The Curious Case of Greg Paulus

After leading Duke to an incredible comeback win against Miami (FL), Greg Paulus is back in a place he hasn't been in a while—the spotlight.  The three-year starter turned sparingly-used reserve returned to the starting lineup Saturday, scoring 18 points and making several big plays down the stretch that secured the Blue Devils' a much needed victory.

This may be just another chapter in a fascinating collegiate career for Greg Paulus.  His journey has been a strange one, full of high highs and lower lows.  He talks of coaching one day, and if he follows that path he'll certainly have plenty of varied experiences to draw from, perhaps more than any player in recent memory.

In a way, Paulus has experienced college basketball from nearly every angle a player could imagine.  He has been the prized recruit, regarded as the top point guard in his high school class by many recruiting experts.  He has been the role player among the likes of superstars JJ Redick and Shelden Williams.  He has been the go-to-guy, as he was during the final stretch of the 2006-07 season.  He has also been the team captain, the under-performer, the forgotten player and the scapegoat.

Paulus' career at Duke has been a rollercoaster ride, to say the least.  His freshman year (2005-06), he started for a senior-laden Duke team that was ranked atop the nation's polls for most of the year.  That team won the ACC regular season title and the ACC tournament before falling to LSU in the Sweet 16.  Paulus recorded 187 assists, trailing only Duke greats Bobby Hurley and Jason Williams in most assists as a freshman, and was named to the ACC All-Freshman team.

As a sophomore, Paulus joined Josh McRoberts as one of only two sophomores to be selected as a Duke team captain.  Duke couldn't have been a more different team than the team from the 2005-06 season, as it was the youngest Duke team since WWII.  Paulus had a slow start to the season, perhaps due to a preseason foot injury, and quickly became the focus of harsh criticism from Duke fans. 

But as Josh McRoberts proved reluctant to embrace the role of offensive load-bearer, Paulus stepped up and became Duke's most productive offensive player during the last leg of the season, averaging 17.5 ppg over the last 11 games. 

Duke finished the season 22-11, with a .500 record in the ACC and first round exits from the both the ACC tournament and the NCAA tournament.

Paulus' junior season was solid overall.  Though no longer team captain, he was Duke's best threat from behind the arc, had a solid 1.98/1 assist-to-turnover ratio and was a Third team All-ACC selection.  At one point in the season, it looked like Duke was back on track as the team climbed to No. 2 in the national rankings. 

But after running out of gas late in the season, Duke failed to return to the ACC tournament finals and lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament.  Paulus became the target of off-season criticism from fans unhappy with Duke's recent performance, who claimed Duke needed a more athletic point guard along the likes of Jason Williams in order to become relevant as a title contender.

So when Nolan Smith took over the starting point guard duties this season, many fans were relieved.  Paulus could come in as a shooter and stretch defenses, but would no longer be a defensive liability.  However, Paulus' shot has been off and on, and as the season has progressed, he has spent most of his time on the bench of a Duke team that has returned to the national spotlight as a legitimate Final Four contender.

That is, until Saturday.  Paulus' emotional and gutsy performance reminded Duke fans of who Greg Paulus has always been, despite his production totals and playing time—a leader.

After Saturday's overtime win over Miami, Coach Krzyzewski stated, "Our leadership has been just OK throughout the whole season, and when you’re winning sometimes you don’t even know who’s leading, maybe nobody is. And then all of a sudden there’s a moment and we need it. And it’s at that moment that you hope somebody steps up and becomes it."

There was no question who Krzyzewski was going to mention next.  "Nobody designates you—you have to earn being the leader, and Greg Paulus did that today,” Kryzewski said in his post-game conference.

Paulus may prove to be the spark Duke needs to make a deep run in March.  No one would be happier to play that role than Paulus, who is playing his final months in a Blue Devil uniform.  There is no one who deserves it more, and certainly no one who has earned the right to lead more than Greg Paulus.