Duke Basketball 2011: Seth Curry and 5 Players Who Will Take Blue Devils to Top

The Duke Blue Devils are perennial national championship contenders, and despite the loss of seniors Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler, they should be right there again this year.

While their stars may be gone, Duke has a boatload of depth and a few potential players primed for a breakout season. 

With Midnight Madness in the rear-view mirror, the Blue Devils look forward to the regular season and rest their hopes upon these five players.

Austin Rivers

The number one rated freshman in the class of 2011 according to Rivals.com is ready to suit up for the Blue Devils and make the immediate impact many expect.

He's a scoring machine who has a whole arsenal of moves including his deadly step back jumper that has been known to kill defenses. His athleticism isn't the most ridiculous athleticism you've seen, but it won't leave you unimpressed. He has solid leaping ability and a killer crossover to get into the lane.

He's basically the entire offensive package and has a legitimate shot to be Duke's number one option from day one.

He doesn't come without weakness though. He's turnover prone and is suspect on the defensive end. However, defensive stalwarts Tyler Thornton and Seth Curry can certainly pick up the slack as Rivers' absurdly impressive offensive game leads Duke to the top.

Andre Dawkins

One of Duke's two sweet shooters, Andre Dawkins has one of the most beautiful releases known to man. He's got a killer stroke that can send defenses home with the flick of his wrist. 

He has plenty of hops and can throw it down with the best of them as a fantastic dunker. His issue comes with taking defenders off the dribble, something he's certainly worked on this offseason. If he can tighten up his handle and penetrate the lane then he just might end up as Duke's best player this season.

Thats certainly high praise for Dawkins, especially considering his tendency to disappear in games. Still, his ornate athletic ability coupled with his stellar shot can propel him onto the national scene if he can fix a few of the kinks in his game.

Even if there is no drastic improvement in his driving ability, he's still certainly in a postion to help put the Blue Devils on top.

Mason Plumlee

When Mason Plumlee first slipped on his Duke uniform, there were comparisons to Christian Laettner tossed around as his athleticism and surprisingly efficient jump shot were praised.

Plumlee is probably the most athletic player on the team as he possesses super human leaping ability and good speed for a player of his size. 

He has, however, struggled with his post play and ability to work on the block. 

Still, his rebounding contributions coupled with his stellar passing ability and athleticism is sure to make his presence felt on the court this season.

If Plumlee developed some go to post moves over the summer, he might just be the dominant big man Duke has been looking for.

To be honest though, the chances are slim that Plumlee catapults himself into the Duke big man elite. His services will certainly be of use though, as his rebounding will spark the break and his high flying finishes will ignite the Cameron Crazies.

Ryan Kelly

Analysts raved about Kelly's play in China over the offseason as he asserted himself as one of Duke's go to players.

His release on his shot is slow, but he is a sharp shooter who is capable of stretching the floor, and taking the defensive big man out to the three point line, opening the driving lanes for the likes of Austin Rivers and Seth Curry. 

He's best in the high post, getting mid range jumpers and moving up to three point line for pick and pops. You can bet the farm that Kelly will be highly featured in Duke's offense this season as the co-captain leads the Blue Devils in their fight for ACC supremacy.

Seth Curry

Seth Curry turned into the heart and soul of this Duke team as he led a triumphant comeback against the North Carolina Tar Heels last season.

He, along with Andre Dawkins, is one of Duke's wing sharp shooters who can stretch the defense and kill a team with his deadly stroke.

Unlike Dawkins however, Curry has the ability to break his man down and penetrate the lane, and is also a better defender. He will be handling the point guard duties to start the season and although he wasn't named a team captain, you can bet his voice will be heard and he will be a leader in the locker room. 

Curry will headline Duke's offensive attack as they fight for national supremacy with the rest of the Blue Bloods, and I wouldn't bet against his ability to lead Duke to the top of the food chain as national champs once again.