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Duke Basketball: Projected starting lineup and depth chart for 2021-22 season

By Jerran Anderson

Dec 16, 2020; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Duke Blue Devils players wear jerseys with the word equality at the bottom during a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Purcell Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2020; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Duke Blue Devils players wear jerseys with the word equality at the bottom during a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Purcell Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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Chet Holmgren defends Paolo Banchero Duke Basketball A37i5072
Chet Holmgren defends Paolo Banchero Duke Basketball A37i5072 /

Power Forward

Theo John and Paolo Banchero are two more Duke basketball players that could find themselves in a position battle entering the 2021-22 season. John holds the clear advantage on paper given his graduate transfer status. He averaged a career-high 8.0 ppg along with 5.0 rpg, 1.5 bpg, and 1.2 apg in 2020-21 as a member of the Marquette Golden Eagles.

With four years of college basketball under his belt already, it’s hard to imagine John joined the rotation to not play a lot of minutes. Depending on how things go, he could find himself playing the power forward spot if Paolo moves to the small forward position, even though he’s 6-foot-10.

Banchero, most likely, didn’t come to Durham to sit the bench, so tilt Paolo. He’s a double-double machine, a burden to guard in the open floor and getting downhill, and can shoot on the perimeter.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if he moved to the small forward position in the Blue Devils wanted to test their size and move John into the 4-spot and let Williams play center. Imagine having a 6-foot-10 wing and the possibilities for him are endless.

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