Despite losing just one player from last year's starting lineup, Duke could have a 60 percent turnover in its opening five this season.
But one of those new starters really isn't new at all.
After all, junior guard Jon Scheyer will almost definitely return to the starting lineup after a one-year absence-not that it mattered for him.
"I'm probably going to start, but either way, I think my role won't be different," said Scheyer, one of Duke's three captains. "It's not really an adjustment. You're playing basketball and regardless of whether you're coming off the bench or starting, it's still the same thing for me."
Scheyer started 32 of 33 games as a freshman, playing the second-most minutes on a young team that bowed out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
But Gerald Henderson replaced him in the starting lineup last year, and Scheyer made just one start in 34 games. The sixth man was still third on the team in minutes, trailing only DeMarcus Nelson and Kyle Singler. He averaged 11.7 points per game, down just half a point from the previous year, and all of his other notable statistics-including field goal percentage, 3-point percentage and assists-increased despite coming off the bench.
Now, Scheyer replaces Nelson in the starting lineup, joining Henderson and Singler along with first-year starters Nolan Smith and Miles Plumlee.
"I'm not going to try to fill in for DeMarcus," Scheyer said. "His shoes can't be filled.... Our team has changed where we'll have different roles this year. It's not like we're just going to substitute for DeMarcus."
Scheyer is part of a deep backcourt that should be one of the Blue Devils' biggest strengths. And in contrast to two years ago, when Scheyer was thrown into the fire as a freshman starter and forced to learn the point guard position at the same time after Greg Paulus injured his foot, many of Duke's guards can run the offense. Smith and Paulus are natural point guards, freshman Elliot Williams ran his offense in high school and Scheyer has played the position at times during the exhibition season.
Head coach Mike Krzyzewski has said that Duke will use several different guard combinations this season. Paulus and Smith may play at the same time, and even when they are on the floor, they may not be running the offense.
"Jon will run it sometimes," Krzyzewski said. "We've been working on that in practice, and he might do that even with Greg or Nolan in. He doesn't necessarily have to be in for those guys, so we can use people in different spots. Then we'll be more prepared for people running the team."
And that's perfectly OK with Scheyer. The junior guard has played the point before, and he has no problem doing it again.
"It's fine for me," Scheyer said. "I have always felt that my ballhandling has been a strength for me, and certain times I will be in that position, and I feel comfortable doing it. I think it can give us some real athletic lineups."
With multiple point guards on the floor at the same time, Duke may also have the additional advantage of surprise, Scheyer said. Whereas opponents in past years knew who would be initiating the offense, the Blue Devils' versatility implies that an offensive set can start with any of a number of players this season.
Duke may not even see the biggest benefit of its backcourt depth until March. The Blue Devils started to struggle from the field-particularly from beyond the arc-late last season, leading to their second straight first-weekend exit from the NCAA Tournament.
This year, they're hoping their glut of guards leads to a different result.
"It's going to keep our legs fresh and our bodies fresh," Smith said. "It's going to keep us rolling all year. That's the main thing, to keep guys fresh. A lot of teams have one point guard they go to, or maybe two. We have possibly three, four who can play the one and run the team, so that's going to be great for us."
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.