Duke basketball roster: Starting lineup options for 2020-2021 season

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Cassius Stanley #2 of the Duke Blue Devils (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

Middle of the road scenario

Point Guard: Jeremy Roach
Shooting Guard: Cassius Stanley
Small Forward: Jalen Johnson
Power Forward: Matthew Hurt
Center: Patrick Tape

The main difference between this scenario and Plan A is that Carey has made the sensible business decision to go pro. Given the uncertainty of the sports world right now due to the coronavirus grabbing guaranteed money in a professional contract makes all the sense in the world for Carey.

Krzyzewski has several options to fill the hole Carey leaves at the five, including sliding Matthew Hurt down there to put Wendell Moore in the lineup at the four, but his best option is to use grad transfer Patrick Tape. The former Columbia product committed to Duke recently and Tape’s skill set translates well to a college five.

The Blue Devils would have to love the fact that Tape is a guy who can score around the basket, facilitate the offense, and be a presence on the defensive end. There are a lot of ball-dominant players in this Duke lineup and having a guy like Tape who can serve as a complementary piece should help balance the offense.

Replacing Carey’s offense would be a challenge, but Duke can reasonably expect Stanley to assume most of the slack. Moore and Hurt should also be more productive as sophomores while freshman forward Jalen Johnson offers plug-and-play potential from the moment he arrives on campus.

This lineup may not have as much upside as the one with Carey in it, but there is still plenty of talent here to help Duke contend for a championship.