Mike Krzyzewski never liked the designations of forward, center and guard. Rather Duke's head coach just refers to athletes as basketball players with one important exception: "The one position you might refer to is a point guard if you have a dominant guy who's running your team."
Chris Duhon and Steve Blake both fit the description of point guards that are instrumental to their team's success. Their ability to lead their respective teams and knock down a momentum-changing shot could make the difference in tonight's matchup of ACC foes.
Both players fulfill the role of the traditional point guard--they pass first, score second. Blake and Duhon are first and second in the ACC in assists, respectively.
If either is able to become a scorer while not sacrificing their other responsibilities, it could tip the balance of a very even matchup.
In the teams' first meeting in College Park, Md., the Blue Devils were defeated when they were unable to stop a Terrapin run midway through the second half.
During the period when Maryland outscored Duke 19-3, Duhon was absent from the offense, leaving the team he is supposed to lead without a head.
Despite failing at Maryland, Duhon has stepped up in the Blue Devils' other two big games-the home win against North Carolina and the double overtime loss at Wake Forest.
Against UNC, the Duke point guard scored 12 points including several key baskets down the stretch, and dished out 10 assists. Facing the Demon Deacons, Duhon played 44 minutes, scoring a career-high 23 points.
Just as Krzyzewski understands the importance of Duhon to his basketball team, the Duke coach praises Blake's on-the-court leadership, noting his importance to Maryland's success in recent years.
Blake is the reigning co-ACC Player of the Week after scoring 21 points and compiling nine assists in Maryland's critical ACC victory over Wake Forest.
"He is just steady, shows up every game and now he is stepping up even more, in a scoring role," Krzyzewski said. "In the past he would always step up when they needed a big shot."
While Duhon has not lived up to the expectations of many, he remains one of 20 finalists for the Naismith Player of the Year award.
As the lone captain at the start of the season, his teammates look to him as their leader.
"Chris is our leader, he is our head," senior Casey Sanders said. "Not so much scoring- and points-wise but assists-wise and running the team. He is the guy that really gives our team its character. When he is on top of his game we are a very difficult team to match up with."
The Blue Devils hold a similar respect for their nemesis Blake.
"Ditto," Sanders said about Blake's similar role. "They go as Blake goes. He is the main ballhandler. He is the one that gets everybody in position to score and be successful. He hits the momentum shots for them."
While both players are renowned for running their team's offense, the two point guards have the reputation for being excellent defenders. Duhon and Blake will be staring each other in the eye on defense for much of the contest.
Duhon will try to prevent Blake, the school's all-time leader in assists, from penetrating into the lane and either kicking the ball out to his shooters or by opening up opportunities for Maryland's strong inside attack.
If the game is tight, especially down the stretch, expect Blake and Duhon to play critical roles in the outcome of the contest and affirm Krzyzewski's acknowledgment of the importance of the point guard in the college game.
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