Duke-UNC rivalry must apply to everything
Posted: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 6:32 PM
Filed Under:
Duke-Carolina, Recruiting
It is funny to see the Duke-North Carolina rivalry spill over into other areas. Take recruiting.
Harrison Barnes, the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2010, had a home visit Monday night from Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, which was supposed to be the final in-home visit of the contact period allowed by the NCAA.
Except UNC coach Roy Williams showed up a couple hours later.
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Mike Krzyzewski and Roy Williams fight for wins, titles, recruits...
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Vance Downs, Barnes’ coach at Ames (Iowa) High, wasn’t there, but told the Raleigh News & Observer “that they were both there … and it was a busy night," Downs said.
This wasn’t a case of Williams waiting around until Coach K left. He had to schedule a visit and have the family approve it. It’s the timing that’s key.
Naturally, fans from both sides are trying to figure out which move gives them the better chance at Barnes. From Jim Young at ACCSports.com:
If you’re an optimistic Duke fan you see this as evidence that Roy Williams is throwing a last-second Hail Mary pass. UNC pulled out all the stops during Barnes’ official visit to Chapel Hill but couldn’t secure a commitment. Barnes is still scheduled to make an official visit to Duke and Williams won’t be able to crash that party. So squeezing a few more hours of face time with Barnes is evidence that Williams doesn’t think his recruiting pitch has had its desired effect yet.
If you’re an optimistic UNC fan you see this as further proof that Roy Williams is the best closer in the recruiting business. By surprising the recruiting world and landing the last in-home visit time with Barnes, Williams has shown everyone that Barnes to Duke is not the “lock” that so many thought a few months before. Considering that Barnes had to have approved such a last-minute visit, it’s clear that he’s still very receptive to the UNC recruiting pitch. In fact, Oettinger’s source says that the UNC coaches feel they are in very good standing with Barnes’ mother, Shirley.
Ah, the hand wringing that must be going on in the Chapel Hill-Durham area right now.
You know what be even funnier than all of this? If Barnes picks Kansas, the other school he reportedly has a “high interest” in. He’s supposed to make a decision before Nov. 16.
(H/T: The Dagger, Tar Heel Fan)
