Plumlees key for Duke

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- There are few things more humbling in sports than getting outshined by your younger brother.

Duke junior forward Miles Plumlee learned that early this season. He fell out of the starting lineup after the first game of the regular season.

In a Nov. 22 game against Marquette, Miles Plumlee committed three turnovers in 10 minutes. That same game, his brother, Blue Devils sophomore forward Mason Plumlee, scored 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.

"It's difficult for anybody on the team to go through that, and then there is the added pressure of it being your younger brother," Miles Plumlee said Wednesday. "It can get frustrating, because you know how good you are compared to him. We've played together our whole lives."

Miles Plumlee has worked his way back into the starting lineup for the last five games, averaging 7.6 points and 7.2 rebounds over that time.

His improvement has come at a critical time for Duke (32-4). The top-seeded Blue Devils will meet No. 5 seed Arizona (29-7) tonight in the NCAA West Regional semifinals (9:45 p.m., WRAL, WNCT).

And Duke will need both Plumlees to take on Arizona's top player: 6-foot-8 sophomore forward Derrick Williams. The Pac-10 player of the year, Williams enters tonight's game averaging 19.1 points a contest. He's equally adept at scoring in the low post and on the perimeter, where Williams is shooting 58.1 percent from 3-point range.

Because of Williams' reputation, a lot of the focus tonight will be on the Blue Devils' inside players and a rotation that includes the Plumlees and sophomore Ryan Kelly. Occasionally, Duke may also move Kyle Singler from the wing to a power forward position.

"I think that's why a lot of people have a tough time guarding me ... just because I'm shooting so well from the 3, it's hard to have one person guard me," Williams said. "Having multiple people guard me, even different defenses, box-and-ones, it opens up everything for my teammates."

Mason Plumlee will get the first crack at guarding Williams. He said he needs to keep Williams off the boards and off the foul line, where the Wildcats forward has attempted 313 free throws this season, 87 more than anybody on Duke's team.

Mason has had a fairly consistent season in a starting role, starting 31 of 36 games and averaging 7.1 points and a team-high 8.4 rebounds per game. Recently he has emerged as an inside-out passing threat, finding teammates for open 3-pointers.

"I feel more comfortable in the way we run things in our offense and stuff," Mason said. "The thing defensively is, I feel like I'm more aggressive this year. But at the same time I can't keep getting in foul trouble. That's happened a couple games this year."

His older brother's season has been more of a challenge. Miles Plumlee totaled four points in 10 games during one stretch that ended early in March.

Perky Plumlee, the players' father, said a parent is only as happy as his unhappiest child. At the same time, the Plumlees wanted to make sure their concern for Miles didn't diminish their appreciation of Mason's success.

"I think it's only fitting that we celebrate that and we don't diminish their accomplishments simply because one or the other family member is in a valley," Perky Plumlee said. "Both boys have had peaks and valleys, and what their mother and I have tried to do is encourage them to stay positive, work hard in practice, be prepared because things can change dramatically very fast."

Things did change for Miles in March. Kelly, who had replaced Miles in the starting lineup, struggled with his shot late in the regular season. Miles was one of the bright spots (seven points, 11 rebounds) in Duke's 81-67 loss at North Carolina in the regular-season finale.

Miles entered the starting lineup at the beginning of the ACC tournament and has stayed there.

"Both Miles and Mason have grown as players," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said, "and they're playing very well, and they're going to play even better as their career now goes forward, because they've gotten it. They understand it better now."

As upperclassmen, Miles and Mason will be expected to assume larger leadership roles next season. And they will be joined in Durham by yet another brother.

Marshall Plumlee, a 7-foot-1 center who is a senior at Christ School in Arden, has signed with the Blue Devils. Perky Plumlee said he was impressed recently to see an interview during which Marshall was asked why he would want to go to a school where he will compete for minutes with his brothers.

Marshall said he loves his brothers and wants to be with them.

"Marshall means what he says," Perky Plumlee said. "He really does love his brothers, and he loves being with his brothers. That's something he's going to enjoy. Maybe if he had a different perspective, he wouldn't want to be there."

It may be the same type of perspective that helped Miles emerge from his slump and helped Mason shine throughout the season.

"We both had tough times this year," Miles said. "It always helps to get a fresh perspective from someone who knows you and someone you trust, and see how much you should let something affect you. We just helped each other keep our heads up."