Duke Basketball: Quinn Cook Proving He Won't Be Forgotten Man in 2014-15 vs. MSU

Here's a little-known fact about Duke's roster: It isn't just made of freshmen.

And in case you're apt to forget this, Quinn Cook plans on providing plenty of reminders—usually with a big three-pointer, a key play to thwart an opponent's rally or some words of wisdom to his younger teammates.

On a night when most of the attention and praise was given to the Blue Devils' talented newcomers, it was the senior guard who led all scorers with 19 points in Duke's impressive 81-71 win over Michigan State at the Champions Classic in Indianapolis.

Cook made seven of his 12 shots, including three of four three-point tries, while also chipping in a team-high six assists and no turnovers in 36 minutes.

"I just want to be the leader," Cook told GoDuke.com afterward. "I feel as though I'm the most experienced guy, so I just want to be that positive, strong face...especially for the younger guys."

Gerry Broome/Associated Press

Making his 63rd career start dating back to his freshman year in 2011-12, Cook is averaging 16.7 points and five assists this season. But more than his production, Cook's biggest contribution to this point has been to serve as a perfect mentor for not just fellow guard Tyus Jones, but all of Duke's young contributors.

"Quinn's leadership has been off-the-charts good," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski told reporters Tuesday. "He and Tyus have really developed a great relationship."

Cook started 22 games at the point last season, though many times he was giving up that job to others so that he could focus more on shooting and scoring.

With Jones' arrival, that's pushed Cook even further toward being a true 2-guard rather than sulking about having to compete with a freshman.

Yahoo Sports' Pat Forde tweeted about Cook's mindset heading into the season, something we've seen flourish to this point:

Cook combined with Jones to score 36 points against Michigan State, but all of Jones' 17 came in the second half. Krzyzewski noted that Cook's play after the Spartans cut Duke's lead to 51-48 (he made a three and hit a layup in a 54-second span) helped spark Jones to come alive and score 14 points over the final 8:42.

"That was a real critical point, the game could go either way," Krzyzewski said.

By making key scores at the tightest moment of the game, Cook asserted himself as Duke's floor leader. And once Jones started scoring, he was able to provide that leadership in other ways besides points, as he assisted on each of Jones' next two baskets while only scoring four more points himself down the stretch.

With Cook and Jones teaming up well so far, it puts the Blue Devils in a unique situation of having two guys capable of running the show.

It's similar to what Kentucky coach John Calipari has in the Harrison twins, and with multiple options, it lessens the chance Duke will have a down game if one ball-handler struggles.

Cook just led Duke in scoring and assists in its biggest game so far. He has made 10 of 18 three-pointers and is shooting 59.4 percent from the field, numbers that will no doubt drop off as the games pile up.

But with Duke in the middle of a stretch of five games in nine days—it faces Temple on Friday and either Stanford or UNLV on Saturday in Brooklyn—the shooting efficiency will continue to be the second-most important thing Cook brings to the court.

Duke's freshmen are going to have their bouts of youth-fed issues, but with Cook holding down his role as a veteran and tutor, the chances are slim that these growing pains will impact how the Blue Devils play as the season progresses.

Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.