The ease of Duke’s 40-point win over Western Michigan on Friday night partially obscured the fact Mason Plumlee made few contributions to the victory.
The Blue Devils’ junior forward only played 16 minutes, scoring three points and grabbing two rebounds.
Plumlee made amends for that performance with his effort Sunday night against Penn. Plumlee looked a lot more like the player who has led Duke in rebounding all season, grabbing 14 rebounds against the Quakers while also chipping in with 10 points.
“I was definitely looking to bounce back,” Plumlee said. “The coaches didn’t like how I came out (against Western Michigan). Those things happen. It’s all about how you bounce back. You’ve got to come ready to play.”
Plumlee had eclipsed his rebounding total from the Western Michigan game by the first media timeout against Penn. Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski took note of the contrast.
“You have to be hungry to put up the stats that he does,” Krzyzewski said. “… Rebounding is hunger and pursuit. If you don’t start the ball game that way, it doesn’t mean you have a bad attitude, but if you’re not in that mindset, you’re not going to get the boards. You’re just not going to get it.”
Krzyzewski then tried to come up with an analogy for what he wanted to see from Plumlee.
“His should be an action play, not something where you’re dancing,” Krzyzewski said. “He’s got to come in lathered up.”
