The past provides proof: A prerequisite for any Duke basketball team to stand on a stage in April is the existence of either a pleasing-to-the-eye true point guard or a couple of savvy veteran combo guards.
- Bobby Hurley, the all-time NCAA leader in assists (1,079), single-handedly fulfilled the requirement in 1991 and 1992.
- Jason Williams and Chris Duhon, a pair of professional thieves on the hardwood, were more than enough to hang a third banner in Cameron Indoor Stadium in 2001.
- Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith, who both excelled at shooting and limiting mistakes, delivered the goods as upperclassmen in 2010.