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.
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.
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.
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.
The Chronicle's Brian Pollack and Jack Dolgin preview the Blue Devils' final exhibition game before the start of the regular season, a 7 p.m. tilt Wednesday against Livingstone.
The Blue Zone takes a look at a handful of former Duke players' performance a week into the season:
No. 5 Duke finishes exhibition play against two-time defending Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association champions Livingstone Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
After finishing last season on top of the college basketball world, Duke is ranked fifth in this year's preseason poll. North Carolina claimed the top spot.
Although games may not count as wins and losses for another couple of weeks, the Blue Devil veterans set the tone for a team that may have to be scrappier than the NCAA title-winning squad a year ago.
A lot of things went right Friday night for the Blue Devils, who opened exhibition play with a convincing win against the Division II national champions. But the victory may have come at a cost.
As is tradition, the Blue Devils will get a test in their first exhibition game in a matchup of defending national champions when reigning Division II champ Florida Southern visits Cameron Indoor Stadium Friday night.
The reigning national champion Blue Devils were picked to finish third in the ACC in the preseason media poll released Wednesday.
Tyus Jones inflicted his fair share of damage on Wisconsin a year ago, but fans still have strong feelings for the national-championship winning point guard.
Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski told that the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro will be his last as the head coach of USA Basketball.
Now that Tyus is preparing for his rookie season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Matt is ready to go back to being the only Jones on the court.
