Tyler Thornton Stepped Up Big, But Kyle Led The Way

“That was one of the reasons why I came back to school: to keep on winning, win another national championship, become a better leader and also try to win (national) Player of the Year.” – Kyle Singler

With Duke losing to Maryland in the second half, they needed a spark. The Devils were struggling to keep up with Maryland on defense and didn’t have much going in the way of offense. Who did the 1st ranked Devils turn to for that spark? Tyler Thornton. The least heralded member of Duke’s Top 10 recruiting class stepped up to provide four steals and take two charges in 12 minutes of playing time. It was an impressive performance that ignited a 14-2 run to propel the Devils past their wannabe rivals to push their winning streak to 25 games.

One of the most important plays Tyler was a part of was drawing a charge on Maryland’s center Jordan Williams, who was punishing Duke on the boards and who they seemed to have no answer for. What was hard to see in live action was how Tyler knew exactly where to be when as the play developed. For that answer, look below:

As the play develops, Jordan Williams sets a screen on the perimeter to alleviate the extended pressure that Duke was applying to defend against an interior pass to Williams himself. All-American candidate Kyle Singler recognizes the screen and calls it out.

You can see Kyle continuing to direct Tyler, who leaves his man and begins to step up on help defense, where to be to best defend the developing play. This is obviously something the team has seen in their scouting report and Kyle relies on his instincts as to what will happen next.

Tyler smartly waits until after the pass is made so the Maryland guard will not anticipate him being there as the pass is made, but then steps up to establish position (and giving Williams enough space to catch and establish position himself so as not to draw the blocking foul.)

Tyler is in perfect position due to his own basketball IQ, and the help of his senior teammate.

It’s important to note that Tyler did a number of things right on this play, relying on an excellent basketball IQ and a knack for being in the right place at the right time. But to not notice the effect of a senior leader like Singler on the play of his less heralded teammate is an incomplete observation. Such a heady play by a guy who’s name will be high among the greatest players to have ever worn a Duke jersey. I’d say that goal of becoming a better leader that Kyle set out to accomplish as he returned for his senior year is taking shape.