Against Wake Forest, Duke star J.J. Redick did not take a shot during the
game's first six minutes. Coach Mike Krzyzewski took Redick out of the
one-sided contest with two minutes to go. In the intervening 32 minutes,
Redick scored 33 points. On just 18 shots. Mostly jumpers.
Redick's biggest shot was a three pointer that made him the all-time NCAA
leader in that category. He passed the old mark of 413 treys, held by his
friend and mentor, Curtis Staples. Staples, another sharpshooter from the
Star City, spotted Redick at a youth basketball clinic in Roanoke ten years
ago. Sensing something special in this 11 year-old dark haired kid, Staples
told Redick's teammates to "get the ball to J.J." Ten years later at Duke,
the ball still goes to J.J. And then into the basket. That's why Staples
was in Durham last night, to present his protege the game ball in
recognition of his feat from beyond 20 feet.
Now ACC fans have an opportunity to watch Redick break a much older mark.
Redick has moved within 60 points of the ACC's all-time scoring leader,
Dickie Hemric. Hemric's career total of 2,587 points has stood as the ACC's
record for more than 50 years. Barring a 61 point outburst Sunday against
Miami, Redick will not break Hemric's record at home. His breakthrough
basket will likely come either the following game at Georgia Tech, or the
game beyond that at Florida State.
Redick's run is unprecedented, at least since the days of the legendary
David Thompson. Redick has averaged more than 30 points per game during the
Atlantic Coast Conference schedule. Over the course of the year he has hit
30 points or more 12 times. He scored at least 40 points twice. Redick is
really hot now-he has topped the 30 point barrier six times in the last
eight games-at places like Chapel Hill, Charlottesville, and College Park.
And while these numbers would not be unusual for a gunner on a mediocre team
in a weak league, Redick's scoring totals reflect efficiency-a guy on a
great team in a top league, taking his shots within the Duke offense-and
making them.
Against Wake Forest, Redick scored on a variety of shots: Quick drives to
the bucket; pull up jumpers; three balls with and without the help of
screens. And of course he made a free throw or two. He always does.
But as we all watch J.J. shoot his way to the top in the best league in
America, someone please give a shout out for old D.T. David Thompson scored
2,309 points-only 278 fewer than Hemric-without the benefit of a four year
career or a three point shot. Thompson in 1972 was in the last class of
freshmen that were ineligible for varsity play. No matter where he shot the
ball from, his baskets counted just two points. In his era, Thompson wasn't
even allowed to dunk. If you run down the ACC's top ten scorers of all-time,
all of them benefitted from a four year career (Hemric played in an era that
allowed freshman eligibility), the three point shot, or both. If David
Thompson could have played four years with the three point shot, he might
have scored 4,000 points. He certainly would have topped 3,500.
That said, Redick's performance this year should establish him as the
greatest ACC shooter of all-time. 44% from three point range? That is an
unbelievable number. The way Duke is playing now, Redick may get to play in
1214 more games. At his conference pace of 30 points per game. Redick has a
chance, like Hemric, to establish a record that will stand for many years to
come.
Bob Holliday
