Players progress post-surgery

With just over a month before the exhibition season tips, the Blue Devils are still nursing some injuries, particularly in its already shallow frontcourt.

Sophomore Brian Zoubek, expected to play a much larger role after the departure of Josh McRoberts, is still recovering from July surgery on his left foot. Duke, however, hopes Zoubek will be cleared for full-contact drills perhaps as early as next week.

The future seems murkier for junior Dave McClure, who had surgery on his right knee in late August. McClure, who sat out the entire 2005-06 season with an injury to his left knee, underwent an operation to alleviate lingering pain in his right. McClure has been cleared to start light conditioning drills.

"We're hoping over the next three weeks, we can get him back little by little, and he'll start doing more and more," assistant coach Chris Collins said.

The rest of the Duke squad is fully healthy, and that includes senior DeMarcus Nelson, who suffered an injury to his left wrist in July.

The injuries to Zoubek and McClure, though, complicate the Blue Devils' plans in the frontcourt. Last season, Duke struggled to find a consistent complement to McRoberts in the post. With the 6-foot-10 center now in the NBA, the Blue Devils appear to be an even more perimeter-oriented team.

"Both [Zoubek and McClure] are going to be guys we feel are going to be in the mix to be heavy contributors to this year's team," Collins said. "So we know it's important to get those guys back healthy, so as we start practice and get going, we can develop lineups and how we want to use rotations."

In the meantime, Duke is working on its conditioning and defense before practice officially begins next month. The three incoming freshmen-guard Nolan Smith and forwards Kyle Singler and Taylor King-have also been integrated into the team.