ACC: Who Will Start For Duke?

Some people say you can never have too much of a good thing. Well Mike Krzyzewski and Duke certainly hope that is the case. They have one of the deepest rosters in the ACC and look poised to make a run for conference glory, as well as a push for their first national title since 2010. Jabari Parker and Rodney Hood left for the NBA, but the Blue Devils return many talented players and welcome four impressive freshmen to campus as well.

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With all this talent, it may be a challenge to figure out whom to start. Some players talented enough to start will have to come off the bench. Will that create tension and jealousy within the team? Only time will tell. Now comes the speculation. Who exactly will crack the starting five?

While Duke is extremely deep at the wing and guards spots, down low there are a few obvious choices for the starting five. One player is a lock, and that is Jahlil Okafor. He is a top-flight recruit at center, and coaches have raved about him in practice. Coach K has even said there is no comparison for him, that he has never coached a player like Okafor. That is high praise and if Okafor can live up to his reputation he will dominate the paint offensively for Duke.

Mar 21, 2014; Raleigh, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Quinn Cook (2) drives to the basket against Mercer Bears forward Bud Thomas (5) in the second half of a men /

Next comes the power forward spot. This is another area where Duke’s depth is not as apparent.

Junior Amile Jefferson will likely get the start at the four. Last season he averaged 6.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, while shooting an impressive 64.4 percent from the field. He should contribute around the same amount this season, given all the talent around him. He is a good rebounder, a solid defender, and has two years of experience under his belt.

The leadership he brings to the table is also a plus, especially considering all the young players that will have significant roles this seasons. Jefferson is not a star, but he is the type of hard-nosed player every contending team needs.

Here is where things get tricky. At small forward Duke has several options, with two standing out above the rest. They could start Semi Ojeleye, a sophomore that showed off impressive athleticism in limited minutes last year. Or they could start sharpshooting junior Rasheed Sulaimon. He shot better than 40 percent from 3-point range last season, and is also a good on-ball defender.

Like Jefferson, he is also experienced and has developed into a leader.

More than likely Duke will forego these options to start another freshman. That freshman would be Justise Winslow. Winslow is another highly ranked recruit that has impressed coaches and fans since the first day he stepped on campus.

First and foremost he is an athlete that showcases his impressive dunking ability whenever he gets to the rim.

He averaged nearly 28 points per game during his senior year of high school; he can score in a hurry. He also projects to be an above-average defensive player.

With quickness and length at the small forward position, he could lock down scoring wings if he develops into the defender most project him to be. His athleticism and upside will likely nab him the starting job over the more experienced option of Sulaimon.

At shooting guard, there are also several options, but rumors have been floating around about what the coaching staff is planning.

Rasheed Sulaimon could fit here. Sulaimon and Winslow at the 2 and 3 would provide two potentially lockdown wing defenders, which is certainly an enticing thought. They also have sophomore Matt Jones, who only played seven minutes per game last season, but showcased impressive defense.

In high school he was also a fantastic 3-point shooter, but he did not get a chance to show that part of his game off. Grayson Allen is a freshmen shooter who should be a prominent player during his Duke career, but likely will not start in 2015.

The rumors that have been floating around are that Duke plans to start both of their point guards in the backcourt. This would mean freshmen Tyus Jones and senior Quinn Cook playing together.

This is an interesting idea, but one that I’m not a huge fan of. It is unclear if these rumors will end up being true, but if they are, it will certainly be an experiment.

Duke’s best five is Tyus Jones/Quinn Cook, Rasheed Sulaimon, Justise Winslow, Amile Jefferson, and Jahlil Okafor. If Coach K wants experience in his backcourt, then Cook is the way to go. If he wants to bet on the talent of the incoming freshmen, then he should start Tyus Jones.

Playing them together will only create confusion about who the true point guard is. Saving one for the second unit provides stability to that group as well, giving Duke a more complete team. Of course, Mike Krzyzewski has four national championships, so maybe I should trust his decision making.

No matter what group of five starts, it is obvious that this Duke team is loaded with talent. If everything comes together, in April the program will cut down the nets for the fifth time in its storied history.