After last season's performance, Daniel Ewing has left some big shoes for each of this year's freshman to fill. As the team's only returning sophomore, Ewing is a leader whose advice all six newcomers seek in learning how to adjust to Duke.
"Daniel has been more of a leader," freshman Shelden Williams said. "I heard last year he was quiet. Right now, he has been talking to us. When we're on the court, the big guys are starting to screen down for the guards, he yells to what position we should go into, so he has been more of a leader like that."
Ewing stepped up in a number of clutch moments last year, showing his strong perimeter shooting. The guard has good ball-handling skills and an ability to score both inside and out. Duke's leading bench scorer last season, Ewing earned 2002 All-ACC Freshman honorable mention honors. He averaged 6.5 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.
"Daniel I think had an outstanding freshman year and he's capable of becoming an excellent basketball player and not just to score," head coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "What I've tried to work with him and the staff this fall is to try to look at being a player--an outstanding player, to be a defender, where he handles the ball, rebounds and has an influence on the game not just from the scoring perspective."
Many Duke fans will remember Ewing's performance in the second round of last year's NCAA Tournament against Notre Dame. With the Fighting Irish leading 71-64, the freshman sank a three to fuel Duke's 9-0 scoring run. He notched four free throws in the final two minutes to end Notre Dame's chances of an upset and give Duke the 82-77 lead. Ewing scored a career-high 18 points and was 6-for-6 from the line. In his three NCAA tournament games, Ewing was perfect on his free throws.
As a high school senior, Ewing was ranked among the top 35 prep players in the nation. The Missouri City, Texas native has lived up to much more than his potential in becoming among the nation's top freshman in 2002 and one of Duke's leading scorers. He was a double figure scorer nine times last year.
"The ACC is always a tough league to play in because you always have great players, even though they may not be known when they come in," he said. "There are a lot of great players out there that will be known by the end of the season."
His teammates not only note that he has provided strong leadership in helping the freshmen, but he has also improved his own game. Ewing has been working on his defensive skills so he can pose a greater threat to opponents from all aspects of the court, not just as a shooter.
"Daniel is an outstanding player," Krzyzewski said. "He'll be one of our key guys, there is no question about that."
Ewing's hard work ethic and commitment to the game will pay off, as he realizes that there is an increased competition for a starting spot. Freshman Sean Dockery will pose a sharp threat to Ewing's stature, though the sophomore's experience will give him an added boost.
"There's been great competition," he said. "I mean we have a lot of great players and any number are willing and capable of starting, so everybody goes out there and gives it their all... a lot of people are really going after it and trying to fight."
With such pressure for playing time with the depth of the Blue Devil roster, Ewing will have to fight hard to earn his starting job, a task that he is highly capable of doing, judging from his collegiate career thus far.
"You have to be ready to go every day," Ewing said. "You can't take a day off. The day you take a day off is the day the next player takes your spot. It's fun. It allows you to get better; it makes other players better also."
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