Entering the season, everyone knew this Duke team would look different.
The absence of Coach K on the sideline is the difference that has dominated the media coverage, and rightly so. But another unusual element of this team may be more pivotal tonight: Duke’s size up front.
Freshmen Dereck Lively and Kyle Filipowski, both listed as 7-footers, were expected to play alongside each other to start the year. With Lively’s debut delayed by injury, Filipowski instead has started the Blue Devils’ first two games alongside 6-foot-10 center Ryan Young. And with Dariq Whitehead also out with injury, 6-foot-8 freshman Mark Mitchell has started the season playing on the wing despite being projected more naturally as a mobile power forward.