This evening the 7th ranked Duke Blue Devils head to Syracuse to take on the Orange inside a sold out Carrier Dome with over 30,000 fans.
Duke, coming off an electric road win in Charlottesville, will need to keep the same intensity, but get more production from All-American Paolo Banchero who shot just 2-13 from the field, including 0-3 from deep (it’s important to note Banchero had five assists and five rebounds in the win). Banchero is most dominant when doing damage on the interior where he is shooting 46 percent on the season. Duke needs a more dominant Banchero who imposes his will to get over the hump in Syracuse tonight.
In the first matchup, Banchero went for a double-double in Cameron with 15 points, 13 boards and 4 assists. The Orange, who extend their zone in variations past the three-point line, are weak in the middle of the zone, which is how you beat a Jim Boeheim defense.
Duke 3 Keys to Victory
Feed the middle of the zone
During the first battle Duke was able to extend their lead comfortably by attacking the inside of the zone and back out to the 3 point line where freshman stud A.J. Griffin lit up the defense for five three-pointers. As a team, Duke shot nearly 48 percent from the field, including 14-37 from downtown. Expect much of the same this afternoon with Syracuse playing its 2-3 zone defense which at times will leave the middle wide open for Banchero, Baker, and Griffin to become scoring threats.
Move the basketball & Not Settling for Jump Shots
To beat a zone you have to force it to adapt to your offense. Duke was able to have a season-high 25 assists with the lead reaching 31 in their first mathcup. There will be wide open shots at times, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the Blue Devils should jack up 40 attempts from downtown. Being efficient and attacking the interior opens up easier opportunities with high-low action for Mark Williams on the inside, where he went for 15 and seven in the first win. Duke had four starters in double figures, including Joey Baker who went for 11 off the bench. Duke is more effective with a balanced scoring attack.
Notable: Freshman Trevor Keels missed the first matchup after suffering a calf injury that sidelined him for several games. Jeremy Roach filled the void in his absence dishing out a career high nine assists. Roach, who went ballistic at Virginia will be another key piece in orchestrating the offense versus the zone.
Slow Down Buddy Boeheim
Duke forced Syracuse to shoot 17 percent from deep back in January due to stifling and irritating team defense. Buddy shot just 2 of 15, which included 1 of 10 from downtown in a 20-point drubbing. The marksman will look to bounce back in an emphatic way, giving the Syracuse a much needed resume win heading into March. The question here, will his team find a way to slow down A.J. Griffin and company from downtown?
Find out at 6PM on ESPN.
