Krzyzewski on Paulus: 'He became our leader today'

By Ken Medlin
Feb 7, 2009

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With Duke reeling from the Devils’ worst loss in two decades, a 74-47 drubbing at the hands of Clemson, Mike Krzyzewski turns to a veteran to help right the Blue Devils ship.

In only his second start of the season, Greg Paulus may have reclaimed the starting spot at point guard, a spot he held for much of his three previous seasons at Duke.

Paulus scored 18 points and only committed one turnover in forty minutes of play as Duke erased a 16-point second-half deficit to beat Miami in overtime 78-75.

“He became our leader today,” said Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski. “You can’t be designated the leader, you have to earn being the leader. Greg did that today.”

An emotional Krzyzewski praised Paulus for his play “under fire,” saying leaders are found during moments of crisis.

Considering Duke’s play in the first half – the Devils hit only 6 of 31 shots in the early going – and their demoralizing loss at Clemson, the Blue Devils were certainly “under fire.”

Enter Paulus, an unlikely hero after losing his starting job to Nolan Smith in the preseason.

“I’ve been around for a while and I’ve been in all types of games,” said Paulus. “I love to talk and organize and put people in positions where they can be successful.”

Paulus is no stranger to a leadership role, not after starting 95 of his first 103 games at Duke, and he is certainly not shying away from his return to responsibility.

“If that’s how I can help the team, that’s something I want to do,” he said.

Most Recent Comments

RE: Krzyzewski on Paulus: 'He became our leader today'

There were calls missed on both sides of the ball, but saying Duke won because of those calls is absolutely ludicrous.

I never wrote that, so quoting me isn't helping you make your point.

RE: Krzyzewski on Paulus: 'He became our leader today'

Paulus is the team leader. He's not the best player, but he is the leader of that team, like it or not, he is.

RE: Krzyzewski on Paulus: 'He became our leader today'

Lets not go too far with that Paulus being the leader talk Coach K...Henderson is your best player by far. Had it not been for him Miami would have buried us at the beginning of the 2nd half. Please don't think Paulus is going to guard Lawson on wednesday night...too slow.

RE: Krzyzewski on Paulus: 'He became our leader today'

That argument is so freakin' old and the proof is in the pudding. 20 Duke Fouls to 19 Miami fouls. How bout actually looking at the box score before you start running your trap.

I'm not getting into the referee thing, but you can't look at total fouls and use that as the barometer as to how the game is called. Total fouls means nothing.
- Posted by CSMs Alter Ego

Ok, how about the goal tending on Miami that wasn't called? What about the ball that CLEARLY went off the Miami player out of bounds, and Miami got the ball back? How about that dirty elbow that wasn't caught until after K made a dispute about it? What about McClinton tripping Scheyer on the way to the lane which was called a travel?

There were calls missed on both sides of the ball, but saying Duke won because of those calls is absolutely ludicrous.

RE: Krzyzewski on Paulus: 'He became our leader today'

That argument is so freakin' old and the proof is in the pudding. 20 Duke Fouls to 19 Miami fouls. How bout actually looking at the box score before you start running your trap.

I'm not getting into the referee thing, but you can't look at total fouls and use that as the barometer as to how the game is called. Total fouls means nothing.

WRAL Sports Fan

Ken Medlin