If you got a chance to catch Duke’s game against Florida State, you know by now that Duke doesn’t escape Tallahassee with a “W” without Jon Scheyer. A starter last season, Scheyer has been relegated to coming off the bench now that freshman phenom Kyle Singler is in town.

Most players would sulk when faced with that kind of demotion, but Scheyer has relished it … and Duke is better off for it.

Scheyer finished the game against the Seminoles with 21 points on 9-13 shooting, three rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals, and left an impact on the game that those numbers simply don’t do justice to. Sure the sophomore from Ilinois may not start the game on the floor, but his nearly 28 minute per game going into Wednesday’s tilt hints at a far more important role than is normally associated with a “bench” player.

In six fewer minutes this season, Scheyer is averaging more rebounds, assists and blocks than a year ago, while cutting down his turnovers and improving his shooting from the field, the free throw line and from behind the arc.

Of course, Mr. Scheyer isn’t the only player on Tobacco Road that has played the part of the sixth man to a tee… Number 14 for North Carolina has done an equally impressive job. Even though he’s not called upon to do as much as his counterpart in Durham because of the superior talent around him, Danny Green quietly goes about being one of the best at his craft in each and every game.

The junior wingman plays more than 21 minutes a game and is the proverbial “stat stuffer.” Averaging more than 12 points and 5 rebounds a contest, Green has also dramatically improved his shooting from the field (from 41percent to 53 percent) and from three-point range (from 29% to 40%) from a season ago.

In his most recent game, against arch-rival N.C. State, all Green did was tally a double-double with 13 points and 14 boards … and dish out six assists … and block four shots.

Moreover, Green’s ability to guard a number of different positions on the court provides even more versatility and depth to a Carolina team that already has plenty of both.

Duke and Carolina would be good teams without these players … maybe even very good. With them however, Carolina is great, and Duke has the potential to be.

Being a sixth man is not easy. Jon Scheyer and Danny Green have just made it look that way.