"Depth" and "collaboration" have been watchwords for the men's basketball team this season. With Duke's talent coming from a host of strong returning players and a crop of freshmen that play as well as the aliens from "Space Jam," head coach Mike Krzyzewski's squad has been tireless in its emphasis on teamwork.
The Blue Devils are attempting to play basketball like an orchestra plays a symphony, with the individuals abandoning ego for the good of the group.
The symphony featured a lot of solos in last night's 80-60 victory over Butler, especially from the big men. And they sounded pretty good to Duke's ears.
Forwards Shavlik Randolph and Dahntay Jones and center Casey Sanders took turns providing the impetus for the Blue Devil victory.
On a night when the vaunted Blue Devil backcourt duo of Chris Duhon and J.J. Redick were effectively defanged, the frontcourt played like it had something to prove. Jones, Randolph and Sanders proved that most everyone gets to dominate - for at least a few minutes.
Jones' 25 points and Randolph's 24 points and 10 rebounds were impressive, as were Sanders' defense and emotional leadership. Perhaps more impressive were the streaks in which these players exhibited their talent.
Sanders started the game off at a blistering pace, with two rebounds, five points, a block and an assist in just over four minutes. He assisted or scored eight of Duke's first ten points, including a seemingly prescient pass to a wide-open Redick and a ferocious dunk that most people can only perform on a Nerf hoop.
"I realized [blocking shots] is what I should be doing," Sanders said. "I'm probably the best in the country at that."
Sanders' play cooled off five minutes into the half, but the occasionally timid Randolph soon found his own intensity.
Six minutes into the game, Butler forward Duane Lightfoot matched up with Randolph in the paint and banged the Raleigh native around before turning to stick a jumpshot and rough start for the freshman.
However, with 17 minutes to play, Randolph pulled down a hard-earned rebound before being fouled to the floor. As he got back on his feet, his intensity had already increased.
In the remainder of the half, Randolph became a force in the paint, racking up nine points, three boards, three blocks and a steal.
His shots showed off the touch that makes him a legitimate threat from beyond the arc, as he was perfect from the field and the foul line in the first half.
Randolph's defense and post play also confounded Butler, exhibiting a physical side that he has rarely shown to Duke fans.
The beginning of the second period also belonged to Randolph, as the 6-foot-10 freshman continued his hot streak. His first three baskets of the half netted him seven points in as many minutes, and his tight defense allowed the Blue Devils to climb to an 18-point lead.
"Obviously Shav was terrific. He gave us a low-post presence offensively," Krzyzewski said of the East Campus resident's second career double-double. "Casey gave us a low-post presence defensively."
Randolph played out the game competently, but the next impact player in the Blue Devil frontcourt was Jones, who quickly took center stage with 16 points in the second half, including two galvanizing three-point plays.
After tonight it would appear that Duke' frontcourt is no longer any kind of liability. Jones, Randolph, Sanders and even the likes of Shelden Williams - who started but only logged six minutes Thursday - are all legitimate threats in the paint.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.