ON A MISSION ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS

The following comes from an article Basketball Times written by John Akers on Mason Plumlee of Duke:

"In the time I've been coaching, I've been luck to have so many good players.  The great ones are the ones who grab you and say, 'Let's do this together,'" said Mike Krzyzewski.  "We form a bond with those players.  I feel like (Mason and I) have a had that since last spring.  We had a good relationship.  But there's a big difference between having a good relationship...a strong relationship and a bond."

"Through coach's time here, the best players are going to get the most opportunities," said Duke assistant coach Steve Wojciechowski.

Plumlee put in the time during the off-season -- on his post-up moves, on his already strong shoulders, on his free-throw shooting.  Particularly on his free-throw shooting.  Plumlee estimates that he attempted 2,000 free throws a week and as many as 800 on some days.  When Plumlee was back home in Indiana, he'd make the two-hour trip to Chicago, where a friend's uncle let him crash at his home, and seek out competition where he could find it at Tim Grover's legendary Attack Athletics training facility or at Moody Bible Institute.

"He on a mission on a day-to-day basis," Wojciechowski said.  "He's an outstanding example of a guy who's determined to go out as an outstanding player and winner here at Duke.  When that's the type of tone being set by your leaders, everybody else is better for it."