Duke Basketball: Position-by-Position Breakdown of Blue Devils in 2015-16

Duke's 13-man basketball team began practice for the 2015-16 season earlier this month; it's the first time the revamped Blue Devils have been together on an official basis since winning the national title. Only a few players from that championship team are still around, though, as four former starters either graduated or turned pro, while seven freshmen have joined the program.

With the season set to begin Nov. 13 against Siena, it's time to take a position-by-position look at what Duke has to work with.

Follow along as we detail who's new, who's back from last season and who has moved on.

Point Guard

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Returning players: None

New to 2015-16: Derryck Thornton (Fr.)

Gone from last season: Tyus Jones

There's not much suspense as to who will be Duke's starting point guard, since Thornton is the only player on the roster who is primarily a 1. The 6'2", 175-pound freshman reclassified from 2016 this past spring in order to start college early after starring for nationally renowned Findlay Prep, where he averaged 17 points, 3.4 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game last season.

Thornton will be asked to handle almost the same role that Jones had in 2014-15, logging nearly all of the minutes at the point but without providing much scoring thanks to a variety of other offensive options. When he needs a break or gets into foul trouble, though, Duke's alternatives at the 1 are limited.

Sophomore Grayson Allen, freshman Luke Kennard or junior Matt Jones could step in to fill some minutes, if needed.

Shooting Guard

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Returning players: Grayson Allen (So.), Matt Jones (Jr.), Nick Pagliuca (Jr., walk-on)

New to 2015-16: Brennan Besser (Fr., walk-on), Luke Kennard (Fr.)

Gone from last season: Quinn Cook

By far Duke's deepest position, the shooting guard slot figures to see most of its minutes split between Allen and Kennard, with Jones fitting in there as well when not playing at the 3 during smaller lineups.

The 6'5" Jones started 14 games last season, but those were all at small forward after the Blue Devils shifted Justise Winslow to the 4 and took Amile Jefferson out of the starting five. Jones averaged 6.0 points per game and shot 37.6 percent from three-point range, but he mostly served as a glue guy and defensive stopper rather than an offensive force.

Allen, on the other hand, was an instant energy guy when he'd come into the game, though his minutes were limited until he erupted for 25 points during the Final Four wins over Michigan State and Wisconsin. The 6'5" shooter was a 34.6 percent three-point shooter but figures to display better accuracy with increased minutes.

Kennard, who is also 6'5", was a prolific scorer at Franklin High School in Ohio, finishing second in state history in career points. As a senior he averaged 38.1 points per game, and he figures to be one of Duke's main long-distance shooters when he is on the court.

Small Forward

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Returning players: None

New to 2015-16: Brandon Ingram (Fr.), Justin Robinson (Fr.)

Gone from last season: None

Duke didn't have a full-fledged small forward on the team last year; instead, it shuffled a few different players into that spot but ultimately went with a three-guard lineup toward the end of the season when guard Matt Jones replaced forward Amile Jefferson as a starter and Justise Winslow slid into his more natural spot at the 4.

This year, though, the Blue Devils have a bona fide star at the 3 in Ingram, its highest-rated recruit from a star-studded 2015 class. The 6'9" swingman was ranked third overall by 247Sports, and though he's still only listed at 190 pounds, that includes an increase of 23 pounds since arriving at the school in July, per Laura Keeley of the News & Observer.

A perimeter scorer who can also play at the rim, Ingram has the best shot of being Duke's go-to scorer. With continued strength he could end up playing the 4 as well, at which time Duke could go with Matt Jones—who started 14 games at the 3 last season—in his spot.

Robinson, a 6'8" signee from Texas, is the son of former Navy and San Antonio Spurs star David Robinson. He could be in line for backup minutes or might be a candidate to redshirt, depending on his development.

Power Forward

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Returning players: Amile Jefferson (Sr.), Sean Obi (So., ineligible in 2014-15)

New to 2015-16: Chase Jeter (Fr.)

Gone from last season: Justise Winslow

Winslow's surge during the second half of Duke's run to the national title coincided with his full-time move to power forward, after spending most the year splitting time between the 3 and the 4. With Winslow off to the NBA, the Blue Devils again must figure out how to handle this position and best utilize their many assets.

Jeter, who comes in at 6'10" and 240 pounds, figures to be in Duke's starting lineup either at the 4 or the 5, depending on the opponent and how Mike Krzyzewski wants to set his rotation. For the first time in a while, last year Coach K had access to a true star big man to play at the 5 in Jahlil Okafor, and without that option this season, Duke has the opportunity to mix and match in the frontcourt.

The same goes for Obi, a transfer from Rice who sat out last season because of NCAA rules. He's 6'9" but 250 pounds and thus could be a power forward or center depending on the scenario.

Jefferson, one of two seniors on the team, started 26 games last year and has 59 starts for his career, and though he isn't likely to be on the court at the beginning of games, his experience will be valuable in clutch situations.

Center

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Returning players: Marshall Plumlee (Sr.)

New to 2015-16: Antonio Vrankovic (Fr.)

Gone from last season: Jahlil Okafor

No position is going to see a more drastic change, both in terms of personnel and approach, in 2015-16 than center for Duke. In fact, it's likely the Blue Devils won't start a true center, unless it deems 6'10" freshman Chase Jeter or 6'9" sophomore Sean Obi as such.

Duke has two 7-footers on the roster in Plumlee and Vrankovic; the former is a veteran who has played 88 games (including all 39 last season), while the latter is a relatively unheralded prospect from the 2015 class whose involvement this season probably depends most on how he bounces back from a stress reaction to his right foot suffered during the summer.

Plumlee mostly saw time last year in mop-up duty or to give Jahlil Okafor a spell during the first half. While he was mostly in there to serve as a physical presence on defense or to aid in the pick-and-roll game, he did shoot 76.2 percent from the field.

Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.