Key three: Duke men's basketball vs. Appalachian State

After an 88-67 victory against William & Mary Wednesday at Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke will stay home to host Appalachian State Saturday at noon. The shorthanded Blue Devils will likely be without their three top freshman as they have been all season, and Grayson Allen and Chase Jeter could still be hobbled with minor injuries. Here are three keys to success for Duke:

Dominate the Glass

With the likes of Harry Giles, Jayson Tatum and Marques Bolden still sidelined with injuries and Jeter being limited due to an ankle injury, the Blue Devils have been forced to play a lineup featuring four guards along with forward Amile Jefferson. Although this lineup results in mismatches on the offensive end and has been efficient for the Blue Devils, the team must rebound the basketball in order to be successful Saturday, as the Mountaineers rank 15th in the country in rebounding margin per game. Duke’s guards have to make an effort to crash the boards on both the offensive and defensive ends to help Jefferson and potentially Jeter or Antonio Vrankovic secure the ball and prevent second chances for Appalachian State.

Force Turnovers

The Blue Devils have made a concentrated effort on the defensive end to apply man-to-man pressure on their opponents this season, which has led to steals and easy transition points for Duke. The Blue Devils are forcing more than 14 turnovers per game, and the Mountaineers have been vulnerable to turnovers, averaging almost 15 per game. Duke must play solid perimeter defense and stay disciplined against the Mountaineers to force giveaways which lead to easy open-court baskets. This style of play should allow the Blue Devils to build a lead and get their offense going early.

Stay Healthy

In addition to Duke’s three top freshman being sidelined, Allen and Jeter have both been dealing with injuries that have forced them to play at less than 100 percent. The Blue Devils must create easy looks for each other to prevent another important player from getting injured. With a matchup against No. 24 Michigan State looming and the potential for some injured players to return for the Blue Devils soon, the team must play a complete game without losing any more players. For this to happen, Duke must assert itself on both the offensive and defensive ends and build an early lead to get its bench involved and walk out with a dominant victory.