If it hadn't already become clear in the previous two weeks, the Blue Devils discovered Wednesday night just how indispensable Luol Deng really is. For all the talk about Duke's experience and senior leadership, the Blue Devils' most critical--best?--player may well be the one less than 12 months removed from his high school prom.
He might not boast the most impressive stat line from Duke's 18-point victory over Virginia, but credit Deng for sending Duke President-elect Richard Brodhead home happy. Seven minutes into the second half, the listless Blue Devils had seen their cozy lead whittled down to three at 57-54, and hardly looked the part of the nation's top-ranked team on their home court. Enter Deng.
The 6-foot-8 forward, who had missed most of the first half and the beginning of the second after injuring his tailbone early on, pleaded--to the trainers, coaches, and anyone else within earshot--to be put back in the game. Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski had the good sense to heed the wishes of his precocious freshman, and he was immediately rewarded. Hurricane Deng was just what the doctor ordered for a Duke team thirsting for energy.
One three-point play, one mid-range jumper, two put-backs and a thundering alley-oop dunk later, the Cameron Crazies were rocking and the Cavaliers were left wondering what hit them. Deng, meanwhile, had 11 points under his belt in just under six minutes when he left the game to soothe his sore bottom.
"As soon as Luol got into the game, he brought energy to the whole place--not just our team--because we hadn't seen him for a long time, and I'm not sure if any of us expected to see him," Krzyzewski said. "But just doing that and then how he played brought even more energy."
Duke may well be the most well-balanced team in the country; it's tough to point to a significant weakness. But for all of its attributes, this Blue Devil team is not the most athletic squad around, and that becomes glaringly evident when its freakishly athletic freshman forward puts his tailbone on the bench. Deng simply brings more to the table than any other Blue Devil.
"He's a dynamic player," sophomore guard J.J. Redick said. "He can do a ton of things, he's so versatile. And he gives us a lot of options, where he can penetrate from the top and make plays off the dribble, or he can post his man up."
Fortunately for the Blue Devils, Deng's just now starting to assert himself, and North Carolina, Clemson and now Virginia can attest to the impact he has. The more Duke's youngest regular takes charge, the more dangerous the Blue Devils become, and Deng realizes that.
"I am being more aggressive on offense, not just hanging around," Deng said. "I am very unselfish, and I have to learn sometimes to be selfish. I am unselfish to a fault, and that's what I have to learn, I have to be aggressive."
Though it was only for 15 minutes, Deng was certainly aggressive Wednesday night, and the Blue Devils look forward to seeing more of the same.
"I think he's confident in what he can do now," junior guard Daniel Ewing said. "He's just playing his game and letting it come to him, and he's making stuff happen."
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