The newest member of the Blue Devil backcourt has the opportunity to step in as a freshman floor general and make an impact—much the way Tyus Jones did in 2014-15—which was a a big selling point on leaving Findlay Prep early and heading to Durham.
Always one to work diligently out of the spotlight, Matt Jones' time to shine may be on the horizon. With an increased role this season, his steady contributions could quickly gain the attention he has long deserved.
In the perimeter-oriented state of college basketball today, Duke’s ability to find the perfect combinations of its four McDonald’s All-Americans in the backcourt could decide how well the team defends its national title.
Now that the Blue Devils have plenty of talent at the point guard position, Rebecca Greenwell will have a chance to shine in new ways.
After a 2014-15 season in which the Blue Devils adapted to a roster loaded with frontcourt size, Duke will revert back to its more traditional style of play this season, looking to push the ball in transition and apply a greater level of defensive intensity.
Duke’s roster boasts several electric backcourt players this season, but the guard that may have the biggest impact on the team will never see the floor during a game. Lexie Brown will have to sit out of competition this year after transferring from Maryland but will still challenge the Blue Devils’ young backcourt in practice all winter.
The NCAA gave coaches and players a lot of change to sift through this offseason in an attempt to make the game more attractive to fans both at the arena and watching on television. Beginning Nov. 13, the results of those efforts will finally kick into gear.
From the time they were in grade school, basketball players have been taught to play until the whistle. All the way up until the referee’s signal, but not past it—because those are the rules. But now the rules have changed.
This year’s Duke women’s basketball roster looks very different from last year’s, but one thing that hasn’t changed is Azurá Stevens’ dominant play.
With the score knotted at seven apiece, the Blue Devils turned things around as a team and turned the close contest into a route. Maybe it was rust or maybe it was their Division II opponent. Yet, when Duke came out on the other side, it appeared a different team.
Last season, Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski surprised everyone by casting aside his classic man-to-man pressure defense in favor of a 2-3 zone during a crucial ACC matchup against Lousiville. Based on Wednesday night’s action, those zone defenses could become a lot more commonplace for the Blue Devil defense this year.
The primary goal for any team in the preseason—even more important than evaluating players—is staying healthy and avoiding injuries that could cripple the season. The Blue Devils cannot say they have accomplished that as their exhibition slate comes to a close.
It is finally time for the members of the top-ranked recruiting class in the nation to show everyone what they are made of. No. 14 Duke kicks off its exhibition schedule against Pfeiffer Thursday at 7 p.m. at Cameron Indoor Stadium before playing its final tune-up against Saint Leo Sunday at 1 p.m.
Once again, the Blue Devils won an exhibition game by a wide margin. And once again, a captain went down with an injury, as Amile Jefferson left Duke's lopsided win against Livingstone in the first half with an ankle injury.
