard, but he thrives at that spot because of his "connector" spirit, a kind of instinct that makes him an intuitive passer and playmaker. Of course, when Scheyer calls James a "connector," he's talking basketball. But connecting is the Sion James M.O., the very core of his commitment to giving back. Though he would never taut it as an accomplishment, nor bring it up unprompted, James thrives when he's serving the underserved.
Founded by student-athletes from all across the University’s Division I teams, DSAG has made waves on the national scene as a pioneer in bridging the gap between sports and sustainability.
On Thursday, Oct. 31, six Duke club pickleball members traveled to Dallas for their shot at national recognition and prize money upwards of $15,000. The idea for a club pickleball team started just under three years ago when Professor Janis Hampton noticed the sport’s rising popularity amongst students.
The benefit of that strong new mentality — as opposed to a spotless record — lies in longevity. Duke football’s unyielding spirit now has foundations that will last through future seasons, thanks to young classes fully invested in team culture.
To be a college athlete is to perform. But to perform such feats of athleticism also exposes oneself to risk. With the intensity of collegiate athletics comes an increase in injury risk. The cuts become quicker, the impacts harder, the stakes higher and the opponents larger and more imposing.
The foundation of Duke’s 2024 success was laid in the spring, where a new emphasis was placed on leadership, cohesion and communication. It was crucial for every player on the team to understand and be motivated to uphold the Blue Devil standards the coming year.
Koabel and Fournier played together at the U19 FIBA World Championships in Paris in July 2021 and won a bronze medal, becoming just the second Canadian team to reach the podium in the tournament. In their first season together at Duke, Koabel and Fournier will take on the court with similarly high aspirations.
For the first time since she got here, Kara Lawson finally has everything she needs. The numbers say that this group is geared up to be the best team Lawson has coached since she came to Durham, and the media seems to agree.
The Blue Devils’ leader had the opportunity to work with some of the country’s finest coaches, including WNBA coaching legend Cheryl Reeve. Duke fans can be sure that Lawson worked on her own coaching methodology and learned from the nation’s best.
Both Richardson and Jackson cherish the chemistry they have built with teammates both on and off the court. And between the two of them, they put an almost literal spin on The Sisterhood motto.
In 2017, the NBA launched academies in Africa, India and Australia; Mexico received one the following year. These new institutions provide an alternative to prep schools in Europe and the United States — previously the most common routes for top talent from the Global South. The NBA Global Academy directly removes barriers for its participants to reach their full potential, whether that be in college basketball, the G-league or even the NBA.
Wallace teaches a unique education elective called “Race, Sport & Education: Duke men’s basketball.” His class explores the nitty-gritty, sometimes ugly stories and facts that assisted the evolution of perhaps the most storied college basketball program in the country.
John Feinstein fostered a relationship with Mike Krzyzewski that allowed him to see stories that no one else could. While he usually writes neutrally on the Blue Devils, “Five Banners” allowed Feinstein to fully embrace his Duke roots and tell the story of one of the most impressive sports dynasties of all time.
Last season, an injury forced Caleb Foster out of play. Duke's sophomore guard has returned to the floor with the help of a podcast, a pool and a fresh perspective.
