It was the defense yet again that led Duke to a 68-47 victory over George Mason.
The Blue Devils forced 13 turnovers, including 10 steals, which resulted directly in reliable scoring from transition offense. Duke registered 16 points off turnovers, as well as 16 fast-break points.
The ability to rely on defense to do the heavy lifting on a night where the offense was not at its best is a strong indicator of future success. It goes to show that the Blue Devils can find a way to win even when their shots aren’t falling, a quality that is critical to making a deep run in March.
“Our defense was back to where we want it for the moment,” head coach Jon Scheyer said. “We just had to get back to the basics. Guarding the ball, rotating on defense, pick-and-roll coverage, positioning, scramble defense. I can go down the line. I thought we had it at a high level tonight.”
Duke struggled a bit from deep, shooting 9-for-27 on the night. This reflected a greater offensive struggle against the Patriots, a tough, experienced team that came into Durham prepared for a physical battle.
The Blue Devils’ own veteran, Sion James, continued to impress, rising to the occasion by providing seven points, two steals and three assists.
“I feel like we got okay looks. They just weren't going down.” James said. “We trusted the numbers and bounced back.”
Maliq Brown also contributed to the defensive effort, adding five rebounds and a steal. It was his first game back from a toe injury he suffered against Louisville, and despite that, he still managed to play a respectable 16 minutes.
Brown, the reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year, has been a crucial part of the Duke defense and its success so far this season. Having already faced Hunter Dickinson and Johni Broome, two of the best big men in the nation, Brown does not shy away from a challenging matchup.
“They just kept pushing throughout the whole game,” Brown said. “We knew that it wasn’t going to be a cupcake game, that it was going to be a team that we had to play all 40 minutes.”
Freshman sensation Cooper Flagg was a key figure on both sides of the ball. The offense ran through him all night long, however, it was his high defensive motor which really stood out against George Mason.
Flagg was everywhere, coming up with 24 points, nine rebounds, three steals and a block. His activity level on defense paired with his immense skill makes him any coach’s dream player, especially if he can continue to channel the effort he displayed against the Patriots.
“I loved how aggressive he was, it changes the whole dynamic of our team,” Scheyer said of Flagg. “I think he's due for a triple-double.”
The defensive performance reinforces a greater trend that has been present all season long. The Duke defense is a force to be reckoned with as the Blue Devils continue their pursuit of a sixth banner.
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