Sorry it has been so long since I last checked in. It has been a busy couple of weeks with games and a little time back in Philly for the holidays. We had a great team win over Xavier up in New Jerseyjust before our holiday break. From there I went home for five or six days and got to see a lot of family and friends. It is always nice to be home during the holidays and get some of that great family home cooking. We are fed pretty well at Duke and get to go to some really nice places on the road but nothing quite compares to my grandma and mom's cooking.
By the end of the break up home I was anxious to get back to Durham and get out on the practice floor with my teammates. Of course that was before I remembered how hard those first couple of practices can be after a break. Even though you work out each day over break you still end up losing a little conditioning. We got after it in practice prior to our game on New Year's Eve. We even had a couple of two-a-days just to make sure we were as sharp as possible entering the new year. The work we put in paid off as we got wins over Loyola Md.and Virginia Tech in our ACC opener.
Virginia Tech came in played well after some tough losses to Xavier and Wisconsin in the last couple seconds of play. They were hungry for a big win, but we were able to match their intensity. It was good to come out a post a big win and set the tone for the ACC season.
We played Davidson last night and got a pretty good win. We got up big early in the second half and relaxed a little bit. Stephen Curry is probably the best guard in the country and led them back in the second half. They cut the lead to eight points late in the game, but Lance Thomas hit a couple of really big free throws to push the lead back to double figures and we tighten up defensively to finish off the game. Jon and Kyle had great games and we beat a very good team.
Now we head back out on the road. Our next two games will be tough as we head to Florida Stateand Georgia Tech. They will have great crowds and great energy. The last time we went on the road we didn't bring the right mental approach and we got beat. So we are anxious to make up for that trip to Michigan in December. Both FloridaState and Georgia Tech will play tough, physical basketball so we are going to have to match that on both ends of the floor.
great post!! good luck on the road against Florida State and Georgia.
Gerald,
What a pleasant surprise to find that you take time out of your busy schedule for all of us fans! I have been a Duke fan since the early 1980's. Our daughter, Randi, went to Duke to basketball camp every summer for 6 years. What a great experience that was for her as well as her parents. I have watched your Dad play and certainly enjoy watching you mature into the player that you can be. Take some advice from an old lady "58 yrs old" and always remember where you came from and keep your sites set on where you are going. I believe that you have all this under control but a "Nonna's advice" can never lead you astray. If you are ever in South Ga. stop by and I will feed you some Grandma cooking.
Best of luck and keep up the good work. Please tell Micki that Randi said hello. She may remember her since they put her in a boy's dorm on her first trip to basketball camp! It was very fortunate for us since she then got to go to Coach K's office and spend some quality time with him!!!!!
Gearld I also am very satisfied to know that you take time out of your schedule to write blogs on this site I'm sure I'm not the only Duke fan that enjoys them! I wanted to let you know that you are my favorite player and I am very impressed with the way you've been playing this season and I hope you are planning to stay with us again next year! Because of financial issues I have not made it to any games this year, but hopefully next year so don't leave us! Anyway Good luck in the future wherever it may lead you!
your #1 fan, Robert
I've been Duke fan for a very long time and certainly after they saved my life from a rare cancer (at 26) I'll always be a Duke fan. Watching you grow as you have on the court makes us all proud. I"m not a grandma yet but I'll be glad to feed you an in the future grandma meal if you ever come to Pinehurst or want to play golf. Bring a few others to eat and play the door is always open.
Thanks for your energy , talent and strength on the court for all of us.
Elizabeth Anne Batchelor