With another big-time game coming up for Duke Tuesday against top-ranked Kansas, the Blue Zone breaks down the matchup with an overview, key stat, X-factor and three keys to a Blue Devil victory:
Overview
2023-24 record: 23-11, 10-8 in the Big 12
2024-25 record: 5-0
Head coach: Bill Self
History: Duke leads 8-6
Last meeting: 69-64, Kansas, Nov. 15, 2022
No. 1 Kansas enters the 2024 Vegas Showdown a week off of a surprising game against UNC Wilmington. Although the Jayhawks ultimately emerged victorious 84-66 against the Seahawks, the matchup saw a slow start for Kansas. The Jayhawks entered halftime holding only a five-point lead. Although the Seahawks pulled off a massive upset against then-No. 20 Kentucky last season, UNC Wilmington is not known as a strong basketball program. Kansas ultimately found a surge of energy and pulled away from the Seahawks in the second half.
On Tuesday, the Jayhawks will need to be consistent with their energy as they face off against the Blue Devils in a battle of basketball blue bloods. However, in recent years, consistency has not been Kansas’ strong suit. In one of their worst seasons since head coach Bill Self took over, the Jayhawks barely held onto a winning conference record in the 2023-24 season. Kansas entered the season at the top of the rankings, but by the final week had fallen to No. 19. In the NCAA Tournament, the Jayhawks were knocked out in the second round by Gonzaga — a far cry from the 2022 bracket where Kansas earned its fourth championship banner.
However, one thing that the Jayhawks boast over No. 12 Duke is an experienced roster — almost all of Kansas’ starters are seniors or graduate students. Graduate student Hunter Dickinson and senior KJ Adams Jr. head up the team with impressive versatility and power. Kansas also features a number of transfers on this year’s squad; senior Zeke Mayo helped lead South Dakota State to March Madness last year, while junior Rylan Griffen was a member of the Alabama team that reached the Final Four.
The Blue Devils will have to match Kansas’ versatility and experience in Las Vegas Tuesday, which may prove difficult with the Blue Devils’ roster — a talented group but largely made up of specialists. -Kate Reiniche
X-Factor
Duke: Maliq Brown
Kansas’ gameplay will undoubtedly be centered around graduate center Hunter Dickinson, as the 7-foot-2 standout will be roaming the paint against the Blue Devils. Dickinson was named a preseason first-team All-American after earning a second-team nod last year, and will certainly be a dominant force in the sport again this season. Freshman center Khaman Maluach will likely start against the veteran, but has only averaged 18 minutes per game so far. Brown has come off the bench in relief of Maluach this season, but has averaged more minutes, at 20.6 per game. Minutes with Brown on the court will be key for Duke limiting Dickinson’s effectiveness, as he stands a relatively slight 6-foot-9. Maluach has also accumulated three fouls in each of Duke’s ranked matchups so far, and if Dickinson is able to bait him into early foul trouble, Brown’s minutes will become even more critical.
Kansas: Rylan Griffin
Rightfully so, much of Duke’s defensive focus will be on limiting Dickinson’s post efficiency and talented guards Dajuan Harris Jr. and Zeke Mayo. Despite these three high-quality starters, head coach Jon Scheyer’s team will need to make sure to always close out on sniper Rylan Griffen. The junior is suiting up for the Jayhawks after spending his underclass years at Alabama, and has been shooting at a 43.3% clip from behind the arc this season. Griffen has only averaged 7.8 points per game, but if he’s able to meet the occasion of a matchup with the Blue Devils, notch an efficient game from beyond the arc and hit a few threes in big moments — think Kon Knueppel’s second half against Arizona — it will be an uphill battle for Duke. –Myles Powicki
3 keys
Level heads against older competition: Fortunately for Duke, this isn’t its first marquee matchup of the season, but it isn’t Kansas’ either. The challenge of Hunter Dickinson will be a new level of competition for freshman center Khaman Maluach, and if he gets into foul trouble early, the Blue Devils may struggle to contain Dickinson. Maluach isn’t the only underclassman in Scheyer’s starting lineup, as no members of his starting five have celebrated their 21st birthday yet. On the other side of the court, Griffen is the youngest member of the Jayhawks’ starting lineup, and he’s older than all of Duke’s starters.
3-point shooting: In matchups against Kentucky and Arizona, the Blue Devils shot a total of 13-of-49 from beyond the arc. Another sub-par performance may doom Duke Tuesday, and to take down the number one team in the country, it’ll need its best shooting performance of the season. If the scoring unit isn’t getting it done at any point for Scheyer, he has two options on the bench in Isaiah Evans and Darren Harris, each extremely talented spot-up shooters who Scheyer could turn to if the offense needs a spark. So far this season, he’s been reticent to do so, but if the Blue Devils’ rotation isn’t able to connect from deep again, Duke’s talent on the bench may just force Scheyer’s hand.
Backcourt production: Dickinson is the best rim protector the Blue Devils will have faced so far this season, and should take away the paint in a way the Duke isn’t used to. Scheyer should expect less paint efficiency from his forwards when Dickinson is on the floor, which should force more responsibility on the backcourt. So far this season, forward Cooper Flagg has led his team in each of the major stat categories, including assists. However, if Duke hopes to emerge successful, I believe Flagg should adopt a more facilitatory role than he has had all season. By spending less time attacking Dickinson and spacing the floor, or choosing to be a presence inside and occupying Dickinson’s attention, Flagg could give guards Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster more space to control the ball and create movement. -Powicki
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.