Duke Basketball: Grading Each Player on the Blue Devils Roster So Far
So far the 2010-2011 college basketball season has had its ups and downs for the Duke Blue Devils.
It started with a bang seeing the preseason No. 1 Blue Devils reel of 15 straight wins including impressive wins over former Top 10 teams Kansas State and Michigan State.
Then came the loses. While Duke only has one loss to their record 19-1 (5-1 ACC), the early season loss of star freshman point guard Kyrie Irving to injury has forced the Blue Devils to re-evaluate everything and the assessment of the team has a whole has changed as a result.
Still despite a loss two weeks ago to Florida State, Duke remains in the Top 5 and is likely to be a factor down the stretch if the players it still has continue to improve.
Here is a look at how each player would be graded at the mid point of the season.
Kyrie Irving
1 of 10
Irving was clearly Duke's best and most exciting player but unfortunately for Duke fans they only got to see that for eight games.
Now it is unclear, and increasingly more and more unlikely that Irving will suit up for the Blue Devils anymore this year and perhaps ever.
Before his injury he was the most explosive guard in the country and easily on his way to any freshman of the year awards and a potential All-American nod. That has all been cut short and Duke fans may never get to see what could have been with Irving running the show.
Grade: Incomplete (Who am I kidding you give him an A+ for what he did when he played).
Nolan Smith
2 of 10
Smith has lived up to his billing as a potential All-American. He is averaging 22 points more than five rebounds and is leading the Duke offense in the absence of Kyrie Irving.
At times Smith has seemed unstoppable, and others he has shot poorly and seemed mortal, but always still manages to get his points.
He may not beat out the likes of Kemba Walker, or Jared Sullinger for National Player of the Year, but in the minds of Duke fans there is no better player.
Grade: A+
Kyle Singler
3 of 10
Singler hasn't had the National Player of the Year type season. His numbers, just over 18 points and six rebounds per game, are similar to last years.
At times his shot has been inconsistent as he has been alternating between playing in the post and out on the perimeter.
He still has shown the toughness that will have him go down as an all-time great at Duke. He isn't afraid to take the big shot and in many cases has hit them this year.
Grade: A
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Andre Dawkins
4 of 10
Dawkins struggled last season both physically and emotionally.
The physicality of Division-I basketball was something very knew and when he started to get things together tragedy struck when his sister died in a car accident.
Many speculated Dawkins, whose playing time dwindled down the stretch might transfer but he stuck it out. He got stronger and better in the off season and has improved nearly every aspect of his game and has become a regular starter.
Aside from a few defensive lapses here and there, Dawkins has been a solid contributor and will likely to continue to be as the year progresses.
Grade: B
Mason Plumlee
5 of 10
Mason Plumlee may have been more hurt by the loss of Kyrie Irving than any other member of the team.
With Irving Plumlee was improving as an offensive weapon by leaps and bounds. He enjoyed a career high 25 points in a break out game versus Marquette earlier this season.
However, since Irving went down Plumlee hasn't scored in double figures but once and hasn't scored more than seven points against an ACC opponent.
His rebounding and defensive prowess have remained steady though. If he can become a factor on the offensive end Duke will be all the better for it.
Grade: B-
Ryan Kelly
6 of 10
Many didn't know what to expect from Ryan Kelly heading into this year. During his freshman year, Kelly showed some promise but was often too weak to handle the physicality of the college game.
In the off season he has bulked up and continues to show the kind of head up high basketball IQ that drew Mike Krzyzewski to him in the first place.
He is a good passer and shooter. While he may never be lightening quick or a proto-typical back to the basket type post player, his ability to stretch the defense and make good decisions had helped him earn a starting spot and become a candidate as Duke's third scoring option.
Grade: A
Seth Curry
7 of 10
Seth Curry may be only the third transfer in the Mike Krzyzewski era but it is hard to imagine anyone being more anticipated.
In his first year of actual action Curry has shown glimpses of how good he can be. Unfortunately many expected his older brother Steph and that isn't who Seth Curry is.
He has struggled in some aspects of the game, and hasn't shown a consistent touch. His ball handling at times has also seemed a little shaky especially when under duress. He still has plenty of time and has show some good defensive instincts but also a propensity to put himself in bad position and pick up cheap fouls.
Grade: C+
Miles Plumlee
8 of 10
This was suppose to be the year that Miles Plumlee finally got it.
So far, it can't be said that he has, at least not completely. At times the elder Plumlee has been terrific, appropriately aggressive and shown an ability to finish near the basket.
Other times, he has been lost in space, out of position, and sitting buttocks firmly attached to pine.
Plumlee has a short in his on off switch and if Mike Krzyzewski and big-man coach Steve Wojciechowski can figure out how to keep it permanently turned to "on" then Duke will be a tough out come tournament time.
Grade: C-
Tyler Thornton
9 of 10
Tyler Thornton was expected to be a contributor is spurts this season, as he learned the Duke system and grew into a more confident player for the future.
That was before Kyrie Irving got hurt.
Since then he has seen his play time incrementally increase and he has delivered. He helped save Duke when they were floundering against Maryland at home and he played nearly 20 minutes of affective play against Wake Forest.
He is smart and doesn't try to do too much. His playing point guard allows Smith to go back to his natural two-guard spot which allows Duke's offense to run more smoothly.
He isn't the super star point guard but he does just enough on offense and brings a bulldog mentality on defense and that in and of itself will earn him playing time.
Grade: B+
Josh Hairston
10 of 10
Josh Hairston hasn't seen much time this season but his time will come.
He is exactly the type of energetic player that Duke fans love to love and Duke haters love to hate. He still has to learn to communicate and move his feet on defense.
On the offensive end he has shown a nice touch from 10 to 15 feet, but needs to work on his strength and finishing near the basket.
This will all come in time and while he isn't likely to see the floor too much this season unless it is a brief stint early or in clean up work late, he should be a factor in the next few years.
Grade: C+
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