by Nicole Auerbach, USA TODAY Sports

CHARLOTTE — Forget for a moment that he’s a 6-10, 235-pound basketball forward who’s 21 and bound for the NBA someday.

Mason Plumlee is just a middle brother.

His older brother, Miles, graduated from Duke this year and was taken by the Indiana Pacers with the 26th pick in June’s NBA draft. His younger brother, Marshall, is a redshirt freshman at Duke.

Mason is the constant.

“I’m the lucky one because I always have a brother there,” Mason says, laughing.

He used to spend more time with Miles than with any other teammate before Miles graduated. “Now, I hang out with Marshall and some of the other guys,” Mason says.

Just as he has transitioned from younger brother on campus to big brother on campus, Mason has seen his role on the team change.

Duke lost its leading scorer when Austin Rivers left school for the NBA after one season.

Plumlee, who averaged 11.1 points and 9.2 rebounds a game and was named third-team all-Atlantic Coast Conference, is expected to shoulder more of the scoring load this season. He also has set goals for himself entering this season after deciding to return to Duke for his senior year.

“One of my biggest things is I feel when I get the ball in the post, I should score or get fouled every time,” Plumlee says. “Be more consistent. I had games last year where I had foul trouble or whatever the case. I wouldn’t be the same player I was in other games. This year, they’re going to depend on me to be the same player every game. That should be a staple.”

He added that he has been focusing on free throw shooting and jump shots and says he should be a better shooter this year.

Duke guard Seth Curry says he has noticed Plumlee’s improvement in free throw shooting. Last season, Plumlee shot 52.8% from the line, worst on the team.

“If he just makes his free throws, that’ll bump his points up three or four points a game,” Curry says.

But it’s more than just free throw shooting and collecting fouls, Curry insists.

“He’s got to be an anchor for … [For more on Duke senior Plumlee set for bigger role, click here.]