10/24/2009 - Michael Tomko, GoDuke.com

DURHAM, N.C. - Having a versatile big man is a commodity in college basketball.

A player that can guard the post and the wing is something college coaches hope to have on their roster to add different looks on the offensive and defensive sides of the court.

Most schools would be thankful with just one.

Duke is one of the few that has a number of players that possess the ability to play outside and inside.

For 40 minutes, the Blue Devils used their size and versatility to outrun, out jump and overpower Pfeiffer, a smaller, quicker team that prefers to run up and down the floor and press full court.

The Blue Devils had both the size and speed to counteract Pfeiffer's game plan as Duke rolled 128-70 in their first exhibition game of the season.

"We wanted to play against them, especially in the first 20 minutes, because they push the ball down the court so much, and they can hit threes and they can dribble penetrate," head coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "That is something that is good for us to practice against. I thought for the 20 minutes we did a really good job."

Duke used its versatility to outrebound Pfeiffer 65-24 and 22-9 on the offensive glass. Mile Plumlee dominated the defensive boards with 12, 14 total and his younger brother Mason controlled the offensive boards with eight and 12 total.

"I think we all stayed ready," Miles said. "You got to stay aggressive, and when we did hit the boards we hung on to them, which is great."

And all those offensive boards turned into easy points near the basket. Duke outscored Pfeiffer in the paint 56-32.

Each Plumlee recorded a double-double with Miles scoring 14 and Mason 12.

"Miles I thought played so strong," Krzyzewski said. "He has done that all preseason so far. He didn't get as many points, but a huge stat for him and Ryan Kelly are four assists and no turnovers and five assists and no turnovers."

Both Plumlee's along with Ryan Kelly were often seen leading fast breaks for Duke.

"That was a big thing," Miles Plumlee said. "I think it probably didn't show as much with a team that small, but we stayed with them which was huge. For the guys, we have got guys 7'1", 6'11", 6'10" running with them. We may not be able to outrun them but we were able to defend them which is great."

Miles defended mostly the post for Duke, but Mason and Kelly each defended both the post and the perimeter players on Pfeiffer.

"That is something that for my career I have to develop the ability to guard a smaller, quicker player," Kelly said. "Down the line that position is something I might have to play. It only makes you better."

"I can move my feet pretty well, but I need to continue to work on concentrating and staying low and staying in a defensive stance," Kelly added. "There is certainly some potential for me to guard that position."

A versatile big man is also a wing player's best friend.

"That is something that we work on," Andre Dawkins, who connected on 3-of-5 from three, said. "We want our bigs to get out and run and hopefully beat the other bigs down the court in order to create easy opportunities, not only for the bigs themselves, but also for us because when they run it sucks the defense in and we can get early open looks out on the wing. As a team, we are in great shape, so it is easy for the bigs to get up and down the floor more than the other team."