Amile Jefferson
Statline
Monday v. Virginia : 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting, 15 rebounds, including five offensive boards, two assists and a block in 28 minutes.
The good: Yes, Jefferson is the player of the week, despite tallying just 17 points across these two games. Points are perhaps the one element that Duke has never struggled to find this season, with talented scorers dotting the roster. So where does Amile make his impact? Efficiency and board work. Jefferson was the only Blue Devil shooting better than 50 percent from the field in the "Laugher at Littlejohn," and one of few who actually competed on the glass (his six rebounds were tied for second-most on the team). Most notably, the sophomore saved the Virginia game by grabbing the offensive rebound that set up Rasheed Sulaimon's game-winning three, and he clinched the game by stealing a pass and securing the defensive rebound on the Cavaliers' next possession and, finally, hitting two free throws. And with that effort, a Jefferson owned Virginia once again.
The bad: Jefferson can go through a series of offensive possessions without even sniffing the rock. This was the case against the Cavaliers—Amile accumulated eight points in the first 15 minutes, and then didn't attempt a field goal the rest of the game. For the Blue Devils' offense to fire on all cylinders, Jefferson has to remain a threat with his back to the basket.
Additionally, you can't shoot a free throw worse than Amile shot his final one Monday and still have it go in. Either Jefferson needs to make sure to keep that four-leaf clover in his pocket at all times, or he should hit the charity stripe in practice, before he gives the Crazies a collective heart attack.
The bottom line: Even with Jabari Parker's struggles in the ACC, Duke will always manage to find offense on the perimeter and slashing to the basket from Hood, Cook, and its stable of 3-point shooters. But for the Blue Devils to become a legitimate conference contender, they must have an inside presence, and at the moment, the cupboard looks pretty bare except for Jefferson.
Honorable mention: Had Rasheed Sulaimon done anything at all against Clemson, he'd probably have taken Amile's spot on the strength of his shooting Monday night—the sophomore tallied 21 points on just 11 field goal attempts, including a scorching 4-of-5 from downtown. Rodney Hood continues to make the tricky look mundane against ACC competition, scoring in double figures in both games this week.
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