Duke's Plumlee Brothers Standing Tall in ACC Tournament

Greensboro, N.C.—As expected, the Duke Blue Devils are playing in the ACC tournament finals for what seems like the 20th time in as many years.

Also as expected, the play of Kyle Singler, Jon Scheyer, and Nolan Smith has carried the Devils in their first two games of the tournament.

But it hasn't been all the big three for Duke at Greensboro Coliseum.

Two talented, tall, and athletic post players who just so happen to be related have given Duke extremely solid contributions off the bench in the last two games as well.

Miles and Mason Plumlee may only be averaging eight points and a little over six rebounds per game combined in Duke's ACC tournament wins, but their play has been noticeably better, particularly on defense, than it was during the last stretch of the regular season.

In a season that hasn't been what many expected in terms of the brothers' post production, the Plumlees look like they are starting to get it.

In the preseason, coach Mike Krzyzewski said he would likely start both of them when the season began.  Miles did, indeed, make the starting lineup.  Mason was sidelined with a broken wrist just days before Duke's first game.

While Miles started the season strong, he struggled to produce (and stay out of foul trouble) once the Blue Devils got into the thick of their season.  Mason, who first played in Duke's loss to Wisconsin, was slowly adjusting to ACC play.

As Brian Zoubek took off in the middle of the ACC season, media focus on Duke's post play shifted from the Plumlees to seniors Zoubek and Lance Thomas (a player who seems to begin every season coming off the bench only to defend his way back into the starting lineup).

The Plumlees haven't disappeared, though. 

The brothers both come off the bench to play significant (albeit reduced from preseason expectation) minutes.

Most of the time, they come into the game together and leave together as Krzyzewski often subs his post players in pairs.

If you ask either brother, they don't mind their role one bit.  In fact, they prefer to play together.

"We've played with each other our whole lives, so it's really comfortable to come out together and have your brother on the court," said Miles after the Miami win.  "You just know that there's somebody out there with you who knows you better than anyone in the whole gym."

When asked why it seems that both players seem to produce more when the other is also in the game, Miles said, "We both know the extent of each other's abilities, so we may trust each other to make plays that...other teammates might be hesitant to make."

Mason agrees.

"I'm used to what Miles does and I feel like I'm really able to help him out, so it's great," said Mason as I held up a microphone while standing on my tiptoes (a small stepladder would have been really helpful).

It's a good thing the Plumlee brothers like playing together, because after this season, Duke loses Zoubek and Thomas to graduation.

Miles and Mason will undoubtedly be Duke's primary targets in the post, just as they were expected to be at the beginning of this season.

If their play against Miami is any indication of the future, that won't be a problem for Duke.