Amaker won't run from them, either. That's one thing he learned from his days as a player and assistant at Duke, where expectations are like this every year. This is what you work for. I just hope we're allowed to have a chance to grow, develop and jell. This is a very young team.
People have to remember that.
The holdover starters are 7-foot sophomore Samuel Dalembert, who blocked 107 shots while starting just 21 games because of foot problems, sophomore forward Greg Morton and junior guard Darius Lane. Dalembert, an intimidating defensive presence, had offseason foot surgery and appears fully recovered. If he makes the expected improvement on offense and as a rebounder, he can become one of the game's dominant players. The 6-4 Lane, ineligible as a freshman, led the Pirates in scoring, averaging 15.3 points as a sophomore last season, proving to have limitless shooting range. Griffin, who is just as comfortable from the 3-point line as he is posting up, will man one of the forward spots, possibly Morton's.