Krzyzewski: At Least One Freshman, Maybe More, To Start

Duke was 22-11 last season and lost Josh McRoberts to the NBA after McRobert’s sophomore season.

Whether this year is different may depend on a three-man freshman class that has talent but lacks a pure post player.

“I feel good about our team,” coach Mike Krzyzewski said Friday. “We’re deep. We’re looking for some separation. Who will separate himself from the other guys? The best of all worlds is they don’t separate but get all really good.

Krzyzewski said Duke will look to become more aggressive defensively, “and our depth will help. Three freshmen will contribute. One or more will start.”

That one, right now, is 6-foot-9 forward Kyle Singler, but guard Nolan Smith and forward Taylor King will push for time as well.

“Nolan Smith comes from Oak Hill, so he has played at a high level of competition,” Krzyzewski said. “He’s more ready to play and can really put the best pressure on the ball of any of our players. So how does that fit in? That fits in well.

“Taylor King is not a big guy or a little guy but he can shoot the ball. He has a weapon. “And Singler is our most well-rounded player, even as a freshman. He’s 6-9, 220 and he just knows how to play. He’s a kid that, if we started a game tonight, he would start for us, and everybody on the team would say, ‘Good, that’s good.’

“He’s going to be a special player.

“But all these guys coming back should be better.”

Unlike many coaches, Krzyzewski is quick to praise his freshmen. Asked why,

Krzyzewski said, “When it’s obvious you just say it. … You just tell them and then maybe they won’t defer.

“We have good kids and that’s a good problem with freshmen, that they defer. They’ve learned to stand in line. … It’s important if the whole team is saying that. And if I say it, I wouldn’t say it unless it’s true.

“And it’s true because those guys see it every day. If they were picking a team they would pick him.”