Duke basketball players who will benefit from Jalen Johnson’s absence
Mark Williams
Mark Williams has been the biggest surprise for the Blue Devils this season.
The former five-star prospect entered Duke and seemed overwhelmed by the physicality of the college game. But he has since slowly improved and now has carved out a spot in the starting lineup.
Williams still has plenty to learn and adjust to throughout ACC play, but with Johnson no longer in the rotation, it serves for a more traditional lineup from Mike Krzyzewski.
This traditional lineup allows Matthew Hurt to play power forward, his natural and most effective position, and a potential rotation at center between Mark Williams and Henry Coleman, rather than the small-ball lineup Duke was running, which was abysmal on defense.
Mark Williams will only continue his upward trajectory as the season progresses.