The key three: Duke basketball vs. Gardner-Webb

Shake off the rust early

Due to final exams, the No. 8 Blue Devils haven't played a game in 13 days, when they defeated Michigan 79-69 at Cameron Indoor Stadium Dec. 3. Gardner-Webb, on the other hand, last played Saturday, beating Clearwater Christian by 52 points. Duke will need to return to in-game shape and bring the big-game mentality that the Blue Devils displayed against the Wolverines. The last time Duke hosted a mid-major—a 91-90 nailbiter against Vermont—the mental facet of the game was clearly lacking. The Blue Devils must attempt to pull away from the Runnin' Bulldogs early, denying Gardner-Webb the confidence boost the Catamounts received from playing the Blue Devils close in the first half.


Win the rebounding battle

Generally at a disadvantage on the boards due to its lack of size, Duke will have a good chance to hang with Gardner-Webb on the glass. The Runnin' Bulldogs average 33.9 rebounds per contest—their leading rebounder is sophomore Jerome Hill at 6.0 per game—compared to the Blue Devils' 32.6 clip. Duke will likely have the three tallest players on the court at tip-off; Jabari Parker, Rodney Hood and Josh Hairston will need to set a tone for the rest of the team with aggressive rebounding early.

Limit Hibbert and Harper

The Runnin' Bulldogs have four players who average more than 10 points per game, but their two leading scorers are guard Naji Hibbert and forward Donta Harper. A transfer from Texas A&M, Hibbert has good size for a guard at 6-foot-5 and has knocked down 17 3-pointers on the season. He'll have the size advantage if guarded by Tyler Thornton, but the 6-foot-2 Thornton is no stranger to locking up larger opponents. The 6-foot-7 Harper provides another scoring threat for Gardner-Webb down low, but could be challenged by Duke's larger frontcourt.