In Duke's most recent game, in Tallahassee, Fla. last weekend against Florida State, midway through the action, Casey Sanders pulled down a rebound on the offensive block. After securing the ball but facing away from the basket, he, in a sudden motion, explosively corkscrewed his body upwards, threw the ball through the hoop in a windmill motion and then screamed for emphasis.
It was a surprisingly aggressive move from the senior center, whose passive play over the past three years has often drawn criticism from Blue Devil fans, but it was just the kind of play the team is going to need from its big men if it wants to be successful late in the season.
Coming into the season, Duke knew that its frontcourt was going to be deep, but without much experience. Sanders and Nick Horvath had been in the system for four years, but neither of the two had seen extensive action over that span.
That liability now seems to be a thing of the past, however, as both players have stepped up into leadership roles on the team, especially for freshman frontcourt players Shavlik Randolph, Shelden Williams and Mike Thompson, and they have begun to assert themselves more on the court as well.
Head coach Mike Krzyzewski praised his two seniors and the progress they have made.
"Casey and Nick are good stories because I can expect more of them now," Krzyzewski said. "They have age experience but not playing time or experience of having done it. Seeing it done is nice, but when you actually do it, that type of experience is ultimately important. I see them helping our younger guys, helping everyone.
"Those two guys have done a marvelous job for us. I could not have asked them to do more for us this year than they are doing, and not just on the court. They actually feel like seniors now who can talk to kids. They have been terrific. I'm very proud of them."
Horvath made it clear that he wants to be a leader of the team.
"I take it upon myself to get everyone ready--to be able give all that they can give," Horvath said. "On any given night, one guy might be too into his own thing, missing his shots, or hiding behind his move. We can't have that the rest of the year, so we need to have everyone come out and play for the team, and play for each other."
Indeed, Horvath has asserted himself more and more recently. Before and during each game the English and physics major can be seen talking with his younger teammates and clapping for the ball on offense when he wants it.
Sanders, too, has done his part to become a leader on the team. He said that Horvath provides the technical expertise to the freshmen while he lets his play do the talking for him.
"I'm more athletic than Nick is, so I let my play speak for itself," Sanders said. "But I leave the mental coaching to him."
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