Key Three: Duke basketball vs N.C. State

In the midst of their first three-game losing streak since 2007, Duke (14-5 , 3-3 in the ACC) looks to rebound on the road against N.C. State. The Blue Devils will look to correct miscues such as defensive rebounding and look to hit their shots from the perimeter against a Wolfpack team that has shown life after a slow start to the year. Here are three keys to a victory: 

Contain Anthony ‘Cat’ Barber

Barber has been the focus of the Wolfpack offense this season, averaging 22.3 points per game on 41 percent shooting from the floor. The Blue Devils have struggled defensively of late, and the junior has the ability to take advantage similar to how Notre Dame's Demetrius Jackson and Syracuse's Michael Gbinije diced up a weak Duke pick-and-roll defense. 

Barber can get to the basket with an array of moves and capitalizes from the line, where he is shooting 86 percent from this season. The guard is also a solid rebounder for a backcourt player and could take advantage of the Blue Devils' inability to rebound with Amile Jefferson sidelined. Barber is averaging almost five rebounds per game and keeping him off the glass is just one way Duke will have to contain him. Despite scoring just four points in two games against the Blue Devils a year ago, Barber has the potential to put his team on his back Saturday. 

Get out on the break

If the Blue Devils get out in transition and keep the Wolfpack defense on its heels, it could allow the team to get off to a quick start. Freshmen Luke Kennard and Brandon Ingram, along with sophomore Grayson Allen, are all capable of taking the ball down the court and finishing on the break. But in the team's last three losses, Duke has scored only five fast break points per game—including being held scoreless in transition against Clemson and Syracuse.  

The transition game opens up good looks from deep as the defense collapses on the driver. If the Blue Devils can use their speed in the open court to get easy baskets, the team has a good shot at rebounding from one of its worst offensive performances of the season. 

Keep Plumlee hot

In the loss to Syracuse, graduate student Marshall Plumlee had another double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Duke’s guards need to continue getting Plumlee easy looks in the paint to keep his confidence high and use his big dunks to demoralize a crowd and an opponent. The Wolfpack are capable of throwing multiple bigs at Duke's center, but the key to success for the Blue Devils will be trying to stick with the big man as much as they can throughout the game.

If Plumlee can keep N.C. State honest in the paint, perimeter shots for Kennard and Allen could open up and fuel the team's high-powered offense.