McRoberts finds flair in time for Title run

Last year during the McDonald's All-American game festivities, Josh McRoberts put on an absolute show.

He slammed home some ridiculous dunks to finish as the runner-up in the dunk contest. Then in the all-star game he jammed in alley-oops, drained threes and displayed his mid-range skills to earn MVP honors.

The high school senior seemed destined for immediate stardom once he arrived on Duke's campus.

But with two already established superstars returning to the Blue Devils for their senior seasons, the freshman began the year playing as if he were afraid to steal the spotlight from J.J. Redick or Shelden Williams.

"I think earlier in the season, I held back a little," McRoberts said after defeating Wake Forest in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament. "Earlier in the season, I was a little too patient, willing to defer to our older guys. Now, I'm confident I can be a big part of the team."

At the start of the season, McRoberts seemed to feel uncomfortable playing alongside Williams in the post and seldom showed flashes of his athleticism and talent.

But after being named to the ACC All-Tournament Second Team and notching his second double-double of the season against George Washington March 18, no one can question his value to the Blue Devils in their national title hopes.

Maybe it was the expectations associated with being the McDonald's High School Player of the Year, but most considered McRoberts' start rocky. After coming off the bench in the team's first game of the year, the 6-foot-10 forward started the next 15 games of the season but only reached double figures in scoring five times.

Coming off the bench the next two games, McRoberts played just more than 15 minutes per contest, and the freshman suffered the first defeat of his college career against Georgetown Jan. 21. After the loss, though, McRoberts learned another important lesson that aided his growth.

"After we lost to Georgetown, his role on the team was laid out for him and explained-where he would be more of a post presence," Melchionni said. "He's not going to play great every game, but he has really stepped up his game and played the way he is capable of playing."

McRoberts was reinserted into the starting lineup and continued to gain confidence, but with so much to learn, he said it was a gradual process.

"You think you're talking, but you're not talking enough. You're not talking at the right time or to the right people," McRoberts said of one of the adjustments he has had to make.

The Carmel, Ind. native said he cannot pinpoint a moment when it finally clicked, but his teammates noticed a change in McRoberts' approach to games.

"I think a really good game for him was when we played at Boston College [Feb. 1]," Williams said of McRoberts' 14-point, five-rebound performance. "He had a face of a guy who has been in this program for a while. He was so comfortable and so poised in that game, knocking down big free throws, rebounding and leading fast breaks. That was one of the first times I saw Josh having a mature look on his face when he's out there in a close game like that."

Since that contest, McRoberts has scored in double figures in nine of Duke's 14 games and has shown that same brilliance he did in the McDonald's game as a high school senior.

Against Wake Forest in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament he threw down a reverse dunk, and against George Washington in the second round of the NCAAs, he faked a behind-the-back pass before hitting a short floater in the paint.

He's playing with confidence and has emerged as a consistent contributor, which spells good news for the Blue Devils.

"For him to be a low-post presence and also getting his hands on defensive rebounds was a big boost for our basketball team," Williams said after Duke's second-round win. "He's finally putting steps together and becoming more consistent. Hopefully he'll take this game on to Atlanta."