Old Gold & Black photoSports Copy Editor
Old Gold & Black photo
Duncan often shows up other centers, as he did NBA rookie and former UNC star Rasheed Wallace.
Two years ago, sportscaster Dick Vitale was working a Demon Deacon basketball game, and during the broadcast he made mention of a freshman by the name of Tim Duncan. Watching the youngster from St. Croix, Vitale said that Duncan was a solid player who had a lot of potential, that he could become quite a ballplayer in the future.
The future is now.
The 6-10, 242 pound Duncan is now a junior center, but center of attention is more like it. Browse any news stand and you will see Duncan's picture on the cover of every basketball preview magazine -- even TV Guide has him featured. Ask any coach who the best player in the country is and they will tell you it is Duncan.
The accolades are numerous, and so are the expectations. So how does this 19-year-old superstar keep all this attention from getting to his head? By not caring about it, is how.
"I'm not trying to adjust too much," he said. "I'm just going with the flow, and I'm not going to let anything bother me. I'm just concentrating on the season."
Someone may want to check his birth certificate or his pulse. This young man is either mature beyond his years or as apathetic an individual as you will meet. Check out the list of hardware, and you would be wise choosing the former.
Duncan enters the 1995-96 season as everyone's player of the year, this after capturing third-team All-American honors by the Associated Press and National Defensive Player of the Year honors by the National Association of Basketball Coaches in 1995. He added to these honors by being named to the first-team All-ACC, first-team All-ACC Tournament and USBWA All-District teams.
Considering all of this talent, it is no wonder the Associated Press selected the Deacons as the No. 8 team in their preseason poll. On a team loaded with freshmen and sophomores, the weight of these expectations fall squarely on his wide shoulders.
However, Duncan is not intimidated by these picks, as he realizes that there is still a season full of games left to play.
"It doesn't matter what they rank you during the preseason, it's where they rank you at the end of the year," Duncan said.
While this may be an easy response to an old question, it is certainly an accurate one. With the most difficult schedule the Deacons have faced during the Dave Odom era coming this season, it appears that the team is getting ready to showcase Duncan for the nation.
"It's games like this that will help us a whole lot," he said. "We know we have to get ready and get our team together, up to what we would usually be to start at an ACC level of play.
"Mostly it's players I've played against at one point or another, so that will help me adjust a whole lot."
Mostly, though, it will be others having to adjust to Duncan. As the school's all-time leading shot-blocker, Duncan can make life very hard on opposing teams. Taking the ball right at him is a turnover waiting to happen, because he not only has the ability to block the initial shot but to stay with it and get the rebound as well.
With an average of 12.5 boards last season, he posted the highest mark in the ACC since 1974 and also came in fifth nationally. His 4.2 blocks per game also led the league, and this figure placed him sixth in the NCAA.
These are dazzling numbers for someone who is still just a teenager, but his experience both nationally and internationally (Duncan competed in the World University Games this summer and Goodwill Games in 1994) has made him a valuable commodity to scouts from the NBA.
Duncan has prepared himself for the onslaught of questions about jumping to the next level, though. "Bang, no comment," will be his response, indicating to all that he is concerned about making the Deacons the best team they can be, not what he has to gain.
With this man anchoring the middle and leading the way, the best they can be will be very good indeed.
n Career Totals
NCAA Career Blocked Shots
David Robinson, Navy 5.24
Shaquille O'Neal, LSU 4.58
Tim Duncan, WFU 3.98
Theo Ratliff, Wyoming 3.82
Alonzo Mourning, Georgetown 3.71
Dikembe Mutombo, Georgetown 3.69
ACC Career Blocked Shots
Ralph Sampson, UVa. 462
Tree Rollins, Clem. 450
Mike Gminski, Duke 345
Derrick Lewis, Md. 339
Elden Campbell, Clem. 334
Sharone Wright, Clem. 288
Tim Duncan, WFU 259
WFU Career Rebounds
Dickie Hemric 1802
Len Chappell 1213
Rod Griffin 947
Anthony Teachey 869
Gil McGregor 850
Ronny Watts 833
Jack Williams 751
Tim Duncan 718
Rodney Rogers 705
Guy Morgan 703
WFU Career Rebounding
Dickie Hemric 17.3
Len Chappell 13.9
Tim Duncan 11.0
Gil McGregor 10.6
Ronny Watts 10.4
WFU Career Blocked Shots
Tim Duncan 259
Anthony Teachey 203
Larry Harrison 188
Guy Morgan 182
Rod Griffin 113
WFU Career Field Goal Pct.
Jim Johnstone .605
Rodney Rogers .579
Tim Duncan .573
Guy Morgan .564
Rod Griffin .552