To have a good time SLAM’s thirtieth anniversary, we’re spotlighting the 30 most influential males’s school groups from our previous 30 years. Stats, information and chips aren’t the primary issue right here, it’s all about their contribution to the sport’s cultural material.
For the subsequent 30 days—Monday by way of Friday— we’ll be unveiling the full record right here. We’ve additionally received an unique retro collegiate assortment, out now, that pays homage to every squad’s threads. Store right here.
Former Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski as soon as mentioned, “Two are higher than one if two act as one.” And he’s proper, particularly when speaking concerning the ‘99 Blue Devils’ stars Elton Model and Trajan Langdon.
Led by the scale and athleticism of Model and the finesse and aptitude of Langdon, Duke’s squad established itself as one of the crucial unstoppable forces in school basketball historical past, a real embodiment of the Blue Devils’ perennial preeminence. They had been rock stars of the faculty basketball scene. Everybody wished to be like them, however nobody actually was. Model bulldozed his manner by way of defenses, incomes accolades and admiration along with his sheer dominance on the court docket. He averaged 17.7 factors and 9.8 rebounds per recreation, incomes him the Naismith Nationwide Participant of the 12 months award as a sophomore.
Whereas the brawn of Model was contained in the paint, the artistry of Langdon was exterior the arc. The senior guard, nicknamed the “Alaskan Murderer,” was Duke’s deadly scoring weapon. Whereas his measurement and athleticism helped him discover success attacking the paint, a few of his finest moments got here from long-range. At any prompt, Langdon would rise over defenders with the flick of his wrist, signaling an automated three factors.
The three-time All-ACC guard logged 17.3 factors and knocked down the three ball at an environment friendly 44.1 % clip. His finest video games at all times got here when it mattered most, whether or not it’d be his 24 factors in opposition to Missouri State or his 25-point explosion within the nationwide championship recreation.
For each scorer—or, on this case, for each two scorers—there should be a ground common who can distribute the ball for issues to work. Fortunately for Duke, and to everybody else’s misfortune, the Blue Devils had William Avery operating the present.
Avery was a Swiss Military knife form of participant. He constantly splashed soar photographs from anyplace on the ground, threw dimes left and proper and even sneaked up on opponents for run-ending steals. In the meantime, sophomore Shane Battier stifled opponents on the wing as probably the greatest defenders within the ACC, whereas his spot-up capturing would deflate opposing arenas with quickness.
Protection was their spine, fundamentals had been their gospel and team-play was their anthem. Underneath Coach Okay, the distinct personalities of the gamers would gel right into a singular unit destined to destroy groups on the hardwood. Combining the collective brilliance of the nation’s high school gamers and a world-class teaching workers—to not point out the unwavering help from the craziest followers in school basketball—the Blue Devils tore by way of their marketing campaign with a jaw-dropping 37-2 report.
Duke’s solely common season losses got here in opposition to Cincinnati in November after they fell simply two factors shy in opposition to the Bearcats. However the Blue Devils bounced again tremendously, reeling off 32 straight wins as much as their matchup in opposition to Connecticut within the NCAA event last. Although the loss nonetheless stings at present for the Cameron Crazies, the sheer greatness of that ‘99 crew will endlessly be etched into their reminiscence.
Pictures through Getty Photographs.
