WASHINGTON - When Gerald Henderson and Jon Scheyer walked off the basketball court at the Verizon Center, arms around each other, talking and reassuring, after Duke's 73-67 loss to West Virginia on Saturday, the scene sent a powerful sign about where the Blue Devils were headed.

They were talking about the 2008-09 season at that moment.

"Me and G, we just feel like we've been through a lot," Scheyer said. "We just reminded each other that next year we don't want to have this feeling."

Scheyer, who averaged 14 points in four tournament games, and Henderson, with 39 points in two NCAA Tournament games, were the best players on the floor wearing Duke jerseys at the end of the 2007-08 season.

"This tournament, I guess it gives us a little more experience than last year," Henderson said. "I think that we're ready to take on more of a leadership role."

After going 28-6 and earning a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, Duke will lose one player, DeMarcus Nelson, who takes his defense, power offense and tenacity with him.

Rising juniors Scheyer and Henderson know they'll be stirring the Duke offense, which should again work to push the tempo and win battles in the backcourt, with rising senior guard Greg Paulus, a 2008 All-ACC third-team pick, and rising sophomore forward Kyle Singler, the ACC's 2008 freshman of the year.

"You already know what kind of guys you'll be around every day, and as you play it becomes an even better experience," Henderson said. "It's been a great season, and DeMarcus especially taught me so much. He gave the team so much. It's sad to see him go."

The NBA should not affect Duke this season. Henderson said he had no reason to look into the draft for himself this summer, and Singler said in January, and again on Saturday, that he will be back in a Duke uniform next season.

Henderson will be going under the knife soon anyway. His right (shooting) wrist has needed surgery since he injured it Feb. 6.

Along with Paulus, Henderson, Scheyer and Singler, who represent more than half of Duke's scoring this season, Duke will have back seniors David McClure and Martynas Pocius; juniors Lance Thomas and Brian Zoubek; and sophomores Nolan Smith and Taylor King.

The main question revolves around Singler and the frontcourt. The truth is, if Singler didn't have to guard the largest player on the floor so often this season, then Singler is Joe Alexander on Saturday. Alexander, a strong, athletic 6-foot-8 forward, keyed West Virginia's 73-67 victory with 22 points.

Singler was worn down at season's end by all the pounding he inflicted and took on defense. Will he, Thomas, who started 28 games inside though equally lanky, and Zoubek, a 7-1 center who came on late, get any help inside next season?

Not really. Elliott Williams, a talented 6-4 scoring guard and top-20 recruit out of Memphis, Tenn., will ease the loss of Nelson.

But Georgetown beat out several schools, including Duke, for the top player in the 2008 class -- Greg Monroe. The 6-10 power forward/center, a shot-blocker who can handle the ball and run the floor, would have been a strong complement to Singler.

Duke does add 6-8 big man Oleg Czyz, a native of Poland. The forward out of Reno, Nev., likes to play facing the basket, but at 235 pounds, he's thicker than everyone Duke has now except Zoubek.

That's a plus considering that West Virginia outrebounded Duke by 20 on Saturday. Czyz plays hard and attacks the hoop. He's not the traditional post threat, but adding that kind of toughness wouldn't hurt Duke.

That means whatever improvement Duke's frontcourt makes must come from the players already on the roster.

Zoubek said Saturday that he will work on improving his leg strength and also will hone his skills at big-man camps in Las Vegas and Florida. He believes, after missing nine games this season and playing sparingly as a freshman, he also needs to play, so he'll look to join summer leagues either in Philadelphia, near his New Jersey home, or in Raleigh.

Thomas made strides this season, essentially reining in his considerable energy so he could play smarter defense, avoid fouls and stay focused on the glass. He added about 13 pounds before the season and said he'll keep working on his strength.

After scoring 15 points in a win at Temple in early January, King couldn't get on the floor consistently. Duke often needed his 6-foot-7, 230-pound size on the floor, but King's defense, touch and concentration wavered.

King said he would work on his quickness and strength, as well as on more ways to get to the basket off the dribble.

Pocius should return healthy after a foot injury ended his season on Nov. 25, but the athletic perimeter scorer must show his defense has improved.

Smith also saw his playing time ebb and flow depending on how well he attacked the hoop and played defense. He said he knows the coaches will expect more of both from him without Nelson.

Though the Devils may face the same frontcourt problems with talent but little bulk next season, Smith said he felt the Devils would be tougher for the experience of the season just past.

Nelson agreed when asked about it Saturday.

"I see a talented group that's going to be very good without me," Nelson said. "I think they're going to be a great team. Someone's going to fill my spot."