(RNN) – In 2010, Mason Plumlee and the rest of the Duke freshmen mostly watched from the sidelines as the team won the program's fourth national championship.
Plumlee, now an All-ACC first teamer, has a chance in 2013 to add another banner to the rafters, this time standing at the forefront of the Blue Devils' attack.
The 6'10" senior found himself under intense scrutiny this season, with fans and critics expecting him to play like an All-American every night. Despite the pressure, he provided consistency from the low post and balanced the lineup of sharpshooters placed around him.
His season was good enough to get him a spot among the finalists for the John Wooden Award, given to the national player of the year.
His averages in points (17.2), rebounds (10.2) and his field goal percentage (59.2) were ranked second among ACC players. He combines the strength and aggressiveness of a classic center with fluid footwork to get by defenders and into open shot opportunities.
Plumlee's senior running mate, 6'11" Ryan Kelly, missed nearly two months of the season with a foot injury. With Kelly back, Duke has the size and ability to cause matchup problems for any team it faces in the tournament.
Copyright 2013 Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.
