After taking down Vermont in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Duke men’s basketball will turn right around to face James Madison in the Round of 32. The Blue Zone offers three keys to a Blue Devil victory:
Physical battle
The Dukes’ success in becoming the first No. 12 seed of the tournament to advance to the round of 32 was characterized by physicality. James Madison held the lead from start to finish, capitalizing on careless mistakes and poor shooting by Wisconsin. 27 of the Dukes’ 72 points came off turnovers — they caused 19 turnovers throughout the match. The defensive effort was guided by senior forward T.J Bickerstaff who led James Madison with 9 rebounds.
In a similar fashion, it was the Blue Devils’ defense that allowed them to find success in their first-round matchup against No. 13-seed Vermont. Even though Duke’s offensive production proved inconsistent, major stops on the defensive end of the court held the Catamounts to just 47 points. And while he put up just three points in the match, sophomore center Kyle Filipowski stepped into a crucial role, setting the tone for the Blue Devil defense. The Westtown N.Y., native had 12 rebounds and three blocks, displaying his ability to contribute on both ends of the court.
This matchup will be no easy contest for Duke and requires another level of physicality and speed. As evident in their victory over the Badgers, the Dukes are a dynamic squad that can swing momentum at any given moment.
Accurate shooting
The Blue Devils might have secured a double-digit victory over Vermont, but the scoresheet does not tell the entire story. A shaky first half featured lead changes and a pesky Catamount squad that kept Duke on its toes. The Blue Devils’ inability at times to convert on offense gave Vermont countless opportunities to remain a threat in the game. Head coach Jon Scheyer’s squad only shot 19-for-45 from the field and 6-for-18 from beyond the arc, failing to find success on the simple plays. Further, Duke missed nine free throws, something that could make the difference in closer games. Scheyer's squad came away with the win, but it cannot rely on the other team making mistakes in its next matchup against James Madison. With a season characterized by inconsistent shooting, a Blue Devil victory depends on a smart and steady offensive display.
Veteran presence
The Dukes bring a seasoned starting lineup to the court, led by Bickerstaff and junior guard Terrence Edwards Jr. The team’s chemistry was put on display in their battle against Wisconsin, putting together seamless passes and sharing the wealth on the scoresheet. Similar to Duke’s success in its first-round matchup, three of James Madison’s starters entered double digits during the contest.
For the Blue Devils, the matchup against James Madison will be one that tests their maturity, requiring the consistency and leadership of senior guard Jeremy Roach. Past scoring ability, Roach has the ability to set the tone for Duke’s offense by orchestrating smart possessions and not forcing the shots that aren’t there.
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