Duke entered Cameron Indoor Stadium today minus key reserves Marques Bolden and Javin DeLaurier. They were also down a head coach as shortly before tip it was reported that Coach K was going to miss the game, coming down with a virus. Gary Trent Jr also coming down with a virus was able to play in the game.
Duke took down a struggling Wake team 89 – 71 on the strength of a 30 point and 11 rebound effort from freshman Marvin Bagley III. Duke also got a double-double from freshman Wendell Carter Jr, who scored 15 and pulled down 11 rebounds before fouling out. Despite clearly being sick Trent Jr. played one of his best games of he season notching 19 points and going 6-7 from beyond the arc. Grayson Allen, who has not been shooting the ball well lately, did affect the game in other ways by pulling down 12 rebounds and leading the Devils with 8 assists in the game.
Duke pulled away late in the first half and established a 13 point lead that held throughout the second half as well. Even with Wake playing the Devils even through most of the second half, the game was never really in doubt. Duke began to pull away late on the strength of a flurry of 3’s by Gary Trent Jr and dunks by Marvin Bagley III.
Duke defensively was somewhat improved, the zone did seem to be a little soft in the first half at times but seemed the correct recipe to force Wake into uncomfortable shots. Wake did, however, shoot well from beyond the arc going 10-23 but did not shoot well from 2 point range. The Duke zone, especially the second half, afforded Wake some mid-range shots that the Deacons could not knock down. For the game Wake shot better from 3 than they did from 2 point range going at a 36% clip in overall shooting.
Duke controlled the boards to a 45 to 36 advantage sporting 3 double-digit rebounders in Allen, Carter and Bagley. Duke shot well from 3 point range going 12 of 23 for 52%. Gary Trent Jr led the way going 6-7 with Alex O’Connell and forward Wendell Carter Jr. bth going 2-4. Free throw shooting, coming into this game, was a concern for the Devils who shot poorly against Pitt. Duke managed to right this with a 79.4% effort, going 27-34 from the charity stripe.
Duke once again was forced to utilize the bench due to injuries and Alex O’Connell was the big beneficiary, scoring 13 points on 3-6 shooting. O’Connell also added 2 rebounds and a steal.
THE GOOD:
- 3pt Shooting – 52% (12-23)
- Free Throw Shooting – 79.4% (27-34)
- Sharing the ball – 18 assists on 25 made baskets
- Defensively Duke played animated and energetic (in larger chunks)
THE BAD
- Duke still gave up too many open looks from beyond the arc.
- Grayson Allen still slumping, not getting his normal rhythm shots.
- Overall team health
