McClure's versatility keys Duke's defense

DURHAM -- Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski is eager to play mad scientist with Duke senior small forward David McClure.

Something about McClure's knack for tipping the ball to the right guy or away from the wrong guy has Krzyzewski rubbing his hands together as the 10th-ranked Blue Devils prepare to play Southern Illinois at 7 tonight in the semifinals of the 2K Sports Classic Benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer at Madison Square Garden.

Though he has mostly come off the bench in his years at Duke, McClure will act as Duke's Rosetta Stone this season.

If the 6-foot-6 McClure is guarding players his own size or smaller, that means all is well and the plan is working.

If he's not, and he's back spelling 6-8 forwards Kyle Singler and Lance Thomas using his 6-6, 215-pound frame against the 6-8, 240 types in the post, that'll be a big flashing sign shouting trouble.

If other players, namely Thomas, freshman forward Miles Plumlee and junior center Brian Zoubek can handle the likes of Clemson's Trevor Booker, North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough or any other talented post player Duke runs across, Krzyzewski will finally get to use McClure the way he always envisioned -- defending high-scoring wings in Duke's pressure defense.

McClure says he'll guard whoever the staff needs him to guard. Injuries and a lack of depth inside forced Krzyzewski to use, McClure to bang with bigger forwards in his first three seasons.

Seeing a deeper frontcourt with Thomas and Zoubek healthy, and knowing Plumlee added bulk and athleticism inside, Krzyzewski felt comfortable telling McClure before the season he would use him like an NBA coach would.

"He kind of used a comparison to Tayshaun Prince from the U.S. Olympic team," McClure said. "Some games [Prince] played a lot and times he played four minutes. [Krzyzewski] wants me to be that older guy who's always talking. I might not be screaming my head off, but I have to be a guy with experience who's older, wiser and can offer a level of support."

McClure's playing time has waxed and waned at Duke. He started 11 of 30 games in 2006-07 but just four last season while playing nine minutes per game.

It still wasn't odd to see him playing hard minutes, with junior wing Gerald Henderson in foul trouble, in the win over Rhode Island on Sunday.

McClure guarded Rhode Island's 6-3 sharpshooter Jimmy Baron, who was on a tear, on a handful of late possessions. McClure played 17 minutes with four rebounds.

"In practice we have him with the first unit a lot and some with the second," Krzyzewski said. "He's kind of a little wild card for us. But his ego is as good as any of the starters."

Duke's offense starts with pressure defense. A 6-6 defender can be more effective guarding 6-3, 6-4 wings or 6-8 guys who want to face the basket than the same guy trying to front or hold his ground against forwards who try to back you down in the post.

Krzyzewski also wants to use McClure against the forwards who like to shoot. He says McClure is a "perfect fit."

"He likes it," Krzyzewski said. "... I already know what he can do. So if I play you four minutes one game, don't worry because you might play 24 in another. Just be ready and understand your worth."

The former three-time Connecticut state champion, who averaged a double-double his final three years in high school, finally has one mission as a Duke senior. That's progress for a guy who had to redshirt with a knee injury in 2005-06.

"It's exciting," McClure said. "I try to take pride in it. Every time I'm on the court I have to be ready. It shows my worth to the team. It's nice. ... It's a blessing."