Three points: Level-headedness, Filipowski's production key for No. 21 Duke men's basketball against Baylor

After a week off for finals, No. 21 Duke men's basketball is back in action with a marquee matchup against No. 10 Baylor. The Blue Zone provides three keys for a Blue Devil victory: 

New York, New York

The ranked matchup will be taking place in the one and only Madison Square Garden. On paper, this figures to benefit Duke head coach Jon Scheyer and his team, but the Bears will be wary of this. Both sides will probably feature two freshmen in their starting fives, with guards Jared McCain and Caleb Foster likely getting the nod from Scheyer, and Ja’Kobe Walter and Yves Missi starting as a guard and forward for Baylor, respectively. The two teams have about an equal amount of experience in high-leverage games, but the New York crowd might sway the contest towards Duke. The arena has been referred to as “Cameron North” in the past, and the Blue Devil social media team has leaned into the moniker, announcing the game’s jersey while giving the two iconic venues a shoutout.

Cool-headedness early

The game will be played in New York, but the contest is determined solely on the hardwood. The uncontrollable external factors will be ever-present for the Blue Devils, but in order to secure a victory, the team must work together like in a practice gym in Durham. This will be crucial early on in the game, as a tone of intensity on the floor must be set early and often for Scheyer’s team if it hopes to vanquish the No. 10 team in the country. Additionally, Baylor will be coming out with a chip on its shoulder, as the Big 12 leaders are coming off of an ugly 88-64 loss against an unranked Michigan State team Saturday. 

The stars must shine

The Blue Devils must not let the hustle and bustle of the big city act as light pollution and drown out their stars. Sophomore center Kyle Filipowski will be key for Scheyer’s frontcourt, as the Westtown, N.Y., native returns to his home state. He will face off against a fellow 7-footer in Missi, and will need to win the battle in the paint if Duke hopes to win. On paper, Filipowski should be favored, as this is only Missi’s tenth game in the collegiate scene, and is certainly his biggest. If Filipowski can dominate the inside, the Blue Devils will be set up well to be able to use him as a safety net if 3-pointers aren’t falling. It may be unfair to call veteran guard Jeremy Roach a member of Filipowski’s supporting cast, but Roach will need to shine brightly himself, as the freshmen backcourt that will be alongside him Wednesday night may need a veteran hand to guide them. The two-time captain will be central to Duke’s ability to stay calm and play within itself, and with Filipowski and Roach’s leadership on and off the court, the Blue Devils will have a strong chance against Baylor.