Point guard Jason Williams noted that Boozer's bearing more than his bulk (6-9, 270 pounds) will help the Blue Devils the most.
"Carlos provides an extra emotional boost for us," Williams said. "His ability to be out there on the court, to see him smiling - his intensity picks us up."
Boozer returns tonight for top-seeded Duke in the NCAA East Regional semifinal at the First Union Center against fourth-seeded UCLA after missing six games with a fractured third metatarsal in his right foot.
Boozer's stone-faced presence, punctuated with the occasional scowl or yell to frame a dunk or blocked shot, certainly adds a measure of charisma and toughness to an otherwise bland mix.
Consider Boozer's response to the suggestion he would be allowed to ease back into the lineup:
"I'm not going to ease myself back in. I'm going to throw myself back in. Be a force. A presence. Whether that means taking a charge, blocking a shot, whatever. I'm going to let everybody know I'm back."
So there.
Bravado aside, the sophomore acknowledged he still lacks the conditioning to play all out for as long as he did as a starter. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski lists Boozer as a backup behind Casey Sanders, a 6-11, 218-pounder who shot 71.4 percent from the floor and blocked 10 shots as Boozer's replacement.
Without Boozer, the Blue Devils went 6-0. That included a payback win over Maryland, against whom Boozer was hurt Feb. 27, and a pair of wins over rival North Carolina, which was ranked No. 1 in the country earlier in the season. That's right: They took away a two-year starter who averaged 14 points, 6.5 rebounds and led the Atlantic Coast Conference in field goal percentage (60.2) and played better. How?
In Boozer's absence, the Blue Devils adapted a more up-tempo style of play.
"I just thought we could be quicker," Krzyzewski said.
"We're fortunate to have one of the geniuses in this game," Shane Battier, the national player of the year, said of his coach. "When went down, everyone predicted our demise. We became much quicker with Casey in the lineup. We found new life in our identity. We like who we are right now."
Does who they are exclude the more plodding, deliberate entity they were with Boozer in the post? Not necessarily.
"We look at Carlos as an added weapon," Battier said.
He is a weapon who will be used extensively. Don't expect Krzyzewski to ask Sanders to stop UCLA's 6-11, 248-pound junior center, Dan Gadzuric, for long.
After a strong regular season, Gadzuric is averaging 15 points, 13.5 rebounds and three blocks through two tournament games, in which he is shooting 70 percent from the field. As long as Boozer can help contain Gadzuric and rip a few boards, his coach and teammates will be satisfied.
"Carlos is not going to go out there and do 360s and jump over the backboard for rebounds, but he's going to be our presence in there," Battier said. "That's all we're going to ask him to do - to guard Gadzuric and get rebounds for us."
The main concern, of course, is chemistry. The Blue Devils set an NCAA record for three-point shots made (374), in part because Boozer wasn't bruising inside, being the hub of the offense.
The burning question remains: Will Boozer hurt more than he will help? Duke exited in the third round last year; not coincidentally, key freshman reserve Mike Dunleavy had just returned from a bout with mononucleosis and faded in the tournament.
Krzyzewski made this much clear: It will be up to Boozer to fit in.
"We'll still play that style," Krzyzewski said. "Carlos is going to have to adjust to how we're playing."
That's Krzyzewski's strategy for now. As Boozer grows stronger, expect Duke's offense to return occasionally to its previous incarnation - assuming it gets past the Bruins.
"Before Carlos got hurt, we were developing an inside presence," Krzyzewski said. "That's not going to be a priority; that's just something that will come about."
As far as Boozer's concerned, the sooner the better.
"I'll just do what I can do for however long I can do it," Boozer said. "I think it's going to be an easy transition."
