Duke Basketball: The Biggest Goal for Each Starter in 2015-16

From a team standpoint, the Duke men's basketball team's goal is simple and straightforward: repeat as national champions. But while each of the Blue Devils players also buy into this mission, they all have their own individual goals and benchmarks they hope to achieve during the 2015-16 season.

We're still unsure of what Duke's official starting lineup will be. Head coach Mike Krzyzewski has sent out hodgepodge starting fives during the two exhibitions as new players get broken in and some of the veterans deal with injuries. So instead of using a definitive starting five, we're going to focus on the best available player at each position when it comes to identifying what each hopes to accomplish this season.

Duke will begin the defense of its title on Friday when it hosts Siena, the first of back-to-back games in the opening weekend ahead of a major test against Kentucky in Chicago.

It will be the first opportunity to see what this revamped Blue Devils team will look like as well as the first opportunity for the key players to set out on the goals they've created for themselves while also trying to help the team to a second straight championship.

PG Derryck Thornton

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Be more of a facilitator

Derryck Thornton is the only true point guard on Duke's roster, unlike last year when freshman Tyus Jones knew that senior Quinn Cook was there to provide leadership (as well as on-court assistance with handling the ball). If Thornton needs a break or struggles, the Blue Devils will turn to either junior Matt Jones, sophomore Grayson Allen or freshman Luke Kennard, none of whom are ideal scenarios.

Thornton didn't start either of the exhibition games, though he did tie for the team lead in minutes played both nights. In 59 minutes, Thornton scored 33 points but had only four assists, with Allen chipping in 11 assists and Kennard providing six during those games.

It will be Thornton getting the bulk of the minutes at the point, but he'll need to be more attuned to getting the ball to teammates and less on creating solely for himself. The freshman only had one turnover in those two games, but that also indicates he wasn't passing much since he attempted 22 shots.

SG Grayson Allen

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Play with poise

We saw on a grand stage what Grayson Allen is capable of when given a chance to shine, as his play during the Final Four was integral in Duke's wins over Michigan State and Wisconsin en route to the title. 

Prior to that, though, Allen hardly saw the court, and when he did, he was so full of energy that it seemed like he jacked up a shot within the first few seconds.

There's something to be said about aggressiveness and assertiveness, but with Allen set to take on a much more pronounced role this season, he'll need to be more in control of himself in order to avoid making costly mistakes in key situations. He doesn't have the shooting guard position to himself, not with freshman Luke Kennard showing so much promise already.

SF Brandon Ingram

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Handle the contact

Brandon Ingram is Duke's most prized freshman in terms of his recruiting ranking (No. 3 in the 2015 class, per 247Sports) and his expected impact on the offense. We've seen how this could be through the two exhibitions, as the 6'9" wing scored 40 points in 56 minutes of action, but those came against a pair of overmatched Division II opponents. 

The exhibition opponents are nothing compared to the likes of Kentucky, VCU, Indiana, Utah and the rough slate of ACC foes that Ingram is set to match up against during the 2015-16 season. All those opponents will bring far tougher assignments for Ingram offensively and defensively, and many of them will try to exploit his lean 190-pound frame.

Ingram is playing very much the same position that Justise Winslow did last year, but he was 6'6" and 225 pounds, and his strength eventually pushed Duke to go with a three-guard lineup so Winslow could handle the 4. Ingram has put on muscle since arriving in Durham during the summer, but it remains to be seen how he'll stand up to the physical nature of the college game.

PF Chase Jeter

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Strong defense and rebounding

Chase Jeter has a solid offensive game, one that can prove to be valuable for Duke this season. The 6'10" freshman is in a unique position: He's replacing a superstar but doesn't have to produce at the same level as his predecessor.

The offense revolved around Jahlil Okafor last season, but that won't be the case with Jeter and the 2015-16 Blue Devils. There's an overabundance of weapons on the perimeter to the point that when Jeter does get involved in the offense, it will often come because he's left uncovered or undermanned as defenses try to focus on the guards and wings.

Those points will come on their own, but handling the more necessary assignments of being a strong rebounder and interior defender won't. That's where Jeter will have his most value early on, enabling Duke to start its transition attack by having him grab missed shots and be a disrupter.

C Marshall Plumlee

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Play like a starter, not a reserve

As noted in the intro, we've identified a player from each position group who will be the most involved this season rather than the five who are expected to start. Marshall Plumlee has never started in his career at Duke and likely won't do so this year, but that doesn't mean he won't play a key role in his senior season.

But as Plumlee proved various times last year, when he comes onto the court, he's not just there to get in the way and avoid a drop-off. He's there to contribute, and he's been able to do so when opponents don't properly account for him.

The 7-footer, who is a graduate student and will join the U.S. Army as soon as this season is over, shot 76.2 percent from the field in 2014-15. In two exhibitions, he made 11 of his 13 field-goal attempts while also chipping in 15 rebounds.

Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.