Looking Ahead for Duke and Harry Giles

            While Duke entered the season with optimism that Harry Giles, their top recruit in the class of 2016, would be ready for the season opener, that bright outlook hit a bit of a speedbump with the news that he had undergone another knee surgery. Having torn his ACL back in November, he was rehabbing with hopes that he would be ready for the season. After sitting out the open practice that Duke held on Saturday, it was announced that he would undergo arthroscopic knee surgery that would put him out approximately six weeks. That six-week timetable puts him on track to return right around the second weekend of November when Duke gets their season gets underway, though should he suffer any sort of setback, he would almost certainly miss several games.

            Losing Giles, ranked the #2 overall recruit in the class of 2016 by the Recruiting Services Consensus Index (RSCI), would be a big blow to any team, Duke may be uniquely suited to handle his absence. It has been projected that Giles would step in to be the Blue Devils’ starting center, though the depth of the bench behind him may prove to negate any loss of performance caused by his potential absence. As well as having Giles, Duke’s recruiting class also featured big men Marques Bolden (#11 RSCI) and Javin DeLaurier (#35 RSCI). Additionally, they bring back graduate forward Amile Jefferson, who missed most of the 2015-16 season with a right foot fracture, and sophomore Chase Jeter, who saw increased minutes last season in Jefferson’s absence. Having that blend of talent and experience behind their top recruit could prove to be the difference in pushing Duke through any early-season stretch they are forced to play without Giles.

            Duke’s early schedule is not a major cause for concern, though there could be some bumps along the road without Giles. Like many of the top high-major teams around the country, Duke’s schedule starts out with some weaker teams to get back into game shape without a real fear of playing poorly and dropping one. Duke starts with Marist and Grand Canyon at home in the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off, but just two days later, they travel to New York City to take on perennial contender Kansas in the State Farm Champions Classic. Missing Giles for Marist and Grand Canyon is not likely to cause Coach Mike Krzyzewski to lose much sleep, though if Giles is forced to miss the matchup against Kansas, that loss of talent could hurt.

Luckily for Duke, if Kansas has any question marks on their roster, it is in their frontcourt. While the Jayhawks bring back veteran guards Frank Mason III and Devonte’ Graham and have the only incoming recruit ranked higher than Giles by RSCI in swingman Josh Jackson, they lost major contributor Perry Ellis at the power forward spot. Ellis was Kansas’ leading scorer in the 2015-16 season at 16.9 points per game and a major veteran presence as he had logged significant minutes in all four season with the team. The only frontcourt player they return who averaged more than 10 minutes per game last season is senior Landen Lucas who logged 18.4 MPG. While not a major scorer, Lucas did lead the team in rebounds per 40 minutes in 2015-16. As well as Lucas, Kansas brings in seven-foot freshman Udoka Azubuike, ranked #33 in the RSCI. Kansas should have weapons of their own in the frontcourt, but when compared to their talent at guard and on the wing, it is likely the least of Duke’s worries.

Giles newest knee surgery is certainly cause for concern for Duke, though they look to be able to handle any absence better than most teams. A slate of weaker teams sandwiching a matchup with a Kansas squad stripped of elite big men should afford Giles plenty of time to heal and get ready to start his season. Even if the Blue Devils have to try to survive that game without him, he should be able to come back and get some experience in their four-game stretch leading into another marquee matchup at home against Michigan State on November 29^th.