Going into halftime and clinging to a 36-34 lead against an undersized, but pesky Clemson squad, it had been all about Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith for the Blue Devils. The duo had combined to score 22 of the team’s 36 points.
While that is what one might expect on Senior Night, having the two veterans always carry the team on their backs will not be the recipe for postseason success. What transpired in the second half, however, has to be very encouraging to the coaching staff.
From the moment that freshman sensation Kyrie Irving went down with the toe injury that has kept him out of action indefinitely, it has been all about the Big Two. The question has always been who can step up and provide a complementary effort to what Smith and Singler do on both ends of the floor. Luckily for the Duke faithful, sophomores Seth Curry, Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly showed last night that they can step up and fill the void.
Curry’s performance last night, especially down the stretch, showed that his confidence continues to grow. He finished with 18 points, the same number as Singler and three less than Smith, going 6-for-13 from the field and 3-for-6 from downtown.
“That’s what this team has been needing for a few weeks now—someone to come in and be a consistent third scoring option,” Curry said. “It’s good to take some pressure off [Singler and Smith].”
Bouncing back from a brutal game against Virginia Tech in which he found himself in constant foul trouble, Curry drew praise from head coach Mike Krzyzewski for his ability to play through contact in a very physical game last night.
“If he goes into a funk, then he shouldn’t have a Duke uniform on,” Krzyzewski said. “Seth really responded well. One of the biggest plays of the game was when he hit that three to put us up 58 to 50. That was not an easy shot—that was a determined three.”
With Curry doing it predominantly from the perimeter, Plumlee stepped up and was a dominant force on the inside after a very lackluster first half. Plumlee had five blocks on the evening, four of which came in the second half, thanks in part to a locker room adjustment that allowed him to stay closer to the rim.
“Mason played a heck of a game with his blocks,” Krzyzewski said. “Earlier in the season, he would lose the ball on some of those moves, but tonight he made a play out of those moves.”
The sophomore was even able to contribute on the offensive end with a jumphook and baseline slam, demonstrating some of the potential that NBA scouts have been salivating over for some time. But what stood out more than anything was his intensity, which, if it continues, would be a big boost for the Duke frontcourt in the postseason.
“Sometimes you have to do something to get yourself going,” Plumlee said. “I was trying to feed off of momentum and keep my adrenaline going.”
A third player whose performance won’t leap off of the box score but was very integral to the Duke victory was Kelly. The local product had just five points and six rebounds, but Krzyzewski praised him for his toughness on the interior and mentioned the big 3-pointer he hit to halt a 12-0 Clemson run in the first half and help the Blue Devils not only regain the lead but seize momentum at a pivotal moment.
If players like Curry, Plumlee and Kelly can provide consistent contributions alongside the senior duo, Duke’s championship chances are much brighter.
Because as Smith and Singler once again showed on Senior Night, they can be depended upon. But two players can only take you so far.
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