The basketball competition Duke faces will get stronger starting today, and coach Mike Krzyzewski said the top-ranked Blue Devils will change one strategy slightly.
Duke (3-0) has won by at least 34 points in each of its three games against Princeton, Miami (Ohio) and Colgate to start the season. The Blue Devils have used all 10 of their scholarship players in significant roles against the overmatched opponents.
But at 7:30 p.m. today in Kansas City, Mo., in the CBE Classic, the Devils will face a Marquette team from the Big East that is 4-0 and averaging 85 points per game. On Tuesday, Duke will play either No. 3 Kansas State (3-0) or No. 11 Gonzaga (2-1) as the CBE ends.
Duke's rotation will be shortened a little against the more challenging competition. Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith, seniors who played key roles on last season's NCAA championship, will play more minutes.
"You can't get a 10-man rotation," Krzyzewski said. "But you can have 10 guys ready to play. Well, you can, but then you're not using your key guys well enough. And Nolan and Kyle have to get major minutes for us to be really good."
At the same time, though, Krzyzewski plans to continue challenging opponents with Duke's depth and defensive pressure. The Devils have been wearing down opponents by coming at them in waves.
Guard Seth Curry, the nation's leading freshman scorer in 2008-09, is averaging 14.0 points per game off the bench. Wing Andre Dawkins also has played a big role as a reserve with 12.7 points per game.
Dawkins leads the team with eight 3-pointers; Curry and freshman Kyrie Irving have seven 3-pointers each.
"We have a lot of guys who can come in and contribute right away," Dawkins said. "I think that's going to wear a lot of teams out."
In the frontcourt, Duke will use Ryan Kelly, Mason Plumlee and Miles Plumlee in a three-man rotation, with Singler moving from the wing at times to play power forward. Freshmen Josh Hairston at forward and Tyler Thornton at point guard also have demonstrated they're ready to play a few minutes in emergency situations if needed.
The multiple personnel options allow Duke to play at a fast pace and put tremendous pressure on the ball. That pressure has caused the Devils' opponents to wither.
It also makes it likely that Singler and Smith will get a few more breathers. Singler, who played the full 40 minutes in 10 of Duke's 40 games last season, said he's in shape to play 40 at the new pace.
But he doesn't expect it to be necessary.
"With the different lineups, we're going to have to have guys that will have to play [minutes] for us," Singler said. "I think that's neat, and guys are really playing well, so I don't have a problem with it."
Duke will continue using its depth, but Singler and Smith are about to see more minutes.
"We've been working in the summertime to be ready to play at this pace," Smith said, "and when it happens, I'll be ready for it."
