We played our final exhibition game on Wednesday and are getting ready to open the season on Monday. Everyone on the team is anxious to get the season started. Kyle [Singler] was great on Wednesday, finishing with 22 points and eight rebounds. At one point he drained a three from about 30-feet out. When he shot it I wasn't sure if he was feeling it or if he was tired and figured coach would take him out after that shot. As a group, everyone is playing pretty well but we know we have a lot of work to do. We started both exhibition games a little slower than we would have liked, but there have been a lot of positives as well.

We have a great group of guys and everyone has really worked hard in the offseason and in preseason to get in great shape. Several guys have bulked up and we are a more physically mature team. For the first time since I arrived at Duke, our roster features more upperclassman than freshman and sophomores. Our experience as well as the energy and athleticism we get from some of the young guys will be big this year.

Off the court, things are good. Classes have been going well in the fall. I am also excited about doing this weekly blog to give everyone a behind the scenes look at our program. In October, I went to Atlanta for the ACC media day. That was a long day, talking to the media for five hours or so. But it wasn't too bad. Some of the questions got repetitive but it was fun to catch up with Wayne [Ellington], who was down there for North Carolina. The flight was good and I got to sit and talk with Coach about the team and this year.

Anyway, I will check back in next week with some more thoughts. Enjoy the start of the college basketball season and be sure to check us out on Monday and Tuesday on ESPNU.