Mike (Photo. Jordan Brand)I don’t have to hype up Duke vs. North Carolina (ESPN, 9 p.m. EST). You know the schools, you know the rivalry, you know the backstory. You know the players who have shined on this stage, you know the coaches who have made careers in this game, you know the announcers and media who wouldn’t let anything keep them away from this one. That this year’s matchup pits the #3 Blue Devils against the #5 Tar Heels makes it that much more intense. If that’s possible.
When looking at the alumni who have donned the Duke and UNC uniforms, it was tough making up these squads. For one, there’s so much talent that you have to figure out who to cut, whereas with some schools I’ve done in this series I’ve found myself scouring for enough guys just to fill out a decent roster. Second, Duke presents a problem. The loose criteria for this is to consider one’s college and pro career, with a little more emphasis on the pro part. But Duke has for whatever reason had a lot of guys who were phenomenal in college but just OK or below-average in the NBA.
DUKE (player, position, last year school)
Johnny Dawkins, PG, 1986 — Ranks second all-time on Duke’s career scoring list, and had a solid 9-year pro career that saw him average 11.1 points and 5.5 assists.
J.J. Redick, SG, 2006 — Duke’s all-time leading scorer, arguably the greatest shooter college basketball has ever seen, the NCAA’s career leader in three-pointers, the ACC’s top all-time scorer, and a deserving NBA Lottery pick. His pro career has yet to really take flight, though.
Grant Hill, SF, 1994 — Hill won two national championships in college and was on his way to a sure-fire Hall of Fame career as a pro before injuries slowed him down. He’s bounced back strong enough to still be a borderline HOF candidate today. Hill has averaged 19.7 points, 6.8 boards and 5.1 assists in the NBA, made seven All-Star teams and six All-NBA teams, and finished in the Top 10 in MVP voting five times.
Elton Brand, PF, 1999 — One of the more consistently productive active stars in the NBA, Brand has averaged 20.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game during his time with the Bulls and Clippers. He was a national Player of the Year at Duke.
Christian Laettner, C/PF, 1992 — Some would say Laettner has a case for being called the greatest college basketball player of all-time, and if not, he’s at least in the team photo; he played in four Final Fours and won two national championships and was a legendary clutch performer for the Blue Devils. Laettner made one All-Star Game during a 13-year pro career.
BENCH — Carlos Boozer (PF/C, 2002); Danny Ferry (PF, 1990); Mike Gminski (C, 1980); Shane Battier (SF, 2001); Bobby Hurley (PG, 1993); Jay Williams (PG, 2002); Trajan Langdon (SG, 1999).
NORTH CAROLINA
Phil Ford, PG, 1978 — UNC’s all-time leading scorer was putting up big-time numbers in his first three years in the NBA, including a Rookie of the Year trophy and All-NBA honors in ‘79.
Michael Jordan, SG, 1984 — G.O.A.T.
James Worthy, SF, 1982 — Three NBA championship rings with the Lakers (plus one Finals MVP), seven All-Star selections, a spot on the NBA’s 50 Greatest list, and Hall of Fame credentials are all part of the “Big Game James” resume.
Bob McAdoo, PF, 1972 — Dropped buckets to the tune of 22.1 points per game in his 14-year pro career, with three seasons above 30 ppg. McAdoo also pulled down 9.4 rebounds a night. He won the League’s MVP in ‘75 and made five All-Star Games.
Brad Daugherty, C, 1986 — The #1 pick in the ‘86 Draft was a five-time All-Star with the Cavs, averaging 19 points and 9.5 boards as a pro.
BENCH — Vince Carter (SG, 1998); Billy Cunningham (SF, 1995); Walter Davis (SF, 1977); Antawn Jamison (PF, 1998); Sam Perkins (PF, 1984); Kenny Smith (PG, 1987); Jerry Stackhouse (SG, 1995).
February 6th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
KrayZie says:
First!
February 6th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
KrayZie says:
Why the Hell isn’t Rasheed Wallace the starting C for Carolina??????????
February 6th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Bust Jlaze says:
Heeeey…this article isn’t about SHAQ?! What the…
February 6th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Shep says:
This isn’t even a contest. The starting Duke shooting guard is little more than a marginal NBA player. Every Carolina starter is above average, and include the GOAT. Duke loses again.
February 6th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Mac says:
Rasheed Wallace that all i have to say. even if he isnt starting why is he not on the team???
February 6th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Mac says:
sheed
February 6th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Juanito says:
Sheed, please you dumb mofos
February 6th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Austin Burton says:
Which big man on the UNC team has Sheed had a better college/pro career than?
February 6th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
gary says:
first of all i guess i’d take sheed over jamison(although jamison was the ish a UNC) other than that this is a crazy list.
also dime i’d love to see UMASS/TEMPLE
c’mon you know you wanna
February 6th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Jah says:
UNC wins this one in a rout.
