Ranking the 11 Duke basketball contributors through 11 games

1. Duke basketball sophomore forward Matthew Hurt

GAME AVERAGES: 33.5 minutes, 19.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.6 blocks, 1.5 turnovers, 3.1 fouls

SHOOTING PERCENTAGES: 53.3 percent from the field, 45.8 percent from beyond the arc, 62.9 percent from the foul line

SEASON-HIGH STATS: 38 minutes (thrice), 26 points vs. Wake Forest on Jan. 9, 13 rebounds vs. Michigan State on Dec. 1, three assists (twice), three steals vs. Wake Forest, two blocks (twice), three turnovers (twice), five fouls at Louisville on Jan. 23

OVERALL ASSESSMENT: While folks figured Matthew Hurt would improve as a sophomore, few projected the consistently elite level of production he’s put on display up to this point. He is the only power-conference player this season who has scored 12-plus points every outing while also each time grabbing six-plus rebounds and shooting 40-plus percent with five or more makes.

Defensively, though, Hurt must somehow figure out how to stay out of foul trouble while often having to hold down the five-spot. At the same time, the 6-foot-9, 235-pound former five-star prep from Minnesota, who is the only Blue Devil to have started all 11 games, needs to figure out a way to disguise his heavy feet in order to pose some problems to opposing scorers in the post.

CURRENT GRADE: 92 (A-)

Matthew Hurt and the slowly improving Blue Devils are set to return to action at noon Saturday in Durham against Clemson (10-4, 4-4 ACC).

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