Duke Basketball: 6 Players Who Need to Step Up

Duke has yet to play North Carolina this year, and they already have three losses. In those losses, Duke has not shot the ball very well (whether it is a FG or a three-point shot), the defense has been spotty and key players have not stepped up.

In order for Duke to run the table and win out during the regular season in order to get the No. 1 seed in the ACC tournament, Coach K is going to need to have some players step up and preform.

Ryan Kelly

In Duke's three losses so far this season, Ryan Kelly has had a total of 15 points on 4-of-12 shooting. He is the team's "X-factor."

If Duke want to make a run in the NCAA tournament or even beat North Carolina toward the end of the season, Duke's guards are going to have to find Kelly a few more times per game and Kelly is going to have to shoot the ball more. 

Austin Rivers

Freshmen phenom Austin Rivers has the ability to turn on his game at any moment. So far, we have seen him have stretches of brilliance and then, in a matter of seconds, lose his confidence and not make a shot.

Duke's system works best when he is running the point and distributing the ball. He needs to start passing first to his fellow guard, get it down low or drive to the basket, not take an immediate three.

Quinn Cook

Another freshman, Quinn Cook, has been getting a few minutes here and there during the season from Coach K. He enables starters like Curry, Dawkins and Rivers to get some rest during the game.

With the few minutes that are delegated to him, his main key is to distribute the ball and help the offense keep its rhythm.

Mason and Miles Plumlee

Mason and Miles Plumlee are just two of the three Plumlees on the roster. They both are interchangeable, and there has not been a noticeable drop-off this season when one comes off the bench and one goes to the bench.

In order to beat the remaining teams left on the schedule, they need to step up their defensive game and get nasty in the paint. They need to protect the basket and pull down more rebounds.

Andre Dawkins

Everyone at Cameron Indoors knows that Andre Dawkins can score. This is evident by his first-half performance against Wake Forest where he went 7-of-9 from beyond the arc.

To alleviate some of the pressure on the point guards, Dawkins needs to step up and be confident with his shot.