Triple "S" Threat: Duke's Scheyer, Singler, and Smith Top Trio in the Country

The top scoring trio in the country, a backcourt of Jon Scheyer, Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith, are teammates at Duke University, located in Durham, NC.

These three players have come to be known as the Triple "S" Threat on Tobacco Road, and they each have certain qualities and skills that have helped Coach K's team win throughout the season.

In every game this year for Duke, Scheyer and Smith have consistently scored from the perimeter and free-throw line. Singler, on the other hand, has made his living from the paint and has struggled with his jump shot.

He may have found his range in the Blue Devil's last contest against a very young and talented Georgia Tech team, however. Singler was dialed in from long-range (eight of 10 from behind the arc) after making just nine three-pointers in his previous seven ACC games, proficient from the charity-stripe (four of five free-throws) and set a career-high in points scored (30 points).

He also led Duke to the win against the Yellow Jackets, slowing the game down late and hitting three-pointers with just one or two seconds left on the shot-clock.

A preseason favorite for ACC Player of the Year (POTY), Singler's numbers have dropped down from his sophomore campaign. Most of his problems shooting the ball this season can be attributed to a nagging wrist injury that he sustained early on in the year, as well as having to deal with high expectations from day one.

While Singler has struggled in key moments, teammate Jon Scheyer has not.

In fact, Scheyer has worked his way into ACC POTY discussions and is also being mentioned as a possible All-American candidate.

Known for his sharp-shooting and outstanding free-throw percentage during his first three years at Duke, Scheyer has since added another dimension to his game during his final year: Throwing accurate passes and cutting down on the turnovers.

Through the first 10 games of the year, no player in the country had a better assist-to-turnover ratio in the country than Scheyer (6.4:1). He has since fallen off the mark a bit, but continues to lead the ACC in the category (3.2:1).

Scheyer has gone over the 30-point mark twice this season (36 against Gardner Webb, 31 against Iowa State) and has dropped at least 18 points in a game 14 times this season.

Nolan Smith has been the perfect complement to Scheyer on the perimeter this season for Duke. Scheyer has the size and passing ability to affect other team's point guard, but Smith gives the Devils an athletic guard who can create his own shots off the dribble.

Now in his junior year, Smith has worked on his three-point shot and has also consistently knocked down free-throws at a high percentage. He possesses one of the top mid-range jumpers in the college game and is noted for his rim-rocking dunks on the fast-break.

Imagine if Duke lost Smith to some type of injury this season.

Who would help carry the load? Who would be the leader on the floor when Scheyer and Singler aren't in the game? Who could fill in for Smith?

The answer is no one. No one on this Duke team can penetrate through double teams and drive to the hoop like Smith can. No one possesses the natural athletic ability and "swagger" that Smith brings to the court night in and night out.

No one will be able to fill the void during the season if something happens to Smith, and that was made apparent during the first two games of the season for Duke. With Smith out of the lineup, Duke had to play at a slower pace.

Scheyer is a great point guard and has fit in the role perfectly. He has shown that he can drive the ball to the basket, but not on a consistent basis as Smith. When there is five minutes or less to play in a game and Duke is in the lead, Coach K wants to run the clock down then drive to the basket in the hopes of a player getting fouled.

That’s where Smith comes into play.

During the first part of last season, Coach K inserted Smith as the point guard of the team. Although he was not able to hold that position for long, he proved to Coach K that he could lead Duke on the fast break and near the end of games, most of the time swinging the ball out for a wide-open three-point attempt from Scheyer, Singler, or Gerald Henderson.

The Triple "S" Threat averages an astounding 53.6 points per game for the Blue Devils. Scheyer leads the way for Duke (18.8 points per game), followed by Smith (18 points) and Singler (16.8 points).   

There are still many college basketball games to play this year and many other teams that will challenge for the national title, but one thing at this moment is clear: Duke will go as far as the Triple "S" Threat takes them.

Other teammates will contribute on a daily basis, but the Devils' run in March will be lead and determined by the play of their three big stars.