Coach K: "I think it starts with defense"

Duke coach likes team's balance

Coach Mike Krzyzewski hopes this year’s Duke team can push tempo at the same rate as last year’s squad, which scored over 80 points per game.

“Well, I think it starts with defense,” Coach K said at ACC Operation Basketball in Charlotte, “and we think we have a chance to be a good defensive team, and defense hopefully can force a tempo and force some turnovers, which give you a numerical advantage. So that adds to offense. Offense, we'll play a fast style of play.”

Unlike last year, there won’t be one or two stars who will dominate scoring opportunities.

“Our team this year is very balanced,” he said. “So we're going to need not just balance in whatever the starting five would be, but really from 1 through 10. We can play that many guys. I think you can get greater consistency then because you have more guys playing.”

Sophomore point guard Tre Jones will be running the show.

“Tre is a key guy for us because he's going to have the ball most of the time,” he said. “Last year he got the ball especially designed and RJ. Now he's going to have to distribute it to a number of guys. His ball pressure gets things going. But as important as he is, the two guys on the podium with me (Javin DeLaurier and Jack White) are extremely important. Our three captains, these two guys with the experience they have, and they both become better players, I think those three guys have to be solid for us, and I think will be.”