Foremost of the returning players (that is if he does not stay with the Pirates all year round) is senior point guard Dick Groat. The major league shortstop might also be the best basketball player in the country. He did after all lead the ACC in both points and assists two years ago.  REALLY!  The 5’11 180 pounder can flat play and might be the best penetrating guard in the ACC. He did take a step back last year probably due to his dual role and Kryzezwski’s new style as though he is a great defender on the diamond he is not so much on the court.  Especially with all of the new studs he has to try and stop.  After all Charlie Scott is a true 6’5 and play points for the Blue Devils Rival at NC and NC State and Georgia Tech have about four guys they rotate in even bigger or quicker than Groat.  No doubt Groat will be the main guy in Durham this year if he stays around for one more year but Kryzezwski better have somebody else ready to run the show.  His sidekick in crime for the last three years has been the venerable Art Heyman. Heyman is a stud who can score inside and out and like Groat was named 1st team ACC once again even though the Dukies finished 6th.  He averaged almost 19 a game with 8 boards and can also run the court like a guard.  This jewish kid is tough as they come as he showed as a freshman in a brawl against rival North Carolina.  Heyman and Larry Brown came to blows and the fans in Chapel Hill have never let him forget it (or the fact he left them at the altar after committing to the powder blue team before he changed his mind and came to Durham) as he is booed every time he touches the ball.  Heyman will need to adjust better to Coach K’s (I am not going to spell it again) style as there supposedly is a crew of freshmen waiting to get playing time who are much more defensive minded.  No way they beat out this legend as the youthful Kryzezwski knows where his bread is buttered. 

The rest of the starting lineup for the Blue Devils is up for grabs with a combination of upperclassmen coming back and Coach K’s recruits. For instance the competition at two guard will feature seniors Jeff Mullins, Bob Verga and sophomore Johnny Dawkins. Mullins is the incumbent and has a complete game and gives the Dukies good size for the two at 6’4. Mullins is a complete player on both ends who can shoot well and pass and is a solid defender.  No holes here but not exactly dynamic either.  Verga, on the other hand, is Mr. Dynamic as the kids at Duke will tell you.  This sweet shooting stud drives around campus in a corvette and hitting the local pool halls has made him a legend in Durham.  He actually led the team in scoring two years ago (yes over Groat and Heyman) but is not popular with the media as he did not even make 2nd team ACC.  Part of this may be his defense as he does not seem to care about this part of the game which has not made him popular with Coach K.  Dawkins, on the third hand, is one of K’s favorites as he was one of his first recruits and brings exactly the kind of attitude the vulnerable coach wants to build his program with.  Dawkins will do whatever it takes to win games.  A solid scorer who loves to slash Kryzezwski moved him to point at times (when Groat left to play some baseball games) to get his prized pupil on the court. Dawkins will not start the season being the starter but will play and who knows how much the young coach will move the kids he recruited into the forefront this season. After all his career is on the line and better live with the kids you brought to the gunfight than some hired guns you inherited when you got to Durham.