Ewing has not received much recognition for doing the dirty work, but he has earned Krzyzewski's respect.
"If you're in a film that wins an Academy Award, you get a lot of exposure," Krzyzewski said. "He's been in films that have won Academy Awards in high school and in college."
The biggest adjustment for Ewing at Duke has been ditching his laid-back nature to become an assertive leader.
As a junior, Ewing called Courtney, his high school coach, and told him he was worried about the need to be more vocal.
Since then, however, Ewing has thrived, at times calling his teammates together for on-court huddles. At points this season, he has stepped way out of character. He was called for a technical foul at Georgia Tech; his fellow senior Reggie Love credits it for firing up the Blue Devils in a victory at Atlanta. Ewing was called for pulling on his jersey after a dunk, one of four technical fouls he has received in the past 12 games.
At North Carolina State this season, Hodge hit Ewing in the face with the ball during a dead-ball situation. Ewing got up and challenged Hodge.
"He got very angry, and for the rest of the game he played lights out," the Duke assistant Chris Collins said. "It showed him that he can be a very good player and emotional."
And it also showed Ewing's versatility throughout his career, as he has performed every task with a nod and the same answer: "No problem, coach."
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