February 6th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Bust Jlaze says:
Austin! You tellin me Sheed isn’t better than BRAD DAUGHERTY? Just ’cause of the All-Star appearances? Anybody takin’ Brad D over ‘Sheed is ALSO takin’ CRACK.
February 6th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
allen says:
the “alaskan assasin” hah …. whatever happend to him ???
February 6th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
myrie says:
Sheed over Jamison.
February 6th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Austin Burton says:
Jamison was a national Player of the Year as a junior - the only other UNC player to get AP National POY was Michael Jordan. Jamison also won the Wooden and Naismith Awards that year. First-team All-ACC all three years of college. Led the ACC in scoring and rebounding his junior year. And he led UNC to a Final Four along with Vince.
As a pro he’s been a multiple-time All-Star with career averages of about 19 points and 8 boards.
The only thing Rasheed has over Jamison is a championship, and we all know he played on a way better team than Jamison’s ever played on.
February 6th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Doog says:
What about Maggette? A far more solid pro 2G than Redick projects out to be based on their respective performances to date.
February 6th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Austin Burton says:
Brad Daughtery put up better numbers than Rasheed in college and in the pros. He made more All-Star Games (back when the center position was strong), and the only reason his teams didn’t win more is because the Cavs kept running up against Michael Jordan. ‘Sheed hasn’t had to deal with a player like Jordan and you could very easily say his Pistons teams were better than Daugherty’s Cleveland teams.
February 6th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Jim says:
Anybody takin’ ‘Sheed over Brad D is ALSO 12.
*Fixed
February 6th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Sam says:
Maybe not Rasheed over Antawn, but DEFINITELY Rasheed over Sam Perkins, based on his better pro career (his numbers in his last year at UNC were better, too).
February 6th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Willis says:
Sheed has got to make the team, but Maggette over Redick for Duke. Not even a contest as to who is a better basketball player.
February 6th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Top Gun says:
Reddick was killing teams in college fool and killing time on the bench once he got to the NBA.
February 6th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Jackass says:
Yo any alumni team beats NC??? seriously boyz!!! NO ONE CAN BEAT THE TAR HEELS alumni team… Not even today’s nba’s so called elite teams…
February 7th, 2008 at 1:13 am
jnuh says:
Maggette played ONE YEAR at Duke.
Reddick is one of, if not THE all-time greatest shooters in the history of college basketball.
What they’ve done as a pro is irrelavent to this discussion.
Maggette is way, way out.
So is Sheed.
He was a douche bag in college too.
February 7th, 2008 at 4:12 am
B.Wells says:
Sheed should be on the Tar Heels squad. Your bad, Austin. Make it right!
February 7th, 2008 at 6:08 am
K-Dizzle says:
Sheed over Daugherty or Perkins or Jamison? lol
some people need a history lesson, but i’m too busy to preach. Bottom line is I like dude’s game, but no way is he over those 3 dudes. Same guys that think that are the dudes who think Ed Cota should be on the team lol
February 7th, 2008 at 7:37 am
skywarp says:
if not sheed over jamison i believe sheed has done more than sam perkins…
February 7th, 2008 at 8:52 am
freddy says:
jackass you really are a jackass if you believe todays elite teams like the spurs or pistons could not be carolinas alumni team,9 of the 13 players are over 40 years old, hell carolinas current squad could beat those old fuckers and they got their ass handed to them by duke last night!!!!!!!!!!!
February 7th, 2008 at 10:24 am
alimoe says:
i second the UMASS/TEMPLE motion
February 7th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
doc says:
Sheed brings more than numbers. And I got him giving it to Sam and I would take him over Jamison on my team.
February 7th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
doc says:
Jamison played 6th man for the Mavs when they were loaded so it aint like his teams he played for aint shit
February 7th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
T.M.P.B.W.O.T.P. says:
Jamison only played for the Mavs for one year. He was like a Rent-a-Scorer. They brought him off the bench behind Dirk and Antoine Walker — probably because ‘Toine wouldn’t have dealt well with coming off the bench, and because Nellie wanted a spark off the bench.
February 7th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Bonzi Wells says:
Sheed! Sheed! Sheed! Sheed! Sheed! Sheed! Sheed! Sheed! Sheed! Sheed! Sheed! Sheed! Sheed! Sheed! Sheed! Sheed!
February 11th, 2008 at 7:18 am
Jay says:
I love UNC but UCLA has a better pro history. They would be tough to beat
March 1st, 2008 at 5:19 pm
AllDayJay says:
UNC VS. Duke ?? why go there UNC ALL DAY duke is good but UNC’s pros are way better meaning that they have way more longevity and success than duke pro’s know da history