Back on the court following a 10-day break for exams, the Blue Devils overcame a slow start and won their first game without the services of senior Amile Jefferson 99-65 against Georgia Southern. Tuesday’s win was Duke’s seventh consecutive victory and moved the team’s record to 9-1 on the season.
Revisiting the three keys to the game:
- Luke Kennard awakens: Starting for the first time in his career, Kennard missed his first six shots of the evening and struggled early in the game Tuesday. But the freshman got things going in the second half and finished with 11 points on 4-of-13 shooting. Although his shot hasn’t fallen so far this season, Kennard continues to bring positive energy on both ends of the floor when he enters the game. It remains to be seen whether Krzyzewski will continue to start the Franklin, Ohio, native going forward or if he will turn to freshman Derryck Thornton to step in at point guard.
- Someone steps in for the captain: Without Jefferson, the Blue Devils got extra contributions from all seven of their rotation players. Grayson Allen and Matt Jones scored 18 and 16 points, respectively, and will need to continue playing at a high level as leaders of a young Duke team. Graduate student Marshall Plumlee also had a strong game and finished with nine points and 11 rebounds. If the center can continue to provide a post presence in Jefferson’s absence, the Blue Devils may be able to emerge from the senior’s injury unscathed.
- Duke defends the perimeter: The Blue Devil defense had a strong showing Tuesday and held the Eagles to just 39 percent shooting from the floor. Georgia Southern connected on nine of their 22 3-point attempts but couldn’t make enough shots when the game was still close to put a scare in the home crowd. The Blue Devils still have room for improvement with their perimeter defense as the team was often beaten on drives to the basket.
Three Key Stats
- Duke holds a 55-29 rebounding advantage: Despite not having the services of Jefferson—one of the best rebounders in the nation—the Blue Devils more than held their own on the glass. Duke attacked the boards after every shot and the team’s fight resulted in 22 offensive rebounds. Perhaps the biggest contributor in Jefferson’s absence was Ingram, who collected 14 rebounds, including eight on the offensive glass.
- Chase Jeter plays a season-high 17 minutes: Thrust into a larger role for the first time all season, Jeter showed promise but still has a ways to go. The freshman collected just three rebounds during his time on the court, but brought energy off the bench to both ends of the floor. Although Jeter is still raw just months into his college career, the forward’s additional time on the court will only help his development.
- Duke shoots 58 percent in the second half: After a sluggish start from the field, the Blue Devil offense found its legs in the second half and built a big lead against their nonconference opponent. In addition to better ball movement and looks at the basket, Duke simply hit more of its shots in the final 20 minutes and found the rhythm it has developed during this win-streak. Although the result was never in doubt, the Blue Devils' strong play in the second half should give the team momentum heading into Saturday’s contest against Utah.
Three Key Plays
- 1:00 remaining, first half: With the first half coming to a close, Jones drove to the basket and finished at the hoop with a nifty step-through to get past his defender. Normally known for his ability to hit the three, Jones’ move heading to the basket is a sign that he has continued to improve and expand his game.
- 19:21 remaining, second half: Ingram continued his strong outing by deflecting a pass and coming up with a steal. In transition, the freshman put his head down and went straight to the basket to finish an emphatic slam through contact that pushed Duke’s lead to 51-32 and got the Blue Devils on the bench off their feet.
- 12:17 remaining, second half: After exiting the game nearly three minutes earlier after taking a shot to the face, Allen canned a 3-pointer, relieving any fear Duke fans had about his health. With the Blue just seven rotation players, the Blue Devils simply cannot afford more injuries going forward.
And the Duke game ball goes to…. Brandon Ingram
After a slow start to his college career, Ingram has taken off and displayed all the talents that made him a highly-touted recruit coming out of high school. The Kinston, N.C., native tallied 28 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the floor Tuesday and scored in a myriad of ways. Ingram knocked down a pair of 3-pointers, but also showed his ability to score in the paint and finish in transition. But the biggest takeaway for Blue Devil fans regarding Ingram Tuesday should be his commitment to attack the glass. The freshman’s 14 rebounds showed he is more than willing to pick up the slack while Jefferson recovers from this injury.
And the Georgia Southern game ball goes to…. Tookie Brown
The Eagles were relegated to one-on-one play for much of the evening and never showed the flow on offense needed to beat Duke. But Brown did what he could on offense, knocking down four 3-pointers and finishing with 20 points on the evening. Although the freshman wasn’t able to help his team keep the game close, Brown showed he is capable of filling it up against a higher level of competition.
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