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Thomas embraces role as most vocal leader

Harrison Comfort
November 20, 2009

Few teams will measure up to the Blue Devils’ size this year, with the Duke roster featuring four players over 6-foot-10 in what will amount to one of the team’s tallest squads in recent memory. 

The player with the biggest presence on the court this season, however, is none other than a lanky, high-energy forward who carries himself as if he were well over seven feet tall. 

Scheyer comfortable running the point

Will Flaherty
November 19, 2009

The signs are pointing up for Jon Scheyer as he enters his fourth and final season as a Blue Devil.

Duke’s only returning captain, Scheyer has started the season at point guard, reprising the role he assumed in February 2008. Through all the assignments the 6-foot-5 guard has filled during his Duke career, from starting on the wing as a freshman to serving as a sixth man ace during his sophomore season, Scheyer is at peace playing the point in his senior campaign.

Tight perimeter defense keys easy Blue Devil victory

Kyle Lambrecht
November 18, 2009

Nolan Smith’s career-high 24 points will receive all the attention from Duke’s lopsided 101-59 victory over Charlotte.

But the junior guard’s season debut may have had a larger impact on the defensive end of the court.

“We wanted to show the world that we play great defense and we deserve to be mentioned with the best,” Smith said of his team’s performance during its first nationally televised game this year. “We were really pressuring.... That was the key to our defense.”

Smith makes all the difference

Jeff Scholl
November 18, 2009

For Duke’s first two games, Nolan Smith could only sit and watch from the bench.

Tuesday night, he showed his teammates what they had been missing. Behind a career-high 24 points from the junior guard, the No. 9 Blue Devils (3-0) crushed Charlotte 101-59 in the second round of the NIT Season Tip-Off.

“I was definitely itching to play,” Smith said. “Watching those two games, watching my team play, I was getting anxious, so I was ready to get back out there.”

Coastal Carolina: Chanti-cleared

Lucas Nevola
November 17, 2009

Duke doesn’t typically have a difficult time dispatching mid-major teams early in the season, yet two minutes into the game Monday evening against Coastal Carolina, the gritty Chanticleers led 6-0 and were ready to test the Blue Devils’ toughness.

But thanks to Kyle Singler, Duke was able to recover and once again pass an early-season test with flying colors.

Offense sputters in early test

Jason Palmatary
November 17, 2009

Playing with only an eight-man rotation again due to Nolan Smith’s suspension and Mason Plumlee’s injury, Duke struggled to score consistently in its first round matchup in the NIT Season Tip-Off with Coastal Carolina.

The way that the Duke offense came out of the gates Monday night indicated a second group of scorers will have to step up to relieve some of the pressure put on the duo of Kyle Singler and Jon Scheyer. The Blue Devils found themselves down 6-0 just a couple of minutes into the game after turning the ball over on their first four possessions.

Youngsters shine in season debut

Will Flaherty
November 16, 2009
Dianna Liu

The future of Duke Basketball was on display Friday in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

With starters Nolan Smith and Mason Plumlee out for the season opener Friday against UNC-Greensboro, Duke relied heavily on underclassmen Olek Czyz, Andre Dawkins and Ryan Kelly en route to a 96-62 win over the Spartans.

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  1. Scheyer comfortable running the point

  2. Smith makes all the difference

  3. Thomas embraces role as most vocal leader

  4. Coastal Carolina: Chanti-cleared

  5. Athletic big men create inside-outside attack