Duke basketball: Top five candidates to lead Blue Devils in rebounds

Candidates to lead the next Duke basketball team in rebounds: Matthew Hurt

It wasn’t a lack of instincts that kept Matthew Hurt from averaging more than a measly 3.8 rebounds as a freshman last season. No, the low numbers were primarily a result of a lack of both strength and aggression, leading to a significant drop in playing time down the stretch.

However, assuming that the Duke coaches have the 6-foot-9, 215-pound stretch-four out of Minnesota on a heavy weightlifting regimen, expect Hurt to display a little more might in the paint next season. Plus, having witnessed firsthand the consequences of his lackluster efforts yet swallowing his ego enough to return to Durham anyway, expect the 20-year-old former five-star recruit to turn over a new leaf in terms of delighting Mike Krzyzewski as a sophomore.

Predicted rebounds per game for Matthew Hurt next season: 6.0