X Factor: Duke men’s basketball vs. Tennessee State and Elon

With a number of players working their way back from injuries, No. 5 Duke will attempt to extend its eight-game winning streak Monday when it takes on Tennessee State at 7 p.m. at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Zone takes a look at a player from each team who could be the difference-maker in the game following the Blue Devils' eight-day exam break:

Duke: Center Marques Bolden

Although he has only played 27 minutes on the floor so far this season, the freshman has the potential to play a major role when he is healthy. The No. 16 player in the 2016 recruiting class was sidelined with a lower-leg injury until the Dec. 3 game against Maine, and has not played more than 13 minutes in any of his three games so far. Graduate student Amile Jefferson has been anchoring the Blue Devils during Bolden’s absence and recovery process, but with both of them now playing, the Blue Devils have some depth and flexibility in their frontcourt.

In his senior year of high school, Bolden averaged 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks and led DeSoto High School to a Texas state championship. His dominance on the boards could be valuable to Duke Monday against an undersized team that relies on 6-foot-9, 275-pound big man Ken'Darrius Hamilton for production in the paint. Bolden will also look to work with Jefferson and fellow rookies Jayson Tatum and Harry Giles—who could make his much-anticipated debut Monday—to protect the rim against dribble penetration and contain Hamilton. 

If Bolden can start to play significant minutes and contribute on both ends of the court—he has looked rusty in games so far and was limited in practice before exams—Duke will be that much more dangerous as it prepares for the start of ACC play. 

Tennessee State: Guard Tahjere McCall

McCall, a 6-foot-5 redshirt senior, is the Tigers' best all-around player with 12.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists per contest—marks that are all in the top three on the team. After averaging only 5.6 points through his first two years at Niagara University, McCall transferred to Tennessee State and has made a big jump because of his ability to attack off the dribble.

Although he is not very talented as a shooter at only 23.4 percent from the 3-point line and 42.1 percent from the field for his career, McCall makes his mark by doing the little things. He is securing 1.5 offensive rebounds per game, an impressive number for a guard, and his passing is critical for a team that has no other player averaging more than two helpers per contest.