After earning their first win in four games against N.C. State Saturday, the Blue Devils (15-5, 4-3 in the ACC), head south for a duel with Miami (15-3, 4-2). The Blue Devils will look to build off of their performance against the Wolfpack and keep feeding center Marshall Plumlee who has been playing inspired basketball in the absence of Amile Jefferson. Here are three keys to a Duke victory:
Clamp down on McClellan
Hurricanes senior Sheldon McClellan has emerged as one of the top shooting guards in the nation this season. Shooting 52 percent from the floor, the Houston native has the most accurate mark for guards in the ACC. The senior can shoot the ball from just about any spot on the floor and McClellan is shooting the ball at a 60 percent clip from inside the 3-point line so far this season. The 6-foot-5 guard averages a team-best 16.0 points per game and chips in 3.4 boards per contest.
A big key to Duke’s chances of leaving Coral Cables with a win will be the team’s ability to limit McClellan by defending the pick and roll and locking down on the perimeter. Sophomore Grayson Allen and freshman Luke Kennard will be tested by McClellan’s speed and knack for draining pull-up baskets, but the Blue Devils will need both of them at their best Monday to clamp down on Miami's most potent offensive weapon.
Keep Plumlee producing
To date, 2016 has been the year of Marshall Plumlee. Duke’s 7-foot center has emerged as of late as a fighter—a proverbial Goliath for the shorthanded Blue Devil squad. In his past four games, the redshirt senior racked up 19 points and 17 boards against Syracuse and posted near double-doubles against Clemson, Notre Dame, and N.C. State. But, as important as his contributions have been to Duke’s box score, it would be unwise to overlook the intangibles Plumlee has brought to the Blue Devils.
The image of Plumlee dunking the basketball, is enough to awake even the sleepiest Duke fan and bring them to their feet. The senior's hustle plays and post moves on offense energize his team and makes the entire group better, and that is exactly what the Blue Devils need at this point in the season.
Crash the boards
It is impossible to break down Duke’s recent losing-streak woes without taking into account rebounding. The Blue Devils were out-rebounded by Clemson, Notre Dame, and Syracuse before finally righting the ship Saturday and edging N.C. State on the boards 31-28.
With Jefferson on the sidelines, Duke needs multiple players to step up on any given night and crash the boards. Against the Wolfpack Allen and freshman Brandon Ingram, chipped in a combined 14 boards, but outside of Plumlee, the remainder of the squad mustered just five. It all comes down to effort, and with the Blue Devils flirting with the possibility of being an unranked team Monday and taking on a team that embarrassed them on their home court just one season ago, the team has a lot to prove.
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