When it came time for the basketball previews to be released in late-October, many of them read, "Casey Sanders and Nick Horvath add much-needed depth to the Duke lineup."
Eighteen games later, that is not true.
Not to say that Duke lacks depth completely-Chris Duhon has provided minutes off the bench all season and Matt Christensen appears to be starting to coming into his own-but rather, it lack Sanders and Horvath.
The latter finds himself sidelined with a compressed stress fracture on his leg, a common track injury that usually results in 11 to 12 weeks away from the game. So far, Horvath has been a cheerleader for five.
"I may be redshirted because I've been out so long," Horvath said. "I've been trying to stay in shape and benefit in anyway possible from this."
However, Sanders has stayed healthy, and while his junk minutes may raise his average higher than last year, his playing time in close games have been as low as usual, something that many people, including Sanders, would not have predicted.
"I think a lot of it has to do with my physical presence," he said. "A lot of people can push me around inside, but a lot of that is just me having to look past that and not let it get in my head. I'm playing hard and I'll get there. I have no doubt."
But for Sanders the big question arises in, "Where is there?" Named Florida's 1999 Mr. Basketball, Sanders even earned a place on the highly regarded McDonald's All-America team. Unfortunately for the high school standout, he has been riding the pine for most of his Duke career.
Although starting during his freshman season was never really an option as the bigger, more developed Carlos Boozer came in at the same time, many fans expected Sanders to provide depth at the center position this season. But that has not yet materialized.
"I'm at a loss right now," he said. "I think, for the most part, our bench has been doing a good job. I may not being filling a huge role in games, but you don't get to see us that much in practice. I think our Blue team this year is a lot better, and we've been providing tough competition."
With that competition and a much-improved team from a year ago, Sanders is again lost in the mix-at least temporarily. With Christensen playing many more minutes than Sanders these days, the slender 6-foot-11 Tampa Bay native has gone from seventh man to about ninth. Walk-on J.D. Simpson even appeared in the recent game against Georgia Tech before Sanders.
"I think every player here deserves to play," Sanders said. "It doesn't do much good to plead my own case. When we have so many good players, it's hard to shine."
Even though he will not plead his own case, Sanders sees his time at the far end of the Duke bench as a great learning experience.
"It's tough for every player who has been playing the game long enough to have to sit the bench," he said. "This is one of the first times I've had to do it, but I just look at it as a growing process. We have so many good players that could play minutes that I just have to look at this as my growing period."
During this growing time, Sanders not only has been able to work on his strength, but also practice a few other skills, to the point that once he can add another 10 pounds to his 220-pound frame, he should be a complete player and a force for the Blue Devils
"A lot of players haven't seen a player like me on the team," he said. "Being able to make plays on defense and blocking shots and stuff like that. When I come into my own. I'll be something new to the team."
The good news for Sanders is that he is not afraid to wait. Learning from Mike Krzyzewski has helped him improve to the point that there is no doubt in his mind he can one day make an impact in Duke's lineup.
"I'm learning a lot and that's actually very good," he said. "I came here to learn from the best and be a part of the best. That's one of my goals that's been accomplished. There are other more personal goals, but only one main [goal],... winning a national championship. If I get a chance to play in that game, that's one thing; if I'm helping prep for it, that's good too."
Although preparing his team for games may have become his specialty over the last couple of years, Sanders has told everyone to look for him to be the superstar he was in high school at this level as well.
"I know now my best playing days are in front of me," he said with confidence.
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