If I would have told you prior to this season’s NCAA Tournament that Duke’s Brian Zoubek would be the player who would be most vital to their team’s success, you would have scoffed at my prediction. Now, no one is happier that Zoubek finally used his huge 7’1 frame to dominate the paint than Duke’s “Big 3” of Singler, Scheyer, and Smith, who provided their usual offensive spark by scoring 47 of the Blue Devils’ 61 points in the title game.
Four years ago, Coach K envisioned Zoubek being an interior terror, that cleared the glass and blocked shots, to match the Blue Devil’s usual high scoring backcourt players. But prior to this year, two foot surgeries limited Zoubek to only 3.7 ppg, 3.5 rebounds, and only a half of a block per game, while only playing 10 
minutes per contest. Even during the earlier part of the season, “Big Z” rarely used his large frame to his advantage by reaching double figures in rebounds in only 4 games through February 10th. Then once he was inserted into the starting line-up against ACC rival Maryland on Feb. 13th, he notched arguably his best game of his career, a 16 point, 17 board(8 offensive), and 2 block effort, helping to defeat the conference foe Terrapins.
That monster effort turned the disappointing big man’s season around since he averaged 9 points, 11 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks, while starting every game since, leading the Blue Devils to their 4th National Title. But most of what Zoubek provides for Duke doesn’t show up in the stat sheet since even though he is somewhat limited offensively and barely blocks 1 shot per contest, anyone who watches knows that he works as hard as any player in the country at boxing out, protecting the paint, and altering the oppositions’ low post game plan.
Even though Kyle Singler was selected as the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player for his 19 point, 9 rebound effort against Butler, it was Zoubek’s 8 points, 10 rebounds(including 6 offensive), and 2 blocks which made it possible for the Duke back-court to score with ease from the perimeter.
Zoubek’s sudden transformation from the lumbering big man with unfulfilled promise into a front-court terror on the glass, helped to turn Duke into a National Title contender when it mattered most. So although Zoubek will not be remembered outside of the Cameron Crazies’ faithful as a Final Four legendary player, his Duke teammates from 2010 will undoubtedly be forever grateful that “Big Z” finally found himself this post-season.
Allen Moll is an avid NBA and College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen is a regular columnist for thehoopdoctors.com, Bleacherreport.com, UpperDeckblog.com, and his own site, Hoops Haven.
