The bell of the Blue Zone stock exchange has just rung again, meaning it's time for another taking a look at who is rising and falling with their performances for Blue Devil sports teams. Each week The Blue Zone will look at whose stock is on the rise and whose stock has taken a hit from the week in the world of Duke athletics.
Bull Market—Trending Up
Jeremy Cash, Duke football defense: Sure, the defense gave up a pair of touchdown passes, but the unit remains the the 11th-best scoring defense in the FBS, giving up only 18.0 points per game. The defense has also not given up more than 25 points in a game this season, except when it allowed an explosive Pittsburgh defense to rack up 48 points Nov. 1.
In Saturday's loss to Virginia Tech, the defense notched six sacks, the highest single game total since 2003, and cornerback Breon Borders pulled down an interception in the third quarter. Jim Knowles' defensive squad faces a test when Marquise Williams and the explosive North Carolina offense come to Durham Thursday night.
But led by All-American safety Jeremy Cash, who had seven tackles and two sacks Saturday, the unit should be up to the task.
Florida State football: Despite facing scares against Louisville, Virginia and Miami in its past three games, the Seminoles have used outstanding second-half performances to overcome upset alerts and move to the top of the AP Poll. Despite Jameis Winston's numerous off-the-field distractions and a New York Times report that said cornerbacks Ronald Darby and P.J. Williams were involved in a hit-and-run, Jimbo Fisher's team continues to write off the critics and win games. With a pair of games left against Boston College and in-state rival Florida, the Seminoles seem to be on fast track to Charlotte for the third straight season.
Duke basketball: With blowout wins against Presbyterian (113-44) and Fairfield (109-59), the Blue Devils opened the season with a bang and a statement. All eyes were on Duke's freshmen and they exceeded expectations, with Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow, Grayson Allen and Tyus Jones each posting double digits in Friday's win against Presbyterian.
The AP Preseason Player of the Year, Okafor is averaging 18 points per game on 85 percent shooting and 7.5 rebounds per game. The defense is also doing its job and only allowing a mere 51.5 points per game ahead of Tuesday's tilt with No. 19 Michigan State.
Bear Market—Trending Down
Anthony Boone: The redshirt senior continues to struggle with his consistency, only completing 18-of-40 passes for 181 yards and throwing two costly interceptions in Saturday's 17-16 loss to Virginia Tech. Since putting on a clinic through the air against Pittsburgh Nov. 1, Boone has completed less than 50 percent of his passes and has a touchdown to interception ratio of 2:3 in the Blue Devils' last two games against Syracuse and Virginia Tech. Can he redeem himself against a porous North Carolina defense that is giving up more than 40 points per game?
Marquise Williams: The Tar Heel quarterback is also trending down this week after a comment at a press conference early this week. Williams told reporters that he was, "excited to go to whatever the name of the stadium is" for Thursday's primetime contest between North Carolina and Duke. Regardless of the school's academic scandals, one would think that he would know the name of a stadium of his rival and one that he played in during the 2012 season.
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