Singler feeling his strength

Energetic sophomore forward providing big-play leadership for Duke

DURHAM -- Before the basketball season began, Duke sophomore forward Kyle Singler was asked repeatedly about his NBA plans.

He deflected questions calmly, saying he refused to think beyond the season. He also answered questions completely by saying if he had a great season, he would have to think about taking the NBA leap.

The way Singler is playing for the No. 4 Blue Devils, with No. 7 Purdue looming tonight in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, the 2008-09 season could turn out to be the longest, most enjoyable farewell party Duke has ever hosted for a player.

Last year's 6-foot-8, 210-pound ACC Freshman of the Year is now a 230-pound, 20-year-old forward who leads Duke in points (16.7), rebounds (6.9) and assists (3.3).

"I'm just myself," Singler said. "The main thing the guys are seeing now, last year I was a freshman. I deferred to other guys. This year, I know I have to be myself. I tell our freshmen, as soon as you learn that, you'll start playing better."

Singler gives Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski a lot of everything on the court while making teammates' jobs easier.

"I'm not sure there's a kid playing in the country who loves to play more than that kid," Krzyzewski said.

In the first three minutes in Duke's win over Duquesne on Friday, Singler tried to take a charge, though he failed that time; passed out of a double-team in the high post to Nolan Smith cutting for two; and tipped in a missed shot on the offensive glass.

He opened the second half by draining a 3-pointer.

Several plays later, during an exchange of multiple missed shots and offensive boards on Duke's end, Singler finally ended the suspense by going up in a crowd and ripping the rebound away from several other players, including a teammate or two, before getting fouled trying to score.

Krzyzewski said it was the best play -- "a big-time play" -- he had seen in years.

Singler made two 3-pointers on his way to 17 points, four assists and seven rebounds. That's a typical night. Against Rhode Island on Nov. 16, he had an atypical night, though it never looked difficult for him. That night, he scored, passed, rebounded and traded big plays with Rhode Island's Jimmy Baron and guarded the white-hot-shooting 6-1 guard at the end of Duke's 82-79 win.

"His maturity is very obvious," said Dick Vitale, ESPN college basketball analyst. "He's letting the game come to him. He's not forcing shots, and he's able to score in the interior more. Even though he's an excellent face-up big man and can shoot the long-range jumper, I just think he's a much more complete player as a sophomore."

He's fresher, too.

The guy who was dragging at the end of the 2008 NCAA Tournament because he had played so much, too often against the biggest opposing player, was actually doing a little shake and shimmy while running off the court after playing just 23 minutes against Duquesne. He pretended to dribble between his legs and behind his back.

"Oh, yeah, I feel good," Singler said. "We're healthy. ... Guys are having a lot of fun. You know how good it's going when you have so much energy at the end of a game."

The worst-kept secret in college basketball the past few years has been that Duke has lacked power in the frontcourt in the post-Shelden Williams era. This year's frontcourt has potential.

Singler is bigger. Lance Thomas is bigger. Brian Zoubek is healthier. And Miles Plumlee's brief run of looking like a junior but playing like a confused freshman seems to be over.

Purdue has one of the best frontcourts in the nation. Robbie Hummel, Nemania Calasan and JaJuan Johnson give the Boilermakers great inside-outside balance with guard and leading scorer E'Twaun Moore.

The trio averages 35.7 points and 14.3 boards per game. It's a perfect time to find out what kind of fight Duke's frontcourt really has.

"It's at their place, and it'll be a tough game," Singler said. "It's going to be a man's game."

For Duke to make it past the early rounds in the 2009 NCAA Tournament, Singler needs to play like a man, like a star. Duke needs for Singler to be the guy coaches and analysts mention with breathless admiration like they all did with Kansas State's Michael Beasley last season.

"On lots of great Duke teams in the past, you've had guys who, not in a selfish way, were conscious of themselves on the team," Duke senior small forward David McClure said. "J.J. [Redick] and Shelden knew who they were. You need a guy like that. It's big. We feel every game we play, with guys like Kyle, like [Gerald Henderson], we belong out there. Teams need to play with us. Not the other way around."

Singler doesn't agree that having a Beasley-type of year is as important for Duke's season success as it is for his own basketball future. Again, he's focused on that first goal.

"Not necessarily. Because those are good players," Singler said. "They'll get recognized no matter what.

"I define myself as a winner. I want to win titles here and put Duke back on the map. I'm not saying we aren't. But we haven't won an ACC title or an ACC tournament title or a national championship. We're working hard to win championships around here."