Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski compared senior forward Kyle Singler today to a baseball player in a batting slump.
Singler shot 5-for-14 from the field during Sunday's 79-57 defeat of Georgia Tech and is 20-for-61 over his last five games.
Krzyzewski said that although Singler is struggling to make shots, he is performing well in other phases of the game and playing with enthusiasm.
"We won’t win a really important game unless Kyle is playing with that spirit," Krzyzewski said on the ACC teleconference. "And if he hits his shots, then we’re a lot better. It’s kind of a phase during a season, kind of like a hitter who is a .320 hitter but is hitting .250. We think he will hit .320 and balance out for the season."
Krzyzewski said Singler did let his shooting struggles frustrate him at Virginia on Wednesday, when he tied a career low with two points. Singler fouled four times and committed five turnovers in that game.
But he grabbed nine rebounds Sunday and has had at least seven rebounds in four of his last five games. Krzyzewski said Singler also has defended well, particularly in holding Georgia Tech's Glen Rice Jr. to 4-for-14 from the field.
"He’s really one of the great defenders in the country," Krzyzewski said of Singler. "And he still has the spirit and whatever. I think you just have to work your way out of the shooting thing and just don’t let it affect the other aspects of your game."
Ken Tysiac
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3 comments:
sooner or later these kids are gonna stop falling for the crap K feeds them. Singler was a lottery pick last year, now he may not even be a first rounder.
Why is everyone so worried about Singler? He goes through a rough patch EVERY year (including Elite 8 last year). He's a champion and a Final Four MVP. He'll get it together.
Singler's looking forward to stomping UNC-Cheat's heart out for the sweep!
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